An Inspirational Visit to a Guitar Museum

The "Jagermeister" Guitar at Surdyk's

Check out the cool guitar hanging on the wall as advertisement art for "Jagermeister" at Surdyk's in North East Minneapolis.  If my internet research serves me well, this is what I think it is: 

Schecter Jagermeister Tempest E. Limited

It seems to be a custom made guitar, which one person wrote: " PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A NOVELTY TYPE INSTRUMENT.  IT IS IN ON PAR WITH THE VERY FINEST CUSTOM BUILT GUITARS IN THE WORLD."   Price ranges I'm finding are between $950.00 to $1,299.00.

Cool.

iPod and USB Port...Hardwired into the Car I Rented

While I was on vacation last week, I had the pleasure of getting a rental car to cart me, some bags and my guitar around.  I happened to notice this little cool device, that I welcomed and used...one side, plug in mobile device, and on the other the power (a la USB port).

I was rockin' the whole time after that...

A Peaceful Place to Practice

In this rush and wait journey, I managed to make it to my destination.  Then, it all started to calm down...

I played over some of the songs I needed to practice last night.  Today, I found this wonderful place to sit, practice and play with my daughter.  If you look carefully, you can see the foot of the wooden bench, which is positioned under a tree.  Under the bench is a bed of white rock, surrounder by grass. 

I was great moment...as I playing "Blackbird," several birds started to sing along...if only I had the learned of the sound recorder on my notebook sooner, I would have recorded it...

The Roaming Guitar Case

I've decided to start taking the guitar with me on my travels, and take picture of it like...you know, like when people take gnomes from gardens and photograph it on vacation.  After all, if I am going to fully embrace the "Journeyman Guitar Player" lifestyle, then I need to stop leaving the six-string at home…and I have to practice for the May recital.  In fact, most of my worldly journeys have been filled with meeting interesting people and exchanging ideas.  So, I old red is along for the ride.  What I plan to do it put a sticker for every cool place I play her. 

So far, I have found that people treat you differently when you are carrying a baby...and a guitar.  Funny, isn’t it?

So...where am I?

If you don't know, then you will just have to wait for the next photo...with the new sticker!!!

Goodbye Crate Amp...

Today, I said my "goodbyes" to my old create amp.  Someone who regularly visits Capital Guitars is going to buy it.  You know, this amp was good for me...its has cools effects (click here for an example), looks awesome, and it very portable.  I'm parting with it because it somewhat of an attractive nuisance for my son...he likes to rock, and it almost fell over on him, so...it had to go...oh well.  I'm looking forward to a safer replacement someday...

GHS "Boomers" Van in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota

I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to snap a picture of the ghs "Boomers" van that was parked (in the incorrect direction I must add) in downtown Minneapolis, Minn.  I love the tribute to the white on black Stratocaster.. and since I just picked up a Starcaster of the same color, I was feeling inspired by the van... 

Diary of a Journeyman Guitar-Player ~ My Wife Likes this Guitar!!!

I've considered adding a 10th guitar to my collection.  So, the last time I was at the music store with my wife, she actually picked this out...Here is sort of how it happened...my wife looked around the store looking for the guitar she found to be the prettiest.  Of course the pretty ones are expensive, and this one will run about $600.  Well, I'm going to keep my on it...

...I do like the finish, and the wood is nice.  I need to sit down with it and play it a few times to see if I like the way it handles...

But, it would be a nice addition to the family...

The Musical Instrument Petting Zoo...Is that Cool or What?!!

Post coming soon...

Journal of a Journeyman Guitar-player: Recital at Captial Guitars

Here's couple of pictures of the guitar recital at Capital Guitars on Saturday, November 20, 2010.  I was one of the strummers that evening, playing an all acoustical rendition of "Norwegian Wood."  However, given my son's new tastes in music, I think next time I would play this version of "Elmo's Song" (just kidding...maybe).  It was funny when Jack, my guitar teacher, told the small crowd that I had played internationally after playing in my brother's wedding...hmm, I guess this show has been on the road.  In total, there were seven performers that night ranging from classical guitar to self-written grunge songs played by a 12 year old on vintage 1950's Gibson... 

There was great sorbet punch...which would have been great with some Jamaican rum (I wasn't the first one to say THAT...).  It was nice set up.

The wall of guitars that puts my collection to shame...there are couple on that wall that wish were hanging on mine.

The staging area...Jack, the guitar instructor, help get the equipment set.  This young guy ended up playing a version of "Flight of the Wounded Bubblebee."  When he started to play, my son started spinning around in circles like the themed character in the song.

"Flight of the Wounded Bubblebee"

One of the owners...Eric...watching the performers...and passing out the best wish list ever:

I'm adding the Les Paul below and this guitar to the wish list!!!

An ode to the Les Paul that I can appreciate...when I was in Jamaica this month, I pickedup a painting that could compete with this one...Later, Jack played a jazz version of "My Life" by the Beatles...it is definitely a metric to measure my distance on this guitar journey.

My Guitar...Then

My first electric guitar was a Peavy.  It was the '80's when the hot colors were in, and this wood and black model was out:

I just didn't like the wood and the way the black pick guard rapped around the guitar on the bottom.  It had a great sound...from what I remember...

A Reminder to those on the Guitar Driven Journey to Keep Practicing

I love Minneapolis!  As I was heading back to NoMi from a picking up "this and that" (which means 'beer and beef'), I warmly greeted by this billboard .. an homage to journeyman guitar-players.  For me, its less about the "adhesive" and more of a remind to keep practicing! 

Happy Father's Day to the NoMi Dads!

I just want to say "Happy Father's Day" to all the NoMi Dads out there!  It has been so uplifting to hear the folks on the street greeting each other with this salutation.  I truly have been fortunate to join the ranks of fatherhood and now, with my son's first father's day gift in hand, I join the other fathers in receiving the traditional "Father's Day" gift of the THE TIE.  I have truly joined the club. 

My son also gave me an awesome card that featured the Picasso painting "Guitar 'I love Eva'."  An homage to all the Journeyman Guitar-playing dads... 

Another Journeyman-Guitar Player (Beatles) Jam Session at Cliques

Over the weekend, there was another jam session at PJ's barbershop ~ Cliques ~ with Ashton. This fellow journeyman-guitar player (like some others I know) has a health supply of Beatles classics at this fingertips, which was the theme of the of our musical meeting. But, when it was my turn to take the barber's chair, Ashton, borrowing the crimson Ovation with the "magical strings" broke out great Beatles classic he was save for a solo..."sexy sadie." Well, we're adding that one to the list too...along with Blackbird, and While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

Photo Journal: The Up North Get Away

The Fish House on Lake Superior

Sometimes one just needs a break from the city life.  We, of course, were suppose to spend time this week in Germany in a small Bavarian town where folks still wear traditional clothing and drink beer in shade while celebrating the spring (Maifest).  But, since the volcanic ash of Iceland triggered a world-wide airport shut-down, we decided to go up north instead.

Journeyman Guitar-Players Jam Session at PJ's Barbershop "Cliques"

PJ ~ Owner of Cliques Barbershop

PJ's barbershop "Cliques" is a chilled out spot in Dinkytown to get a reasonably priced and high quality haircut. Besides, its on the University of Minnesota campus, which reminds me of my college years. So, when it was turn to sit in the barber's chair, I give PJ a ring and head over to Cliques.

This time, I was not traveling alone...I brought my Crimson Red Pearl Ovation CK057! Well, it wasn't too long after I my haircut was finished that Ashton - another Journeyman Guitar-Player - showed up and the visit to Cliques turned into a jam session . . .

The Baby Loves My New Song for Jordan: The Future is the Past by CHICKENFOOT

I'm hooked...CHICKENFOOT is a just plain awesome...so, this Journeyman Guitar-Player found 12 new songs to wear out for friends and family. Of course I picked my first song off of this album by how it sounded...the strumming that transitions into a funk rhythm with a classic sound. Oh yeah! (pun intended) the chord progression of D to D suspended 4 to C w/9 to a G (sound familiar?...ehem...Bon Jovi??)..."I got a funky, funky feeling..." hey, it still sounds cool...besides that's Joe Satriani on the axe...oh, it's drop-D tuning to get that nice flexible-low sound.  Sammy Hagar kicks new lyrics...and brought Michael Anthony with him from Van Halen...Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers is keeping time.  It sounds natural...like they have been together for years.

The Bard's Tale: A Blast from the Past

Over the TG weekend, I spent some time at my parent's house collecting some of my things to bring back with me to NoMi. One of the items I found was an old PC game that request 256K (which was really fast at the time) called "the Bard's Tale." The long story short, this was one of the first D&D style computer games that allowed you to have 4 characters at once, with cryptic instructions. Let me tell you, I was swept away with nostalgia when I found this game!

Hill, Pond and Parkway People Toast!

Gobble, Gobble! Happy TG to all in NoMi-World!

A few of us met last night for what was best described as gathering of the "Hill, Pond and Parkway People." We spend hours that were far from counted establishing new friendships, while enjoying old ones, as we debated political questions and contemplated the meaning things in life. It was a wonderful regenerating experience in NoMi and I am grateful to our host who was far from having a shortage of friends, food and Irish Mist...

Also, for this Journeyman Guitar-Player, my road crossed path with another six-stringed journeyman...it was great to jam into the wee hours learning, playing, laughing and toasting...in North Minneapolis.

CHEERS!

"Damn Good" Songs

During this extended TG-weekend, like many NoMi residents, I will find myself gathered together with friends and family (with one unfortunately missing). For many of them, it will not be an unfamiliar sight to see this journeyman guitar-player around a fire, either the indoor fireplace-type or the backyard kind, armed with "a loaded six string on my back." Aside from the steel-string generated ambiance, you can be sure that at least these five special dedications are at my fingertips: