My First Amp
Greetings from up North,
After seeing my amp in your Trash or Treasure column in the September 2012 issue, I wanted to share my amp story with you. I bought my first guitar after being inspired by a Mike McCready cover story in Guitar Player in ’94. I worked at a gambling riverboat casino with two friends who were also fellow art students and guitarists. We ran a photo lab taking photos of the passengers who boarded the boat. These guys convinced me to go for it and get a guitar. I bought a Fender Standard Strat in sunburst at Rondinelli Music Audio here in Dubuque. Another art student who was older than us had a daily gig playing acoustic guitar on the riverboat. When he boarded the boat the next day, I asked if he knew of anyone that had a used amp, since I just got my Strat yesterday. He said he had an amp in his basement that he gigged with years ago that he no longer used and said he would bring it by. The next day he brought the Music Man 112RD with him and I asked him what he wanted for it. “Fifty bucks,” he said. I said, “Cool.”

I always thought I had a Fender tube amp in all but a name but was bummed to read in the column that Leo had nothing to do with the amps. Oh well, still sounds great! That’s my amp story and I’m sticking to it! I’m a new subscriber to your magazine and it’s a joy to get something other than bills in the mail.
Keep up the great work!
—Michael Pankow, Dubuque, Iowa

Berlin Walls
So, everybody’s happy but Jeff Berlin? I’m referring of course to Jeff ’s outright dismissal of rock schools, rock camps and rock lessons [“Interview: HBC’s Scott Henderson and Jeff Berlin,” February 2013].

Maybe I’m taking this the wrong way because I just dropped a bundle to attend a guitar/songwriting camp this summer. Or maybe it’s because I’m a retired high school teacher. Or just maybe, it’s because throughout my playing “career” I’ve managed to learn from a variety of different sources. That’s right, Jeff. I’ve learned from DVDs, personal tuition, CDs, books, magazines, workshops, and seminars. Have these made me a better player? Probably. The point is, I’ve allowed myself to take advantage of many different opportunities to improve. There is not one “right way” to learn.

If one’s motivation to learn is genuine, then one can learn from anything, anytime, anywhere. Maybe even at an HBC show. Unless, of course, one was entertained.
—Ross DeAeth,
Lexington, Kentucky

Big Up to Big Jim
Dear Shawn and Staff,
Thank you so much and big ups for the article in the February issue on Big Jim Sullivan after his passing [“Forgotten Heroes”]. He was clearly one of the most underrated guitarists of out time, although he was truly a guitar player’s guitar player.

I hung on every 30-second bit that he did weekly on the Tom Jones show. Imagine a very impressionable, young 15-yearold guitar player watching Big Jim and Tom tear up “Guitar Man.” He made such a huge impression on me with his smooth style and class that I believe he was largely responsible for me sticking with it and following my dream. He was arguably more of an inspiration to me than either The Beatles or The Stones.

Excellent choice of subject material and great journalism by Corbin Reiff.
Love the mag.
All the best,
—Johnny Mau, San Jose, California

A Case For Bass
I just read some complaints in your feedback section in the February 2013 issue. A couple of people complained about the prior issue having too much info on bass guitars. I play bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and even piano so I love reading about all of it. Please don’t stop the bass articles. There’s enough room in the magazine for all of it.
—Kathleen Lamb, via email

Uphill Both Ways
In regards to John Bohlinger’s article on Shitegeist [Last Call, December 2012] I can’t agree more. However, when I was a boy, we had to save up that dollar to buy a Beatles 45, or the 3 to 5 bucks for the LP, then get a ride to the music store and try to decide which record you were going home with. Not like today where you just hit the “Buy it now” button and instantly download your purchase. It’s just a symptom of the times I suppose. Keep up the great work, you guys are the best.
—David Judd, El Cajon, California