I just though I might need to explain a bit about myself and my often somewhat controversial views/comments.
I was born in a time before computers and the internet existed. I started dabbling with electronics in elementary school. I built a working radio with a toilet paper tube, a coil of very small gauge wire, a diode from Radio Shack, some old dead batteries, some pennies, a few other odds and ends, and a shallow dish filled with salt water.
My father, a professional bass player, wanted a "fiddle" player in the family, so he bought a violin and signed me up with a local instructor for private lessons when I was in 3rd grade at the age of 9. I continued with the private lessons on violin until Jr. high school when I switched to the cello. What guy wants to be seen with a violin case with all of those cute girls around, and I could just leave the cello at school. Besides, I got my first guitar (A 1954 Martin 0-18) at the age of 10, and playing that was so much cooler anyway. I still have the Martin, albeit in not so good condition cosmetically, it plays and sounds like no other can. My father's philosophy about instruments was that you don't buy them to admire how they look, you buy them to play, and if you play them hard enough and often enough there will be damage and scars to show for every minute of use. My Martin looks like it was dragged behind a bus.
Back to the point... I have been blessed with a very high IQ. Not Sheldon Cooper smart, but I could probably kick Wolowitz's butt. Some times I forget that not everyone is on the same level thus I tend to come off a bit harsh or sound condescending at times. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize in advance for any indiscretions that may arise in the future. I have attempted to kill as many brain cells as I could for the past 40+ years with drugs and alcohol, but it has had little to no positive effect so far.
I was born into music. It is a part of me that cannot be removed, replaced, or even silenced. My younger brother is a drummer, and in my opinion could have been a great one if his wife had not insisted he give up his childish toys for family. Every day after school we would jam until our mother could not take it anymore and ask us to please stop to give her ears a rest. Our neighbor once asked her how she could put up with all of that noise. She politely replied... Do you know where your children are?
I cannot own something without learning how it works and why it does what it does even if that means taking it apart and putting it back together until I can do it with my eyes closed. I am no expert at anything except maybe running my mouth when I should be listening. And I often find I need help removing my foot from my mouth. So... Please feel free to correct me if you find any of my comments to be contrary to the facts. At this point in my life I have absolutely no ego left to get in the way of good common sense. I will be the first to admit I am wrong if proven to be so.
I am basically a grumpy old fart with a bad attitude, a bad heart and arthritis. It frustrates me that I can no longer play as well as I once did. My ears are shot from all of the years of playing with obnoxiously loud guitar players, and I have a deep rooted hatred of all things related to "smart" devices. I was probably one of the first guys to put crossovers and subwoofers in an automobile in the 70's. And I like chocolate cake.
Oh... And I am really a guitar player masquerading as a bass player because nobody else I know wanted to play bass.
I was born in a time before computers and the internet existed. I started dabbling with electronics in elementary school. I built a working radio with a toilet paper tube, a coil of very small gauge wire, a diode from Radio Shack, some old dead batteries, some pennies, a few other odds and ends, and a shallow dish filled with salt water.
My father, a professional bass player, wanted a "fiddle" player in the family, so he bought a violin and signed me up with a local instructor for private lessons when I was in 3rd grade at the age of 9. I continued with the private lessons on violin until Jr. high school when I switched to the cello. What guy wants to be seen with a violin case with all of those cute girls around, and I could just leave the cello at school. Besides, I got my first guitar (A 1954 Martin 0-18) at the age of 10, and playing that was so much cooler anyway. I still have the Martin, albeit in not so good condition cosmetically, it plays and sounds like no other can. My father's philosophy about instruments was that you don't buy them to admire how they look, you buy them to play, and if you play them hard enough and often enough there will be damage and scars to show for every minute of use. My Martin looks like it was dragged behind a bus.
Back to the point... I have been blessed with a very high IQ. Not Sheldon Cooper smart, but I could probably kick Wolowitz's butt. Some times I forget that not everyone is on the same level thus I tend to come off a bit harsh or sound condescending at times. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize in advance for any indiscretions that may arise in the future. I have attempted to kill as many brain cells as I could for the past 40+ years with drugs and alcohol, but it has had little to no positive effect so far.
I was born into music. It is a part of me that cannot be removed, replaced, or even silenced. My younger brother is a drummer, and in my opinion could have been a great one if his wife had not insisted he give up his childish toys for family. Every day after school we would jam until our mother could not take it anymore and ask us to please stop to give her ears a rest. Our neighbor once asked her how she could put up with all of that noise. She politely replied... Do you know where your children are?
I cannot own something without learning how it works and why it does what it does even if that means taking it apart and putting it back together until I can do it with my eyes closed. I am no expert at anything except maybe running my mouth when I should be listening. And I often find I need help removing my foot from my mouth. So... Please feel free to correct me if you find any of my comments to be contrary to the facts. At this point in my life I have absolutely no ego left to get in the way of good common sense. I will be the first to admit I am wrong if proven to be so.
I am basically a grumpy old fart with a bad attitude, a bad heart and arthritis. It frustrates me that I can no longer play as well as I once did. My ears are shot from all of the years of playing with obnoxiously loud guitar players, and I have a deep rooted hatred of all things related to "smart" devices. I was probably one of the first guys to put crossovers and subwoofers in an automobile in the 70's. And I like chocolate cake.
Oh... And I am really a guitar player masquerading as a bass player because nobody else I know wanted to play bass.
