Just got tickets for the Pensacola G3 show. None of the other G3's came close to here so unfortunately I didn't figure this one would either and I missed the presale. Oh well, it'll still be worth it. Row Q's better than not going at all, right? This promises to be one of the best concert experiences of my life. I sure hope I hear "Crystal Planet" and "The Traveler," two of my very favorites.

Hey guitargurl, glad to hear you and Acerbicaxeman will be in attendance. I've seen Eric Johnson at the Saenger and the acoustics are great. There are no bad seats either because it's kinda small. It's gonna be great.

Hey Joe, think I could get you to autograph my JS1000 after the Pensacola show? I just love this guitar. Great work on the design.

I heard Petrucci wrote a bunch of new material for G3, think Yngwie will write a bunch of new instrumentals in keeping with Joe and Steve's main genres and make the whole show mainly instrumental?

EJFan, Joe describes the technique you mean in his "Guitar Secrets" book as follows:

"WANG#1: You'll need a guitar with a wang bar, an amp with a generous amount of distortion, and a pick. You will also need to be familiar with the technique of creating harmonics with the right-hand thumb. This is accomplished by allowing a bit of your right-hand thumb to touch the string or strings as they are picked. Start with a broad downstroke across strings 4, 3 and 2 about four inches from the bridge. Use the right-hand thumb technique to create two or three harmonics. Simultaneously, reach over with your left hand, grab the bar, and swiftly but smoothly bringing it down, then up as far as you can. Hold it for a brief moment, then quickly bring it down until the strings fret out. This should take about four seconds."

quoted from: "Joe Satriani Guitar Secrets 41 Private Lessons as Featured in Guitar" Copyright 1993 Cherry Lane Music Company

(I know I'm not supposed to reproduce or transmit this as per the copyright law, so I just hope Joe will forgive me.)

Anyway, EJFan, I hope this helps. I helped me. If you get the chance, pick up the book. It's full of great lessons and tips. I think I got mine through Amazon.

Ok, how about for Steve's tracks on the DVD...The Black Forest, Opposites Attract (Self Indulgent Version) and Frank?

As far as Robben Ford is concerned, check out Talk To Your Daughter or Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. Killer stuff!

I'm sorry, it may be old but Yngwie just has to play Black Star for G3. I don't care if it is on his live album. Get over it.

Triple neck JEM. And I thought my friend's double neck 12 and 6 Alvarez acoustic was cool.

no guage: My personal favorite Malmsteen album is Fire and Ice, but it's out of print. You can always check out the one that got the whole neo-classical thing started, Rising Force. Personally I think that most of his latest releases tend to all sound alike but hell, he's got a formula and sticks with it. Oh, Magnum Opus is a good one too.

The Satch Tapes - Can't wait til Nov 18th. I almost forgot Joe once had hair...lol. I think I prefer the current look, I'm so used to it.

Nov 18th is going to be quite the day. Satch Tapes, Joe's anthology, Steve's anthology, and if I'm not mistaken, isn't that the day the 4 DVD set of The Two Towers is released also? I'm gonna be a poverty ridden man on the 19th! Of course no one's poor who has the music of Joe and Steve.

ovation1: How you use the Whammy...that's just too funny. Adrian Belew is just too much. I saw him with Bowie. He's the only guitarist I've ever seen play half a solo without ever touching the fretboard. And it wasn't all whammy bar either. Just amazing.

I think I'm going to start making soup a regular part of my gigs. Maybe I won't have so many problems with lead vocalists! Hmmm...Eddie are you listening?

Do The Stu: You're not in any danger are you? I noticed on the news that the winds had died down and now the fires are doing unexpected things.

I've saw that karloff has 12 posts total...I think they're all the same. Of course I may be wrong. There may be one or two that are different...well, maybe not. Hey karloff, why don't you try to sound like karloff? I have a Whammy pedal and use it with a Takamine!! How's that for different?

WooHooo!!!!!! I won an aftershow pass for Pensacola on the Vai website. I'm so excited I can't see straight. Whew! better sit down...oh, I am sitting down. Damn, I'm just gonna have to get my JS1000 signed. There's a luthier in Destin I'll take it to and have it sealed so I can still play it. I can't quit playing my favorite guitar just because it's autographed, now can I?

Hey, about the aftershow meet and greet...can you take cameras? I'd love to get my pic taken with the Grand 3.

ToneCapone: I'd just have to break the law. No trick or treating? Next election vote those jerks out of office.

ovation1: Thanks, I think I'll purposely leave out YJM from signing it too after reading on this message board that he wrote "Play Fender" on someone's guitar. I'll just get him to sign a CD.

Hurst77: shred-techno fusion? how about shrechion?

OCPS470: Your comments on Yngwie don't surprise me. I've been listening to him for years now and everything you say seems to me to be what I'd expect. I'll know tonight for myself since I'll be at the Pensacola show. (WooHoo!!!) Seriously though, I've bought every one of his albums but the last 5 or so I've returned and exchanged them for something else because they all sound the same. He has a certain formula for songwriting it seems and doesn't want to progress. It's a shame since he is a real talent and he did pretty much single-handedly start the neo-classical trend in the 80's. I will say this though, good or bad, I've wanted to see his stage show for years so it'll be an interesting experience to say the least.

Finally I'll
Understand the
Rreasons for these
Yngwie comments

crispin: about the wah thing, I'm not sure what to tell you but have you made sure the pot is not dirty? you may want to get it checked out. Funny thing about wahs, different ones sound better with different guitars. I have two - a Crybaby Classic and a Vox. The Crybaby sounds better with my JS1000 and the Vox sounds better with my Les Paul. I'm not sure why but it just works out that way.

guitargurl: Tonight's the night!! I hope to meet you and your husband at the meet and greet.

Ah the Pensacola show...what can I say in the aftermath that hasn't been said before? Oh yeah, how about this? THERE WASN'T A DAMN THING WRONG WITH THE SHOW!!!! I mean really. Where to start?...

Yngwie - I've been a fan since the first Rising Force album and last night he didn't disappoint. That is if you went to see him be Yngwie and not a Joe or Steve clone. He was the shreddin' pick flickin' and kickin' and guitar tossing 80's guitar god I knew he was and wanted to see. Yes all the things others have said are true but THAT'S WHAT MAKES HIM WHO HE IS!! He was totally enjoyable and some of the Baroque stuff he did solo with just an Echoplex and octave splitter were just beautiful. Also performing a piece from his orchestral album with the pre-recorded orchestra parts was good too. You just gotta know who and what he is, expect him to be that and nothing else and he satisfies. At least I was blown away by him and I know I wasn't the only one there who was.

Steve - the consumate showman/musician. From the triple neck opening to the final special effects on For The Love Of God, I could not keep my jaw from dropping into my lap. This guy has more tools in his toolbox than a master carpenter. And he used every one. Granted as long as I've been playing I don't have much experience with a whammy bar equipped guitar so Steve's technique very inspiring. I won't soon forget this show.

Joe - This is the man with feeling. He doesn't shred over classical motifs like Yngwie...although he could. He doesn't use as many tricks as Steve (a la blowing a new harmonic or using his tongue)...although he could. He pretty much speaks his mind through his fingers. A total unique talent and an inspiriation to me. Thanks to him I started writing instrumental music. His tone was incredible and I enjoyed the sound of the Peavys. He was my favorite of the night but that's because out of the three, he's my favorite anyway.

The jam - Great stuff and you could tell they were having a lot of fun...all three of them. Yngwie did fit in, in his way and was accepted by Joe and Steve. You could tell though that Joe and Steve have a history together that Yngwie didn't. I could get nit picky about some of the stuff (the singing by all comes to mind) but if you have to sit and pick apart a show like this due to something as trivial as the vocals not being up to par by a full time guitarist then you had no business being at this show in the first place. Everything was wonderful.

To be continued...

Pensacola continued...

The meet and greet - This was interesting. Yngwie had a table while Joe and Steve just stood amongst their fans. I had a CD of Yngwie's Magnum Opus album for him to sign because I had been forwarned about the "play Fender" crap that he was doing. I didn't even take my guitar out of the case for him to sign...and I'm glad of that. One of our local shredders had him sign his chrome Ibanez and of course Yngwie signed "play Fender." Well needless to say our shredder was pissed off. Truth be told though, Yngwie did not sign that on every guitar. Maybe he only signs that on Ibanez's. He didn't sign someone elses Joe Turner "play Fender." Joe and Steve were very accessible. My JS1000 just quadrupled in value last night because I got both Joe and Steve to sign it in gold. I'm going today to a luthier and get it sealed so I can continue to play it. Joe was hesitant as to where to sign until I told him it would be sealed. Then he signed it real big right where my arm goes when I'm playing. Steve signed it right below the neck pickup. I thanked Joe for designing the most comfortable guitar I've ever played. He seemed genuinely pleased when I told him his guitar had made a convert of a lifetime Gibson player. Steve was also pleased when I informed him I had been a fan since the Zappa days. We exchanged a few words about his Flex-able album and I let the other fans have him. What a great guy. Every one made time for the fans...even Yngwie although he kept complaining about the air conditioning in the place.

Well, I've said my piece. All in all it was a night I'll never forget...and I have my signed JS1000 to remind me.

guitargurl: It was great meeting you and your husband. Hopefully I'll see you two again at other venues. Take care.

Thanks all for listening...keep them strings tight.

First of all, to those who commented on my review of the Pensacola show, thanks for the kind words. The show moved me so much I just had to share my thoughts.

Secondly there's one thing I didn't mention that means a great deal to me. One thing that really impressed me during the meet and greet was the fact that when you spoke to Joe or Steve they really listened to you and responded. I've gotten autographs from some people who just sign and move on. Joe and Steve take a few seconds and really relate to you on a personal level. I can't speak about Yngwie about that because he was just getting settled down when I got my autograph and I didn't really ask him anything.

Anyway, that's the last thing I had to say.

Hmmm, there could be a Neil Peart signature glockenspiel, although he's gone to a midi marimba for those parts in "Closer To The Heart" now.

The Prez: I have a 2002 model JS1000 and the stock pickups are DiMarzio's. The JS100 does not come with the DiMarzio's but if you want it to be like Joe's you'll need to not only replace the pickups with them, you'll need to get it wired as well with the center-tap switch in the tone control and the high pass filter in the volume knob. I've heard both guitars and the tone of the 1000 is much sweeter.

ovation1: If you want to see Jaco in action I read somewhere about a Joni Mitchell concert DVD. At the time it was made she was really into a jazz sound and Jaco was her bass player on 3 albums. The review I read was glowing about Jaco's performance and even said she highlighed him in a nice solo section. I personally have 1 of those albums on vinyl and have to say Jaco was the most impressive thing I'd ever heard at the time. He even seemed to overshadow Joni. Not an easy thing to do on her own album. lol

Do The Stu: I just researched it and the DVD is called Shadows and Light. It features Jaco on bass and Pat Metheny on guitar. I haven't seen it but like I said I've got Don Juan's Reckless Daughter on vinyl and it's fantastic. I haven't listened to Joni in years but I may just pick up this DVD.

962: Speaking of Kazaa, I agree with your feelings about file sharing. For anyone who does this kind of thing, go to trowerpower.com and see what file sharing has done to Robin Trower, one of the finest guitarists ever to grace the 70's rock scene. He was on top of the world, now he can't even afford to tour to support albums he can't sell because of file sharing. He should at least be able to tour the festival circuit but can't even do that. There's a plea from his manager about file sharing. I for one am going to buy his latest album direct from the website to help support this wonderful artist.

Ethn Hayabusa: So...who would you rather Yngwie be? Why can't you accept him as the player he is rather than compare him to others or try to make it a competition? I'm sure there are players out there that can play you into the ground too depending on what style you're playing in. Don't be negative. I saw the show and know that Yngwie can shred rings around me. But then I'm not a shredder. I think I can play blues better than he can, but then I'm not trying to compete with him. Why don't you instead try to just be the best guitarist you can be within your own style? If you can shred better than Yngwie, more power to you but why compete? Joe and Steve don't. I saw it for myself.

sorry, just had to vent a little there.

invigor: Joe doesn't wear the same shirt every night. (if he did, phew!) The night I saw him he wore an Yngwie shirt. What a statement!

ovation1: I'll get anything I can get my hands on. I'm very impressed.

Matt Martinez: Maybe if nobody shared the musicians would make out better. I'm not talking about the big boys like Metallica or the Stones or those guys but the little guys who depend on record sales for a living. It's common knowledge that most tours don't make money, they're just advertising for the recorded material.

String G: I'm glad to see someone else agrees with me about Blackmore.

Have y'all seen the spin-art Strats? What about a spin art JS series or JEM Ibanez?

michelle: You're story about the pick was beautiful. Your act of kindness will be returned tenfold. What a wonderful thing to do.

PhryDom: Yeah, but the Nuge at least eats what he hunts. He doesn't just hang it on the wall.