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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2015 15:49:23 GMT -7
You guys may have seen thing thing I wrote a while back about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. ericambel.com/news/joan-jett-the-blackhearts-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-2015/Been trying not to let it bug me but with everybody talking about it people are contacting me again and all. I'm cool with how it's all turned out but there's a few wrinkles that make it a tad unpleasant for me so...... I woke up this morning thinking about the awesome '76 Explorer that I got new in '76 in Cheyenne, WY when I was in school in Laramie. So I started surfing and....... This is my not getting inducted to the rock and roll hall of fame present to me. I sold my terrific 1976 Explorer when I started playing with Joan ‘cause I didn’t want to look like Lita Ford (Explorer was the only guitar she ever played in the Runaways). Joan plays nothing but Melody Makers. Her main guitar belonged to Eric Carmen of the Raspberries. She's got a couple signature model Melody Makers plus back in the day I found her a great Epiphone Olympic that she used to use. Any damn way.... I impulse bought this sorta goofy thing, which is part Explorer and part Melody Maker, for my self as my own shallow victory for not getting to jam with Paul, Ringo & Joe
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Apr 18, 2015 16:23:04 GMT -7
Good for you Eric! Buy a Z Lux too!
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Post by BritInvasion on Apr 18, 2015 16:35:47 GMT -7
Cool Eric! Explorer MM? Dig it!
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Post by "Z" Steve on Apr 18, 2015 16:37:06 GMT -7
As Joe Jackson once sang, " Gotta Look Sharp!" And this axe looks sharp! Congrats on your impulse.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2015 16:37:16 GMT -7
If it turns out to be any good at all I'll probably send it to my pin stripe guy and let him have at it.
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Post by wubberdubber on Apr 18, 2015 16:50:13 GMT -7
Maybe a bit off-topic, as the post is about the guitar, but I have to ask...why would the RRHoF NOT go with the band that put the artist on the map? Is it about hits, or which version sold the most product...what? I like the guitar, by the way...I dig the minimalism of one pickup/one knob.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2015 17:01:27 GMT -7
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame pretty much belongs to Jann Wenner (publisher of Rolling Stone Magazine) There have been many of these kind of conflicts over the years. They picked what could be described as the "MTV version of the band" as opposed to the "original band" As this approached I knew that was how it was going to be. That's part of the reason I wrote that piece that I put on my website. To Joan's credit she put my letter on the front page of her website and also bounced it on her Facebook where it got like 15,000 likes and 7 or 800 shares. It's just sort of a tough day for me and I thank you guys for letting me tell you.
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Post by digs57 on Apr 18, 2015 18:14:45 GMT -7
And I thought I had my work cut out me for my buying a surf green strat...(kiddin)...youll find it's place.
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Post by walt on Apr 18, 2015 18:18:12 GMT -7
Sorry you got buffed out.That guitar looks a bit like Johnny Ramone's Mosrite recast as an Explorer,hope you have fun with it.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Apr 19, 2015 5:31:07 GMT -7
It's crazy to think, Eric, that if you ever want to swap electronics in that guitar.. it's gonna be all those pickguard screws that take up the most time & effort! I'd be super excited to see what your pinstripe guy can do with all that blank canvas.
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Post by Maddog on Apr 19, 2015 7:27:54 GMT -7
Way cool axe, Eric. I've noticed thru the years that you're a "single pup wrap-around" kinda guy anyway! Nuttin wrong with that! And there's nothing wrong with an occasional "comfort buy" when you need to iron out a few dents in the ole soul....
Sucks about the HOF thing. It wudda really hurt my feelings too. But you still got us, Brother!
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Post by BritInvasion on Apr 19, 2015 7:54:02 GMT -7
^^ What Lee said.
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Post by lowbudget on Apr 19, 2015 8:09:57 GMT -7
Way cool axe, Eric. I've noticed thru the years that you're a "single pup wrap-around" kinda guy anyway! Nuttin wrong with that! And there's nothing wrong with an occasional "comfort buy" when you need to iron out a few dents in the ole soul....
Sucks about the HOF thing. It wudda really hurt my feeling too. But you still got us, Brother! Yeah, as big kids we all realize at an intellectual level that life isn't always fair, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with at an emotional level. Don't ask me how I know...
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Post by BW on Apr 19, 2015 11:15:45 GMT -7
Same thing happened to my pal Lewis Stephens, piano player with Freddie King for years.
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Post by LT on Apr 19, 2015 12:35:30 GMT -7
I agree w Lee.
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Post by nmz on Apr 19, 2015 13:14:47 GMT -7
Great idea and nice guitar! Gotta get a pic with it while wearing a tux for the studio. Congrats anyway!
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Post by walt on Apr 19, 2015 15:35:06 GMT -7
Alex Lifeson gives the Jann Wenner hall of lame the FU they deserve
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Post by Jefferson on Apr 21, 2015 21:36:06 GMT -7
Well, you're sure as hell in MY rock n roll HOF!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2015 10:10:31 GMT -7
So the guitar showed up on Monday. While I was waiting for it I found a bit more about these. Some people really like them. It's a mahogany neck w the baked maple fretboard and a maple body. Uses pretty good parts. It really plays nicely and it's a brand new guitar. I put my strings on it which it was fine with (11-52) Here's an internet thing that goes into great detail about these guitars. theguitarreview.com/2012/03/13/gibsonmelodymakerexplorerreview1/
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Post by BritInvasion on Apr 29, 2015 11:39:54 GMT -7
I dig it , Eric. The baked maple fingerboards really feel like ebony to me. Looks like a real screamer!
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Post by El Gato Blackie on Apr 29, 2015 17:56:22 GMT -7
Very cool. Can't help but hear big chunky chords when I see that.
Thanks for sharing your letter. You were part the original band and toured with her? F'n Awesome!!! It would have been great if you would have been included in the RRHoF, but I would think that among your friends and peers you're a total bad arse regardless.
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Post by JebusCrebus on May 1, 2015 6:37:27 GMT -7
Hey Eric, Thanks for posting that review,I have a 2011 Les Paul style MM with he Kluson DLX tuners and all. I got the guitar when a Buddie of mine won it as a sales promotion thingy and he didn't want it (aka I got it super super cheap ). After reading the review I am really digging it all over again. I will disagree with one thing in it I have mine strung up with 8's as a BFG kind of experiment and I find it extremely stable, toneful and very fun to play like that (I think Billy and BB are on to something there)! I highly recommend picking one up if you can it is a Rock N Roll monster!
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Post by justblues on May 3, 2015 18:13:48 GMT -7
Nice that Joan posted your letter ... Really the ethical thing to do.... Not the same as receiving the award, but it sends some well deserved recognition your way!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 6, 2015 7:00:16 GMT -7
Eric, Like everyone else, I think it's simply wrong that they would induct the "MTV" version of the band. You and the other founding members are the ones that put in the hard work and sweat that pushed Joan into the spotlight of MTV in the first place. I have great respect for your attitude about the whole thing, sir. You've got great character, and no trophy or induction can ever take it's place!
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 11:53:12 GMT -7
I played a gig with the thing on Saturday night. Had the Ghia and ended up playing at quite a big lower volume than usual (9 and noon) but the thing sounded really great. Had plenty of "brrraaanngg" to it. I imagine the maple body is a factor. A buddy of mine, Alvin Youngblood Heart, has the Melody Maker from this same series and he showed me how he drilled through the body to put the jack in a more traditional spot on the lower bout. I think I'm gonna do that cause even with a right angle jack the cord is sorta in the way. I also want to move the volume control to where the jack currently is. The volume control is way to close to the strings for me. The second hole would be fine. I gotta find one of those metal hole plugs to put in the open hole. What size is the hole for a jack or pot?
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Post by BritInvasion on May 18, 2015 12:09:23 GMT -7
Typically a pot bushing is 3/8" diameter.
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