SF 1969 Champ, what is causing "chirping" ?

[Shontsy]

Hey Enzo, I just noticed you are from Lansing. I went to MSU. Yes, I probably did party too much.

That's why I'm here on this forum, relearning what I lost on Thursday nights playing open mic nights at the bar.

Do/did you work anyplace I would have known from living in that area?

Best Regards,
Eric

[Enzo]

Open mic at the Unicorn with Frog?

DOn't know when you were here. I worked for some years at Marshall Music, which we now only refer to as "the M-word place." We don't like using bad words. Left there and started my own shop with a partner. We rented space in Sound EFX on Michigan Ave,then we all moved to across from Elderly. SOUnd EFX evaporated, but we prevailed. PArtner moved on. I do electronic repair for ELderly and WHite Brothers, and once in a while I collaborate with Dan at the Music Manor for something. And of course we serve customers from all over the state.

I quit going to bars 20 some years ago, but I used to live at Paul Revere's Tavern. I pretty much don't go into East Lansing - too "studenty." I'd just be an old man in their way anyway. Used to drop into the Peanut Barrel once in a while with friends.

My days on the road ended in 1973, so I doubt you were at any clubs I was. We used to play at Grandmothers, later called the Brewery, Much later that place became the SIlver DOllar. And we played at the Coral Gables, back when it was a dance bar.

I came here to college, and stayed the last 43 years.

[Shontsy]

I was there 1988 to 1994. Ah, Elderly! Greatest guitar shop I'VE ever been to! I'll never forget pulling off the wall and playing a $10k 1955 Les Paul gold top, a 1964 Ric 12 string, and an acoustic $2k Froggy Bottom that had tone to DIE for.

The Les Paul was amazing just to look at, let alone play. I had a real connection to hte past experience with that guitar. Plus, even with the $10k price tag, NO ONE bothered this 19 year old while I played it for about 1/2 hour. F-ing AMAZING! I didn't hurt it any, but that's beside the point. Any other store, it would have been behind glass with guards all around, or I would have been tackled as I reached up to touch it.

The 1964 Ric 12 string played itself, man!! I was playing all this crazy surf musice I'd never even HEARD before, let alone played before! It was a magic moment. If I'd had the money, I would have bought it on the spot. Fireglow, of course! $2600 I believe it was.

The Froggy Bottom had MAGIC tone. Very bassy and full, but somehow NOT bass-heavy. The treble cut through too! I was really into playing acoustic in college, and even after all the Martins, SCGC's, Larivee's and everything else I played during my many forays into Elderly, which were MANY because I often skipped classes to go play guitars and cruise the pawn shops looking for vintage pedals, that ONE acoustic stands way out above the rest. It was like I was literally struck by the beauty of the tone with the first few notes I plucked. To me, all the others were just pretty faces and high price tags, but that one Froggy Bottom was magic. Again, if only I'd had the $2500 I would have bought it on the spot! Cool Frog inlay in the headstock too! I never was all that impressed with ANY of the Martins I played. If I closed my eyes, they all could have been my $250 Fender for all I knew. They were usually beautiful, but they were all tonally boring to me.

I knew of Frog, but never played with him. My buddy tried to take lessons from him, and that was a die-zaster. As you know Frog and his upside down and backwards playing style, try to figure THAT out as a beginner!

My friend and I played a bar across from where El Azteca is now, by the Holiday Inn, America's Cup or something like that, several times. I'll never forget the first time. We were there right on time for the start of the night, and were near the top of the list, but as the "regulars" came in, we got pushed back and back and back. Damn! It was like 3:30 am when we finally hit the stage. I thanked everyone that was still there, joking I thought I was going to have to buy everyone breakfast just to have an audience. Surprisingly, everyone laughed! Hell, I thought they were all passed out! I was really just checking how hot my mic was. As soon as everyone realized my buddy was strumming the opening chrod prog to Pinball Wizard, the place came alive and everyone clapped and cheered! And then again when we finished! It was totally worth the wait, even though at least 1/2 the crowd was long gone by then. I forget the other two songs we did, probably There She Goes by the La's and Sister Golden Hair from America.

It was a great "gig". We were virgins no more and we pulled it off pretty well! We smiled all the way home that night.

I remember a place called Music Manor, but can't quite picture it. Is that on Lansing Road or something like that, the same road the KTM dirt bike dealership is on?

Thanks for the trip!