Diver Down - B2A

Here's the pic that I've been promising of the first Steinberger licensed bass that I purchased back in '84 from Crazy Jim's Anoka Music Center, (now Mr. Mark's Music) which I first referenced in the Wednesday, July 13, 2011 post "Small Package, Big Sound". The diving flag paint scheme is pretty unique, but in line with the styles of the day. Distributed by Hohner & tagged as B2A (Bass, 2 pick-up, Active electronics) this was really bargain priced for the day ($399). If anyone remembers Rod House from the band PANIC, tell him I'd like to buy this one back to use in my current touring bass line-up. This axe photographs very nicely & would work well in our current setting.
My next in town show is this Saturday, November 5th at Main street in Hopkins. Swing in for a cocktail if you're in the neighborhood. Next up after that is Saturday November 12th at McCracken's in Burnsville where I'll be playing the white Steinberger pictured up at the top of this page.

1966 Ibanez Dega

Guitar of the Week
Japanese export from 1966, Ibanez Dega, catalog #452. You'll rarely see one of these in Minneapolis, but there have been sitings reported. It's the mystery of the outcome of the hunt that makes us continually seek out gems like this. Now you tell me, who wouldn't pick this up at a local garage sale if you saw one. I don't care who you are; certain guitars are so alluring that we become helpless as if there were a beautiful naked woman standing in front of us. We open our wallets & walk away smiling with our prize.

ALERT - Stolen Guitars

Four guitars stolen during a break in at Encore Music 2407 Lyndale Ave S Minneapolis on Sunday night this week.
1959 Gibson es-125 cherryburst SN#20326
1974 Gretsch country club
Charvel fusion black shredder guitar SN#326948
Kramer striker single duncan pickup
First two are very similar to photo. Please forward any info to the owner Chad Speck & aid in the recovery of these axes.
Encore Music 612-871-1775

Vote for Minnesota's Best Bass Player

You've worked the circuit, you've seen the players, you've grooved on the tone & the licks. You know who's a dedicated entertainer & who's a unreliable ego-ed out flake. Now's your chance to pay homage to the guys that have layed down the coolest combination of low notes so there was a foundation to build on. Click HERE to vote for the best bass player in Minnesota & show that you actually paid attention over the years. When you're done with that you can vote for MN's best guitarist on the same site.
MusicMates.com-Musician's Megabase.
Salute!
http://www.musicmates.com/vote-best-minnesota-bass-player.php
The pic above is a nice clean 74 Fender Precision American work horse. My black '71 P looks darn near identical to this one. Check back for photos.

Washburn G-10V

These old Washburns from the 80's are some of the most functionally useful guitars out there for the money. It seems that everyone out there who has one of these got it for under $200 bucks. That's a steal for a quality US or JAP made vintage dive bombiming metal machine. Note the locking nut & the three on/ off switches for the pick ups! The hockey stick headstock would be enough to reel me in. Check out the value ratings on Harmony Central to learn more about why these are so loved. I've got my eye on a Washburn A-10 right now that is just oozing the MTV vibe. Frosty Atkinson is the proud new owner of this red relic, & you can join his fan club here. Someday I'll post a picture of his '65 Gibson Firebird. Here's his band's website: lot80s.com. Catch Frosty's next big show at Pickle Park on Friday October 28. This is a great concert venue with a wonderful nightclub atmosphere. Make sure you check out the giant 32 foot Gibson guitar hanging over the bar while you're there.

Japan Air Strike EX-1

When Fender JAPAN released their new line of active guitars in the eighties it didn't quite have the same impact as Hiroshima, mostly due to some of the heaviest competition the market has ever seen from other exporting manufacturers. Nonetheless, they produced some fine unique axes like like this pristine example. John Ryan's 1989 Fender Heartfield EX-1 finished in Blue-Burst. This bolt on beauty came with a recessed mount licensed Floyd Rose trem, active rail pick ups, which are very hot and loud! It also has some cool electronics like a boost switch, coil splitter, and a sweep control. You might be able to catch this axe out at a show with John's band Stealin the Covers. Check out their facebook page to find a list of their scheduled performances.

1979 Gibson SG Exclusive

Great color combination on this Gibson from the late seventies. Finished off nicely with cream pick guard, block inlays, brass nut, fully bound neck & Grover tuners, this was one of the finest playing guitars I've experienced. With the jumbo frets & ultra low action, this axe practically played itself (like butter). It also featured factory pick-up coil tap controlled by a rotary "Tap" knob. Even the Dead Milkmen sound good using this axe in the video for "Punk Rock Girl". This was my third SG (25 years ago), & was the best one by far to date at that time. Only 478 of this model manufactured (one year only, 1979), & there were a couple available on the web recently. I'll file this in the "sold way too cheap" file along with my 1962 Fender Jazz. Oops!

Gene's Fine 59's

Looks like it was a catalog Christmas for some lucky kid back in the day. Who remembers looking at the guitars in the Wards & Sears catalogs as kids in their youth, & picking out your favorites for your wish list? Dreams can come true, as proven by Gene's fine '59's. Side by side, here are the fierce competitors; Airline & Silvertone. Money was scarce in 1959. If one of these cost 25 cents more than the other, odds were pretty good it would outsell it's counterpart nearly two-fold. This pic submitted courtesy of the Gene Olson collection. We'd all be proud to display these early classics. Gene was one of the first sound techs that I worked with back in the late seventies, it's always a treat to see his old gear.

Coyote - Beep Beep

HONDO Coyote
Speaking of great duos, You may remember this rare model attacking in pairs as twin cities metal power pop band Obsession hit the stage in the 80's. When Jeff Loven & Brynn Arens came out with these dogs barking after our set back in '83, I was immediately a howling fan. These guitars are really hard to find now, & I was glad to see that Brynn still has these canines, as seen in the August 2011 reunion show at the Cabooze in Minneapolis. Long live Rock. You can catch Jeff doing his one man show in town most any night here in the cities. Click HERE for the schedule.

Hydra Power

On the left: Tom Schulz collection, Minneapolis MN. This BC Rich is a USA model. 22fret, Ibanez Gotoh Floyd bridge, Grover Tuners, Dimarzio pickup. You probably won't ever see another like it, but one never knows. On the right: EVH collection, Pasadena CA. The original early Charvel Hydra.

Tom & I rocked the twin cities stages together in the nineties, & he's a world class talent. Known for his work in the Blondes, Maniac, Tony Kamona, Raven Wolfe, & the Mixx, Tom is a very sought after performer. As for Eddie, well, Michael Anthony got the gig in instead of me back in 73, cuz his mom knew Eddie's mom; but you've all heard that story before... }:-D-

Dynamic Duo

These early Charvel Hydra guitars are just about as cool as the guys that played them. Enter Johnnie Donaldson & Dugan McNeil from famed midwestern regional act Chameleon. The first time that I got my hands on these axes was back in '83 at the old Palms Ballroom in Renville with my band WYZDOM while sharing the stage with this legendary act. So many pick ups & knobs on these rock machines; it looked like you were flying the star ship Enterprise. The six string non-reverse had been repainted black as it's shown in the picture. The reverse 4 string is a little harder to come by, as I believe it to be a custom from the Knut. If you know where either of these two axes may have ended up drop me a line.

1963 Epi Crestwood

Freak of the Week
Epiphone made some great quality guitars in the sixties, including this neck-thru beauty. Both style & playability were in check during this era, & there's nary a player out there who wouldn't appreciate this double cutaway gem. Looks a bit like an SG, & the stock custom Bigsby style wrap around tremolo is beautiful. How about that nicely finished clear plexi pick guard. I wish these were as easy to find as they were in the 70's. Got a cool axe like this? Send me a pic.

1995 Ernie Ball EVH

Povlitzki's was the host to another of my long standing favorite north-side bands September 9th. Brandon Przezdziecki was laying it down with his cool Music Man for Inside Out. These small body EVH's have sustain for days, & the headstock design can't be beat. It's always a real treat to sit in with IOB. Click here for the Band's schedule.

Purple Rein

We may never know exactly what the hell this is. Rumor has it that it's called an Auerswald Model C & it's manufactured right here in mini apples. We can be certain it's one of the most uncomfortable axes used in a live performance. Looks like they took a 80's Roland synth axe, tuned it upside down, gave it even more sharp edges, & added some really ugly gold hardware. This guitar helped the artist formerly known as Prince redefine the glam movement. Would be cool to spot him around Minneapolis once in a while.
Click HERE to see the purple one's guitar collection.

All day String Change

Freak of the Week
This guitar can make anyone a rock star. You'll need a strong back to show it off though. Leave the polishing & string changing to the road crew.
Catch Raven & Vixxen doing their cool impersonations of all the hip chick acts from the famed MTV era at these upcoming shows:
Prime Time, Burnsville Friday Sept. 23
Main Street, Hopkins Saturdat Sept. 24
Jimmy's Octoberfest, Vadnais Heights Friday, October 7
Neisen's, Savage Saturday, October 8
Find the full schedule under the TOUR link at Risrox.com. Find out more about me HERE.

1954 Fender Re issue - JAPAN

I had the good fortune of picking this fine Stratocaster yesterday right here in the hood. Wow, that's the second Jap strat that I procured locally in one week. This is a 1954 Fender Reissue made in Japan 94/95. Really not a lot of these to be found. Beautifully crafted with a soft V profile neck. Looks completely authentic, except for the absence of 50+ years of abuse & play wear you'd expect. More pics & info of this good luck charm can be found by clicking HERE. To quote the great philosopher JETT, I must iterate "I love rock & roll". This one may be for sale soon. You can contact me with offers.

I'm going to Jackson

1985 JACKSON Custom Soloist. I found this fairly rare smooth playing axe to be in amazing original condition. Owned, gigged & cared for by John Richardson, currently performing with MONARCH around the northern suburbs. He's been with this show for 15 years, so he delivers a real smooth performance. I caught their show this past Sunday filling in for IOB. John is also known for his past work with CROW & DICK TRACEY. You can catch John's next show:
September 16&17 - CHAMPLIN LEGION - Champlin, MN
September 24 ZIMMERMAN LEGION Zimmerman, MN
December 30&31 - CHAMPLIN LEGION - Champlin, MN

Music Man - S T I N G R A Y

Jim Brophy is shown here with his tri-color sunburst four banger. These low end tone monsters have some of the best natural sound out there, & the playability is nothing to laugh at. As usual Leo got it right when developing these classic timeless functional works of art. Jim had three of these beautiful Music Mans lined up at the big Pickle Park show last Saturday night. Bigger is always better in the glam world of rock & roll. Click HERE to see what's new with Jim's cool band JoyRide.

Chop - Chop

This pic is from last August at jackpot Junction in Morton, but I'm doing another show with this guy tonight at Stifftungfest in Norwood/ Young America. Bobby Jensen is seen here with his Cort GS-Axe-2 Gene Simmons limited edition Signature KISS bass. He says "it's the coolest bass you'll never hear". Very cool bass recreation. Bobby is one of the greatest Minnesota entertainers that I've met. Click here for a Link to the official site of his band Hairball.

Can you correctly identify this Mystery Axe?

Freak of the Week
Comment on this post, or send me a message if you think that you can correctly identify this fine axe.


Here's some cool links to vintage guitars for the enthusiast:
http://www.vintageguitar.com/
http://www.solidbodyguitar.com/
http://www.gruhn.com/
http://vintagecityguitars.com/
http://www.elderly.com/
http://www.vintageguitars.net/
Let me know if you find any of these sites particularly cool to browse.