I rode the black bike to Clayton today...

[hubcapsc]

I called Britman to see if I could drop by and make him
jealous of my handlebars, but his phone was busy... its
always busy, I think he is blocking my calls!

I picked up a couple of DeWalt drills I got this summer from
the DeWalt service center in Clayton... both of their chucks
stopped working almost right away! They were fixed for
free under warranty, but... chucks used to cost $25 and
you could replace them with an allen wrench. Now, on
some drills, you have to replace most of the drill and have
an advanced degree in drillology...

After I picked up the drills I finally rode up the hill to
the guitar store you can see right as you head up 76 out
of town. I played a "Blueridge" guitar, I've heard a lot about
them. Despite the name, they are made in China. It was a
good guitar at a "low" ($1,075) price...





-Mike

[f6john]

How much is a good guitar that’s American made?

[hubcapsc]

How much is a good guitar that’s American made?

There's a Canadian company called Larrivee that can compete on
price and maybe better quality than Blueridge... there's a chinese company
called Eastman that makes a whole bunch of GREAT guitars
that don't cost an arm and a leg. I played a $1,700 Eastman
called a E20D-TC that seemed like it was as good as a
guitar could get.

I don't know much about less expensive Martins and Gibsons, but
there are good ones. Sometimes they're made in Mexico, though. The
lower cost "iconic" ones (a d-18 or a J-45) would cost $2,000 at
least, and often a good bit more, there's numerous different
models of the icons... the custom shop ones, the ones modeled
after vintage ones, even crazy new ones with titanium truss rods
and weird metal bridge pins :-) ...

-Mike

[..]

No calls showing from you.

[f6john]

It always amazes me how many things I know little to nothing about!

[Serk]

Thank you for not including any pics of the black bike.....

My mind's started wandering around lately thinking about switching things up, now that everything's paid for. and customized just the way I like 'em.. 

[..]

Thank you for not including any pics of the black bike.....

My mind's started wandering around lately thinking about switching things up, now that everything's paid for. and customized just the way I like 'em.. 

Relax.

YOU would not fit comfortably on the 1800.

[Serk]

Thank you for not including any pics of the black bike.....

My mind's started wandering around lately thinking about switching things up, now that everything's paid for. and customized just the way I like 'em.. 

Relax.

YOU would not fit comfortably on the 1800.

What about on an F6B or even a *Gulp* (I am almost old enough to qualify for AARP now (Although I'll never join!)) Goldwing?

[hubcapsc]

Thank you for not including any pics of the black bike.....

My mind's started wandering around lately thinking about switching things up, now that everything's paid for. and customized just the way I like 'em.. 

Relax.

YOU would not fit comfortably on the 1800.

Shoot. Part of the problem with them, I think, is that it feels like you're sitting in the back seat.
I didn't have any bend in my knee at all with the short arms on my kuryakyn highway pegs.

It's one fine motorcycle now, though 



-Mike

[Serk]

I was as near my skinniest when I took this pic, but yeah, those side radiator pods could definitely be an issue for me...  I probably COULD ride it from the back seat though, I did the Valks that way before I put back rests on 'em, and still do the other bikes... (Was a little TOO easy to bring the front tire up on the ST1300 while riding it from the back seat though!)

[f6john]

I was as near my skinniest when I took this pic, but yeah, those side radiator pods could definitely be an issue for me...  I probably COULD ride it from the back seat though, I did the Valks that way before I put back rests on 'em, and still do the other bikes... (Was a little TOO easy to bring the front tire up on the ST1300 while riding it from the back seat though!)

Just let me know, I have a line on a loaded up black valkyrie, already has a Russel day long on it, sharp looking.

[hubcapsc]

I always feel the radiator pods on my calves when my feet are
on the highway pegs. It was annoying at first, not so much now.
Your arms reach out to those OEM handlebars with a nice
bend, it was a giant reach for me... is that too much bend?

-Mike

[f6john]

I was as near my skinniest when I took this pic, but yeah, those side radiator pods could definitely be an issue for me...  I probably COULD ride it from the back seat though, I did the Valks that way before I put back rests on 'em, and still do the other bikes... (Was a little TOO easy to bring the front tire up on the ST1300 while riding it from the back seat though!)

Just let me know, I have a line on a loaded up black valkyrie, already has a Russel day long on it, sharp looking.

I misspoke, it’s an F6b!







It even has cruise!

[msb]

How much is a good guitar that’s American made?

There's a Canadian company called Larrivee that can compete on
price and maybe better quality than Blueridge... there's a chinese company
called Eastman that makes a whole bunch of GREAT guitars
that don't cost an arm and a leg. I played a $1,700 Eastman
called a E20D-TC that seemed like it was as good as a
guitar could get.

I don't know much about less expensive Martins and Gibsons, but
there are good ones. Sometimes they're made in Mexico, though. The
lower cost "iconic" ones (a d-18 or a J-45) would cost $2,000 at
least, and often a good bit more, there's numerous different
models of the icons... the custom shop ones, the ones modeled
after vintage ones, even crazy new ones with titanium truss rods
and weird metal bridge pins :-) ...

-Mike

I'm a more of an amatuer player compared to what I've seen and heard from you Mike, but I do pick & sing quite a bit . Heard of Eastmans, and of course I've know of Larrivees...these are very decent guitars.Another good  Canadian luthier is Siman & Patrick...owned by Godin (who also own other brands like Seagull, Norman, etc). Simon & Patrick are hand made in Eastern Canada and I believe they also produce some out of Mass. somewhere. This is mine, purchased about 25 years ago and the one I play mostly (have an old Suzuki and a Norman that I bring along when camping). Really solid guitar, I think I paid around $500-600 back in the day. It sounds better year after year and is super easy to play.


S&P is still producing a good range of quality guitars...mine is a Pro Rosewood model...probably around mid-range at the time I purchased it. Rather than a Chinese model, I would expect you could get pretty good value on a good quality Canadian-made guitar, what with your US buck being worth about 1.33 CDN these days. For me, I'll never get to the the playing level where I could justify paying the same amount as I could purchase another good Valkyrie for, for a Martin, Taylor, or Gibson

ps...I miss your song posts that accompanied your shed build posts...maybe you shoud start building another shed

[hubcapsc]

For me, I'll never get to the the playing level where I could justify paying the same amount as I could purchase another good Valkyrie for, for a Martin, Taylor, or Gibson

Over on acousticguitarforum.com they call it "gas"... Guitar Acquisition Syndrome.
Don't go there  ... I go there as often as I go here. I traded a guitar plus some
cash for a used one of these things last week... it is a sickness...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBwUIhp7ywU

-Mike

[msb]

I was as near my skinniest when I took this pic, but yeah, those side radiator pods could definitely be an issue for me...  I probably COULD ride it from the back seat though, I did the Valks that way before I put back rests on 'em, and still do the other bikes... (Was a little TOO easy to bring the front tire up on the ST1300 while riding it from the back seat though!)

Just let me know, I have a line on a loaded up black valkyrie, already has a Russel day long on it, sharp looking.

I misspoke, it’s an F6b!







It even has cruise!

That Black F6B is exactly the bike I'd have as my #1 alternative if I ever had to replace my Valk. Love the ride, love the looks of the B's.

Serk...stick with your "new" Interstate. Give it a good chance and you'll never want to exchange it. Best of both worlds...reliable and comfortable with good power, and old school cool

[Serk]

Only guitar I've got... I can't play it, never could figure out how to play the guitar, but got this one 'cause it's signed by the best members of Iron Maiden (The Number of the Beast lineup)

[Serk]

Serk...stick with your "new" Interstate. Give it a good chance and you'll never want to exchange it. Best of both worlds...reliable and comfortable with good power, and old school cool

Yeah, probably what I'll do... But the thought of EFI and single side swing arms sure are enticing me lately...

[msb]

For me, I'll never get to the the playing level where I could justify paying the same amount as I could purchase another good Valkyrie for, for a Martin, Taylor, or Gibson

Over on acousticguitarforum.com they call it "gas"... Guitar Acquisition Syndrome.
Don't go there  ... I go there as often as I go here. I traded a guitar plus some
cash for a used one of these things last week... it is a sickness...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBwUIhp7ywU

-Mike

Of course I went there Ya, I look all the time, but really what I have now is more than enough for me. If I did pick something else up it would be a six string banjo... would suit a lot of the music I like to play and can just use my same finger picking styles and standard tuning I use now on guitar. Nothing too extravagant. I think I'm safe from GAS... it's still MAS (motorcycle) and FFSAS (fly fishing stuff) that I'm susceptible to.