Hi, I've been lurking here for a long time. I love the gear shots and have benefitted from the wealth of Gretsch knowledge here on this forum. I see that my ol' pal Bobby Rivera posts here from time to time, so I thought that I'd jump in. I am a huge rockabilly, country, r&b, and blues fan, and a Gretsch fan as well. I used to have a 6120w1957, but I had to sell it a couple of years ago when I was laid off. That was a fantastic guitar, and I wish that I still had it. I have recently picked up a couple of new Gretschs. A Silver Jet and a 5125. Truth be told I didn't really need the 5125, but it was pretty hacked up (but playable) and I got a screamin' deal on it, so I got it for a mod platform. I had initially intended to change out the Dyna 2000s for some T Armonds or other similar pickup, but after a few gigs, I have decided to hold out. Yeah the neck pickup is a little muddy, but it sounds great for R&B. Both the 5125 and the Silver Jet have quicly become two of my favorites. After fooling around with Bobby's Atomic Brain a while back, I am considering getting one for myself. I got Fuzz Ray #30 from Tavo in October and he really does provide great service and quality merchandise, but you already know all of that.

I am in a couple of bands, play out a few times a month usually. I also host Milwaukee's only Rockabilly/HonkyTonk/R&B/Roots radio program, the Chickenshack, on WMSE 91.7 fm every Friday morning from 9-noon CST. Any of you looking for airplay should message me and we can discuss how to get your music on WMSE. We also stream and archive. www.wmse.org

here are some pics of some of my favorite gear.

Welcome and cheers from Madtown! Cool gear!

Greetings. I grew up in Madison. Lived there from birth until fall 1987. My family all still lives there too. What are the hot music clubs in Madison right now? I have played at High Noon, the Frequency, and the Annex in recent years. How is the Harmony? Anyplace else worth checking out?

Welcome, vespa! I thought for a minute you were going to be quoting, "Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian" -- "Aloha Old Milwaukee, Hello Wakiki." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_vTY67Wd9I

I'll be around Milwaukee at the end of the month and will be certain to search out your show.

If you are in Milwaukee for New Year's Eve, stop by Lulu in Bayview for a rockin' NYE show.

Welcome aboard Vespa! Good to see another Wiscon-sinner. I'm about an hour north in Manitowoc. There's actually a number of people here from Beer City and surrounding areas.

Cool collection you got going man. Loving the goldtop, and the blonde Epi in the first pic (can never remember the name of that one). I have a soft spot for SGs too, that one is killer.

Welcome to the best forum on the net.

I've played all the clubs you mentioned except for the Harmony (played the Freq just a few weeks ago.) Harmony's a cool place, I've seen plenty of other acts there.

Are you familiar with the Crystal Corners? Fun place to gig.

There's a place that's been around for years, Mr. Roberts, that has just recently been made-over into another pretty legit place to play. I've had a couple combination shows there that were not bad.

Blowtorch, What band are you in? Thanks for the tips on the clubs. I wil have to check out Mr Roberts. I have played the Crystal Corner a couple of times, but it has been quite a while. When I was in my late teens,early twenties I caught some amazing blues shows there. Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Koko Taylor, and some others. Seems like there is no longer much of a blues scene in Madison.

vespa, I'm in a few different bands, but The Blowtorches is my pet project. Here's our old album (we're working on our next), if you wanna get an idea what we sound like: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=624120&content=music

Yeah not too much of a blues scene in Madison at the moment. I was in a band some years back that wrote and recorded an album that won "best blues album" the first year of the Madison Area Music Awards. That was pretty cool.

crap. I can't stream at work. I will check it out when I get home. Thanks.

Welcome and nice gear!

Greetings! I played at Kochanski's (Milwaukee) a couple months ago - good times!

It is nice having a place like Kochanski's in town. He is a big supporter of rockin' bands. One can always count on at least a few good shows there every month. What band? I may have even been there.

Ripley, You must be able to get to those cool shows at Oneida Casino fairly easily. I envy people around the Green Bay area. They often get better lineups than just about anybody else in the midwest.

Green Bay ROCKS (and not just the Packers).

Been to a couple rockabilly fests there and some other cool stuff, too. Anyone remember 29 Steps?

Welcome to the GDP Vespa. I'm one of the Milwaukee area GDPers mentioned (the southwest 'burbs). You have some nice guits. About that Thin Twin - did you per chance buy it at Cream City? I remember trying out a sunburst Thin Twin reissue there last year. Oh, before I forget - you're the guy who does "The Chickenshack" show on MSE? I listen to that show, when I'm out and about running errands, if I'm on vacation from work (such as tomorrow). You play some pretty cool punkabilly on your show! Unfortunately, the firewall here at work doesn't allow WMSE to stream live.

Yeah I've seen a few cool shows at Oneida. Stray Cats and Lonesome Spurs (Linda Kay and Danny B. Harvey) in 2007. Hillbilly Casino played in the bar after that show, man was that a good night for live music. I'm hoping to catch the Hillbilly Casino show this year (they do a week there every year in Dec.) Social Distortion was another good one. Saw The B-52s there too.

The best part about Oneida shows is every time I've seen a show there, I win enough money to pay for the tickets, food, gas, and usually some merch. Gotta love quarter slots!

I'll have to check out the radio show for sure.

Yeah, I don't get up to GB too often. Last time was for the Trashmen and Davie Allen, and the Neanderthals. The Uptown Savages got to play both of the Rockin' 50s fests which was a cool experience.

Blowtorch, I remember 29 steps well. It was right next door to the concert cafe. My surf band played both of those places in the 90s.

Ellen, I did get that Twin Thin at Cream City. I recently had the pickups rewound to original spec and wax potted by Tom Brantley at Mojotone. The stock pickups were a bit too microphonic to be used live, and that guitar is too sweet to leave at home. Actually I got both of my Gretsch's at Cream City too. I will try to keep the Chickenshack rockn' for your errands tomorrow.

God I miss the Concert Cafe'. I was there every weekend in high school until it closed. I met my wife there.

Vespa - in answer to your question, I'm a one man band, Subourbon Son. I definitely want to get back out that way again, I guess Kochanski's wants to set up a one man band festival this coming summer.

Welcome to the GDP, Vespa.

Welcome to the Gretsch Pages family, Vespa

Yeah, I don't get up to GB too often. Last time was for the Trashmen and Davie Allen, and the Neanderthals. The Uptown Savages got to play both of the Rockin' 50s fests which was a cool experience.

Blowtorch, I remember 29 steps well. It was right next door to the concert cafe. My surf band played both of those places in the 90s.

Ellen, I did get that Twin Thin at Cream City. I recently had the pickups rewound to original spec and wax potted by Tom Brantley at Mojotone. The stock pickups were a bit too microphonic to be used live, and that guitar is too sweet to leave at home. Actually I got both of my Gretsch's at Cream City too. I will try to keep the Chickenshack rockn' for your errands tomorrow.

I remember that one. They also had a black one. The 'burst one looked cooler, but as you mentioned, it was pretty microphonic (the black one's pickups were nowhere near as bad), a real no-no for me, since I play with mucho gain. I bought my very first Gretsch (a G1413 Synchromatic Jet Club) frome Cream City, back win 2002, when they were still called Warp Drive Music, and still were in Bayview (remember when they were Crown Music?). I've bought a few more guits from them (including a few Gretsches) over the years. If you remember the Bamboo Yellow Country Club they had a few weeks ago, that's my main squeeze nowadays. John sold it to me. I don't mine Filtertrons (and the 6118 Anniversary I traded towards the 'Club was a nice guitar), but I prefer the sound of Dynas, and had been missing my old Caddy Green 'Club, ever since I had to sell it to make good 2 years ago, on payment I screwed up on, for an eBay auction I won. Getting another Country Club again, was like coming home guitarwise.

The problem I have, is that living only 5 miles from Cream City Music, and them having so much cool gear, the place can be toxic to my finances. But, I'm on vacation from work tomorrow, so I just may pay the place a visit.

Yeah I've seen a few cool shows at Oneida. Stray Cats and Lonesome Spurs (Linda Kay and Danny B. Harvey) in 2007. Hillbilly Casino played in the bar after that show, man was that a good night for live music. I'm hoping to catch the Hillbilly Casino show this year (they do a week there every year in Dec.) Social Distortion was another good one. Saw The B-52s there too.

The best part about Oneida shows is every time I've seen a show there, I win enough money to pay for the tickets, food, gas, and usually some merch. Gotta love quarter slots!

I'll have to check out the radio show for sure.

When I still lived in Manitowoc, my dad and I used to make runs up to Oneida. He'd play slots, Moi? I'd play Blackjack!

Hey I know you!
It's Bill from the Reluctant Aquanauts.
Welcome!