Tales from the dark side.......but I'm back!

[The Snowman]

whooosh...it's been a long journey and I've come full circle again...ya think that hittin 54 I'd have learned my lesson and maybe be more consious to my inner self...
anyway, I am in this band...FSB here in Philly...I've been gigging alot and we've got a great sound....but it seems that I have been addicted to Hamer Guitars in particular the Artist series and the Newports....well, I started playin them and forgot all about ol' Albert (see avitar..my 67 Maple Cap named after Albert Collins when I got it in 68)...well Albert was just hangin on the wall biding his time...watching me play all these other guitars...he must of had a good laugh....anyway, on our regular Thurs nite gig...Albert wanted off the wall...he was angry and needed to get out of the house....soooo he took me to the gig and told me to use the DRRI....well...all hell started to break loose....I cut loose, closed my eyes and played notes sooo deep rooted in my soul that I forgot what I really sounded like.....he taught me well, and made me work all night...Alberts the only guitar that I have ever had that I can play with my eyes closed...change positions, keys...it's ok with Al...he just guides my hands and gets me to home base without ever missing a note....

sooo after the gig, my bandmates and some audience people commented how well I played..and how soulful the tone/sounds coming out of that little DRRI was....

sooooo after many months away from him and maybe even this board, I am back...I have seen, well, maybe heard the light and learned my lesson well....
my hands ache again, my fingers are tight again, new callouses are forming...and the sounds from my soul are reaching my ears again......

the moral of this story is....
one should never be where one does not belong.....

I want to thank Paul for having a safe harbour to come home too and apologize to my many friends and boardmates here for not being around lately....I will not stray again.....thanks all for reading...I am home at last....don

p.s. can't wait for the tee shirts and mouse pad....

[Scotland]

Good to see you again. Don't ever do that again !
Seriously, glad you have regained your soul and soulmate.

[Caper]

Hey Snowman, I enjoyed the story.

[Dennis_UK]

Good 'ere, innit?

[Teleman]

Snowman!
Your story just about mirrors mine! Hamers and all!
I spent alot of time away from my baby, a 52 RI thats had the snot played out of it and is an old friend.
I left her home for a long time while I played a bunch of other stuff. You know some us finicky guitar players are always searching for that tone.
Finally, I went full circle and took the old girl out on Saturday night. It was like an old love rekindled!

I love teles!

I did still hang on to a couple of Hamer T51's

[The Snowman]

Yeah..Teleman...I've seen you at the Hamer board....but it's better to see you here.....don

[T-51]

and eat (play) it too! - Ian McMillan

[Colo Springs E]

.....I just find I like short-scaled, set-necked humbucker equipped axes the best. I sound better and they play easier.

I'm in love with a Gibson "The Paul" I picked up recently.

Diff'rent strokes, huh??

[The Snowman]

Well, it ain't really different strokes...it's more like a learning experience....

it's true that hb guitars, most notably Gibson..play easier...but for me the difference is like making love....

easy Paul, no sex stuff here.....

when I play all my guitars I am playin' them...getting great sounds...the whole shootin' match...but with Albert and in fact any Tele...it's like I'm not playing the guitar...I'm making love with it....the difference is amazing to me....I work more fer sure and the Tele makes me feel better and actually play better..it's a synergistic relationship that I don't really have with any other guitar..I have alot and I compare all the time...it's true...

The Tele makes me think.....makes me work and learn....
just the truth as I live it.......don

[halouis]

I hearya SNowman! I will tell you I loev all 3 of my electrics. and I still may use my LP at the gig this week, but I never feel as comfortable and "at home" as with my tele. it just feels right.

welcome back.

[ashtray]

bah dah - bah, bah dah - bah.

I know the feeling - been down that road a few times. It's strange too - you wander out and get "into" other things, but you always know where home is, and there really is no place like home.

I have had a ton of guitars over the years (probably literally if you weighed them!) - but I've hung onto a few. One of them that I've had since day 3 (er, my 3rd guitar, bought in my first or 2nd year of playing) - it was my main guitar for years, and I could just lay down in bed with the guitar on top, close my eyes, and just play, change positions, not think about what song to play, or whatnot, just play from somewhere deep inside me.

I still have that guitar now, but rarely play it. It's been through a lot - many experimental refinishes, pickup mods, bumps and bruises, etc. Actually, the only guitar I've had that I don't have a hardcase for - and I've had it for 13 years, and have moved probably 8 times during those years.

Well, it's out on a guitar stand now with my other guitars. It's no looker, especially with the collection of dust it's received. Maybe tonight when I get home from work, I'll go and tune it up, and return "home" to my '78 Aria Urchin. Hey - I said it wasn't a looker, didn't I?!

[NashTele]

Amen brother.