Kantner Autographed My Guitar

[FirstBassman]

Last month, after the JS concert I was able to chat with Paul for a while and he agreed to sign my Mapleglo Rickenbacker:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welc ... t2rlu0bP0g

[zeke]

Paul looks so old

I would never use that guitar, I'd hang it on my wall

[jimmie ray]

No - that's Mark, silly...
Paul took the picture, right?
Just kidding - this ain't a beauty contest - it's Rock'n Roll, baby!
So - I could ask a million questions... But what did you kids discuss?
I didn't get the impression that you have taken lessons from him, if he teaches? How did you become acquainted?? Any chance of you hooking up with him to play??? Is he looking for a bass player????

[Diane]

Thanks for sharing the pics!

Awesome!

[Jon_G]

I never could figure why Pete Townshend was so keen on smashing Rickenbackers - or was it just more hype?
Maybe I can get Jeff Beck to sign my Aria acoustic -

[gTarFreak]

I'll see your Paul Kantner and raise with my Jorma Kaukonen...





Hey, Mark... exactly how many Rickenbackers do you own?

Cheers,
Dave

[FirstBassman]

I never could figure why Pete Townshend was so keen on smashing Rickenbackers - or was it just more hype?

There is a bitter discussion exactly about this issue over at the Rickenbacker forum. Some people said, they're his guitars he could do what he wanted with them. Others say it is a waste, especially because the guitars could have been given to people who want them.
At least Townshend was egalitarian about smashing guitars. He also banged up Gibson SGs and Fender Strats too.

exactly how many Rickenbackers do you own?

So far, only two. Both 360 12-strings. A FireGlo and MapleGlo. But I am seriously considering selling the FireGlo.

[FirstBassman]

Oops, Sorry Dave, forgot to congratulate you on the Jorma autograph.

Hope to raise you in about two months.

[Chasin'Destiny]

There is some kind of 'users manual' available for it.

http://members.home.nl/jjurgens/guitar-users-manual.JPG

At least 2 lucky ones here !
FirstBassman & gTarFreak

Congratulations !....
So close to the 'source'....

[freakmeout]

Rawr.
The Jorma guitar is delicious. I want it.

[jimmie ray]

I had no idea that the whammy bar put so much tension on the strings - that is in the relaxed position?

[gTarFreak]

Yeah, and that's the beauty of the Bigsby, as you can bend up as well as down (Strats can only bend down). All the string tension is balanced by a small, thick spring under the handle. I'm amazed at how in-tune the guitar stays, as well as how much sustain it has. The handle pivots freely from almost straight back to straight up (in line with the strings). It's a big part of the early JA sound.

Cheers,
Dave

[Jon_G]

I took a look at one and thought the Bigsby was both well balanced and usable, all too often yr Bigsby is just stuck onto the guitar as an afterthought - plays and sounds more like a Guild than an Epiphone though -

[FirstBassman]

Jimmie Ray, sorry for taking so long to respond. Just kind of got side-tracked there a little.

What did you kids discuss?

We discussed the guitar a little bit. Like most players, he said the action should be lowered. (I always raise the action on my guitars to avoid fret buzz.)
We talked about the venue and the fact that they chose it to open the tour.
We discussed songs (such as Weaver material) that the band might add later in the tour.
I told Paul (he hadn’t heard) that the Weavers had won a special Grammy.
We talked about tunings and chords for a couple of Airplane songs.
And we discussed a couple of the contentious issues that we have touched on before.
I was going to ask him about Grace but forgot.

I didn't get the impression that you have taken lessons from him, if he teaches?

No, I have not taken formal lessons from him. As far as I know, Paul does not do formal teaching. (Though I have asked him to.) But every chance I get, I try to glean as much information as I can in a very short period of time.

How did you become acquainted??

Only through the shows (and e-mail).

Any chance of you hooking up with him to play??? Is he looking for a bass player????

I once half-jokingly suggested that to him. And of course, that put him in an awkward situation. He asked if I was any good.
Maybe one day. We shall see.

[Chasin'Destiny]

FirstBassman wrote;

We discussed the guitar a little bit. Like most players,
he said the actionshould be lowered. (I always raise
the action on my guitars to avoid fret buzz.)
We talked about the venue and the fact that they
chose it to open the tour. We discussed songs
(such as Weaver material) that the band might
add later in the tour. I told Paul (he hadn’t heard)
that the Weavers had won a special Grammy.
We talked about tunings and chords for a couple
of Airplane songs. And we discussed a couple
of the contentious issues that we have touched on before.
I was going to ask him about Grace but forgot.


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That was something i would like to know.....
So ,please put the question on the 1st place of the
list 'what i should ask 'm when i see 'm again....'
THANX !!!.......