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I love Guitars (Les Paul Standard)

So this is my Gold Top. I absolutely LOVE this guitar. I don't know that I could have one that suits me better if I had it hand made at the Gibson factory as I watch over the luthier's shoulder. Back in 1997 I was playing CBGB in New York City and after the gig we were all to go eat with our A&R guy. We hurried to load our gear in the van so we would no miss our reservations. Somehow, somewhere along the line my guitars got left in the club, on the street, who knows but the bottom line was they got left behind. After a few days it seemed they were gone forever. I was left with no Les Paul so I had to go get a replacement. I had heard that Epiphone was making some very nice guitars after Gibson agreed to license the Les Paul and a few other models, and selling them for a reasonable price. So I went in and played a few and settled on this one. I didn't bother plugging it in when I tried it because I knew I would replace the Epiphone guts in favor of my own set up. (Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan Custom in the neck and Allpart pots w/ ceramic caps). What I was really interested in at the time was how it felt and how it sounded acoustically. I was looking for a warm but clear sound from the strings. This guitar had it in spades. I dunno, maybe I got the guy who did the final setup on a good day or who knows what, but the planets of the rock and roll universe aligned on this one. It just felt like an extension of my own hands. Since I added this guitar to my collection, I have added 2 more Epiphones and I love all 3. This one is still my favorite. I even prefer it to my "Genuine Gibson" Les Pauls. I have used it in countless live performances, studio and jam sessions. It stays in tune like no other, the tone is solid as a rock and it will go from zero to sixty in nothing flat. I have looked for others... Same make, model, paint, etc. but they just are not the same. This was truly a lucky find. Next up.... I have no idea, I'll figure out which one when I sit down to blog.

I love guitars

I understand that's not a very clever title but it is absolutely the best way to describe this post. I got my very first electric guitar when I was 6 years old. It was given to my by my cousin Greg who had just taught me how to play "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals. He was in a band and I thought that was about the coolest thing ever, which of course it was. With that my lifelong love afair with guitars, music and rock and roll began. That first guitar was a no name, japanese made Fender-ish knock off. I'm sure is sounded like setting cats on fire but it was mine and I could make my own special brand of noise with it. My parents were always very supportive of my interest in music and never did anything but encourage me to practice and take it as far as I could. Thanks!

Over the years, I have owned many guitars but I didn't settle on "my guitar" until my mid twenties. My guitar is a Les Paul, named for the man who inspired its design for Gibson in the 1950s. Les Paul was and is a brilliant musician and inventor.  As a guitarist, he created many classic recordings with his partner Mary Ford. He also invented multitrack recording, the tape echo and a multitude of other devices that revolutionized electric music in all genres. That stuff is all great but he will always be associated with and remembered for that guitar.

I really became aware of the Les Paul as a teenager. All the guitartist I admired played them. Mailnly Ace Frehley, Jimmy Page and Joe Perry. As it turns out, all three of these guys would later be asked by Gibson to design a signature edition of the guitar they helped turn into a legend. But really, my biggest influence was Ace Frehley. I was a FANACTIC about KISS and Ace in particular. He played a Les Paul and I had to have one. His even smoked. As a teenager I could not really afford a real Les Paul but I had Kay copy and it sounded like shit but it LOOKED cool. I upgraded the pickups and learned how to work on guitars with that Kay. Sometimes I wish I had never sold it.

As I got older and started playing in working bands, I was able to buy better instruments and amplifiers. I have owned every size and shape of guitar but I always come back to the faithful Les Paul. An electric guitar can be as delicate as gossamer and as relentless as a freight train. It feels like a beautiful woman in your hands and can evoke the same range of emotions. No other guitar does that like a Les Paul for me.

The photo in this entry is my current "family". From left to right... 1998 Fender Tobacco Sunburst Telecaster Nashville, 1999 Epiphone custom shop Flame Kat, 2003 GIbson Honeyburst Les Paul Classic (3 Pickup), 2007 Epiphone Silverburst Les Paul Custom, 1989 Blue Metal flake Gibson Les Paul Studio and in front a 1997 Gold Top Epiphone Les Paul Standard.

Over the coming weeks, I will write about each one of them (in no particular order) because, I promise they each have a story....

The tale of the foot - epilogue

So it has been 6 weeks to the day since I injured my ankle. And just as the Doc said.. it's right as rain (more or less). The stability boot came off 2 weeks ago and I was in the harness for about another week. I still have a limp but it's mostly due to stiffness. The pain is gone. So I learned a few lessons in this process and I will commit them to memory. I'm just glad it's done. Thanks for watching. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Episode III - Revenge of the splint.

The verdict is in. Broken jackass, broken... For those of you keeping track, the wedding was Sunday and it was a blast. I limped and favored my foot all day but apart from having to sit down half way through the ceremony, things went just fine. Thanks to Kurt, Greg, Steve, Les and of course Chris for all the assistance during the day. We got home around 10:30 PM and collapsed into bed. Before I fell asleep, I did notice that I had a voicemail. I listened and it was from the hospital stating that they needed to discuss my xrays. First thing Monday, I called and they verified that my ankle was indeed broken and that I needed to see an orthopedist ASAP. I STILL don't see the break in the xrays but, I'm not a doctor. So, today I went to see the ortho and he was great. Very nice man with a good bedside manner. The first thing he asked was... "Does that hurt?", pointing at the air splint that the hospital had provided. I said well, yeah it does. A lot actually. He said well, that's because it's not really the best solution for an injury of this type and he promptly removed it. As he was removing it, he told me that the device was revolutionary in sports medicine but just not the right choice in this case. Anyway, he wanted to get new xrays just to confirm the diagnosis. 4 photos and about 30 minutes later I was being fitted for an ankle brace and a stability boot. He told me that what had happened was that when my foot rolled over, the tendon was stronger than the bone and a piece of bone actually pulled away from my ankle. OUCH. On the drive home, the pain in my ankle was as bad as anything I have ever experienced but I assume that was just due to the fact that the Dr was manipulating it and checking range of motion. Now that I am home and had a chance to put it up, it feels MUCH better. The Vicodin helps too. I need to wear this contraption for 3 - 5 weeks and I should be back to normal.

Ow... my tibia! (Dumbass part 2)

Okay, I got up this am and could not put any weight on my foot. I went to the emergency room and had it looked at. The diagnosis was an over extension of the anterior ankle ligament (sprained or wrenched ankle) with a possible hairline fracture at the bottom of my tibia. I have attached the x-rays if you care to make your own diagnosis. They gave me an air cast and crutches to use until it stops hurting. The treatment is to keep it elevated when I'm sitting and put weight on it as much as I can stand. I was prescribed Percoset but I doubt I'll fill it. The more intense pain is gone now. This is good news as I will not need to be in a cast for the wedding on Sunday. And before you say it.... Yes I should have gone to the Doctor 2 days ago.