I got an email from MusiciansFriend regarding a sale on some amps and I started to have Guitar Acquisition Syndrome.

This Johnson JM60 Marquis Combo is on sale for basically half the price of competitors. Johnson and Line 6 are some of the best guitar effects manufacturers in my opinion although Roland/Boss makes great products also.

http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/48/480752.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=020712044020024045002130688287/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/480752/)

I went to the Johnson Ampification site to check out professionals who use it and noticed the guitatist for Kansas. I haven't heard them in years, surfed to their website and listened to a sample of them doing the Beatles' Eleanor Rigby and it is awesome. They are touring this summer also. It is nice to see there are still great musicians still working.

There is nothing in terms of concerts around here so I will probably head to New Haven to check out a Black Sabbath tribute band or a Who tribute band both of which tour locally.

I am considering unloading my old Ampeg Superjet to help pay for the JM60 Marquis Combo. Anyone else have G.A.S.?

I used to... you know I really did. I wanted a guitar of every type, color, brand... and amps and effects too. My first guitar hero was David Gilmour, so needless to say, I had grandiose plans for my effect board. Now I realize that gear means little in the long run, and it truely is about the player. I like to use a Line 6 Spyder amp... my friend has two, and I'm borrowing one. It's simple, 4 channels, effects are easy to dial in, and it sounds awesome.

If I have a point, I guess it's this: If buying new gear will get you to practice and play more, then go for it. :D

(I used to love infinate comtrolability on my effects. I loved having every sound possible at my fingertips. Now I just focus on 4 really good sounds that all compliment my style of music. - THe Line 6 amp has 4 channels with assignable effects.)

By the way, who is the Sabbath tribute band?

I've always had the desire to acquire, but never the budget.

In the end, I've come to the conclusion that you can either be a guitarist or use effects, but a guitarist who relies on effects isn't a guitarist so much at all. They're a noise maker of sorts.

Same goes for 7 string guitars. If I ever exhaust the six I've got, then MAYBE I'll pick one up, but I don't anticipate that happening anytime soon.

I've got two guitars and a bass, and they suit my needs fine for right now, I'd buy a marshall stack or maybe a vox amp before anything else.

But I'm content right now.

Justin

Originally posted by Unrepresented
....vox amp before anything else....


Would you believe I had an original VOX years ago? It was about 15 watts, all tube of course. I bought it for $75 and sold it for $45 I think. Certain decisions I have made in my life really suck and that was one of them. That was back when the value of vintage stuff wasn't given a premium.

Tube amps are the way to go, but they are pricey and changing tubes can be a headache.

Here was the Black Sabbath band I was going to check out.
Sabbath Tribute Band (http://www.sabbathtribute.com/)

I decided at the last minute to go to Toad's Place instead where a Pink Floyd tribute band was playing.

The Machine (http://www.themachinelive.com/)

They are older guys, like my age :rolleyes:. They play material from every time period of Floyd and be sure to check them out if they come to your town.

LA Music lovers, on July 26 they will be at the House of Blues in West Hollywood at MIDNIGHT (after Soul Brains).

The opening act was the Fountain Project, a new band from Connecticut who played some excellent funky rock instrumental jams.

The Fountain Project (http://fountainproject.com/band.html)