Tools of trade were tax deductible. Owning top equipment effectively reduced the tax liability at the time. Over a number of years the value of the said items was written down to zilch. So I guess they are worth nothing now. I have not really played “professionally” for quite some years now. I’ve been retired for 8 years so have no taxable income as such. I’ll probably die still owing this stuff that has been a major part of my life. The guitars will eventually be passed on and become someone else’s issue to sort.
The olde Tele and Maton CW80 photos of the Precision and Rickenbacker will be on and old external drive. I don't have the guitars with me at the moment.
Last edited by Teunis; 10/25/2105:48 PM.
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home, Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612 BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
I am going to be like my grandmother. When we told her she could not take her stuff with her when she died she said OK...I am just not going to die! She lived to be 104.
So I got 30 more years to think about it I guess...lol
Tony, those are some really cool guitars you got. At least some of them are worth quite a bit of money nowadays.
In conversations with Trevor and drummer buddy from Brisbane plus several other friends living in Australia, I think I would really like it there. Not too keen on meeting up with one of those brown snakes that I hear live in your neck of the woods...lol
Enjoy life as long as you can!
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
After 5 weeks in Australia and knowing my brother-in-law for 40 years, I'd really love to live in Australia. The problem with that idea is, I'm either too old or not wealthy enough for them to let me in
But my house is paid off, I live near the east coast of the mainland of Florida, my duo has an excellent reputation, we have a lot of repeat business, and I like it here.
Life is the best way to pass the time of day
I have a minimal amount of musical instruments, I'm a player, not a collector (there is nothing wrong with being a collector). I have a stage instrument and a spare of each of the instruments I play.
I always figured another instrument that I'm not going to gig with or isn't a back-up axe is a cut in pay. If I don't play it, I usually give it away to some student.
If I die first, Mrs. Notes can do whatever she wants with them. I won't need them anymore.
If I die first, Mrs. Notes can do whatever she wants with them.
And with the age gap between you, statistics say that will likely happen.
The last bullet I dodged, er, girlfriend that I had, was 17 years younger than me and that weighed heavy on my mind as I dumped her. That age gap was JUST enough to put her into a generation with a different mindset on life and it didn't go well with mine.
Focus here has shifted from amassing guitars to rebuilding the studio. Once I get it painted and put it back together, and again I say "And this time I will run the wiring neatly", I should now have a good handle on sounds. Here's the rack I have spent the last month or so assembling.
Kurzweil 1000 PX Korg M3R, which is an M1 in rack form Alesis 12 channel mixer Yamaha TX81z EMU Proteus MX-8 midi routing box Furman power conditioner
And the companion rack.
Behringer stereo compressor Digitech vocalist Korg Volca drum machine and a Zoom drum machine Roland JU-06a module that is roughly based on the Juno 60 and 106.
A lot of Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Reverb shopping here.
NICE! What brand? The picture cuts off just at the top of the headstock.
Originally Posted By: Planobilly
The supply of goods and services is becoming a serious issue here in Miami, especially medical supplies.
It's everywhere and for everything. There have been some foods I haven't been able to buy here in a year and a half, guitar store walls are looking a bit empty constantly, and I had to special order a motherboard and CPU for my new computer because nothing is available - video cards especially are in short supply.
Originally Posted By: Teunis
Then last Wednesday night came the stopper I had a heart attack so no gig this month. Just as the restrictions eased again I'm out of commission.
Hope you're doing alright now Tony!
Originally Posted By: Teunis
Often they can seem expensive but if one works out the hours of joy then at an hourly rate it soon works out pretty good. If you spend a $1000 on a new guitar then spend 100 hours over the next few weeks playing, adjusting and admiring your new instrument it works out cheap (only $10 per hour) in terms of entertainment.
That is exactly what I used to tell customers when I worked at the guitar shop! It's also what I say to justify the amount of time I spend in a video game - if I spend 80 bucks on a game but spend 200 hours playing it then it only cost 40 cents an hour. Guitars and video games end up being less costly than going to a movie by far!
The same can be said for Band-in-a-Box of course. 129 bucks for the Pro version is a downright bargain when you can spend hundreds of hours making wonderful music with it, or even simply exploring the sounds.
Originally Posted By: Planobilly
Everyone should buy all the music stuff they want and can afford. Life is short.
Word. Music stuff is an investment in yourself - as long as you're not going hungry for gear, it's always worth it.
Originally Posted By: eddie1261
Yamaha TX81z
But man, Tony has a 50+ year old Telecaster...
Always loved that TX81Z, but dang it I love that Telecaster more...
---------------------------------------
Back on topic, I've got a "new" guitar as of last weekend. Just a cheapie with a playable neck (for now) that I intend to re-fret to get some microtonal notes in there. See attachment for the "before" pic...
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Savannah, more made-in-China stuff. $350. It sounds pretty harsh but OK and works for learning slide guitar.
I have a lot on my plate at the moment and I am not sure what the future will bring. I am not totally sure what country I will be living in. The pandemic has totally put a monkey wrench in how I planned to spend the rest of my life. Cancer has been another curveball but if it does not come back that will have been just a bump in the road.
National Reso-Phonic NRP Steel Tricone 2021 is a new one I would like but don't think it is a good idea for me to spend $4000 dollars.
What I really would like to have is a NATIONAL DUOLIAN RESONATOR STEEL BODY GUITAR 1930's. Marty, the music store owner in Miami Beach had one that I have played but at the time I did not want to own one. He sold it a few weeks back for a pretty large amount of money. If I was twenty years younger I would consider buying it for an investment.
Due to this large cut on my neck, I can only stand to play guitar for a few minutes at a time. It is getting better day by day but I am far from normal. I am sort of expecting it will be the first of next year before I am more or less back to normal.
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
It seems there are many really good low priced options. As I said about the Yamaha Pacifica 612 I bought a couple of weeks ago I’m blown away by the playability and the tones.
The hardware on this guitar puts it up there with guitars easily twice the price. SeymourDuncan HSS pickup layout with the humbucker being split coil (it can be used as a single coil or humbucker), Grover Locking Tuners, Wilkinson VS50 trem bridge, Tusq Nut and trees. Then the guitar and finish of the guitar itself. The Yamaha Pacifica range has been around for many years.
If I sound like I’m selling this thing well I’m letting all and sundry know that a really good guitar does not have to cost an arm and a leg.
My opinions Tony
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home, Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612 BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
Price or brand name is certainly not a guarantee of a good instrument. I have had at least 500 Fender Stratocasters in my hand over the years and only a few played really well.
I bought an acoustic guitar in a pawnshop for $35 dollars that played and sounded better than any high-dollar acoustic I have played. I gave the guitar to a well-known singer-songwriter friend of mine.
Large improvements in guitar making have been a function of high-quality computer numeric control machines being used in their manufacture. That is the reason cheap guitars play well nowadays. The main issue is if the wood stays put.
The only way I know to get a guitar that you will really like is to go play them until you find something that fits your hand. Then hope the wood does not move around more than can be easily adjusted.
It is common for people to go buy the make of guitar their guitar heroes play. I guess they hope that will be the key to their playing well...good luck with that.
The guitar manufacturers have to compete with one another so Yahama will always try to make the best they can within the budget.
I have had the good luck to be lifelong friends of the owner of one of the biggest vintage guitar shops in the country. That let me play hundreds of guitars both inexpensive and guitars that cost over $200,000 dollars.
At the end of the day, it is more about the player than the guitar, to begin with. We all spend way too much time talking about guitars than playing them...lol
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
Ok if we are showing recent guitar purchases, I’m falling in love with my first guitar with a Bigsby. Bought used. The Bigsby suits me so much better than a strat type trem. Gretsch Electromatic 5410t “Rat Rod”
That is a really cool-looking guitar. I think I would like the Bigsby.
The first choice for me has been Kahler tremolo and second Floyd Rose.
I am not sure what you call that white stuff out the window but I am pretty sure I don't want any...lol
Cheers,
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
A couple of months ago I purchased a Xaviere P90 guitar. It can perfectly set up and sounds great. The neck fit my old arthritic hands perfectly. The frets were polished perfectly. It is the best $329 USD guitar that I have ever purchased; even better then the Harley Benton, YMMV. I am so happy with this guitar that I saved up and just purchased the coil splitting humbucker model. As soon as that comes in I will let you know about it.
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
That is a really cool-looking guitar. I think I would like the Bigsby.
It’s a completely different feel and allows for nuance that I’ve not been able to master with terms that move the bridge. I’m really digging it and wish I had tried one decades ago.
My strat sits in its case. It’s a Peavey strat copy that I modded with the grease bucket mod and added a toggle for the bridge pup on/off.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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