Happy Birthday Gibson!

Last year I blogged about Gibson's birthday. I celebrated adding clips of Eric Clapton discussing a famous Gibson Les Paul, a video showing a tour of the Gibson guitar factory, and a video on making a Gibson. You can enjoy that post again here,

Another year  so let me share a picture of one of my old Gibson guitars.



It is a pretty basic guitar a 1971 SG100 single pickup thing.

A little guitar humor as Gibson pranks Fender at a guitar show..

This SG has a few more bells and whistles..

Happy Birthday Gibson and thanks for checking out my blog!

Remembering Leo

I never met Leo Fender. However, I own three of his guitars. Two Strats and a Tele in my collection. More important than my guitars..are what the masters of guitar playing have done with the guitars Leo had a hand in creating.

Anybody who reads my blog knows I like guitar music. I couldn't imagine a world with know Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour..and the list could go on. More locally Danny Gatton, Tom Principato and I could go on. One of my favorite young guitarists Joanne Shaw Taylor. I know I am leaving out a ton but I think my point is made. Without Fender guitars and the musicians playing them the musical landscape would be different.

Leo Fender passed away 20 years ago yesterday..March 21, 1991. Funny my Telecaster is a 91. I probably should have posted something yesterday but the passing of Pinetop Perkins trumped it. Feel free to comment about your favorite Fender guitar or Fender playing guitarist. 

50 years ago...

According to Fender,,,The Beatles made their debut. They played the Cavern Club in London. Yes they are another band that made their start a few years before I was born. However, their music still holds it's own.

I would still go and see Ringo or Paul today. If I had the money. Now if they were charging 1961 prices I think I would be able to scrape it up. One of my biggest thrills when it comes to music is related to the Beatles. I was in Virginia Beach in the Summer of 1999. I was in Virginia Beach to see Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in concert. Anyway, I was in Virginia Beach early and had some time to check out a Beatles museum. Anyway, it was a slow day there and the guy running the place let me pick up and strum a couple of notes on a Fender Strat which was owned by George Harrison. Unfortunately the Beatles museum has gone away. If any one knows please let me know?

Me being so young (okay so middle aged) my Beatles memories are a bit scarce. I did manage to see Ringo Starr a couple of times. His shows are really cool All-Star jams. Seeing Ringo, I was treated to listen to some really cool musicians. Paul McCartney puts on a heck of a show filled with his own hits and plenty of Beatles songs.

I am so glad they came together 50 years ago..

40 years ago...

40 years ago Jimi Hendrix passed away. He passed away at the age of 27, way to young for anyone to pass away. He did a lot in his short life. He was an outstanding guitarist. Some would call him an innovator. Some would call him the best. It is hard to call someone the best guitarist. Different styles, different approaches...but I think it would be safe to say very few where on his level.

I've always wonder what music he would have turned out if he would have lived past 27. What ventures would he have done? Would there be a jazz album? A blues album? Sadly we will never know. Not only was he a fantastic guitar player I also was a fan of his lyrics.

Anyway here is to celebrating his life. Sadly his life ended before mine started but thank goodness there are the recordings...