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Post subject: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 10:19 pm
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So far this year I've made a few tube amp purchases. I knew while purchasing the Heidkamp, some gear would have to go to help absorb the blow to the wallet, and let's just say it was a Craigslist weekend.

Before I let any gear go, I HAVE to have a ritual of letting it speak it's case for why I should keep it or sell it. It's a deeply undivided attention to whatever piece it is. It's probably odd to do such a thing, but as a dedicated musician, my amps and guitars are voices that I use to speak with as a secondary language. And to some degree, I feel like they speak to me.

Obviously, there are those pieces of gear that you just don't use anymore for whatever reason. They've lost their case previously and you just know it's time. But then there are those that you really would keep, but something has to give.

I sold a few amps, speakers, and pedals this weekend. But the dead weight stuff wasn't quite enough to pay for my recent purchases.

There was a guy who was WAY late in showing up to check out my Mesa Studio 22. It left me a good hour of sitting out in front of the house playing through it. It was a pieceful jam. And by the end of it, I couldn't help but feel like I was making a mistake. I almost called off the sale, but I knew that compared to my other amps, it really didn't pull it's weight.

I woke up this morning knowing I had to make another sale to pay for the Heidkamp in full.

After assessing my gear, the Peavey Delta Blues was up next. I plugged it in, grabbed a Strat, and proceeded with the ritual. As I'm meditating a little, I decide to keep it in the clean channel, give it a dose of reverb, and a low to medium dose of Tremolo. And I backed off the guitar volume to about 7-8 ish.

I was in a state of saying goodbye to the amp. As I'm speaking into it, it's speaking back. Both of us in a very sad mood. Eventually, it got to the point to where I was physically crying. Actual tears for an amplifier. It's voice had found a way into the core of my soul.

In a previous thread, I'd compared it to a Fender HRDV and H&K. "Rendering it a studio amp" I believe were the words I used. It was the underdog surrounded great amps. Especially if you include the Heidkamp.

But never in the history of any amplifier I've ever owned has one made me physically cry. It picked up feather-light fingering. The ends of bends and vibratos rung out with a steel guitar-like feel. There was emotion just oozing out of it at every turn. I didn't want it to stop. I felt like the amp was really feeling the sadness with me. I went on like this for about a half hour.

It was a strange morning. A very beautiful and sad moment between musician, guitar and amplifier. But one I felt was necessary. Your gear is your voice. If a piece of gear doesn't feel like it can speak back to you in your language, or interpret your feelings well enough for you, then it doesn't matter how much it costs or is worth monetarily.

When it was over, and I put the guitar down, wiped away the tears, took a deep breath.. I looked at the amp and said " don't worry pal, you ain't going anywhere".

Ok, so I talk to inanimate objects. What of it? :P

To answer my own question I posed earlier in another thread about whether a Peavey Delta Blues really is a special amp? After this morning, my own personal answer would have to be that it is to me now.

There's a reason for the ritual.
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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 11:32 pm
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I thought you said you paid $750 for the Heidkamp amp?
I must be misunderstanding something - you first sold "several amps, speakers and pedals", then sold a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22, and still didn't cover the Heidkamp purchase?


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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 12:46 am
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I sold basically practice amps. A Fender 85, Marshall Valvestate head, PA speakers/monitors. One philosophy I have is that if you want to sell something on Craigslist, you have to price to sell. Otherwise, it just sits on there forever.

Between those amps and speakers, I brought in $400. I sold the Mesa for $250.

The Mesa looked like it was in poor condition. The tolex was completely gone and the plywood underneath was stained. It was that way when I bought it. It worked fine, but given the appearance, I had to sell low to make a quick sell. That amp was gone in two hours.

Even though I took a slight loss on the amp, I don't miss it. I never really bonded with that amp. It sounded like a toy compared to my others. To me it was a practice amp.

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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 1:10 am
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I believe that your emotions/feelings, backed up by skill, are what made the amp, any amp, sound so good, not necessarily the amp itself. I could play any of your amps, and after hearing the horrible noise coming from them, you would gladly let them go. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 1:21 am
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Jah Soldier wrote

Quote:
Ok, so I talk to inanimate objects. What of it? :P


I feel your pain................ she now lives a few miles away!

... Al


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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 1:31 am
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Shimmilou, Yea, I'm sure there's some truth to that.

But the amp did live up to what it's supposed to be. It interpreted the mood perfectly. It was a sad bluesy mood. My only regret is that I didn't record it. It was like playing at your own funeral. It was a very surreal meditation.

I called on the amp to interpret the mood, and it exceeded my expectations. It's something I'll be sure to try to capture again in a recording. I hope i can recreate that. Of course, it will surely be an exhausting session when that time comes.

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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 8:23 am
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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 9:26 am
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Don't ever apologize for having and acting on feelings.
A musician without them is like a cook without taste buds.

I hope you'll bond well over time with your Heidkamp.


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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 12:36 pm
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Jah Soldier wrote:
So far this year I've made a few tube amp purchases. I knew while purchasing the Heidkamp, some gear would have to go to help absorb the blow to the wallet, and let's just say it was a Craigslist weekend.

Before I let any gear go, I HAVE to have a ritual of letting it speak it's case for why I should keep it or sell it. It's a deeply undivided attention to whatever piece it is. It's probably odd to do such a thing, but as a dedicated musician, my amps and guitars are voices that I use to speak with as a secondary language. And to some degree, I feel like they speak to me.

Obviously, there are those pieces of gear that you just don't use anymore for whatever reason. They've lost their case previously and you just know it's time. But then there are those that you really would keep, but something has to give.

I sold a few amps, speakers, and pedals this weekend. But the dead weight stuff wasn't quite enough to pay for my recent purchases.

There was a guy who was WAY late in showing up to check out my Mesa Studio 22. It left me a good hour of sitting out in front of the house playing through it. It was a pieceful jam. And by the end of it, I couldn't help but feel like I was making a mistake. I almost called off the sale, but I knew that compared to my other amps, it really didn't pull it's weight.

I woke up this morning knowing I had to make another sale to pay for the Heidkamp in full.

After assessing my gear, the Peavey Delta Blues was up next. I plugged it in, grabbed a Strat, and proceeded with the ritual. As I'm meditating a little, I decide to keep it in the clean channel, give it a dose of reverb, and a low to medium dose of Tremolo. And I backed off the guitar volume to about 7-8 ish.

I was in a state of saying goodbye to the amp. As I'm speaking into it, it's speaking back. Both of us in a very sad mood. Eventually, it got to the point to where I was physically crying. Actual tears for an amplifier. It's voice had found a way into the core of my soul.

In a previous thread, I'd compared it to a Fender HRDV and H&K. "Rendering it a studio amp" I believe were the words I used. It was the underdog surrounded great amps. Especially if you include the Heidkamp.

But never in the history of any amplifier I've ever owned has one made me physically cry. It picked up feather-light fingering. The ends of bends and vibratos rung out with a steel guitar-like feel. There was emotion just oozing out of it at every turn. I didn't want it to stop. I felt like the amp was really feeling the sadness with me. I went on like this for about a half hour.

It was a strange morning. A very beautiful and sad moment between musician, guitar and amplifier. But one I felt was necessary. Your gear is your voice. If a piece of gear doesn't feel like it can speak back to you in your language, or interpret your feelings well enough for you, then it doesn't matter how much it costs or is worth monetarily.

When it was over, and I put the guitar down, wiped away the tears, took a deep breath.. I looked at the amp and said " don't worry pal, you ain't going anywhere".

Ok, so I talk to inanimate objects. What of it? :P

To answer my own question I posed earlier in another thread about whether a Peavey Delta Blues really is a special amp? After this morning, my own personal answer would have to be that it is to me now.

There's a reason for the ritual.
Image


Why don't you write a song about all or one piece of gear that you have feelings for and all or one piece of gear that betrayed you or somehow wronged you! :lol: Bose Radio has an interesting take in, "Focus On Your Music, Not Your Gear" perfect for this circumstance! 8)


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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 5:39 pm
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To be quite honest, that's not a very good idea. I think it would be much more effective and have more impact to take that mood and write a song about saying goodbye to a loved one.

You know what I just realized? Nobody on this forum has ever heard me play blues guitar. I've gotta record some stuff for you guys to hear. Maybe my OP would make a little more sense right?

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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 8:03 pm
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Jah Soldier wrote:
You know what I just realized? Nobody on this forum has ever heard me play blues guitar. I've gotta record some stuff for you guys to hear. Maybe my OP would make a little more sense right?

True. Hawaiian surf-reggae (?) is what I've heard, and I think you are probably capable of a broader range, and something you put a bit more of you into would be nice to hear!


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Post subject: Re: There's a reason for the ritual.
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 9:21 pm
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I don't know why that never occurred to me before.

But yea, I started out playing Blues and Heavy Metal. My first guitar was an '82 Fender '57 AVRI. Talk about a blues guitar. I can't wait to hear it through the newer amps.

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It was too hard for me to find people my age who wanted to be a blues or hard rock band. But it always has been a big part of my practice regiment. Going on 30-years now.

I've always tried to be versatile. I like to challenge myself with different genres. That's why I'm really digging the Hughes & Kettner Triamp. That amp can do a lot.

But as time drifts away from when I was in Haleamano, I'm finding myself gravitating back to Blues and Blues Rock. People who know me and have heard me play Blues would read the OP and probably say "Ah, he's back!" There weren't a lot of people who understood me joining a Reggae band.

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