My new (used) amp was delivered today. It was eight days late, but it’s here…. sort of.
It’s hard to tell with a closed back cabinet, but it looks like the vacuum tubes survived the ordeal. Do they work? That’s the question.
Why is that still a question, you ask?
Because guitar center failed to include a power cable in the shipment.
There will probably be a post discussing the power cable situation but (spoiler) I need to calm down first.
How long does a modern TV last? This morning Jen started thinking about a new TV. We don’t need a new TV, I said. When did we buy our current living room TV, she asked. Off to the blog I go!
The blog holds all the answers. The new TV was purchased on September 28, 2014. Just shy of six years ago. The blog is wise. The blog knows.
So then we asked how long do TVs tend to last these days? Off to Google Jen goes! 5-7 years. Well, that settles it then. Conspicuous Consumerism dictates that we need a new TV. We’re going to hold off until Christmas… I think. We agreed to that, but Jen is hovering around BestBuy.com which means maybe she won’t be able to wait.
Second Saturday note: UPS again… oh boy. Just when I came to grips with the fact that I was going to have to file a claim with GuitarCenter.com over the amplifier that will never be shipped, UPS updated the tracking number to say that once again (take three) it is on a truck and out for delivery. The estimated delivery date/time is today by 9:00PM. I’m taking bets on what time this afternoon they change that date to Monday. Anyone?
The third Saturday note is the only actually important one. There is a story suggesting that Russia paid bounties to the Taliban for killing American soldiers. It is also being said that trump knew about it and did nothing.
I don’t know if any of it’s true. I’ve only seen it on Twitter. I haven’t read any of the source articles. I don’t know if it is true or not. I just know this:
All of the tracking for the 11 June project songs is complete. Today I recorded the last two vocals, the last four lead guitars, and finished one mix.
The Klon KTR into the overdrive side of the Keeley D&M drive really clicked for me for the first time today. Also, the Bonamassa signature Crybaby is really great. The more I use it, the more I like it, and I’ve been using it a lot.
I’ve got five songs to mix and then we start looking forward to the kick off of 50/90 on July 4th. Yikes!
I took this picture about half an hour ago to test a hipstapack I bought this morning. Notice: There is only one amplifier in the photo. There is an empty space where the second amplifier should be.
Complaints have been sent to the shipping company with the little brown trucks. Anger: Rising.
I’m getting old. I’m out of shape. Bending down to see something that’s on the floor is no picnic these days. Also, I’m going blind. My eyesight is getting suckier by the day. Also, the printing on the Keeley D&M Drive pedal is really, really small, and the color scheme doesn’t help. The little sucker is hard to read.
Fortunately I have an iPhone. I can reach down and take a pic with the 2x lens, then zoom in on the image and magically I can read the labels on the knobs.
I love living in the future.
Except for the whole pandemic thing. That bites. The other stuff, the tech stuff, is cool.
In other words, they haven’t a clue where my package is. Okay. From now on I will reserve all of my bitching about this subject for phone calls to UPS customer service. You folks won’t have to listen to me anymore.
Today is Jeff Beck’s 76th birthday. Happy Birthday to the only person left on my I-Need-To-See-Him-Before-I-Die musicians list. One of the Big Three Yardbirds lead guitarists. One of, if not THE, best guitar players ever to breath oxygen. Well… the best ever in the recorded era at least.
Whatever your taste in popular music, he’s been there and done that and been better than everyone else. Blues, R&B, rock, soul, funk, metal (in the 1970’s sense at least), Jazz, pop, electronic, industrial, he’s even dabbled in classical a couple of times.
He’s brilliant, and unlike all of his contemporaries he never lost a step. He’s as good, if not better, than he was in his youth.
The most important thing about Jeff Beck’s birthday? It’s also my brother and sister in law’s wedding anniversary. Happy 14th, John and Mary. And Many More!
As of 8:07pm, my UPS tracking number still says out for delivery for today by 9:00pm. Yesterday they changed the delivery date from 6/22 to 6/23. I expect the same at this point. I could really have used a piece of good news today, even if it was something as stupid and pointless as a 50 pound package from UPS. Pretty safe bet I’m wasting my time and effort. Thanks
UPS… come on guys. I mean, I used to be one of you! I worked in the Chelmsford Hub for a year. I loaded trucks bound for the Worcester, MA Center. I loaded trucks for the Portland, ME Center. That was a major volume belt. Come on guys, let’s deliver my new (used) amplifier. My June Music project Trello board tells me I have two songs waiting for lead guitars, and if you drop off that sweet little AC15 I can use it for those tracks tonight.
Come on, UPS. Let’s get ‘er done!
In other gear news, I was clued in to an independent pedal builder in Ohio who is selling clones of the Fulltone OCD pedal and donating the money to Black Lives Matter bail funds. How awesome is that? Seriously, that made me so happy. He did a very small run (looks like his business only does small runs. In fact, it feels like the business is just one guy in his house) and then did a second slightly bigger run (the pedals are named Black Lives Matter and that too is awesome). I sent him three questions on bookfayce. Are you going to make more, which version of the OCD pedal are you cloning, and how much are you charging. I know it’s going to be expensive, but if he makes more and I get a chance to buy in, I am totally going to buy one. I’ll do it for two reasons. First, I want to use all the arguments I had a few weeks ago as an excuse to donate some money to the cause. Second, I still want an OCD pedal and I want to stick it to Fulltone. Petty? Yes. I don’t care.
There are other companies making OCD clones because of this situation, but for some reason this is the one that’s calling out to me. The name of the company is Malaise Forever Customs. Here’s hoping they make more.
There’s me, thinking I’d be recording with a Vox amp tonight. Nope. Still the same Fender. #sadface.
Inside the Red Head's Head 