The Well XI. My name is Curly.

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Thanks for great answers to my questions!

I have one more: can you describe yourself with on single word?

Tor,

I used to work with some farm boys from Iowa. Whenever they did something amazing at work, someone would say, "that was amazing!" and they would reply, "just average", as if to say, "aw shucks, it was nothin' .."

that stuck with me, and now whenever my boss or co workers say, "hey, good job!", I often say "just average". well, it's kind of a joke.

I've told my boss a few times that my epitaph will be, "just average".

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

What's your favorite movie/actor/actress?

What are you book are you reading at the moment?

What other hobbies do you have outside of music?

hey, Ryan

I like movies that surprise me, that don't "talk down" to me. I generally don't care much for the big productions and star driven movies, although there are exceptions.
One of my favorite movies is "Wings of Desire", directed by Wim Wenders. He did a trilogy of movies, and that was the best of those three. He also directed the documentary for Ry Cooder's "Buena Vista Social Club" in Cuba, and did "Paris, Texas". Besides being an interesting director, music is always a big part of his films.

I don't read much literature. Next to my bed right now is the Blackguard Book, 'cause I'm building an Esquire and I like to look at the pics and read the specs.
One of my favorite books was "Ficciones", a book of short stories by Jorge Borges.

when I went to school, I had a hard time picking a major because I had a wide variety of interests, but the common thing is that I'm interested in different countries, cultures, and languages. I think the more we know about other cultures, the more we find what we have in common. It seems like most folks are the same all over the world, and that it's governments and politics that separate us.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Hey there Curly-mon! I have a question for you. You seem pretty stable and unflappable. Does anything ever really tick you off? Lew

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Awesome read Curly...
Really would love to taste your chilli and play some of those sweet guitars!

Niels

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Well,
If your nephew needs something while he's here let me know. I'm in the area of Jerusalem.

I'll be expecting a call from you if you'd decide to visit....

thanks kindly, I know that Israelis are known for their hospitality!

my nephew is 20, and funny. He's a drummer and toured with a band last summer. he's also learning bass, guitar, and keyboards.
here's a pic from our trip to the House of Blues:

he's in the green T

I'll tell him to give you a call, although I'm not sure if he has any free time - he's on a state-sponsored tour group, and will be there about 2 weeks.

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Hey there Curly-mon! I have a question for you. You seem pretty stable and unflappable. Does anything ever really tick you off? Lew

Hey, Lew!

I do think I'm pretty easy going, but I do rant about the little injustices in life.

I also hate driving more and more every day here, and find myself cussing on the freeway:
"F ... in' Idiot!"
"what the He!! are you doing????"
"get offa that GD cell phone and pay attention!!!!!"

I have a couple of sayings about the drivers out there:
No matter what you thought, you'll see something new every day.
And my favorite, "they breed in higher numbers".

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Hey, Lew!

I do think I'm pretty easy going, but I do rant about the little injustices in life.

I also hate driving more and more every day here, and find myself cussing on the freeway:
"F ... in' Idiot!"
"what the He!! are you doing????"
"get offa that GD cell phone and pay attention!!!!!"

I have a couple of sayings about the drivers out there:
No matter what you thought, you'll see something new every day.
And my favorite, "they breed in higher numbers".

I can't picture you reacting like that Gary...but I lose it more easily when no one can see me - like when I'm driving and some F###in' Idiot should get offa that GD cell phone and pay attention to what the He## he/she's doing! LOL!

 

[Artie]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

A couple weeks later I got an email from my friend Todd Driscoll with a picture from '67 of "The Stein Club". I'm the short guy in the middle:

Who'ld have thought all that jet black would turn into silver gray? You wear it well.

Gary, do you have any great - "If I had it to do over" - moments? (Aside from the obvious finishing college.)

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

hey, Ryan

I like movies that surprise me, that don't "talk down" to me. I generally don't care much for the big productions and star driven movies, although there are exceptions.
One of my favorite movies is "Wings of Desire", directed by Wim Wenders. He did a trilogy of movies, and that was the best of those three. He also directed the documentary for Ry Cooder's "Buena Vista Social Club" in Cuba, and did "Paris, Texas". Besides being an interesting director, music is always a big part of his films.

I don't read much literature. Next to my bed right now is the Blackguard Book, 'cause I'm building an Esquire and I like to look at the pics and read the specs.
One of my favorite books was "Ficciones", a book of short stories by Jorge Borges.

when I went to school, I had a hard time picking a major because I had a wide variety of interests, but the common thing is that I'm interested in different countries, cultures, and languages. I think the more we know about other cultures, the more we find what we have in common. It seems like most folks are the same all over the world, and that it's governments and politics that separate us.

Interesting. My favorite film is 'Faraway, so close'.

As far as I can tell, you and I have uncannily similar tastes in gear. So what's your favorite amp right now, and what 5 amps would you like to add to your collection?

-what's the best gig you've ever seen?
-Ever thought of doing a mahogany/p90 tele?
-what's the stupidest thing you've done at a gig?
-If you had to choose a particular type of food for the promotion of world peace, what would it be?
-Have you tried the Carr Vincent? -any thoughts?
-what's your ideal lineup for a saturday night jam?
-if you were a professional wrestler, what would your outfit look like?

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

What inspired you to start piecing together strats and teles?

Is there any color/s that you would never do?

If you could have one super power what would it be?

Who is your favorite super hero or super villian?

Who is your favorite character?

What inspired you to start piecing together strats and teles?
-- As far as doing custom projects, I had an interest in guitar design early on. In my 20s, I was getting newsletters from American Guild of Luthiers. I had a serious interest in building my own acoustic one day.

For quite a few years, I just had my two Martins, and no electrics. I bought a couple of American Standard strats in the early 90s, but I was always frustrated by the fact that you had to look at 20 Fenders to find one you liked. I bought a few G & Ls, and one of them was my favorite guitar for years. But I was still driven to build something to my own specs.

so I started with a few Warmoth projects, then after talking to Fred, the tech who helped me do a lot of the work, I started using stuff from Tommy at USACG.

most of my projects have been vintage or 'modern vintage' type specs, and I've stuck pretty closely to tried and true methods and materials.


Is there any color/s that you would never do?
I'm just not a big fan of reds and greens, although there are some shades that I like on guitars.

If you could have one super power what would it be?
Not exactly a superpower, but if I could ask for one thing, it would be wisdom.

Who is your favorite super hero or super villian?
I'll be honest. When I was a kid, I was more into cowboys than superheroes. I spent my summers on a big ranch, so all I wanted to be was a cowboy. Unfortunately, one day you grow up and find out those old cowboy movies were highly romanticized. Real cowboys work long hard hours for not a lot of pay, but they love the freedom and life style.

Who is your favorite character?
I'm a big comedy fan. I love the Marx Brothers, and stupid stuff like Naked Gun, stuff by Mel Brooks, and then of course Seinfeld.

I like comedy that's irreverent, and pokes holes in people, keeps us honest, and like music, helps us get through life.

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Awesome read Curly...
Really would love to taste your chilli and play some of those sweet guitars!

Niels

hey, Niels!

chili is definitely a great dish in the Winter!

maybe I can air freight some to Denmark, along with a strat or two.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Would certanly warm it up here...lol we have a fullmoon and frost

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Who'ld have thought all that jet black would turn into silver gray? You wear it well.

Gary, do you have any great - "If I had it to do over" - moments? (Aside from the obvious finishing college.)

hey, Artie!

I got the gray from both my mom and dad, and I was salt and pepper by 30.

regrets -- a few
I would've liked to have jammed at User Group Day. I had my chance, but I was chicken. I'm not sorry about the way it turned out though.

I would love to play out once in a while. It's a struggle with a full time job, but the real problem is probably just getting offa my fat a$$.

---------
Oh, these days I wish I hadn't sold my blackface Princeton Reverb.

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Interesting. My favorite film is 'Faraway, so close'.

As far as I can tell, you and I have uncannily similar tastes in gear. So what's your favorite amp right now, and what 5 amps would you like to add to your collection?

-what's the best gig you've ever seen?
-Ever thought of doing a mahogany/p90 tele?
-what's the stupidest thing you've done at a gig?
-If you had to choose a particular type of food for the promotion of world peace, what would it be?
-Have you tried the Carr Vincent? -any thoughts?
-what's your ideal lineup for a saturday night jam?
-if you were a professional wrestler, what would your outfit look like?

hey, Martin!

all three films in the trilogy by Wim Wenders were interesting, and "Until the End of the World" had a great soundtrack as well.

I agree that we like a lot of the same gear - strats and teles through a mix of tweed and class A amps.

So what's your favorite amp right now, and what 5 amps would you like to add to your collection?
I always come back to my '56 tweed Deluxe. Sustain, compressions, and harmonics galore.

my Paul Ruby/ 'Wreck Rocket clone is a great gigging amp. I'm pretty happy with it, but if I could change one thing, it would be a cathode bias amp.

-what's the best gig you've ever seen?
I've talked about some of the gigs I saw back in the 60s and early 70s. I was lucky to have seen the Beatles, Hendrix, Cream. I've seen Clapton a half dozen times, including a gig at House of Blues/ Hollywood. I sat in the front row, so that was special.
when I saw Santana, it was at a benefit concert at Winterland, and it went till about 2 AM.
I saw some great concerts when I lived in Santa Barbara - Jackson Browne a couple times, and Little Feat with Lowell George. Ray Charles. ..

these days my favorite place is the Belly Up Tavern, which holds 1200 max, and is kind of a laid back surfer bar. Some of the people I've seen there:
Hellecasters (a few times), John Hiatt - solo, and with Sonny Landreth, David Lindley, Finn Brothers ...

sorry for rambling -- it's just really hard for me to pick one!

-Ever thought of doing a mahogany/p90 tele?
no, but one of my next projects will be a mahogany body/ maple cap tele with a strat neck pickup/ tele bridge.

-what's the stupidest thing you've done at a gig?
I got shocked a couple times by the mic, and that made me kind of gunshy about singing.
for some reason, I got more serious and self conscious at the same time I was woodshedding, so when I played out, I turned my back on the audience a lot. that was rude.

-If you had to choose a particular type of food for the promotion of world peace, what would it be?
Probably Mexican food. and definitely not "organic" cuisine.

-Have you tried the Carr Vincent? -any thoughts?
haven't tried one, but I saw the add with Coco Montoya, and his tone is always one of my favorites.

-what's your ideal lineup for a saturday night jam?
guitar/ bass/ drums/ Hammond B-3
with the right players, you could do Rock, Jazz, Blues, Gospel, and Soul

-if you were a professional wrestler, what would your outfit look like?
I would get one of those Mexican Wrestling outfits, so gaudy it would be a real distraction. Then, I'd poke him in the eyes, Stooge-style, and run like hell.

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

How was the Finn Brothers concert, Curly?

 

[tone4days]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

hi curly - great job hosting
quick question about the wreck clone ... how 'loud' does it have to be before it gives up the goods? i've never been in the same room as a 'wreck or clone but i get the sense that they have to be quite loud
whats your experience been?
t4d

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

OK, I'm back after a little holiday running around.
Happy Holidays to all!

How was the Finn Brothers concert, Curly?

Rain,
that was a great show, warm and intimate, the first leg of a tour that ended with the full band in London. Being the first leg, I think they were a little jet lagged, which led to some funny moments and false starts, but that venue is very comfortable, and the crowd very forgiving, so it was a good place to start. It was listed as a solo concert, but they had a couple guys on bass and drums, and did stuff from both of their solo stuff, and all their bands.

I'm a big fan. I saw Crowded House several years ago, with Sheryl Crow opening when she was just breaking out.

A couple of years ago, I saw the "Neil Finn and Friends" tour, and that was an excellent show. (The "St. James" CD is one of my favorite live recordings.)

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Curly, that Deluxe is such an old worn out junker of an amp, wouldn't you like to trade me for a nice shiny newer model?:laugh2:

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

quick question about the wreck clone ... how 'loud' does it have to be before it gives up the goods? i've never been in the same room as a 'wreck or clone but i get the sense that they have to be quite loud
whats your experience been?
t4d

Bill,
I hear that comment about the Express, because it's a 50 watt amp, no master volume, and solid state rectified. My friend Sam has an Express clone he ordered from Paul the same day I ordered my amp, and yes, it's LOUD.

Ken Fischer built two other circuits - the Liverpool, which began as a request from someone who wanted an amp to replace his AC 30, but with more gain.

the Rocket was Ken's more direct take on an AC 30. It's tube rectified, although not cathode biased.

yes, my amp is still quite loud, even with the half power setting that Paul added. When it was finished, I was starting a vacation, so I had it shipped to my friend Sam. He played it in a church that holds about 1000, and loved it so much he ordered one! (He also has a vintage AC 30 to compare it to.)

I've always felt an AC 30 has one of the best rhythm crunch tones. This amp has that EL-84 crunch, but with enough gain to make a good lead amp. It's gainy but articulate.

My cab has a Celestion Blue/ G12H 30 combo, and that seems perfect. It sounds so good, and looks so cool, that I wish I was playing out, so I could open her up, and play it like it should be played.

 

[Curly]

Re: The Well XI. My name is Curly.

Curly, that Deluxe is such an old worn out junker of an amp, wouldn't you like to trade me for a nice shiny newer model?:laugh2:

I know, it's a shame it's so beat up. I think I got it for $650 about '94. I had to replace the output transformer. I still have the original tranny if I want to restore it, but it sounds great as is. I also replaced the speaker, and put the original P12R in a box. I run all NOS tubes in that amp, and it's just killer fun. It has gotten slightly microphonic lately, and will go into howling feedback with some guitars, but I kinda like that!