rockabilly69

That's a sweet looking guitar, with some nice looking wood, and the split inlays look great too! Unless you love the Phat Cats, I would put back the stock pickups. If they are the MHS pickups, they are some of the best Gibson has done in a while. And I love that they dumped the tonesucker varitone! One thing, I think a proper set of reflectors would look great on it too, ones that have an insert that actually reflects. Here's a set of nice non aged ones for a reasonable price. https://toneshapers.com/products/toneshapers-kit-reflector-knob-set-black-silver-black-tip

That pickguard design is great and really works with that guitar!

I've never owned one of those but I've always liked them! That's a great looking one!

I've had few really good guitars that I sent down the road for one reason or another, but I kept all the guitars that I love! I traded a 1962 Brown Fender Super amp that I wished I had back though. It needed some work at the time and I really didn't know anybody that could work on it! Since then I've friended some great amp guys!

Well if sounds better than the STR in the bass even better yet!!! I bet it records great. The guy makes some good sounding amps. Lately, since I've been playing with my rock and roll band, I've been playing bigger 50 watt amps and actually having the time of my life

Congrats on your new toys! Both great amps! A few years back my close friend Troy brought his Swart STR over to my studio with his custom shop Gibson ES-330 (an absolute monster of a guitar) and I was knocked out by the tone he got out of that combo!

Mark, right there, is why I went solo! I have a band band, and a duet, but I make most of my money as a solo! Good luck with your new drummer, and sorry to hear of your friend's passing.

...good to see things are rolling along. "New Dave" seems like a good fit!

I like 10's on my electrics (except my two banjocasters which use 9's) , 12's on acoustics, 12 or 13's on resos (if it will work without the cone rattling I use 12's). I play so much that anything heavier hurts my hands.

Mark, take this for what it's worth. Most musicians/bands that I go to see are playing too loud on stage, ESPECIALLY rock musicians. Learning to play to the limits of your PA is just as important as getting the songs down. And on top of that, learning how to not kill the audience with excessive volume is just as important. It's the mark of a true amateur when they are turning up their PA, to get over the already TOO LOUD guitar amps. You're on the right track rehearsing with your PA the way you intent to play. Maybe you can stage some practice performances for honest friends who can give you some feedback on the volume levels. I do think it would be a good idea to budget for some powered monitor speakers that you can add to you 600 watt PA. But you have to be very conscious of loud monitoring as the reflected sounds of monitors can wreak havoc on the overal sound! Good luck on the quest.

You've got the band rolling, you know what needs work, in the words of the Beatles, "it's getting better all the time". Keep at it Mark!

If Ed Bickert can do it on one of these I think a H525 should work just fine... http://youtu.be/wQ0FdyxuG4U

Mark, I agree if you've got two guitars a backup amp would be smarter. Yesterday the check engine light came on in my car on the way to the gig. It was just bad gas (too low octane), but I thought, oh no, not another expense:) If it ain't one thing, it's another!!! BTW it's fairly easy to replace post studs, Just google it up and you'll see what I mean!

Mark I have different stuff breaking all the time, and I have important gigs mostly every week! It's just the nature of the business. I like this blog, keep it going!!! And good luck on the gig.