Peter Cook Ned Callan guitar prototype.

 Hi to all of you out there.

This is the other video that Peter shared with me.

Ned Callan Prototype, the narration tells you all about it.

Peter Cook. Ned Callan Workshop Video

 Well, it's taken me some time but here I am again!

So, let's kick off with the video I promised.

Peter sent this to me ages ago (sorry Peter) and I have finally got around to posting it to the world.

This is a very old "film", taken in the workshop where Ned Callan Guitars and Basses were made. Very period and old world grainy but very entertaining, non the less.

Enjoy.

 Cheers. : ) 

 

March 29th Flat Eric breaks free. . . . .

 Today is the start of very slowly returning back to normal. . . hopefully!

I have many musician friends who have adapted, modified, innovated, collaborated, Zoomed, Facetimed and everything else they can do to keep the ball rolling, just hoping that one day. . . . .

In truth, it is not going to be the same and won't be for a long time but let's face it, playing to half a pub, half a hall or half a stadium, is going to be way better than what we have had.

Let's take it one step at a time, move forward safely and keep our fingers crossed that we never go back to what we have experienced.

Good luck to all of you out there - take care and stay safe.

All the best.

Cheers. : )

Back real soon with some new discoveries of Peter Cook instruments.

Bass Guitar and Guitar Collection 2021

 Today is January 5th and here in the UK, we are back in full lockdown again. 

Musicians, sound and lighting guys, crew, venues etc. have all seen their world turned upside down and it isn't going to get any better for the next few months.

It seems that festival organisers are looking to make plans for this year but are looking for some insurance type of backing from the government, just in case!

There are some venues that just haven't made it to this point, it was just too much for them, so I believe it is really important that when the ball does start rolling again, that we all support them as much as possible. 

I have lost count of the gigs and concerts I have been to, as I'm sure most people have but let's make sure that when we can do it safely, we savour every moment and reflect on a time when it just didn't happen.

There are a lot of guys - and girls out there, that have quite a few guitars and basses and in normal times would find great joy in taking a different intrument to the next rehearsal or to a gig but with the situation we are all in, it just doesn't happen. I have found myself reaching out for one particular instrument, over and over again, during these troubled times and strangely enough, it's a guitar! Nothing fancy, it's not an expensive custom build, it has been well used during it's life but much loved by all it's owners, I'm sure.

What is it. . . . . .? An old Ibanez SB70! We have just bonded, it's as simple as that! I have said this on many occasions, every now and then, you come across something that just feels right, no matter what is says on the head, there is just something about it. Than's not just my opinion, several other people I know have simply said. . . WOW!! I quite agree with them!

Ibanez SB70

Take care and stay safe.

Cheers. : )

Eddie Van Halen.

 The 6th of October was a very sad day for anyone that loved his music and for all those millions of guitarists out there, who on first sight, couldn't believe their eyes.

I was one of the first lucky few to see him in the UK, 13 dates into a UK tour, with Black Sabbath. They rolled into one of the best places in the midlands at the time, Demontfort Hall - noted for it's acoustics and layout.

A friend and I had managed to get tickets to see Sabbath and travelled to Leicester to see them and for both of us at the time, an unknown band, their support - Van Halen.

This was May 31st, 1978. No internet, no mobile phones - to know what was going on, you would buy the NME and scan through it.

As was the usual case, we would head to the bar for the first part of the evening, as quite a few supports we had seen in the past, were not up to much - this night was different! With a pint of Newcastle Brown each, we stood in the bar and the support struck up. Within seconds, the bar was empty and there was crowd, all open mouthed, staring at this young man in total disbelief!! What the . . . . ? Who is that? How is he doing that? The amthmosephere was one of the most electric I can ever remember, it was, as my friend said, "Truly Amazing"!

What Eddie did in those early days and the following years, was change the face of Guitar Playing, forever!

To me, a real Hero and a true Legend - the memories of that night are still very clear in my mind and to think that aged only 65 years old, he is no longer with us, is very saddening.

Thank you for your time with us, Eddie Van Halen.

October is here and so am I!

 Hi to all out there. : )

There has been a lot of activity on my posts for my MPC Electra 620 and also my Ovation Magnum.

What tends to happen is, a bass comes up for sale somewhere and people do a bit of research before bidding, guess that's what it is.

There is a new Blogger interface and seeing as the virus has not gone away and the bad weather is coming. . . . you never know, there may be a bit more activity on here! 😉

Sit tight, let's see what happens.

Stay safe.

Cheers.😊

Music venues in serious trouble.

Back again!

In lockdown, it was understood that everything came to a standstill, including me playing anything. . . . well almost, I just dont seem to have the heart/feel the vibe.
Now things are opening up, with only localised lockdown, it's a shakey start for many shops, pubs, eateries etc but for specialised music venues it is a non starter.  
I can think of a bucket load of places, with some very happy memories, that are small and intimate and are brilliant places to see live music but in my mind's eye, I can't see a lot of them being around in the future. 

Where does that leave the growth of new bands and music and how will people who are hungry for that live experience get their fix? At this stage, I have no idea.
Perhaps up and coming bands will break out on line but standing shoulder to shoulder, screaming out the lyrics and being at one with the whole experience, that is a long way off! 

It really is a case of Watch this space.

I have my fingers and toes crossed that some will make it through to the other side.

Stay safe, wash those hands and hang on to some hope.

All the best.

Cheers. : )

How the world has changed for musicians of all kinds. . . .

If you have landed here. . . . Hi. : )

In January, I thought that I could launch myself into getting the blog rolling again, starting with a unique Telecaster project but once again, things got in the way and this is the first post since January. . . . . Shame on me!

Since January, the whole world has changed and I find myself sitting here this morning, thinking about the performing musicians of the world, who's life's have be changed way beyond they could have ever imagined.

I have many friends who are amateurs, semi pro and professional and it doesn't matter what level you are at, we are now all affected in the same way.
No stadiums, parties, weddings, clubs, pubs, festivals. . . . nothing - the nearest thing to live music has been on the streets on the clap for the NHS but these has pretty much now stopped and everything else has been streamed on line.
A great deal of effort and imagination has gone into these and for the time being that is the way things are going to be.

I seriously doubt I will be gigging this year and with so many venues under so much pressure to stay afloat, where would I, you, your friends, your heroes get to play anyway.

Since lockdown, I have barely played a guitar or bass, which is sort of weird, given that in reality, there has been a lot of spare time to do so and plenty of instruments to choose from! I think it may have something to do with not having any goals to aim at - new numbers, rehearsal etc. Hopefully this will pass and my enthusiasm will return.

I hope all of you that have landed here can look forward to returning to the way things were in the future but I think it will be some time before that will become reality.

Stay safe and keep playing.

Cheers. : )