Kirk Ferentz's Alternate Reality

but you look at the large number of songs that were released after his death, I think its evidence of sheer ridiculous talent that Jimi had. Really the entire arguement is subjective, everybody is going to have a different opinion. All I can say is that, is since probably since the mid 80s(i.e. Jeff Beck, Clapton,etc.) there hasn’t really been anybody that has stepped into the spotlight, and said “I am the next great guitarist.”

The Doors. Good? yes. Great? Eh, not so much. But really rebounded with the help of Jim Morrison dying early and Oliver Stone believing that Morrison could have ended Vietnam if only he’d lived.

Have you ever heard the Zappa instrumental “The Secret Carlos Santana Chord Progression”? He uses the same song structure over and over.

This isn’t Nam, there are rules.

…but Monet also painted the same stuff over and over, and jazz musicians do it all the time. He does explore “themes” an aweful lot, but it might be a cultural (like who he learned to play from) thing.

From that particular band there, there’s a lot of successful people now. Two doctors, a graphic artist, a VP of pharm recruitment at a major corporation, middle-managers, etc. The guitar player in that picture is actually faking having his shit together. ;)

Did you compete at the 1980 Coe College Jazz Festival? I was Outstanding Soloist of The Day there. I was totally floored when they called my name… instead of a plaque, though, I got a double Dexter Gordon CD from the Coe jazz band director (speaking of high, he had to be a major stoner if there ever was one. Nice guy. But definitely in a cloud of mildly narcotic smoke all the time LOL).

That guy lives in SF with his wife and kid; he’s a graphic designer. He could grow a beard like that when he was 14.

It’s funny you mentioned a Gibson L6-S. I sold my ‘78 Custom about a year ago. My little brother bought it off me for $500. The humbucking pickups were shot, and it had a few light scratches. Other than that, it was a thing of beauty. Truly one of the most underrated Gibson guitars out there.

As for my Martin, there is a funny story that explains how I came about ownership of it. My best friend used to own a guitar store and would "allow" me to play a few of his Martin’s he had on display. He would occasionally make a remark about me spending my molding money and buying one for myself.

One day a lady brought in a used DXME , she needed some quick cash and the pawn shop had no idea what they had on their hands. My friend bought it cheap and told me he’d sell it to me for a small profit.
The next day I showed up at his shop cash –in –hand only to find out he had sold it moments before. Needless to say I was pissed. I didn’t speak to the guy for a few weeks after that.

After a few weeks my friends and family threw a b-day party for me. After opening up a few presents, my friend who owned the guitar store told me to go out to the garage and grab a few beers. As I walked into the garage I saw a brand new DXME. I was shocked. Turns out, he and my brother conspired behind my back to buy me new DXME .

When I asked about the used one the lady brought in, he said that it was not a used DXME and that the lady that brought it in was a rep for Martin and they made the story up on the fly just to throw me off their trail.

Still have yet to post some pics, will try and get to that tonight. I sear as the years go buy, I become more and more lazy!

I have a gibson les paul goldtop reissue, a gibson studio “gem” series les paul, and an off-brand japanese acoustic. I have a 70’s silverface fender musicmaster amp for screwing around, and a Sovtek 100W tube head with 4×12 cab for rocking. Also I have an old gibson falcon from the 60’s. My next purchase is going to be a fender twin and a stratocaster.

I totally agree with you on Ibanez. They make some of the best guitars, especially for the price.

As for taking off “20 years” from playing, you have been on" vacation" longer that I have been playing my entire life. I have been playing for about 12 years and if I had to rate myself, I would put me at a few steps above medicore at best.

I used to buy all my gear from my friend, but since he’s gone out of business, I have slowed way down on my purchasing.

I usually play a lot of acoustical. Just love the pure clean sound. I usually play a lot of classic rock with my SG. I try and do my best David Gilmour. I also love blues.

I’ll probably give the red Ibanez to my son if he’s interesting in learning to play, he just turned 10. My daughter is going to take Guitar as part of a Summer Camp/School and I’ve ordered a 3/4 size classical for her as she’s 8 and a tiny little girl… 14 days of 1 hour lessons in a row. If she decides she doesn’t like playing guitar, I’ll have a nice little practice instrument for taking to work and practicing at lunch.

You must be talking about Rob Lowe in St. Elmo’s Fire?