I have some new Toys. The Garage sales and guitar shows have been good to me.
First, here's my new Baby. It's a 1957 Gibson Skylark. It is the loudest little amp that I've ever played through - very dirty sounding. It weighs more than any amp its size that I have. The best part is that it cost $75 at the Toronto Guitar Show. (I went up on vacation to see Niagra Falls and stopped by the show. I'm not crazy enough to travel all the way to Toronto to buy a use amp. Well, maybe I am.)
Here are some new, cool mics.
This one is a Laffayette Crystal mic. It is loud and nasty with the original crystal.
I got a Kent mic at the Albany Guitar show a few months ago. Here are the pics.
That's Carlos trying it out. The thing didn't work when I got it. It was wired for low impedence. I replace the pot, the crystal and the wiring and added the 1/4 inch jack to replace the non-standard one.
Here's a cool mic that Keith Adams sent me. It's designed to fit better in the hand. It fits just fine. I used it the Bergenfield, NJ jam and found to be very comfortable. Adams can make these for you. He reluctant to go into the mic business, but he can be persuaded to whip them out easily and the prices are very reasonable. (Cheaper, I think, than most good harp mics. But that may change if he gets a few orders.)
Adams is also a pretty good songwriter. Here's an example:
Mississippi Saxophone
Sitting by my mortal self
But I aint alone
Wind off the sea searching for a tree
Likes breaking their backbones
Oh heartless wind cries like a child
Only bout half grown
Pleads with me for harmony
Mississippi saxophone
(chorus)
Mississippi saxophone
Got such a mournful tone
You give me everything I need
You're everything I own
Hey cold friend
I bet you been
Eating away at stone
Blow off leaves while I bend reeds
To your whistling moan
I've had better company
At least I aint alone
If you feel blue start talking to
Mississippi saxophone
(repeat chorus)
We left Mississippi
When we got the urge to roam
Wanted to see those northern lights
Shining bright as chrome
If I've got a pocket
At least you can go home
The wind tells me it's warming up
Way down south in Nome
(chorus)
..........Adams
Carlos loved it. Smile Carlos!
Those of you don't know Carlos Colina, know that he should have his own CD. He learned from listening to Paul Butterfield and is good friends with Paul Delay - who he often sounds like. He's probably the top player in the northeast, but he doesn't gig much - prefering a quiet home life to the cool lifestyle of a professional harp slinger..
