And I said, “Littering.”
And they all moved away from me on the bench there,and the hairy eyeball and all kinds of mean nasty things.
‘Til I said, “And creatin’ a nuisance…”
Jim Says: “It was about 4 or 5 hours later that Alice, remember Alice? Song about Alice”
Growing up, I would watch reruns of the Monkess most days after school. I enjoyed the music, but was really in it for the comedy. Songs like “What am I doing hanging round?” and “Last Train to Clarksville” are still favorites. I credit Mickey Dolenz as one of my inspirations in crafting a stage personality as a dummer. His over the top slapstick really struck a chord with me ::rimshot:: The subdued farce of Peter Tork always made me laugh. But, Michael Nesmith had this calm, quite, cynicism that spoke to me on a level that I’m still trying to fully understand.
Years after the reruns stopped, I rediscovered Micheal Nesmith via “Elephant Parts.” I still watch my DVD copy on a regular basis. If you ever get the chance, make an effort to watch. It’s a wonderful mix of original music, and comedy sketches. “Wrong Apartment Bogart” is a personal favorite. But make sure to seek out “Neighborhood Nuclear Superiority,” “Tonite,” and always practice the “Pirate Alphabet.”
This also got me into his solo work. “Rio” and “Cruising'”are two of my favorite songs and both have found their way into regular rotation in my playlists.
Needless to say, I was very sad to learn of his passing on Friday. We lost a great musician, a brilliant comedian, and, from all I’ve ever heard, and all around great guy. It is really worth your time to listen to his interview on Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazon Colossal Podcast. There are stories there that I could not do justice to if I recited them word for word, and I guarantee you will get a great laugh or three from that epsidode.
For now, I say we raise a glass to Lucy, and Ramona, and Sunset Sam in memory of Mr. Nesmith.
Jim Says:”Go easy, Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma.”
For as long as I’ve been playing guitar, I’ve been afraid to “mess with” the truss rod, intonation, etc. for fear for destroying my instrument. I have no idea where this irrational fear came from as I’ve had my Chevelle, as well as various other cars and motorcycles, in several pieces, taken my drums completely apart, computers, other machines, electronics, house wiring, plumbing, etc.
But the idea of breaking the neck of my beloved Les Paul kept me from tinkering. Not even my $100 Explorer knock-off, or my Epiphone Telecaster were worth the risk. When I bought my first bass, I got it from Guitar Gallery (where I purchased the aforementioned guitars) and had them do the set up on my $150 Squier Bronco (aka “Count Basey”).
Jim with “Count Basey.”
Well, then I went a got me a Fender P-Bass. Because there is no such thing as “too many guitars.” I took it out to my guys to have them do a set up on it and check it out for me. It played even better and was worth every penny. It wasn’t long until I read that Duck Dunn played a P-Bass with LaBella Flatwounds (760M to be exact), and went and ordered a set for mine. What a difference!
Jim with “The New Hotness.”
Exactly the sound I was looking for. Booker T. and the MGs, half of Motown, every funk record, that was the sound! However, flat wound strings have a much different tension and it threw the whole set up off. The action was so much higher, intonation was off, just a mess. So I went looking..
That’s when I came across John Carruthers’ videos on the Elixir Strings YouTube Channel and decided to go for it. It was surprisingly easy, I took my time and now the “New Hotness” sounds great again, and plays beautifully. I’ll be doing all of my axes in the coming weeks, and looking forward to doing it.
Post pick guard, pre flat wounds.
I’m sharing the videos in hopes that it inspires someone else to give it a shot. I already had feeler gauges, and the .050 hex for the saddle, but I did have to go buy a 6 inch scale ruler, and SAE hex for the formerly terrifying truss rod adjustment.
Jim Says: “Born to do it.”
After years of playing drums, and playing (struggling) with guitar, I’ve jumped into the world of Bass.
So far, I’m loving it. I picked up a $150 Squier Bronco from my friends over at Guitar Gallery, and have been using the iRig HD2 and Vox amPlug 2 as my amp while I debate which Fender Rumble amp to buy.
If any of my local friends are interested, I’m selling my Epiphone PR-150 acoustic guitar.
Update: The PR-150 has found a new loving home.
“I have too many guitars” – No one, ever.
It was about four or five hours later, that Alice, remember Alice?
Song about Alice..
Jim Says: “27 8×10 color glossy pictures..”
