skipclone 1

Hey everyone-happy holidays! I haven't been around much lately, sorry about that. Anyway once again ready or not, it's that time to reflect on the good, the bad and the wtf of 2023, and hopefully look forward to 2024 with a sense of optimism. Spring had our epic cherry blossom party after a three-year hiatus, even though the weather was terrible. Our beer research group had to seek shelter in a park, and ended up sharing it with a bunch of guys with a giant tank of sake. Much fun and little consciousness was had. In July some of my fellow performers and I premiered our third independent film, after five years of seemingly endless delays. It was quite a project and features a music video, which I performed, music done by one of my friends in Sweden and lyrics by one of the producers. They are working on a few tweaks for the latter part. Hopefully it will get some well-deserved attention. Some of you may have heard about how hot Summer was in Japan. It wasn't that hot. It was worse. I saw at least three older guys overcome by the heat. I tried saving money on air conditioning one day in August. I woke up the next morning and before I could get out of bed and stand up, I fainted. My eyeball hit the wood floor. I was sure I had detached a retina, or gone blind. It took most of a week to recover. We had some great shows. This is leading up to something. The fourth and final version of my own variety show is scheduled for February 2024. After 25 years, I am looking at a possibility if not a likelihood, of leaving Japan and relocating back to the U.S. Why-despite the good points, my life here has kind of stalled, and the family situation back home has become complicated. Part of me wishes I didn't have to deal with it but, it feels like a change is needed. I hope it goes well. I read the post about transporting guitars interstate. If anyone has advice about doing that internationally, assuming a private jet is not an option, thanks in advance. How about everyone else? how was 2023?

That sounds like a great choice, enjoy!

They always had such a unique sound and great songwriting, it still sounds fresh today. One of my all-time favorite groups, respect.

I saw this, the sound is great even through heaphones. I wondered what the same idea applied to guitar would look and sound like. https://www.themusicman.uk/the-alexander-piano/?fbclid=IwAR1pPAJsKPwsEjs6AL3s8kjwWk4db-Qt0vIed6PYfmu00tBDbBJNjSYLMwg

Thanks Caevan, massively. I'm just feeling kind of ambushed. In fact make that just bushed. It's been almost exactly a year since another soc media blowup. I believe I'm just gonna stick to family and friends.

Right-so someone posted on FB looking for help or advice. A family in Indonesia lost contact with their daughter. So did her school and job. They asked this person-also from Indonesia I think-to help, she had been staying with a Japanese guy and he had 'taken her away'. Even worse, from court records the Japanese guy was involved in a similar case six years ago. He strangled a Japanese girl, then took an overdose of pills and claimed it was a 'double suicide' that didn't work out-he lived. Several of us were trying to figure out what to do, then we got the worst possible news-they found the Indonesian girl's body in his apartment. We were kind of in shock, I sent sympathies to the family. The guy who asked for help posted several links- the (suspected) killer had a FB page that was still up and running. I didn't know what else I could do. At first I ignored it. I was chatting with a friend about it and she said, OMG this guy is posting on his page NOW. I checked it-there was some nonsense about his 'relationship' with the girl and statements against some organizations I didn't know. It was clearly a suicide note. I went to the guy's FB page and tried to say, don't do that. Talk to people and get help. Then suddenly-there's no other way to say it-a boiling mad mob of Indonesian people started posting messages on that page that amounted to 'burn in hell'. Then they turned on me for 'sympathizing with the killer', 'disrespecting the family', there was name calling-it went on until this morning. I just stopped replying. The police arrested the guy, so far he has denied committing murder. I think FB probably took down his page by now, not interested in checking. This, because I replied to someone who was looking for help. Maybe I'm done with that. UPDATE: Nope-I'm still being 'mentioned in comments'. I was hoping to visit Bali again someday. Guess not.

I take a Q-tip or cotton pad and some alcohol and clean cable ends and input/output jacks regularly. Sound instantly gets brighter and more defined.

Sad to say but, I don't think going anywhere with a gun case is a good idea especially if you're traveling. One of my guitars got extra searched at an airport, the agent said 'it looks like a shotgun case'.

Correction-my friend is on Oahu. For those not in the area, she suggested Red Cross as the best way to help.

Wish I had gotten up to Woodstock to see him and Levon Helm's All-stars back in the day. That solo album of his was so good. RIP and respect.

My understanding is, that homeowners insurance would cover any possessions at a flat rate. They would have to be insured separately if you have a rare or vintage instrument.

This is an event that was put on hold for several years. It's pretty far rom Tokyo, on the other side of Honshu. But it's a great showcase for Japanese guitar makers that are less well known outside the country. Not sure about going myself yet, there are other things I need to save up for. In any case the event page has links to the builders. Since they're not so well known you may be able to find a bargain on ebay or elsewhere. https://shinsyuguitar.wixsite.com/website

Awful and tragic. I have a friend who used to perform with us, she has been studying on the big island. They are taking relief donations at The Still & Moving Center, in Honomu.

A consummate artist. Thank you Mr. Bennett.

Wow, just wow. So sorry for this, and moreover sorry for the damage to the idea of reaching out| beyond what's in your area to get your dream instrument.

Thanks Caevan!

Info forwarded, thanks brother Winston

Hi all One of my buds has a 12 year old daughter, who is interested in taking up guitar. Her inspiration is a video from Bauhaus, the song is 'Dark Entries'. That of course is a Tele style body. I copied and pasted the buying guide to him, but he also said that a fellow aikido player has this gathering dust in a closet. It looks worthwhile to me, Epi is on average pretty reliable and for body size she will grow into it instead of out of it. The label on the headstock caught my eye. Any guesses as to year of manufacture?

Speaking for myself, I always got Whitefang's ironic take on things- and also how easily it could be misinterpreted, especially living in a place like Japan where irony itself is a foreign concept. I try to hang on to my inner child but, I totally get anger and resentment about life. We all express it differently. If I just lost a loved one, even the most brilliant joke is not welcome. Irony and Honesty-kind of like that pop song with Sir Paul and Stevie Wonder. We wish they could live side by side like on a piano. Sometimes they don't.

Long time no see! Well on July 30, after five years of issues, our third independent film finally premiered. The closest I can come to describing it is, it's kind of a parody of mainstream institutions as cults. One of the cool things about it is, that several cast members including myself contributed to the soundtrack. In my case, one of the producers wrote the lyrics, I got a buddy of mine in Sweden to do the music, and I performed the song as well as a music video version with dance. The song was also used for closing credits. I'm told there is a long form version of the video, and we may have a separate soundtrack with songs that weren't in the film. The song does not have guitar, it's supposed to be a 90s dancefloor feel. The poster has me at the center.

I was fortunate to see her live in Taipei. I recall her commenting about the loud monitors. Her spoken intro to 'Proud Mary' makes 90% of female rappers sound like schoolkids. Think I'll sing the 'Thunderdome' song at an anniversary party next month.

Ya that's true, in fact I did that very thing with a phase effect on one of our forum collaborations back in the day.

My family lived around the corner from him in Chicago when I was a kid. I never got to meet him personally, at least not that I remember. He passed at the same age as my dad. Massive respect.

I thought their music was pretty good. Then I made the mistake of running into them. I've told this story before-anyway I was working at a McD's in midstate N.Y.-not as an employee but, as a temp job to interview people about their travel to get to McD's, I guess it was to triangulate where a new location would be useful. Well in walks The Black Crowes. Their tour van was parked in the lot and they had biker-style leather jackets with the band name. There was no mistaking who they were. This was after their cover of 'Hard to Handle' blew up on MTV and before their next single They didn't order any food, just sat at a table and chilled. It was impossible not to overhear their conversation, it sounded like they were on their way back to Atlanta. I didn't really care. Then they all got up and filed out the door. I was smiling, not to get attention but, you know, I knew who they were. They pretty much ignored me except for the guitarist-Rich Robinson I think? he stopped to give me a look of sneering contempt in my white shirt and necktie. I didn't want to get fired, so I didn't point out to the jerkoff that I had probably played guitar for longer than he did. Screw them.

I was given a Maxon CS-01 as a gift for helping a friend out. Haven't toyed with it much as yet but, I agree with the less is more approach. There's a sweet spot for modulation in general that can be good If used sparingly. I'll add this, having just watched a performance vid from one of my favorite clubs, which I have also played at for many years, it kind of underscores my point. There is a place IMO, for modulation effects. Playing fast, is not one of them. No one has any idea what you're playing, they just hear a bunch of notes stepping over each other. The players who use those effects-well, effectively-preprogram them to switch in and out. Of course it's possible to do it manually as well.