Vetteguy43: If you go with a Seymour Duncan pickup, stay away from the Invader, way too muddy - had one many years ago. Instead try a JB or a Distortion(SH6/TB6). I have this combo in one of my RG550's - it's pretty cool. Leads don't sound as good as my Jem w/ EVO's, but I always use it for rythm tracks. I have the distortion in the bridge and the JB in the neck(sounds sweet). If you go with DiMarzios, EVO's are cool as are ToneZone's, FRED's and PAF Pro's.

stu_hacking: on the Les Paul, the other guitarist in my band has a LP Studio loaded with Seymour pickups. A JB in the bridge and a Seth Lover in the neck. It sounds f*^%ing incredible.

Well, I have finally heard SBM for the first time, and, summed up, it ROCKS. As soon as put it on, Oriental Melody totally sucked me in. Mindstorm, as sick of the word as I may be, was worthy of all the chanting. So refreshing to hear some Satch hard rock... kinda like something off "The Extremisr". The Traveller/ Journey odyssey is also cool... The latter reminding me a little of Vai's "Dyin' day". What Breaks a Heart, You saved my Life, Sleepwalk... Also right up there! ("You Saved my Life" is kinda like "You're my World") Yet to be honest, I did find a couple songs slightly less than amazing. I gotta admit I haven't really "got" Belly Dancer, and "Chords of Life" isn't what I thought it would be. Still, overall another Satch classic. There seems to be more emphasis on Melody in this album than on technique, but without any detrimental effects on the quality. (Of course, Satch, unlike Vai, has never let technical prowess interfere with melody, but on this album the ratio has shifted a little more.) About on a par with "Engines", but not quite as good as "Crystal Planet" or "The Extremist".

Higain where you been bro? Where did you get SBM? Did you import it? (I hope not!)

Apologies to those I falsely accused last week...

Went to Tam O'Shanter Bay on Friday night for a surf trip. Got there at about 2am, and first thing in the morning the report was: "go back to bed, it's too big"

Fine by me. Sleep sleep sleep.

Higain - 46 man! Oh! Not the thing to say with a "belated" in that post. Quick! Edit it to say 46! Heh. SBM does rock. What did you think of What Breaks a Heart because that song does things to me. Everything about it is amazing. And about technicality vs melody, Joe has really taken me over with the melodoes on this album. He may not have gone as crazy with the flapping fingers but you can't tell me you didn't have to check your underwear after you heard the arps in Mind Storm. That pickslide solo rocks too.

Psycho Monkey/ Ovation1: I was on holiday in Japan just last week. Stayed in Tokyo for 3 days. Have you guys ever been to ESP Craft House in Shibuya?? It's totally awsome! It's got really funky guitars. Like 3D angels and stuff. Think of Steve Vai's weird guitar collection. They also make custom guitars for customers!

Need some 'SLICK' up in here!

NoStringGuitar - Joe usually sings one song live. It looks like it'll be I Believe this time around.

the alien surfer - Use the "mark read" buitton at the end of each post.

Joe,

Have you ever thought about doing a studio album featuring yourself and other great guitarists of the modern era doing original songs composed just for this hypothetical alumn? Also since this is all hypothetical; who would want on an album of this nature?

Narface : Yeah, been there a couple of time... talking about a crazy place ... well, it's in Shibuya... (people that went there will know what I mean by that)

ESP got a whole building with only guitar goods in Ochanomizu, THE area for guitar/instruments in Tokyo. That's where I usually go for my guitar shopping. It's like 2 stations away from tokyo on the chuo line (orange line)...

Paul - Thanks for the photos, didn't take too long to download, they're not crystal clear but nice to keep, thanks again. When the concert started did you see that bloke who was taking photos officially for Satch, he had been outside too taking pictures of us lot queueing.

Shell - we were downstairs front, centre right next to the bloke who passed out.

Higain- Joe is now 46.

Austin - does Joe appear much on any of the music channels. We don't have Sky/Cable yet.

Joe, have a safe journey home and come back soon.

I can't stop listening to this "Strange Beautiful Music". This offering is like manna from heaven to my ears.

jblaze1: I don't know if you'd be interested but I have a few things I'm going to sell and I thought you might want first dibs

1.) ADA MP-2............................................$250

2.)Digitech 2112.........................................$300

3.)Digitech Control one................................$150

......2112 & Control one................................$400

4.)Mesa Boogie 395 simul-stereo...................$375

5.)Tascam 424 4 tracker................................$125

6.)Gallien Kruger ML-250................................$225

7.)ART midi foot control w/ cable....................$50

8.)Crate 4X12 cab w/ 70watt celestions...........$325

Hey! It's monday (groan!).

JS Clone1, Chromeboy_1999 - sorry the JS10th mp3 demo didn't get through. I was having some trouble mailing from home, but I guess that it won't get through to you JS as it's 3.5mb in size...

Chromeboy, I've just resent to you and it seems to have gone through ok this time. Let me know if u get it!

Death Cube K - hey, thanks for the interest (would you like me to mail it to you?) - but I really don't know how to put the mp3 'out there' on the web and am about to go on holidays this week for 1 week, so unless someone wants to help out in putting the demo up for me somewhere, I'll have to wait til I'm back to figure it out!

Popefridge, i was at the show in amsterdam, but i didn't see any hoodies at the merchandise-stand...there were only 2 or three kinds of tshirts, a longsleeve shirt and caps....i didn't buy any though, i think the prizes were pretty high....but if there was a hoodie to buy, i would have !!!!

JOE - plz, if you read t2j while you are on the road, plz tell me if you got my present at the amsterdam show...i left you a cd, wich was placed at your pedalboard by a security guard...so plz tell me that Mike Manning or someone else gave you that cd....there was a note inside the jewel case wich was adressed to you...it's from a friend of mine, and it would mean a lot to me if i could have helped him out by giving you his present.....

greetz,