[Tomás F. Calvo]

Thank you Jung and Jacki.

Sorry I’ve been absent, these times have me busier that I’ve ever been. For someone who works from home and doesn’t interact in the outside world often, my life day to day life hasn’t changed much, other than my workload has gone tenfold.

I was going to record -still planning to- an MLT tune on the Masterbilt, but I haven’t been able to do so yet. Hopefully I won’t butcher it too badly.

I hope you’re all healthy and happy!

Peace and Love above all!

Tomás

[Tomás F. Calvo]

I’m sorry Jacki. I thought I was being funny, but I don’t think it came across. Just saying that I’ve had similar experiences.

Tomás

[Tomás F. Calvo]

Flatwounds only on my Höfner. Street legal.

I have to make do with a Nikon D90, but I do have a prime 85mm 1.8. Depth of field: 2 eyelashes, indeed.

[Tomás F. Calvo]

[postquote quote=84750][/postquote]
Jacki! Exactly like it is for me. Except that my Grandma is not called Rea. Other than that, spot on!

My grandmother and grandfather (Poppy and Tommy) come to me in my hours of darkness. Really have. It’s been several years now, I guess that’s a good thing.

[Tomás F. Calvo]

?????? As soon as I can compose myself, I’ll try to get some words out!!

Thank you Lisa and Rudolf. The moisturizer comment cracked me up, mostly because its true!

[Tomás F. Calvo]

Mona!

If Tomorrow I wake up with the next Yesterday, it may feel like pearls to swine. Dream dwelling songs would go much farther and be better represented if they chose to wake your way rather than my way.

I’m sure a Klammhatsche is a creature any Starman would know. Klamm/feuchtkalt – hatsche/hatschen sounds to me like an alien eel/fish-like creature that has trouble getting around. Well, Nothing is in vain.

Thank you!

Tomás

[Tomás F. Calvo]

Nice store! Would have me visiting a lot! ?

Jung, I did receive my Masterbilt. It’s awesome, very happy with it. I’ll post some pictures of it as soon as I get a chance.

[Tomás F. Calvo]

Actually… Susanna Hoffs has her own custom Rickenbacker 350SH (SH for Susanna Hoffs) Testament to her guitar playing abilities and Rickenbacker preference, I would think.

 

[Tomás F. Calvo]

Interesting Michael, those are the songs I gravitate to when I’m feeling bummed. Especially I Am A Rock, Homeward Bound and Dangling Conversation. Is it commiseration? They feel like a balm.

[Tomás F. Calvo]

I’ve never met a drummer that was above asking for help carrying his equipment. I’ve always helped, especially since as the bass player I had to carry the heaviest cabinet. Drummers are also great at Car Tetris.

[Tomás F. Calvo]

I’m amazed at all they accomplish. The have the same amount of hours in the day that we all have and yet they do so much with such detail and quality. I guess that’s why they have us wanting more! The Duo sessions blow my mind every time!

[Tomás F. Calvo]

?? May THIS ONE should have been his “Monterrey Strat”!

[Tomás F. Calvo]

Jung, You know that line from Harry Potter, “The wand chooses the wizard”? This is how it is with guitars. Feel what you are drawn to, what you’d like to have on your lap for hours.

My first guitar when I moved to the US was a $400 Takamine which still hangs next to the expensive Gibsons. It sounds great, better than many other Takamine I’ve tried, and that’s the trick, what feels yours when you put it on your lap. I’d suggest going in to a big store, like Guitar Centre a few times seeing all they have and taking it in, before you buy one.

Having said that I have a couple of recommendations:

a) Epiphone EJ-200SCE: This is one of Mona’s favorite guitars. Spruce and maple. A well made one of these will sound very good, and it’s under $500

b) Epiphone Inspired by 1964 Texan: This is a new version of the guitar Paul used on Yesterday and still uses it in concert today. Peter Frampton has used it a lot too. Spruce and Mahogany. It’s all solid woods and for under $450. Don’t be afraid of looking at the used ones they might have.

Check out the rosewood ones as well, see how you feel/hear them.

As for electrics, I’d suggest look at the Casinos. I have a Casino made in Korea that sounds and plays fabulously. It’s a hollow-body so you can play it unplugged and still enjoy it.

As for the Duo Jet, if you don’t want to fork out the $2.5K check out the Electromatic counterpart that Gretsch makes: G5230T Electromatic Jet with Bigsby or without. That’s about $550.

Last but not least, a good setup makes all the difference. Have a knowledgeable person do a good setup and the guitar will sound and feel much much better.

Hopefully you have some food for thought!

BTW, my Masterbilt is still “in transit”. It seems it took a detour to Memphis. Maybe the ghost of Elvis wanted to check it out?

Tomás

 

 

 

[Tomás F. Calvo]

That he’s doing all that and giving it to Goodwill is great. Really nice guy. I had seen a strat made with colored pencils (must be heavy!) and this one made of matches.

[Tomás F. Calvo]

Thanks Rudolf!

Yes, we’ve all seen our thumbs tap dancing through the settings maze of a fancy camera, trying to find that option we know is there -we’ve seen it before- yet it vanishes like a politician’s promise.

My Lisa loves the Pro Mist filter, even a 1/4, but she’s a bit older than your Lisa and Mona ? I’m amazed at how well Mona and Lisa do their makeup, they do a much better job than many “professional” makeup artists in Hollywood. “Chapeau” to all you do, it’s always top quality, and I know it ain’t easy. I haven’t had to use ND filters yet, I closed down the aperture from 1.8 to 2.2 and at 1/60 (US standard – 30fps) with my lighting setup gives me an ISO of 100, with still a shallow depth of field (I’ve got a Nikon D7500 and a 85mm lens). My stuff is live streaming and audio sync can be a nightmare. I see from other posts that you have solved that nicely for your setup.

Thank you for everything y’all do. Your dedication to quality is very rare these days, I truly appreciate it aside of how much I love the music.

Tomás