Hi All..... Bummer today, I wasn't ready for John's passing... I never got to see The Who, but I always loved John's playing. He was truly original and I'm glad he shared his gift with the world.

B1G T1M, which version of Cubase are you using? Are you using a mac or pc? I'm using a mac and VST/32. I'm contemplating on running gigasampler on my pc and MIDI'ing it to the mac, then using halion to run gigasampler. I've been working 'til all hours of the night. I'm trying to get at least three songs ready to post at IUMA, until I get my site up. I must say, I love Cubase!

hi all... not much to say lately. it's 105 here today, supposed to be 108 tomorrow. - at least it's cooler than Phoenix, they'll experience 114 tomorrow. "it's a dry heat.... yeah, like a blowtorch"

Master Yoda, I'm checking out your IUMA page shortly... It's nice to hear everybody's stuff.

Master Yoda: cool melodies.....

While everyone is talking about EOC and "good techno", check out anything by Talvin Singh - especially "OK". I'm not really into techno, but I love that record. Of course, it's not as favored as EOC. Joe always amazes me by being different. It's someting I've come to over the years- "expect the unexpected".

hey all! I have a spare moment so i thought i'd post....

Matt King - I listened to two of your mP3's.... very good. It has taken me many years(22) to achieve the level of skill I now posess and I'm still learning to be a "good" player; although I don't think I'll ever achieve this goal as I keep raising "the bar" every time I look at it. I was not even on the same map when I was your age. I'm also impressed with your knowledge. It is less difficult now, than when I was young simply because there is a vast resource here in cyber-world. God, I wish we'd had this kind of access fifteen years ago. What is your situation concerning Berklee? I missed that if you posted.

Vetteguy - I know the 550+ series are more expensive, but they're well worth the extra $, even if you have to wait a while longer... Have you tried looking for a good used one in your area? They seem to be relatively easy to come by here and Tucson has to be way less of a marketplace than where you are. Try to find a Japanese one(instead of Korean). The Korean made guitars are good, but there is a big difference between them and the Japanese made models. Look for the serial number on the back of the headstock - most of the japanese models start with an "F".

JS Clone 1 - How are things with your Jem 7 VWH? MIne is still playing like butter.

i hope everyone is well..

Matt, I envy you. When I was a junior and senior in highschool, all I wanted to do was go to Berklee. Though I have family in RI, I did not have the finances to attend. I'm very happy with the way things have turned out - no regrets. It's great that they gave you a scholarship, that alone should say something about your music.

I'll talk to you all later... gotta work now.

JS Clone 1: I won my Jem from Vai's boxed set purchase, but upon recieving it, I could not put it down. I wore off the gold finish in the first two weeks. It is the best sounding/playing lead guitar I've ever had. I still prefer to use my other guitars for backing tracks.

Plum Loco: i couldn't agree with you more.

Pete Mulas: those faces are hysterical!

JS Clone 1: Yeah... I was totally surprised. Steve's assistant, Rich Pike, called me to tell me the good news. He said that Steve would not have the guitar sent unless I promised to play it frequently. He wanted it to be used not admired. I think I've have fulfilled my promise. Steve signed the trem spring cover, which is put in a safe place, of course. Like I said, I love that guitar. I use her all the time and she never complains, never gets fussy. If I ever do care about the gold, I can always buy new saddles for show. Anyway, with any luck you all should be hearing from her soon. I can't believe it's taking me so long to finish this first tune. My partner and I still have solos to record and there's yet to be "real" drums and bass tracks done. It's the most insane thing I've ever written/recorded. Talk to you all later...

P.S. - A live webcast of a European show?!! Joe and Jon, you guys freakin' rule! Thanks for helping to change the music industry, it's refreshing!

Hi all... I have time for a specific question for all of you in the UK: Do any of you know/like the band New Model Army? I picked up "Thunder and Consolation" in '88 and I must say that it remains one of my favorite records, lots of passion.

Joe - You never stop amazing me...... I'm at a loss for words.

heya!

Satch3D - I'm very impressed with COE's new demo, one thing: you need to bring the guitars up a bit, good live drum sound.

Pete Mulas: too bad about IUMA, I wanted to check out your stuff as well.

You guys have to check out a friend's stuff - go to Jason Blake's page at mP3.com I think you'll like it.

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.

JS Clone 2 - I'm sorry to hear of your loss..... it's very difficult. I understand. Lost my grandmother in 96' and my mother 6/26/99. It's always hard...... "Play on bro.."

death_cube_k - a 6100 for $250, get the f#%k out! That's the only head I would consider trading my Mesa for. IMO, it's the best Marshall ever produced.

Yes, no matter what your feeling of Yngwie might be.... he does deserve respect for what he has and is doing. He is a phenominal player. Love his vibrato most of all.

Death_Cube_K - i have a 2k2 three channel dual recto. (love it!) no, i don't sound like "new metal", not that it's bad, just not me. it's too bad that it's been stereo-typed as such, 'cause it's very versatile. again, tone starts in the hands.

You got the deal of the century if you picked up a 100 watt 6100 head for $250. was someone in need of a crack fix or what?(just kidding folks)

gotta go - we're writing the master track for the next tune we're gonna record.

later....

Archangel777: Something that helped me, (still does from time to time) was a book called "Zen Guitar", by Philip Toshio Sudo. You have to learn how to rid your critical self from the creative process. It's not as trivial as some might believe. It's that voice that tells you to change something you've just created to make it "better". I love Michael Hedges' qoute regarding composition:

" You can't MAKE your music good. You can't try to BE good. You can try to be present and you can try to remain open so what is going to speak to you can speak THROUGH you."

He was a genious and I miss him terribly. Those of you who have not had the privilege should get a listen to his material. It changed my life....... Joe can vouche for this as he worked with him on the Pat Martino record, "All Sides Now".

It's fine to be critical after the fact... I've redone things many times until I've gotten the execution as close as possible to what I heard in my head. But, it doesn't belong in the "room" of creation, catch my drift? I've been playing for 22 years and it really wasn't until recent times that I realized this and my world is much different now.

Ahhh Yeahhhh! Seven days until Satchuration in Phoenix, AZ.

Hope everyone's doing well.

hiya Joe, can't wait 'til thursday!

2 Ton - Hedges was a genius! It's sad that he's not with us anymore. I love his music, much in the way I love Joe's.

stu_hacking - Hedges was always classified as "New Age", but he really couldn't be classified. He was simply original.

If you like Hedges, check out the stuff that Michael Manring has done, he played bass with Hedges, they we're kindred spirits. He is a little known "best kept secret" of the Bay area. I'm sure Austin knows all about him.

Well put ethn...... The first recording, of Michael's that I heard was "Aerial Boundaries" in '87. I was hooked. For me, every record was different and wonderful. I still choke up when I listen to "Oracle", "First Cutting" and "When I was Four". "i carry your heart" was played at my wedding as we walked out of church in '91. I did get to see him perform once and I'll never forget it.

minus human - thanks, it's great to know that these incredible artists have an audience....

I almost forgot....