Who are we? Let's get to know each other!

[RHGraham]

I guess this is the right thread for a first-time post.

Randal Graham, raised in Nova Scotia, I'm 42.
Ma and Pa played in a country/western/bluegrass band for a looong time, I grew up early on Chet Atkins and Johnny Cash, and my dad for some unknown reason brought home a Led Zed record when I was around 8.
Game over.
He helped me build my first solidbody when I was 12, I went on to build about 30 more after that, I got heavy into music and ended up playing or doing sound full-time out of highschool, about ten years ago I completely crashed and burned and went on to other things, left the music deal behind. So I thought.

Picked up a guitar for the first time again about 2 months ago, could actually still play, so I got a real crappy kit guitar and got it together enough to play a little. I can still play! It's wierd, I actually play better now than I ever did before. Go figure.

I did a lot of repair and maintanance on my own amps and those of other players too, always wanted to build amps but never had the time. My dad used to take me into town to a music store, a friend of his owned it, who was Peter Traynor's bro-in-law, he'd call my dad when Peter was around and then he'd take me in to hang out... I thought Peter was one of the coolest guys on earth for a long time. Quite a few years later I ended up gigging with Peter's first wife. Small world. Guy that owned the store was Greg Langille.... he really treated me good, loaned me amps and guitars early on anytime I needed them, helped me find gigs, always would help me out... and never would take any money from me. I owe him alot.
I hope every kid who has an interest in music finds somebody like Greg to enrichen thier lives.

I had dozens of amps, bought, sold, traded, wrecked... the stand-outs were a pair of garnet "session-man" combos, a couple of Traynors of course, a JCM 800 50 watt, and my fave out of all the ones I had was a 66 deluxe. I had gibson style axes mostly, my favorite was my LP junior. (a clone I built)

I'm moving back to NS in the spring and my plan is to move back to music as much as possible, building/repairing guitars at least, and I finally want to build at least a few amps for myself. I'm interested in variations on fender circuits mostly, but the TW facinates me as well.
A "wrecked" deluxe or Bassman with PowerScaling is my hair-brained idea of the week.

Good forum...

So, Hi.

Randal

[skyboltone]

Hi Randal!
Nice to meet you. I've noticed that "gets better with time" business. Seems the rut stops for awhile until you dig a new one Anyway, good on you for finding us. It's a great group.

Dan H

[RHGraham]

Hi Randal!
Nice to meet you. I've noticed that "gets better with time" business. Seems the rut stops for awhile until you dig a new one Anyway, good on you for finding us. It's a great group.

Dan H

Yeah, ain't that something? My wife didn't even know I played guitar at all, we went to some friends over last weekend, who didn't know either, the Husband was a musician and wanted to jam and "fool around" a little after my wife told them I played... I get over there and he pulls out a 53 deluxe and a '57 LP junior... ranks right up there with the Led Zed record...

guitar players in general have to be the WORST folks ever for being bad influences.



Anyway, thanks for the welcome, it IS a good group, I've learned alot just reading through the posts.

Randal

[Guus]

Hi:

Name : Guss
Live in: Europe, Netherlands;
Wife and 2 kids (twin) grown up and out of house;
Work: ~40 year Min of Defence, electronics, now Pension;
Hobby: training dogs, building tube amps, playing drums, FOH engineer of local bands;
Build about 15 different tube amp's. (think of: liverpool, express, dumble, selmer, vox, tweed, Z-amp, etc.)
Tube amp repair for friends.

grtz
Guss

[Teleguy61]

Hey Guss, thanks for reviving this thread, it's kinda cool!

I'm George Lewis, I live outside of Boston MA USA.
66, married, no kids.
I have played guitar for 50 years, almost 30 of them professionally in many styles--R&B, 50-60s, country, country rock, swing, jazz, etc.
As a "day" job, I am self employed doing legal research, mostly online these days, so I work at home. Lots of chances to check TAG.
Tinkered with amps forever, started building about 10 years ago, then I found this site and so far have built a HRM D style, a D-Lite which is now a sort of rocket, who knows what next, and converted a Hammond AO-35 to a Phoenix/Carmen Ghia.
All fun, great guys and girls (Hi Jana) here, so much knowledge.
Thank you everyone!

[cbass]

I'm cbass I dont work. I live in hillbilly central . I like to party and raise hell

[HeeBGB]

Hi my name is HeeBGB (yes that is the name on my birth certificate). And I am an ampaholic. Oh wait. Wrong group. Sorry!

[boots]

I'm Don, I'm 53 and work as a geologist (read: engineer's slave).

I got into ham radio when I was 12 and half-learned electronics by building a bunch of Heathkits (back when they had tubes and PTP wiring!).

I'm a jack of many trades but master of none, and have done several things for a living over the years, including wheat farmer, electronics tech, climbing bum, and geologist.

Went to ITT Tech in the early 90's and got an associates degree in electronics. Graduated at the top of my class, but have since forgotten much of what I learned! I picked up the nickname Boots from my classmates during that time.

I'm a decent guitarist but a lousy musician. I have a limited vocabulary of licks and I can play them fast & furious, but probably can't play a whole song all the way through. Playing guitar is my therapy. Haven't been in a band in a long time, except I played bass in a church worship band for about 10 years, until just recently.

I've built 3 or 4 AX84's, and 3 or 4 Champ clones, a 5E3 clone, modded a number of old tape decks, etc. into decent guitar amps. Currently gearing up to do a Bassman/JTM type of thing.

I like beer. Homebrewing is my newest hobby.

I'm addicted to collecting tubes.

Thanks to everyone here on TAG for all the help and insight. There is a great wealth of knowledge here that you can't learn in any school!

[Teleguy61]

C'mon Clay c'mon Greg don't be shy.
Lots of support here.

[Phil_S]

My name is Phil. I'm an accountant and financial management consultant. I'm always looking for more work. I have a master's degree in Social Work. I work with executive directors of non-profit organizations who aren't satisfied with how financial matters are managed at their organizations.

Although I've been playing guitar for many decades, I'm not very good at it. I don't want to say exactly how old I am, but I've been to Madison Sq Garden to see Cream in 1968 and the Doors in 1969, so that might give you an idea.

About a dozen years ago I got my first electric guitar and that was the gateway drug to tube amps. I'm probably better at amps than guitars. Now I am addicted. I'd much rather come to the Garage than go to a 12-step program. Thank you for tolerating my erroneous postings and for all your support.

[HeeBGB]

LOL I'm not shy. I just don't want people like FartBlossom knowing how to find my home. There are some crazy people out there.

[cbass]

. There are some crazy people out there.

That aint no shit

[Teleguy61]

No worries guys, just kidding.

[Structo]

Man there are a lot of guys that I don't see around here anymore.

[Teleguy61]

My thought exactly Tom.