Great day in Pa!!! (long post)

[imported_vangit]

Doc was in Pa for some biz, so it was a great opportunity for us to hook up. John C was also excited to get together and play some guitars, so John left his wife and daughter at the Jersey shore and drove home to Pa, while I woke up at the 6am and left my house at 7am with my giant Wawa coffee in hand. I am NOT a morning person, but besides a couple of people flipping me the bird, the drive was easy.

John has a really nice music room but it is a little dark as far as lighting for accurate pics. So the pics are a bit saturated from the flash.

I brought my VOX valvetronix 1x12. I LOVE this amp. It's a modeler with a 12ax7 in the poweramp. Unlike every other modeler, the more you push it the better it sounds. It has a watt dial that can be turned all the way down to 1 watt, so you can get the benefit fo the tube no matter what volume you want. Doc also has the Vox, but he's running a full 4x12. John liked it so much we ran to GC and he got a 2x12 ( a little weekend enabeling :twisted: )

The Driskill Lava

I have never seen a Driskill in person before. First I was taken back how soild it just looks. When you see it in pics, you don't appreciate it's mass. There is a very thick maple top with alot of demension to the carve. I tried to take close up pics but they got washed out due to the flash. Maybe Doc can take some angeld pics of the Driskill laying on it's back. The neck was a thick piece of Braz. All I had to do was hit a powercord, and holy crap, this thing it pure power. A very strong sounding guitar that doesn't want to stop sustaning. I noticed how slick the steel frets were immediately. They felt fantastic. Here's a pic of John and the Driskill

http://www.ovox.net/images/Penn%20day/john%20driskill%202.jpg

John is a smooth player. I have a feeling after he played the Drikill he called Joe asking where his is :lol:

John's Guitars
John opened up a closet in his music room tha had a row of cases with I think three PRS Brown sued cases (with a few more due in!). Each brown case sporting a Modern Eagle. I have never seen one up close before (just on a wall). Beautiful guitars, with very nicely figured Braz necks. With the RP pick-ups, PRS finally has pick-up splitting down. No drop in volume when splitting, just rang really well.

But believe it or not....with all the beautiful guitars that were there: Driskill, ME's, my PRS Studio, I think we may have had the most fun with Johns JEM's. He kept pulling out one after another. Great collection. Since the three of us went to high school in the mid-late eighties, I guess we love the hair metal and shredding thing. I know Doc does! If his fingers operate with blade as fast as they move on a fretboard......the guy can shred :!:

http://www.ovox.net/images/Penn%20day/will%20shred.jpg

I'm already planning the specs for my second Schroeder Custom..... "A Schroder Shredder" (maple neck, floyd....... :twisted: )

[imported_Bryan]

Stu, thanks for the write up.
Sounds like a fun time. :D

[imported_DrPCR]

Hey Stu, you forgot the best part! The philly cheese steak lunch!

Stu was also ripping on the Driskill and the Jems. I might have to get Jason to thin out a flame maple neck for me for a shredder. I couldn't give up the Jems, I was going 500 miles an hr on them and I really wanted to run out the door with them, but Stu drove so I didn't have the keys for a quick get away.

John also had some great chops, smooth player. His ME's all had different personalities and tones, really nice to hear the differences. His Red ME was the best to my ears, and excelled both clean and with gain. We ended up at a GC near John's place and John picked up the VOX 2X12, there was a natural trem ME there for sale at a good price. I picked up a monster SC, a real tone machine. Had it shipped to me, so not in my grubby hands yet. Both John and I agreed it was a tone machine, heavy too. People swear that the old heavy LPs were the best, I don't know about that, but it seems these heavy mahogany guitars are tone machines. Any thoughts Jason?

Here are some pics of the "lava". I'll get some side views later.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/drpcr/driskill/IMG_4392.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/drpcr/driskill/IMG_4394.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/drpcr/driskill/IMG_4395.jpg

[imported_Shadscbr]

Sounds like a blast Stu!! There were definately some killer guitars there. I know JC has a sweet DNA collection. Mr. Cowen is one of the few people I know that has lust for swirls and quilt.....we are a dying breed ;) Just like you guys, I also went to high school in the 80's and have a thing for the 80's hair metal...I have DNA #199, an EBMM JP7, and a Heatley bolt-on neck with ATD swirl as my shredder guitars :)

Doc, cool pics of the lava Driskill. That color reminds me of my Heatley hollowbody...IMHO, it is a very difficult color to photograph...nice work :)

Shad

[imported_vangit]

Yep, Yep, Yep the good Doctor treated to great cheese steaks.

Shad, how far are you from JC? If you are not far, we should plan a jam day. It took me about 1 hour and 45 minutes, but it was only about three turns, straight easy drive.

That's awsome you have a DNA Shad. Doc and I have both been searching Ebay since we were at Johns.

I really am going to spec out a Schroeder Shredder. Have to ask Jason his opinion of neck stability with a thinner neck and a Floyd (neck reinforcment?, bolt on?)

[imported_Shadscbr]

Hey Stu....I am about 1.5 hrs from Philly....an easy drive down the PA turnpike. I would love to meet up with you guys someday to check out all the cool collections. If there is ever another jam at JC's (or anywhere else), ....<fist in the air> I'm there dude!! :)

The Schroeder shredder sounds great!

Shad

[imported_vangit]

Great Shad. I guess JC is in the middle of us. We are going to have to highjack his house and schedule a jam :twisted:

[imported_Shadscbr]

Great Shad. I guess JC is in the middle of us. We are going to have to highjack his house and schedule a jam :twisted:

I'm in for sure!! :)

BTW- it's funny that you and Doc have DNA GAS...I really never expected that...too cool! I'm so geeky that I bought a DNA canvas from Darren that matches my DNA....has the blood in it too :) Someday, I suspect the DNA will burn a hole right through my pocket when the Driskill/Thorn/Heatley/Schroeder GAS gets to be too much ;)

Shad

[imported_DrPCR]

haha, man I was telling Stu and John, I've left alot of my DNA on my shredder guitars over the yrs, even my acoustics, blood stains everywhere :)

Hmm, I may have to get myself down to philly for another jam and cheese steak.

[imported_WHY_U_TRY]

how did I miss this get together guys ? I'm here in the tristate area too :( :cry: I live one second from the hudson river by the Holland Tunnel and have car as well :)

[imported_vangit]

how did I miss this get together guys ? I'm here in the tristate area too :( :cry: I live one second from the hudson river by the Holland Tunnel and have car as well :)

Now we're talking! We have to plan something for Pa or at my place in NJ.

"Hey Doc", any conferences in Philly\NYC\NJ coming up :D

[imported_DrPCR]

no, but I can make one :)

[imported_Shadscbr]

no, but I can make one :)

Now those are some great priorities Doc......are you going to bring some triplets? ;)

Shad

[imported_Bryan]

no, but I can make one :)

Now those are some great priorities Doc......are you going to bring some triplets? ;)

Shad

Nope just a set of knock knees.. :D
Or is that torsion tibias?

[imported_DrPCR]

wind blown knees, severe osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, valgus and vagus, this patient of mine needed a bilateral total knee arthoplasty. I think this is STU in a few yrs ;)

See no joint space on the guy, he couldn't walk.


Why u a radiologist? haha

Man learning more and more about JEMS, and man didn't know how collectible and expensive some of these babies are.

Next time we jam, we need some Schroeder guitars!

[imported_Bryan]

Why u a radiologist? haha
!

Nope, I just have blown knees.. :D

[imported_DrPCR]

ok sit down when you play our new guitar :)

[imported_Bryan]

ok sit down when you play our new guitar :)

I've been missing my ACL in my right knee for about 7 years now.
i have a custom Don-Joy brace for when I go skiing or snowboarding.
I've built my quads up so much that barely have any slop anymore.

[imported_DrPCR]

I think we need a gathering in the PA region when the tour guitar gets here. I know JC will want to try it out! Still looking for a DNA JEM, man they are hard to find.

[imported_WHY_U_TRY]

Still looking for a DNA JEM, man they are hard to find.

Hey Doc...just in case you hadn't seen it, here's one on ebay right now...can't believe how much people want for these things :?

http://safeurl.de/http://cgi.ebay.com/IBANEZ-JEM-DNA-RARE_W0QQitemZ7342316628QQcategoryZ33043QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem

[imported_DrPCR]

yeah the guy is local to me, but its a bit more than I want to pay!

Hey its got vai's blood in it. Thats good for at lest 3K.

I wouldn't think of buying it, until I played one. MAN, it was love. I think I'm going to break into JC's house and take them.

Even Stu was drooling!!! and we had driskills, BRW SCs, modern eagles, studios, navarros, and I wanted to play the JEMs.

[imported_vangit]

yeah the guy is local to me, but its a bit more than I want to pay!

Hey its got vai's blood in it. Thats good for at lest 3K.

I wouldn't think of buying it, until I played one. MAN, it was love. I think I'm going to break into JC's house and take them.

Even Stu was drooling!!! and we had driskills, BRW SCs, modern eagles, studios, navarros, and I wanted to play the JEMs.

AMEN. They were real fun to play. And they glow in the dark!
http://www.ovox.net/images/Penn%20day/jem%20glow.jpg

[imported_DrPCR]

I thought we were redoing the star wars final battle there??!?!?

[imported_Bryan]

I thought we were redoing the star wars final battle there??!?!?

lol..I thought the same when that thing loaded up.. :D

[imported_DrPCR]

Yeah well John has the light saber, and I have a JEM guitar, so I'm toast!!!

actually we were going to do BYTOR and the SNOW DOG, haha, just kidding, NOT. ok kidding.

[imported_John Cowan]

Hi guys, I'm finally on the board. That was an awesome day. I'd love to do it again soon. Let's work on getting together.

[imported_Shadscbr]

Hey JC...great to see you here. Now someone else will understand my fetish for DNA's/swirls...as well as killer flame and quilted maple!

It's cool to see you gave Doc some DNA GAS....LOL!! :)

Did you ever get the VOMC assembled? It looks like its in the background of one of the pics...is the vine neck on it?

Shad

[imported_DrPCR]

Yeah he did, that was the first one I played, and I said whoa, I love this thing. JC did a great job of getting it all put together. THen he pulled out the real deal, and I said, OK where was I when these things came out?????

[imported_Shadscbr]

Yeah he did, that was the first one I played, and I said whoa, I love this thing. JC did a great job of getting it all put together. THen he pulled out the real deal, and I said, OK where was I when these things came out?????

LOL!! :)

cool, I'm glad JC got the custom swirl together (a few years ago, we both had ATD/LGM custom swirl guitars being made at the same time...I'm still waiting on mine :cry: )...he has a killer collection doesn't he? I would love to see it in person some day....after he gets his Driskill and Schroeder :)

Shad

[imported_vangit]

Yeah he did, that was the first one I played, and I said whoa, I love this thing. JC did a great job of getting it all put together. THen he pulled out the real deal, and I said, OK where was I when these things came out?????

LOL!! :)

cool, I'm glad JC got the custom swirl together (a few years ago, we both had ATD/LGM custom swirl guitars being made at the same time...I'm still waiting on mine :cry: )...he has a killer collection doesn't he? I would love to see it in person some day....after he gets his Driskill and Schroeder :)

Shad

John does have a great collection. The custom swirl was fantastic. The neck was thinner than the DNA. I really liked it

[imported_John Cowan]

Hey Shad,

How are you? Sadly I've depleted my Jem collection significantly. I have the DNA, the VOMC (Custom) and the BFP. It's too bad I didn't mean the good Doc and Stu when I had 12 or so at once :P

The custom is all I could ever ask for though. What's the story on yours? I'm looking forward to ordering a Schroeder soon...I just have way too much going on right now. But I think I settle back down at the end of the year. Hope to meet you soon Shad and definitely would like to see Doc, Stu and others. All are welcome, except those planning to leave with one or two more guitars than they came with. :P

Shad are you going to Magdon's pig roast this weekend?

[imported_Shadscbr]

Hey John...your down to one DNA? I am a bit shocked ;) Your collection is still killer...between you, Doc, and Stu...you guys have quite a little collection going!!

My custom swirl (Heatley, ATD, LGM) is in the hands of LGM...Jeremy has had it for a while now. It's just waiting for final assembly. I'm hoping for one of two things...either it makes a great birthday present in sept...or a great xmas present. I know I would like to see it soon!! I'm glad the VOMC turned out like you wanted :)

I'm afraid I didn't know about the Magdon pig roast....whats the scoop? (other than pork sandwiches ;) )

If you guys get together again, I would love to contribute a few of my oddball 7's to the group photo :)

Great to hear from you John!!

Shad

[imported_John Cowan]

Cool,

Magdon's having an open invite pig roast at his house this weekend. I'm thinking about heading up. Starts at around 3pm. I believe it's a shorter ride for you than it is for me. He's near Olyphant, PA. Are you close?

John

[imported_Shadscbr]

The ballpark drivetime from mapquest:
Total Est. Time: 2 hours, 31 minutes Total Est. Distance: 144.01 miles

How far is it for you?

Shad