Sep172009
Bags, Drugs, & Guitars
Filed under Music,stuff by Kim at 3:29 pm on Sep 17 2009
Why do I continue to get myself involved in more things, when all the time I fantasize about having nothing to do? This contradiction in myself is pulling me in two directions pretty much all the time.
Product placement: I heretofore endorse the the Timbuk2 Cargo Tote as really nice even if not necessarily the most sleek, mod, hip looking bag to ever come down the pike. (My latest favorite thing is that you can see all the custom bag designs people make on tumblr.)
It stands up on its own so when you set it down on the floor or a table, it doesn’t lay down and let all your things fall out. It has a nice wide opening and light-colored lining (if you choose that) so that when it’s open, you can see EVERYTHING you have in there and fish out what you need. The handles/straps place the bag in that comfortable sub-brachial spot that makes me feel like I have a secure grip on it without being all up in my armpit. And it zips, so if you are paranoid like me and worry that someone will reach into your bag without you knowing, you at least have that. Oh, and the exterior pockets allow for easy access to crucial stuff.
But it does give off a kind of practical, homely vibe. Oh well. I am practical and homely. It suits.
Through various machinations and plans with medical professionals, a while back I was prescribed with a tentative and temporary Xanax dose. I have to say, this stuff does exactly what I need – when I have acute problems, it slows the anxious feelings down to a handleable level. In the past 2 months I’ve used exactly four of them, so I think I’m not in any danger of dependence. But I think it does this amazing thing where it teaches you what it feels like to be in a situation that would normally trigger irrational stress levels but allows you to totally handle it. It’s a gentle reminder of being normal, and you can do the rest of the work yourself. So basically thank goodness for science.
My guitar teacher says that my Jay Turser guitar has a really high action. Uhm? He made me try his guitar, and it didn’t seem that different to me. We’re talking fractions of a mm here! I do think Jack’s PRS feels nicer but we’re not buying another one of those! So he says he knows a guy who could lower it a little for me. I dunno. I just pine for one of these.
Jack and I have an ongoing debate about guitar practice. I’m curious about how you guys feel. He says that he doesn’t mind practicing without plugging in, and that he can hear just fine what he’s doing this way. I say I can’t tell how well I’m getting my fingers on the strings and how much buzz I’m causing or what I’m accidentally muting without being plugged in. What say you folks? Practice with amp or without?
I suspect we will compromise and I’ll get an 1/8″ to 1/4″ adapter for my headphones and listen to my own practice that way. I’m pretty much playing the first couple measures of Limelight over and over and over… and over. So I can see why he doesn’t want to hear that.
I am slow on the uptake, so I just found out yesterday that there is a new “supergroup” in the world, composed of Josh Homme, Dave Grohl, and John Paul Jones. And they will be at the 9:30. So I’m trying to get some tickets off craigslist. Because I am crazy.
1 Emilyon 17 Sep 2009 at 4:54 pm
Is there anyone on earth who doesn’t want an SG? You have to actually be DEAD to not have a deep down desire for an SG. And hey, it’s 52% off! Think of all the money saved! That’s a huge cut in the price! Sure it’s still $1200.00 but you’re saving nearly $1300! It’s a bargain!
I still have my Fender Stratocaster. It’s hanging right here on the wall, although small child makes guitar hard.
Buy a headphone practice amp. Get a Line6 Pocket POD. It is a little bit of intense happy love. It will do you so well you won’t even know how to squee in sheer delight.
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Kim Reply:
September 17th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I’ll add that to the list of $100+ things I want, yep!
I keep adding things to the list of “things that will be a congratulations present to myself when I graduate from nursing school someday” list. Currently that list holds a Charger R/T, several guitars, new carpeting, a PS3, among other things.
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2 Leesaon 17 Sep 2009 at 6:12 pm
1. I’ve admired your bag before, as you know, and I will have to break down and get one sometime in the next few months.
2. I’ve had friends practice both ways depending on what their goal was for that practice. I think the headphones are a good solution.
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Kim Reply:
September 17th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Really, you could fit any hobby in this bag!! I love it. You won’t regret it, and the custom colors are just tops. It’s fun and feels personalized.
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3 Jenon 18 Sep 2009 at 7:31 am
I was going to suggest the POD that Emily did – I know that’s what Breezy uses to practice, as he often wants to play after the kids are asleep. My brother said he’d loan me his electric (it’s a Yamaha) so if I ever have time to play guitar again, I’ll probably get a POD for practicing. I’m totally paranoid about bothering my neighbors, sometimes even wondering if I’m playing the acoustic too loud, so an electric would probably give me conniptions.
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4 Christineon 18 Sep 2009 at 8:07 am
My brother plays with and without the amp. When he’s working on a new song, he keeps it to himself while he works through it, but when he’s ready for people to hear it (when he’s still at the practicing rather than performing stage), he plugs in the amp.
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5 mpomyon 18 Sep 2009 at 1:45 pm
For Limelight, I think you must have an amp, headphone or otherwise. the Line 6 POD family is so great because it really does sound like an actual amp and not just a diverted audio circuit – which usually sounds sterile. But, you know, every once in a while, you gotta plug in and take some of the paint off the walls. Rock was meant to be loud.
I’m glad you have a Timbuk2 you can rely on; to paraphrase Emily above, is there anyone on earth who doesn’t want a Timbuk2 bag? I have a messenger and a mini messenger and they make me very happy.
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