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VGuitar Central => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: Elantric on January 24, 2008, 01:53:00 PM

Title: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on January 24, 2008, 01:53:00 PM
Im Steve Conrad
I grew up in both southern and northern California, and Chicago.
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At age 7, I was inspired to play guitar after watching the Chantays record the surf hit "Pipeline" at Wentzel's Music Town, 13117 Lakewood Blvd,  Downey California  - back in 1962. My mom was a major R&B record collector and would drag me from record store to record store all over the LA area .
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http://acerecords.co.uk/intoxica-strange-and-sleazy-instrumental-sounds-from-the-socal-suburbs (http://acerecords.co.uk/intoxica-strange-and-sleazy-instrumental-sounds-from-the-socal-suburbs)
QuoteDowney is in Los Angeles County, ten miles from Downtown Los Angeles, and is famous for three things. One is the oldest existing standard McDonald's. The second would have to be the Carpenters. The singing stars who appealed to the silent majority with the ordinary taste. The third is Wenzel's Music Town. Downey Records was in the back of Wenzel's Music Town, a record store serving Southern California's music lovers for 40 years. Downey Records achieved notoriety with recordings like the Chantays' 'Pipeline' and the Rumblers' 'Boss.' Since the Wenzels retired in 2002, only the McDonalds is still open for business.
Wenzel's Music Town sat at 13117 Lakewood Blvd., just inside the Downey city line, and was one of the best collector's record stores in Southern California.

INTOXICA! is the first in a series presenting the Downey output by genre. Even more interestingly, the first comp out of the gate is an instrumental collection, but not a surf comp. No Pipeline here. The Downey vaults have been trawled thoroughly in order to bring straight-from-the-masters quality (and in the doing of it, discovering that the released sides were only the tip of an iceberg!). This collection features instrumentals from the gamut of young bands from the California beach communities and as far east as Las Vegas; cabaret acts from the lounges of Lake Tahoe and Palm Springs; mixed in with some great R&B names who used Downey's studio and cut some fine instros of their own. The theme that links them all together is a quirky sense of cinematic drama and fun, a certain sleaziness, a love of analogue tape echo, and all recorded in an experimental fashion the equal of Joe Meek, who was working contemporaneously in London.

This collection will appeal to the instrumental collector, and the lover of lounge-sleaze. This comp has oodles of rare sides and seven unreleased gems. Familiar names likes the Revels, Rumblers, Nevegans and Hustlers rub shoulders with the R&B of Chuck Higgins and Little Caesar. A treat for connoisseurs of the strange!

- See more at: http://acerecords.co.uk/intoxica-strange-and-sleazy-instrumental-sounds-from-the-socal-suburbs#sthash.YTFluICr.dpuf (http://acerecords.co.uk/intoxica-strange-and-sleazy-instrumental-sounds-from-the-socal-suburbs#sthash.YTFluICr.dpuf)

My family lived around the corner from Wentzel's on Woodruff, near Rio San Gabriel elementary school in Downey, CA. - this was only a few blocks away from Paul Bigsby's shop on Phlox Street ( he was a motorcycle mechanic who built guitars for Merle Travis and invented the Bigsby Vibrato) 
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.premierguitar.com%2FStream%2FStreamImage.aspx%3FImage_ID%3D69D3403F-3881-406A-9B39-B4C535EEC130%26amp%3BImage_Type%3Dimage&hash=ea81ab250dd2e515a86fea457d8892f9cb0fcde6)
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Forgotten_Heroes_Paul_Bigsby (http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Forgotten_Heroes_Paul_Bigsby)

- also home of the Carpenters, and Dave Alvin and The Blasters, and North American Rockwell - who designed the Apollo command module that orbited the Moon. 
http://www.losangeles.com/nightlife/records.html (http://www.losangeles.com/nightlife/records.html)

My Father worked for General Motor's Ball Bearing division, and he once visited Leo Fender in 1959, to sell him Ball Bearings for a guitar vibrato prototype that never left his R&D lab.
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and GM moved our family around the country every few years - so it was rather like being an Army brat.
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Between 1962-63 We lived in Glendora, California - and my older brother was friends with a younger brother of the local surf band - the Surfaris (Wipe Out)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Surfaris (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Surfaris)
http://youtu.be/ezarUTXKA7I (http://youtu.be/ezarUTXKA7I)
Then in mid 1963 we moved to Cupertino, CA
Been playing guitar since 1967, Performed in the Santa Cruz / San Jose , CA  area in the late 1960s, ( I saw bulk of the San Francisco bands live in the park in their heyday) then I lived in Ohio for a year, then Chicago in 1970 - 1978, - used to sit in and play blues at Kingston mines coffee house in Chicago), The Quiet knight, Aaron Russo's Electric Playground.

(https://s6.postimg.cc/qnzuyutkx/SKC_73.jpg)
(1972 - Darien, Illinois - with my 1961 SG Special, 1971 Plush "Twin Reverb" atop a 1968 Fender Dual Showman cab loaded with JBL D130F 15" speakers.

Ive used Marshall Cabs too
(https://i.postimg.cc/gjSPmcbR/23316343-10214507370016795-5770213324487191186-n.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Z5t9m4Hd/22228078-10214256108095404-7940027209891461824-n.jpg)

Thats me on the far right performing at Northern Illinois University with "Eugene Buxley band" - a southern rock /CSNY type band.
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After college  at NIU (DeKalb, Illinois), I moved back to Los Angeles.  I wrote and performed the incidental music for a cult SCI-FI film "LazerBlast", which aired a lot on Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laserblast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laserblast)

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(https://s6.postimg.cc/obqo1eb1d/l_ae00a7560c458b640b3bf8b210177f-1.jpg)
At the same time I toured the southwest in a rock band called Rocket 88 - whose members went on to big time with Ratt, and Wang Chung.
https://youtu.be/40QqWA9dGGk


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http://www.jeffnaideau.com/inmemory.htm (http://www.jeffnaideau.com/inmemory.htm)

Here's a site with  MP3 recordings  of that band at a live gig in Flagstaff , AZ from 1979

Rocket88 Set1 (https://web.archive.org/web/20160411234639/http://lovedrums.com/audio/Rocket88/Rocket88side1.mp3)

Rocket88 Set2 (https://web.archive.org/web/20160412052754/http://lovedrums.com/audio/Rocket88/Rocket88side2.mp3)



A pic of me during that time

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Eventually I became service manager at Valley Arts Guitar in Studio City, CA just off Laurel Canyon. I started in Amp repair, then worked in Guitar repair too.
I set up and built Guitars and Basses for the top LA Session players :

I suppose you could say I was a member of the "pit crew" for "The LA Wrecking Crew"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_(music) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_(music))

I worked on these guitarists instruments
Bob Bain, Dennis Budimir, Larry Carlton, Steve Carnelli, David Cohen, Joe DiBlasi, Herb Ellis, Ron Eschete, Robben Ford, Grant Geissman, Jay Graydon, Al Hendrickson, Mitch Holder, Carol Kaye, Pat Martino, Tim May, Lee Ritenour, Tony Rizzi, Thom Rotella, Steve Lukather, Christopher Cross, Duane Eddy, Allan Holdsworth, Mike Sembello, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Frank Zappa, Devo, Oingo Boingo - rewired several of their studios too.
http://jasobrecht.com/tommy-tedesco-friends-golden-age-studio-guitar/ (http://jasobrecht.com/tommy-tedesco-friends-golden-age-studio-guitar/)
http://www.valleyarts.com/shopnamm.htm (http://www.valleyarts.com/shopnamm.htm)

Pic below is from 1981, the Valley Arts Guitar repair department located upstairs above the store below.  I'm on the right. Bob Kerr is on the left, filing frets on a Martin D-28. My '61 SG Special is on the bench in the foreground, The view is from the Client waiting area - a dutch door with a shelf.

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=82.0;attach=604;image)
http://web.archive.org/web/20200422212439/https://thepickwickian.wordpress.com/2016/08/17/valley-arts-guitars-the-lost-years/
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Around the corner to the right was a complete guitar workshop and paint booth.
A crew of 3 talented Luthiers from Michoacan  province Mexico did a lot of beautiful work.  Manuel Rios , Ramon, and Rujelio. Dudley Gimpel was there too. Building a custom 335 for Larry Carlton ( Dudley soon left to become principal luthier for Ernie Ball / Music Man , where he still works today, designing all the models for EVH, Steve Morse, John Petrucci, Luke, Albert Lee, etc).  Stevie Freyette worked right beside me in Amp repair in the early 1980's prior to moving over to MusicTech, then founding VHT amps in 1988 after an initial capitalization from Andy Brauer rentals.


I attended the 1983 Winter NAMM Show where MIDI was introduced jointly by Dave Smith of Sequential Circuits and Jim Mothersbaugh of Roland US.
https://www.theregister.com/2013/08/28/midi_daddy_dave_smith_talk_to_el_reg/
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Jim Mothersbaugh ( with Roland Jupiter 6) and Dave Smith ( with SCI Prophet 600) in the first public showing of MIDI at Winter NAMM show, January 1983
Recently discovered I can be seen in the background in a photo at Jeff Rona's web site  - (Blue Circle)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Pf4Ky0Qh/MIDI-NAMM-83.jpg)

http://jeffrona.com/2013/01/midi-from-the-inside/ (http://jeffrona.com/2013/01/midi-from-the-inside/)

Impressed with this achievement, a week later I urged the owners of Valley Arts Guitar create a Keyboard department, where the sales revenue from Yamaha DX-7 Synths help VA fund  the initial manufacturing of Valley Arts Guitar's California Pro series.

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvalleyarts.guitars%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F03%2Flukeadvert-1.jpg&hash=241197b7135e75de1500d26a842d2b9fac9c3ca2)
www.hendrixguitars.com/ValleyArts.htm (http://www.hendrixguitars.com/ValleyArts.htm)

I worked with Frank Zappa's guitar tech Arthur "Midget" Sloatman 
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http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/guitars-frank-zappa/jul-06/21622 (http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/guitars-frank-zappa/jul-06/21622)

One of Arthur's Para EQ Preamps
(https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/280311_140841335999364_3685683_o.jpg)


Many people worked on FZ's gear - While working at Valley Arts I worked on nearly Everybody's gear between years 1980 - 1986. I took over Paul Rivera's role at the shop, as he had left in 1979 to work for Pignose, then Yamaha, then Fender. It was a wonderful time, low pay, yet rewarding for being part of a great team with Mike McGuire, Al Carness, Martin Miranda, Stevie Freyette (VHT), Dudley Gimpel (Ernie Ball / MusicMan). 

I worked on Jimmie Vaughan's gear too, and when his brother Stevie Ray came to LA to record his first demos at Jackson Browne's LA studio - I set up his '61 Strat.


Here's a video of David Bowie live 1983, I built the red Strat guitar played by Earl Slick:(though I would have tuned it a bit more had I been his guitar tech at that show) Begins at the 1:53 mark.

David Bowie - Cat People (Serious Moonlight) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGcKqHt2CA4#noexternalembed-normal)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Fe%2Fe2%2FEarl_slick_at_serious_moonlight_1983.jpg%2F1280px-Earl_slick_at_serious_moonlight_1983.jpg&hash=3fc1472a75a49733f275065e727a0cf6828b2ca9)

Sadly the Valley Arts Store and shop was destroyed by a Fire in 1991. Samick had a contract to make import budget versions of VA Strats, the fine print in the contract stated Samick could make the whole VA line should production cease in the USA - which it did after the fire. Major bummer. 

My local rep for Dr Ts MIDI Sequencer for the Commodore 64 worked at JPL, in thru him in 1986 I left Valley Arts and music to work full time at NASA/Jet Propulsion Lab to focus on Electronics where I performed radiation testing on components for deep space probes (Galileo, Magellen, Hubble Telescope, Mars Pathfinder)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Propulsion_Laboratory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Propulsion_Laboratory)
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/galileo/ (http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/galileo/)
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It was a time of focus on heavy technical challenges, and thru JPL, I was able to audit/sit in on many engineering classes at Cal Tech   
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Institute_of_Technology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Institute_of_Technology)

( The popular TV show "Big Bang Theory" closely resembles my own life at that time!)

My career was on a path of becoming an international specialist in Radiaton Effects in Semiconductors - to the level that I designed and installed several  robotic semi-conductor radiation effects test systems for NASA , as well as spending time in France supporting ESA - the euro version of NASA at the Centre d'Etudes de Gramat (France)
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But regarding music, it  became clear my 1st wife was not thrilled about supporting my past, present, future music career - so I restored British Sports cars while, learning CAD and PC board design.


In the mid 90's I decided to follow my passion,and worked to return back  to music / audio as a career as the Technical Director at Machine Head Studios in Venice, CA

http://www.machinehead.com (http://www.machinehead.com/)

This is major LA post production sound design studio that produced all the music and multichannel audio sound effects for TV commercials for Lexus, CocaCola, Budweiser Frogs. I played guitar on many of those. And I performed on the soundtracks for the trailer films for Batman & Robin  , Multiplicity with Michael Keaton

in 1987-1989 I developed the RackMaster MIDI Reactor with CM Automation
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I moved to San Luis Obispo in 1999 to work for Ernie Ball / Music Man, to cultivate an electronics division and support instrument amplifiers.
I worked on several interesting projects there - Here's me with all the limited production Spinal Tap MusicMan Mr Horsepower guitars with working Tachometer to measure how fast you are playing - I designed the PC boards and personally hand wired each one.
(https://s6.postimg.cc/rewkhqs8x/EBMM_Mr_Horsepower.jpg)

Since 2001, I've been at Ultra Stereo Labs Inc. www.USLINC.COM (http://www.uslinc.com/)  - purchased by QSC Audio in 2016
I'm an electronic design engineer, creating DSP digital audio processing equipment for the Cinema industry. We are a rival to Dolby. Our company has designed equipment which has won Academy Awards in Technical Achievement. http://www.uslinc.com/about_us.html#3 (http://www.uslinc.com/about_us.html#3) I have a passion for creative invention, and feel quite fortunate to be able to be employed at an innovative local company, as well as reactivate my music career on the side here on the central california coast - performing as lead guitarist in a few local bands.
My day gig I design PC Boards - like this:

(https://s6.postimg.cc/3vyhlcyc1/PC_BRD.png)

http://www.uslinc.com/products-feature_ramdom.html (http://www.uslinc.com/products-feature_ramdom.html)

and we sell versions to other manufacturers, like DTS, Crown, Dolby.

Today I continue to help many audio / instrument companies with PCB design -

Here's a random sampling of products I've had a hand in co-designing

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http://www.studiosixdigital.com/iaudiointerface2/ (http://www.studiosixdigital.com/iaudiointerface2/)

http://www.rackvax.com/ (http://www.rackvax.com/)
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(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dolby.com%2FuploadedImages%2FAssets%2FUS%2FImg%2FHeaders%2FIMB-DSS220.jpg&hash=b6dfa6801aa8aa0713407c971d3a1f148de1fd0e)

http://www.uslinc.com:8880/products-sound_grandmenu.html (http://www.uslinc.com:8880/products-sound_grandmenu.html)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uslinc.com%3A8880%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2FCCS-350pxw.jpg&hash=a667a5f83cfb8c9c6af22a933a3a4d686b9e9ce0)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuslinc.com%2Fimages%2FDigitalCinemaSolutions-JSD100.jpg&hash=49eb32f41b5a0e2cb451927287f4bcd804a181ed)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuslinc.com%2Fimages%2FDigitalCinemaSolutions-ECI.jpg&hash=6915e6dab5e9bc8659a9bc4bdc665a2e3074e416)

http://youtu.be/54fQfCc8XuY (http://youtu.be/54fQfCc8XuY)





In 2009 I was employed as a consultant by Tronical  / Gibson to assist in Gibson Dark Fire Guitar production issues in Nashville. 
(CLICK FOR MORE DETAILS)
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=downfile&id=23 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=downfile&id=23)
Here we are at 2009 NAMM in the Gibson bus with Tronical team and Craig Anderton.

(Detailed doc here)
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=downfile&id=23 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=downfile&id=23)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.gibson.com%2Fgetfile%2Fa61af8aa-eae1-4ec6-817d-94d237e1a3df%2FDarkfire_party_2.aspx&hash=afd77fc8327bdce2d019e5412b10511cff415143)



and currently perform as  lead guitarist in a local surf band "The Dentures"

https://www.facebook.com/TheDentures (https://www.facebook.com/TheDentures)

Steve Conrad
Elantric
https://www.facebook.com/steve.conrad.9022 (https://www.facebook.com/steve.conrad.9022)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on January 24, 2008, 04:07:47 PM
QuotePlease tell me more about your work with Zappa. Do you remember which guitars of his you worked on?  Needless to say im sure, but I am a huge Zappa fan. Awsome interview, BTW.

I worked with Frank Zappa's guitar tech Midget Sloatman - (his wife Gail's Cousin)

I installed and maintained Dan Armstrong Green Ringers in several of FZ's guitars:   
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.afka.net%2Fimages%2FMags-scan%2FRR%252078-06.jpg&hash=f1332e975edb7172052cc066bd0f7e66135a5d41)
Quote"-Given to Zappa by a Hendrix roadie, this formerly sunburst Strat was mutilated by Hendrix at the 1968 Miami Pop Festival. Zappa had it hanging on a wall in his basement for years until Rex Bogue put it back together with Zappa-approved electronic delights, such as a Dan Armstrong Green Ringer and a Barcus-Berry pickup buried in its original replacement neck! This neck, however, is a fairly new addition, as is the tortoise shell pickguard."

Somewhere in my box of pics - I have a photo of me working on this famous Hendrix Burnt Strat, that was featured as a mid 1970's era Guitar Player  FZ  Cover guitar pic. BTW - Under the pickguard it was a total "bathtub" Route, so FZ could easily swap different pickguards with different PU assortments. H-S-H, H-H-H, S-S-S, S-S-H, etc, etc.

Its best stated like this.  When I asked his keyboard player, Don Preston "What is it like working with Frank Zappa?"

His response was  "I don't know - because NOBODY worked WITH Frank Zappa - we all worked FOR Frank Zappa - and he was the man in charge - we were employees, and all members of "the mothers" were hired straight out of the local Musicians Union local 47 !"

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvalleyarts.guitars%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F03%2FSchecter-Shop.jpg&hash=44af5189675a7fc4fba955d87941b1f65c89eff3)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=82.0;attach=66;image)
At Valley Arts, I was the Service Manager - dealt with his Roadies  - sadly I never met FZ, although I used to know Dweezil when he was a teenager, watched Dweezil grow up as he would hang out at the store a lot. 


http://valleyarts.guitars/

http://valleyarts.guitars/history/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Arts_Guitar

https://web.archive.org/web/20030608104915/http://player.gibson.com/june03/ValleyArts.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20080909080936/http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Divisions/ValleyArts/

Used to work with most of the early 1980's LA bands - Missing Persons, Wall of Voodoo, Oingo Boingo, Berlin,
Old school session players: Dean Parks, Tommy Tedesco, Carol Kaye, Carlos Rios, Abe Laboriel
Genuine Artists: Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, Buzz Feiten,     

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=372.msg1343#msg1343 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=372.msg1343#msg1343)   
Here's what i know. I'm a long time Steely Dan Fan -  I was probably the 1st guy in my group of friends in Chicago in 1974 playing the "Mu" chords they used - I still have a wonderful steelie dan songbook with liner notes by Denny Diaz, who explains all the chord voicings - + advice from  Walter Becker &  Donald Fagen.  Well worth the $4.95 list price I paid in 1975 - right up there with my 1969 "Meet the Led Zeppelin" 1st album songbook - with Jimmie page liner notes - List price $2.95 right on the cover.  But thats another story.

I toured a lot in the 1970's in cover bands playing kid charlemain, Dont take me alive, Reeelin, Rickie, Peg (jay Graydon on that one)

Band broke up at end of 1979, I was in LA and responded to an ad in the Recycler - basically like "Easy Ads" -or craigslist  but in printed form. (pre internet guys)  Every thursday - you picked up Music Connection. Recycler, LA Weekly to find work, or good deals on gear ( like my 1966 vox AC30 for $125). I needed work - and wanted to stay in music as opposed to aerospace- despite my engineering degree.  I responded to an ad for "Bench Tech - Music repairs"  - turned out it was Valley Arts Guitar in Studio City.


I had assumed Paul Rivera was still there - but it was Pete Geerlings who was burned out after 6 months on the job.( at critical mass" was his own words) who gave me the job as the new repairman. Soon Stevie Fryette (VHT Amps) was hired too, and both of us repaired lots of gear. I had a hand in designing a few things there too as both a guitar repairman, luthier, amp service manager, and spearheading the MIDI keyboard department. during 7 years there. My 1st day on the job, Jay Graydon wanted my opinion on Wah wah pedals. Next day Lee Ritenoir and Tommy Tedesco were done with sessions up the street - and just came in to  hang around for a few hours and talk about session life.  This was regular daily stuff. I should write a book - I was the fly on the wall at first and a quick learner.  but Larry Carlton was in Valley Arts a lot. I repaired all his gear - the 335, his 1975 Mark One Mesa Boogie with Teledyne Fetron pre-amp, Shobud Volume pedal. He was doing those Fender Super Bullet ads at the time ( see 1982 Guitar player mags) He liked the Super Bullets because they are like the GHS "Gus" strings - a polished round wound that makes less fret noise on recordings.

All these guys play guitar and it just flows like a river winding through all manner of terrain.


https://youtu.be/t0bEBaRqjdk

https://youtu.be/KLPBz27gwvc
So  -a  Princeton Reverb is a great amp. Even the Post CBS chrome ones are still the same circuit up until 1974 - so any pre 1974 Princeton Reverb is a great amp for those buttery round sustain solos. ( but it makes a terrible Surf Amp - need a Twin or Dual showman to do the Dick Dale thing) Every studio in LA had a '64 Princeton  or a '64 Deluxe Reverb or a '58 Tweed deluxe in the house amp arsenal. lots of reasons why. The reliability of Fenders, (Studio engineers know what amp does what just like what mic does what )- low watts, the Jenson  alnico speaker, the Rectifier tube , and small power supply caps that are not capable of supplying the current demands to accurately reproduce the input signal when played aggressively - turn the amp to "10" plug in a gibson, and the notes feel more like you are squeezing toothpaste from a tube.  Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezers were in everyones gig bag too. But Larry had developed this technique that sounded like a compressor,  it was like butter - but he was  using a Shobud Steel guitar Volume pedal and played  through small tube "house amps" in whatever studio he was working that day. ( '58 Tweed Deluxe) By 1980 he was using a Mark one Mesa Boogie with EVM 12H, by 1983 he dabbled with a Rivera designed Fender Twin  - then  by 1985 Howard Dumble was supplying amps.

So  -For the steelie Dan sessions  Larry probably used his 1968 ES-335 with  Dunlop 6100 fret wire, stock PUs (that i had to pot in wax one time because they became microphonic.)   his Shobud volume pedal,  a DI Splitter box ( to record the dry straight guitar PU tone on a seperate track - adds back the attack should the miked Tube amp track be too inarticulate on fast runs)  and (Pre-1975) a '58 Deluxe or  either a Princeton with Paul Rivera stage 3 mods ( a pull boost, a master volume, a 6 position vari-tone mid EQ selector, and beefed up power supply.) post 1976 until 1983 he had the Mesa Boogie Mark One in a walnut cab used for gigs at Don Randi's Baked Potato.
https://youtu.be/rcfZwva-v64
(https://youtu.be/rT8D_L2bBGQ)
Another thing people forget which adds significantly to the Guitar sound on records - post mic compression, and limiting (Urie 1176, Teletronix LA-2A), EQ, Reverb and the old analog Mag tape saturation - which meant you often had a better rock guitar sound if you pegged the VU meter on the magnetic  tape recorder into the red the whole time. Not true for most Steelie Dan Records - but it was there if needed - but my point is that if you heard the Raw speaker cab mic return from any of these sessions prior to all the processing i have mentioned in this paragraph -  you would be surprised how much it might sound like something you typically hear on your own basic tracks - but add the post production mastering - and most importantly  - Ears and Talent.

An interesting side Steely Dan story - At my current day gig- a co-worker told me he was the alignment tech at the Village Recorder studio in LA 1970-1986. He was there when the Dan recorded "Show Biz Kids". He told me they began the song by recorded at 30 inch per second tape loop of a click track and the girls singing "Goin to Lost Wages, Lost Wages, Going to Lost Wages, Lost Wages" - and they duped that down to 2 track - cut and spliced that tape into a huge loop of just that phrase - repeating for hours - driving everyone nuts in the building  - they had improvised all manner of spare empty take up reels strategically placed on various barstools and tables in the control room to act as tape guides - to allow the loop to playback  on an ATR100 2 track - while they laid down lead vocals and slide guitar played by Rick Derringer of "hang on sloopy" and Johnny and Edgar Winter fame onto the Ampex 16 track.


(https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18489478_1353478928039439_2245496228658680980_o.jpg?oh=97078119e441e2732359c426100d41f8&oe=5A12D866)
Snuffy Waldens Valley Arts Strat
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: feloniouspunk on January 24, 2008, 04:26:27 PM
I have read many interviews where he has spoken about the Dan Armstrong Green Ringers.  How cool.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: dead_lizard on January 29, 2008, 04:38:05 PM
I know a guy who got to hang out in Dweezil's studio for a bit.

Apparently the Hendrix strat was produced at one point.

When he was left alone in the room with it he licked it!!!!!!!


....as you do....
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on February 17, 2008, 11:50:08 AM
Ron,

Glad you made it over here! Don't be a stranger!

Steve C


Quote
Again looking forward to see you and your inspiration Craig Anderton on a band stand or even a casual picture together here on the web!

here ya go! I'm on the far left - with the Tronical Gibson Dark Fire Team and Craig Anderton in the Gibson Bus at 2009 Winter NAMM.



(https://s6.postimg.cc/iwh42tdz5/Conrad_Gibson_zps77b6404a.png)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.gibson.com%2Fgetfile%2Fa61af8aa-eae1-4ec6-817d-94d237e1a3df%2FDarkfire_party_2.aspx&hash=afd77fc8327bdce2d019e5412b10511cff415143)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Lsbs2Nry/IMG-0757.jpg)

Almost moved to Nashville in 2009 to be Director of Engineering for Gibson. . . . . buts thats another long story.
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=downfile&id=23 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=downfile&id=23)

http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Guitar-Reviews-E6869.htm?sort.sortType=RD&sort.ascending=false (http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Guitar-Reviews-E6869.htm?sort.sortType=RD&sort.ascending=false)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QxQV1gTt/IMG-1204.jpg)
a year  later  - Nashville experienced a major flood at same Massman Ave. location
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gibson.com%2Ffiles%2Fallaccess%2F2010%2Fpress%2Fflood-01.jpg&hash=6edbaea4c154e74504747ce0471e80e80deec20c)
http://archive.gibson.com/absolutenm/templates/FeatureTemplatePressRelease.aspx?articleid=1292&zo

https://youtu.be/z5dEoejca4o


Here's more reflection on Steely Dan
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=372.0 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=372.0)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on January 05, 2012, 04:25:36 PM
No VG/GR content - but. . . .
(https://s6.postimg.cc/djxz40i7l/image.jpg)

(https://s6.postimg.cc/qcm33ilz5/DICKPoster.jpg)
(https://s6.postimg.cc/i7415d5g1/Dick_Dale_The_Dentures_8x10.png)
my Surf band (The Dentures) has been opening act for Dick Dale   -
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fprofile.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhprofile-ak-snc4%2F373227_292136004156314_865142464_n.jpg&hash=7e706879f234df4a3571be513aa8b3d2dc4d3363)
(https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/466692_507034419327507_342931272_o.jpg)



(Heres a video of the gig - I'm on far right.
The Dentures Surf Band w/ Paul Johnson (Mr Moto) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEaAlv6t014#)


and

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=4702.msg31688#msg31688 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=4702.msg31688#msg31688)
Old post  - but sets up the video
The passing of Steve Jobs this past week has had me in moments of self
reflection. I'm 3 months older than Mr Jobs. In the 1960's I went to
grade school in Cupertino, CA.  The present site of Apple headquarters
at 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA back in 1963 was the Mariani Dried
fruit packing plant.  The site of the barber shop where I would ride
my bicycle is now the Apple HQ parking lot. The apple and apricot
orchards I played in at age 10 are now Apple Computer R&D labs and
warehouses.
I often wonder what my fate would have been had my Dad not been
transferred away from the silicon valley in 1969. Me thinks my career
may have taken a different turn since I was living smack dab in the
middle of the action that would occur there in 1977.

But back in 1967 my mom played bridge with the lady who taught John
Fogerty how to play guitar. My mom had all the CCR records, and
needless to say, I can play most CCR tunes today blindfolded. I was
self taught, and learned to play guitar on those tunes, and still love
them.

In 1967 Guitar Player Magazine began  10 miles away from my house in
nearby Campbell, California out of a local music store  -  Guitar
Showcase, which is still there today. (highly recommended store in the
bay area!)
http://www.guitarshowcase.com/ (http://www.guitarshowcase.com/)

As luck would have it, back in 2007 I found myself at the right place
at the right time. I was at Guitar Showcase with my girl friend to
arrange to buy a Stratocaster to be used as a fund raiser for the
"Guitars not Guns" kids at risk program which I support each year. The
Guitar certainly has always been my best friend when I needed one.
http://www.guitarsnotguns.org/ (http://www.guitarsnotguns.org/)

Also at the store that day just happened to be John Tristao, formerly
of the late 1960's San Jose pop group "People" (who had a regional hit
in 1968 with a remake of The Zombies tune "I love you"), and now
performs with Creedence Clearwater Revisted.
http://www.guitarshowcase.com/MakinMusic/artists.html (http://www.guitarshowcase.com/MakinMusic/artists.html)


We had a good BBQ lunch with Guitar Showcase owner, Gary Wineroth and
got to talking. That day John was to be interviewed and appear on
Guitar Showcase's local cable access show "Makin' Music" as a solo -
to be filmed that afternoon.
At the very last minute John said - "damn lets find a drummer and bass
player and play on TV as a band!
I said "OK!"and an hour later I found myself on local San Jose cable TV:
  (here I am on a loaned Tele Thinline in the first 4 minutes before
the interview.)

Makin Music - John Tristao - Creedence Clearwater Revisited (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB2eyDotJwM#ws)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Machh_2 on January 06, 2012, 03:43:45 AM
Congratz!

It's pretty much your story!
Wow! you worked at NASA? Oh God, I dream of one day being there ...
have photos from there?

Lucky you man!

keep it up!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: gumbo on January 08, 2012, 04:11:53 AM
...oh...

...so this WASN'T you....   ???


Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Rorster on July 23, 2012, 08:26:51 PM
A truly incredible life. It would seem that you and the "Great Googaly Moogaly" have achieved blissful oneness.  Sending out your radiant light to all the rest of us cosmic travelers wielding our axes who incarnate here on the forum.  What a fascinating bio. I really enjoyed it.  This forum is frigging lucky to have such a talent who gives so much of his time and shares such wealth of knowledge. You're an inspiration my man.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Toby Krebs on July 24, 2012, 09:28:13 AM
I concur with Royster and want to also say a huge Thank You!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: aliensporebomb on July 24, 2012, 09:29:18 AM
Yeah, this is crazy - it's like any one of the stories here would be an interesting life but looks like Steve has lived several interesting lives!  And the story continues!

Very cool!

Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: atonal on July 24, 2012, 11:03:08 PM
WOW ELANTRIC some bio.but before I read it,I new you were a rocket scientist, meant in the most admirable way !!!Leading all your Rocketeers into new frontiers ..Thank you !!!Have you ever thought of planning a weekend of a gathering of all the minds on the forum and then some,it would be a blast complete with a guitar synth jam ,trading knowledge and some musical comradery !! Bill Nelson did a couple of weekends for a couple years and called it Nelsonica,just a thought !
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on July 25, 2012, 08:07:22 AM
(https://i1.wp.com/musicaficionado.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sweetheart.jpg?w=383&ssl=1)
Jerry Hertig ( far right above) was Adrian Belew's drummer 1975-76 in the band Sweetheart - the band he was in when Frank Zappa "discovered" Mr Belew.

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com%2Fimages01%2F77%2F3a8d762121fe56da4689cfa016b6c752%2Fl.jpg&hash=5e3a0f361a02cd64c0e2f46e825eed3d11b97937)
Shortly after, in 1978 Jerry Hertig moved to LA to become the drummer of my LA based band Rocket 88, and I inherited Jerry's  '66 Chevy Van.

When I met Adrian in 1986 at a Kahler sponsored solo concert at the NAMM show , he was very friendly and down to earth and we had mutual ground for conversation.  He's among the most inspiring musicians I have ever met.

After Rocket 88 broke-up. i landed a job at Valley Arts Guitar

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gibson.com%2Fpress%2Fnamm%2Fimages%2FValleyArts.jpg&hash=24afe9fed2b7306efbef554a0a877575)
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45035680_10217905898668791_2808816544665042944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=c84441c9f4f0505bf510492c1be81d67&oe=5C792456)

Article on Paul Rivera at Valley Arts Guitar Repair - (pic below is from 1978)
I worked this same work bench with Stevie Fryette back 1980, before Valley Arts remodeled and converted the upstairs Amp repair to the Drum shop
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=82.0 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=82.0)


the white Hondo II '59 LP Special copy "test guitar", ( upside down in the pic, next to Thom Rotella's Deluxe Reverb) loaded with Kent Armstrong designed Schecter Z+ PUs in both the neck and bridge, wired up with the coil cut Tone pot mod ( like a Peavey T60) might have been the most played guitar in the buidling- brings back great memories of Fryette playing the Dickies "Gigantor" at full blast to test completed repairs.
I fondly remember my 1st day on the job at Valley Arts ( with Stevie Fryette we took over Amp repair from Paul Rivera's friend Pete Geerlings who had been there less than 6 months
http://loudroundrecords.com/AfterHours.htm
( Paul had left Valley arts in 1979 for work for Pignose) and had "reached critical mass" hired us both, having Jay Graydon ask me what Wah-Wah is best - ( and Stevie sorry I often came to work in the morning and blasted through all the fender amps in "to do pile" for the ""Rivera Stage II mods, often leaving you with nothing but the dog repairs - a pile of broken Peavey Bandit amps to eek out a living from repair commission earnings. - but this is the same room I met Jimmy Vaughan, and when his brother came into LA for recording demos at Jackson Brown's studio his brother told him "Go see Steve at Valley Arts" and as luck would have it I got to spend quality time setting up SRV's Strat's tremolo with the 1/2 wrap over / under self locking string up on the stock early '60s Kluson tuners - too many good memories and an era to be proud of - we were the Pit crew to the LA Wrecking Crew for sure!

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.mos.musicradar.com%2Fimages%2Faaaroot%2Fguitars%2F9sep15%2Fpaul-rivera%2Fpaul-rivera-main-970-80.jpg&hash=2a5bda20e47106d963159c38beb0c8aabbe68141)

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/paul-rivera-on-modding-marshalls-eddie-van-halen-and-the-80s-session-scene-627464 (http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/paul-rivera-on-modding-marshalls-eddie-van-halen-and-the-80s-session-scene-627464)

Paul Rivera on modding Marshalls, Eddie Van Halen and the 80s session scene
By Nick Guppy (Guitarist), a day agoGuitars

The legendary amp tech/builder talks




Paul Rivera on modding Marshalls EVH and the 80s session scene
With shred pioneers such as Eddie Van Halen pushing amps to the brink in the late 70s, Paul Rivera began hot-rodding Marshall heads to squeeze ever more from them. Here, this now-revered amp maker recalls how he sought to make the "ultimate Marshall".

Paul Rivera's career started in New York, but took off when he relocated to California in the early 1970s, working from a shop located over Valley Arts Guitars in North Hollywood on the edge of Studio City.

While most of us in the UK remember him for his association with Fender, Rivera's custom work on Marshall amps and pedalboards is just as significant.

We meet Paul for a rare interview in which he explains how he got into modifying amps and gives us a unique Californian perspective on the Marshall sound.

When did it all really start for you - was Valley Arts the beginning?

Paul Rivera Sr: "At that time, Valley Arts was the epicentre of the whole LA studio scene. I didn't realise it back then, but it was a golden era for the guitar and guitar players.

When Eddie did Beat it for Michael Jackson, he was using one of my modified Marshalls
"My work for those guys started with Dean Parks and he turned me on to Larry Carlton, who in turn introduced me to Jay Graydon, then Lee Ritenour.

"This was alongside some of the top jazz cats like Thom Rotella, Mitch Holder and, of course, the infamous Wrecking Crew, which included Dennis Budimir and Tommy Tedesco."

What drove the amp-modification business for you back then?

PR: "Well, having gotten established at Valley Arts, pretty soon it seemed that if you showed up to a session and you didn't have a Princeton or a Deluxe or a Marshall modified by Paul Rivera, you didn't have the latest thing.

"There was definitely an element of competition between some of those session guys to have the latest, coolest sounds, which kind of drove my modification business forward.

"I started doing pedalboards, too, because the pedalboards these guys were using were so primitive. Nobody knew about buffer stages and that stuff. I think, to some extent, I was mirroring what Pete Cornish was doing in the UK."

What kinds of mods were players requesting, and how did you provide them?

PR: "I brought a lot of mods to the Marshall and did a lot of R&D on them, which led me to guys like [former Van Halen bassist] Michael Anthony and Eddie Van Halen in around 1979, where I did a lot of stuff on their effects racks.

"When Eddie did Beat it for Michael Jackson, he was using one of my modified Marshalls. Then came Steve Lukather, and Eric Johnson whose Marshall amp I worked on in 1980 and '81, which was at the very tail end of my stint at Valley Arts, just before I got hired by Fender.

"By this time, I had a range of different modifications, called Stage 1, 2, 3 and 4, leading up to my 'ultimate Marshall', which had true dual-channel switching and effects loops with bypasses.

"That was all done with silent optical switching and dual-concentric stacked control knobs on the front panel, which I did to save drilling extra holes and keep the appearance as stock as possible.

"On the sound front, some players were more articulate than others with regard to what they wanted. Jay Graydon was technically very articulate. He'd play me a note on his 335 and say, 'You hear how it goes skinny up there? Can you put more body on that, and maybe do something to mask the fret noise?' That's how things often got done."



Was reliability an issue on some of those old amps?

PR: "To get some of the high-gain dual channel stuff, sometimes you'd wind up with six or seven tubes in a preamp that started with two, and if you didn't pay any attention to the power supply, reliability would suffer. So yes, at the extreme I would be replacing power supplies, adding regulated DC heater supplies and so on.

"Probably the finest and most reliable hand-wired amps I ever saw were the early Hiwatts. The lacing on the wires and the solder joints was just a delight to see. I don't think I ever made a hand-wired amp as pretty as a Hiwatt, but I always tried to make it as bulletproof.

On some amps there's a collision of different things that add up to a particular tone and response that's almost voodoo
"Reliability was always - and obviously still is - vital to my customers. Back then, if a session guy's amp went down halfway through a date, he would sacrifice his money and probably wouldn't get called the next time."

How much did you experiment with loudspeakers and cabinets?

PR: "A lot. Loudspeakers are the ultimate mechanical filter. For guys who were going out on the road and needed the ultimate in reliability, we often used the Electro-Voice EVM12L, because if you have a 25-watt amp running into a 200-watt loudspeaker you know you aren't going to have a problem.

"The issue there was more about getting the cone moving. Those EVMs have very stiff cones and spiders. At low level, they were the coldest, least inspiring loudspeaker you ever heard, but turn them up and they were magical."

What do you think are the essential elements of the Marshall head-and-closedback-cab sound?

PR: "Where Marshalls are concerned, the classic pre-1972/'73 1959 Marshall is basically a 4x10 Bassman circuit with a few tweaks.

"In around 1972 or '73, Marshall changed their transformer spec to get a little more reliability, because pre-change, with the power transformer at full whack, they probably exceeded the thermal capacity of the tubes they were using. In spite of that they certainly sounded fabulous, all the way up to where they exploded!

"From what I could see, there wasn't so much attention being paid to reliability on early 1959s, because those tubes were being pushed so hard. Mullard and Valvo EL34s can handle 600 or 700 volts on the plate, as long as the screen voltage is kept down, but it wasn't.

"I think on some amps there's a collision of different things that add up to a particular tone and response that's almost voodoo, and the early Marshall 1959 has that.

"Partly in the lower gain preamp, which results in the output stage providing some of the drive, partly in the transformers, and, of course, the speakers and 4x12 cabinets."

What about some of the later amps, such as the JCM800?

PR: "The JCM800 was interesting, because it was a more modern take on that classic Marshall tone. I designed a lot of tweaks for it - nothing that would necessarily make it sound better, just different.

"'Better' is a very subjective thing. I didn't find the JCM800 to be very consistent, but a lot of that was down to the valves they used at the time. Also, Marshall tweaked the JCM800 several times over its lifespan, so they varied quite a bit coming from the factory.

"I fitted 'fat' switches and there was also some tailoring to the EQ in between gain stages, to smooth out the top end and tighten up the bass so it didn't sound so ratty or bloated.

"So a Les Paul with humbuckers wouldn't sound flabby, while a Strat could still sound fat with the pickups wound down to where you didn't get the magnets interfering with the strings.

"On a lot of old Marshalls I would get them with the filter capacitors shot and then we'd work on the power supply to take a little bit more of the ripple out and that would assist in removing ghost notes from power chords and so on.

My favourites are the original 1959s and JTM45s before the early 1970s transformer changes
"Marshalls in the States sound different to the way they do in the UK, because of the difference in the mains frequency - it's not apparent when you play clean, but with distortion there are all kinds of intermodulation effects.

"In Japan, where half the country is on 50Hz and the other half is on 60Hz, you can go from Tokyo to Osaka and your amp will sound different."

What are your favourite Marshalls?

PR: "My favourites are the original 1959s and JTM45s before the early 1970s transformer changes. If you had good valves you could keep them working and they were so musical and they had a lot of magic.

"Unlike them, our amps have a lot of gain, but it's still about keeping them musically responsive so they do what a player asks them to do. I tend to think that Marshall somewhat bottle-necked themselves, because they had this concept of 'The Marshall Sound', which they continue to chase, but on the early amps it wasn't about that, it was their transparency and response that made them work so well.

"As guitar players we're all on a never-ending quest for great tone, and that's really what Rivera has always been about, helping players find a way to get closer to that sound they hear in their heads, whether it comes from a small combo or a 120-watt stack. Great tone is a universal truth for us all!"
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on November 12, 2012, 10:08:08 AM
http://www.ksby.com/videos/surfing-for-hope/ (http://www.ksby.com/videos/surfing-for-hope/)

The Dentures enjoyed providing the live sound track for Surfing for Hope event last Saturday on the Pismo Pier - Kowabunga!
http://www.facebook.com/TheDentures?ref=hl (http://www.facebook.com/TheDentures?ref=hl)

Here I am playing a GFS Xaviere JTM-100 (Jazzmaster clone) - and we will be opening for Dick Dale on Nov 20, 2012 here at SLO Brew in SLO,CA

http://www.ksby.com/videos/surfing-for-hope/ (http://www.ksby.com/videos/surfing-for-hope/)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on November 19, 2012, 04:59:48 PM
Elantric, Congratulations, that should be a very cool gig 8)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on November 19, 2012, 05:23:53 PM
Thanks!

Should be a reverb drenched evening!

Kowabunga!

---

You can experience MST3K commenting on my own guitar playing in 1977 in the party  / driving scenes in Laserblast 


https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=82.0

https://youtu.be/xyZI96rOPAA
here 12:32,  20:44,  36:20, 1:11:18

All tracks for these sequences were "source audio" inserts - since there was no production budget to use actual real music hits by genuine artists, instead my LA bar dance band "Crystal" (Myself, Bill Banister (Keyboards), Dwight Krizman (Drums), Richard Band (Bass)  created similar styles (intentionally altered to avoid copyright issues)  to popular radio hits in the studio with less than 30 seconds discussion of arrangements  before the red recording light went "on"  - at Dirk Dalton Studio circa 1977
http://dirkdalton.com/
I recall we worked one night for a large combo Pizza split between us as our earnings     
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on February 03, 2013, 07:24:10 AM
The Dentures Surf Band w/ Paul Johnson (Mr Moto) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEaAlv6t014#)

The Dentures Surf Band w/ Paul Johnson (Mr Moto)

SLO Brew  - Nov 30, 2012


The Dentures Surf Band
Guitar: Steve Conrad
Bass:Ron Saul
Drums: Tres Feltman


With Surfing footage shot around Central California Coast

www.Facebook.com/TheDentures (http://www.facebook.com/TheDentures)

Paul Johnson
www.pjmoto.com (http://www.pjmoto.com)
http://www.pjmoto.com/history.html (http://www.pjmoto.com/history.html)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on February 03, 2013, 09:02:59 PM
STEVE, I LOVED IT .I GREW UP ON SURF MUSIC, AND GLAD TO HAR YOU'RE CARRING ON THE TREDITION 8) GRET SOUND AND PLAYIN. PAUL
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on February 04, 2013, 10:07:11 AM
Very cool. I saw the Ventures and the Chantays backin probably 62 in Daytona Beach. Pretty awesome. Pipeline is still my favorite Surf era instrumental. And Nokie of the Ventures one of my all time favorites along with Dick Dale 8)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: maxdaddy on February 05, 2013, 04:40:30 PM
Great set Steve!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on February 05, 2013, 04:47:37 PM
Thanks! - We try to be true to the music and be an accurate reproduction of the early 60's surf instrumental band sound, and as luck would have it  - we know many many pro guitarists who love our band and want to sit in with us when they pass thru town. We have a lot of fun with it.

http://youtu.be/a3gKThM5ZxU (http://youtu.be/a3gKThM5ZxU)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: pk on March 03, 2013, 06:16:01 AM
WOW...I am very impressed with your Bio! I was living in Venice in 1978 and playing clubs in LA and Santa Monica. You are one interesting DUDE!  :) Are you married now? ;D Just kidding. But I AM impressed. Did you meet Micky Butler at Gibson or was he already gone? He was one of my clients in Nashville where I lived for 13 years.

Here is my website....www.prismglassgallery.com (http://www.prismglassgallery.com)


PK
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on March 03, 2013, 10:57:35 AM
Pk, welcome and very beautiful glass work I must say 8)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Now_And_Then on April 01, 2013, 10:30:08 PM

In the original post, what is that red semi-hollow Les Paul-looking thing with the Bigsby and the TV Jones pickups? Looks interesting.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on April 01, 2013, 10:51:29 PM
You mean this one?
(https://i.postimg.cc/zBvr09yB/Capture.png)



The guitar is an interesting one, It was purchased on Ebay as a " 2003 Hollow Body L.P" from China, by a music distributor in Riverside ,CA  called Bestler  / Infinity Music Sales.

The guitar was cheap, under $130, and originally had a trapeze tailpiece, but the body shape was identical to a real Gibson, with a Neck profile like  a real '56 Les Paul, I loved playing this guitar, and it was light, since it was 100% hollowbody.

Same guitar as this,  but different color
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhollowbody.org%2Ffiles%2F2011%2F03%2F-62283206736161510.jpg&hash=03f44d21b319abefbf54103c3a6a8ecdd2542d58)
http://hollowbody.org/old-bestler-f-hole-hollow-body-electric-acoustic-guitar/6228 (http://hollowbody.org/old-bestler-f-hole-hollow-body-electric-acoustic-guitar/6228)

I upgraded with the added Bigsby B3,
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bigsbyguitars.com%2Fvibe%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Ftrem_b3_l.jpg&hash=2d17c3cbf825c68f834a260f79374f4557c3641a)
http://www.bigsby.com/vibe/products/vibratos/b3/ (http://www.bigsby.com/vibe/products/vibratos/b3/)

Locking Planet Waves tuners,
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sweetwater.com%2Fimages%2Fitems%2F1800%2FPWAT6R1-xlarge.jpg&hash=21e5e1c69a40edf61e350a37a2a0e76f30caa8bd)

and two GFS Rectotron Liverpool Humbucker pickups,
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Liverpool-Vintage-Alnico-Humbucker-Chrome-Bridge-Position_p_467.html (http://www.guitarfetish.com/Liverpool-Vintage-Alnico-Humbucker-Chrome-Bridge-Position_p_467.html)

with custom wiring for Series/Coil Spilt/Parallel for each PU. - probably had $350 invested in the guitar - sad loss,  - this guitar was stolen when my house was broken into in 2008.   

Luckily they took this one and left my $2500 Gretsch 6120 Brian Sezter that was sitting in the next room.
    (https://i.postimg.cc/50X2bK0r/IMG-0430.jpg)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Now_And_Then on April 02, 2013, 03:58:22 AM
Quote from: Elantric on April 01, 2013, 10:51:29 PMLuckily they took this one and left my $2500 Gretsch 6120 Brian Sezter that was sitting in the next room.

That is luck indeed!

This is way off topic, but I have heard some very good things about some of the Gibson counterfeits from China. The main shortcoming seems to be in the electronics as opposed to the wood. I am considering it, though.

Thanks for the info!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on April 02, 2013, 06:49:48 AM
If you are seeking a cheap Les paul with good sustain.
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31750.msg236910#msg236910 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31750.msg236910#msg236910)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi412.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp208%2Felantric%2F326951845_o.jpg&hash=00447595fa7fa753cf1d94662464f4944766a725)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi412.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp208%2Felantric%2F326951521_o.jpg&hash=e8678457e3cd6d73b5fad78b8c98264a57c3bdcd)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: focus on May 01, 2013, 10:44:03 PM
were a handsome young man :)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Ringleader on June 28, 2013, 08:44:43 AM
I just gotta say... Elantric, I am so impressed with how great of a resource you are. I don't know how you can find the time to continually provide insight and be so knowledgable on so many topics, even including fringe topics that are outside the norm of typical guitarists and guitar rigs. It seems like you have been there and done everything!

I sometimes feel like I am all alone in exploring uncharted territory with a rig or piece of gear and yet I come here ask a question on this forum and within minutes you've got a solution posted, or I find a previous thread where you've already addressed it. Obviously, others on here are also very helpful as well, but just the amount and quality of guidance that you have personally provided to me is remarkable. Just wanted to sincerely thank you for all that you do here and on other forums.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on June 28, 2013, 10:28:08 AM
Hey you are welcome.

Its true, as luck would have it, I have had exposure to many areas, people, technology - principally self taught on a daily basis.

I like to surround myself with people smarter than me, and luckily in life I have been able to have some of that "rub off" on me.

I figure if  I "lead by example", it just might rub off on others too.

seems to be working here at VGuitarforums ;)


BTW - I'm currently working again with The Kristen Black Band
http://www.amazon.com/Kristen-Black/dp/B00006L502 (http://www.amazon.com/Kristen-Black/dp/B00006L502)
and a new surf band "Boomer"

and The Dentures surf band
(https://image.isu.pub/141010171546-1afedbdf80f108772966c974af2df56c/jpg/page_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: mbenigni on June 28, 2013, 12:12:32 PM
QuoteJust wanted to sincerely thank you for all that you do here and on other forums.

+1
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on August 14, 2013, 01:41:19 PM
Hey  - a link to a video of my Surf band is now up at NME (New Music Express) in the UK.

The Dentures Surf Band w/ Paul Johnson (Mr Moto) video

The Dentures Surf Band w/ Paul Johnson (Mr Moto) SLO Brew - Nov 30, 2012 The Dentures Surf Band Ron Saul - Bass Tres Feltman - Drums Steve Conrad - Guitar


http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/lEaAlv6t014 (http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/lEaAlv6t014)


Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Toby Krebs on September 04, 2013, 04:16:08 PM
That is some seriously great guitar playing Elantric! I don't think a lot of people besides Mr. Dale himself and Brian Setzer know how flippin' hard it is to play so cleanly with such control of the whammy bar and YOU HAVE TONE FOR DAYS!!!!Wonderful pure electric guitar music. Don't ever stop playing this stuff!!!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on September 04, 2013, 04:20:20 PM
Thanks!!

QuoteYOU HAVE TONE FOR DAYS!!!!

Its all in the fingers ;)


For many - this is a flashback of the sights and sounds early california "instrumental folk music "

(I'm on far right)

Rig used : Xavier JTM-100 "Jazzmaster clone", 'early 60's Fender Tube Reverb (once owned by Strawberry Alarm Clock),  Barber Tonepress compressor, Roland Cube 80XL on BlackFace (Twin) setting
http://youtu.be/lEaAlv6t014 (http://youtu.be/lEaAlv6t014)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Toby Krebs on September 04, 2013, 04:40:36 PM
Oh I know which one you are. Playing this kind of stuff requires a good amount of hand strength as well.Very hard to play in a trio especially. Almost a chord melody type of playing but as applied to rock chordal motion as opposed to jazz changes. My father -in-law played with Dick Dale in his early days and ran around with Wayne Charvel back in the day long before he started his guitar company.They spent  time together  building hot rods. His name is Mel Anderson. He left music and started a family and became a graphic designer right before the music thing exploded. Talented keyboardist and guitarist and Model A restorer LOL! I will send him a link to this video. He still lives in the So. Cal. area.
Elantric you are fun to watch as well as listen to. Rock and Roll is a performance thing as well as a playing thing and you communicate the fun you are having to the audience. That is the singular goal and the reason why we play the guitar. To share the enjoyment of it with an audience. Nicely Done!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on September 04, 2013, 05:03:49 PM
QuoteElantric you are fun to watch as well as listen to. Rock and Roll is a performance thing as well as a playing thing and you communicate the fun you are having to the audience. That is the singular goal and the reason why we play the guitar. To share the enjoyment of it with an audience. Nicely Done!

Hey thanks for the kind words.
Since we are both in California - maybe we could get together for a beer and jam sometime ;)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Toby Krebs on September 05, 2013, 03:36:48 PM
Yes I would dig that! I will PM you when I am coming to the area for a visit with my wifes family. They range from Santa Clarita to Yucaipa which is near Redlands.We also go to Disneyland from time to time. If I could score a ticket to the NAMM show we could hang out there. I have only been once about 15 years ago and man did I enjoy that! Hard to get a ticket here as I don't work at a music store.
One more thing about your playing in the video. It is also very difficult to get and keep an audiences attention when playing guitar instrumentals and you do it very well. Although I am a lead vocalist my favorite music is and has always been instrumental. Dick Dale-Jeff Beck-Joe Pass-Eric Johnson are all players who play fascinating instrumental tunes. The essence of guitar coolness is a good guitar melody played by a good player! Singing keeps me employed though so I keep doing it LOL!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: feelnofret on September 05, 2013, 06:53:10 PM
Fascinating bio! Seriously, truly impressed over here.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on September 05, 2013, 07:59:44 PM
Trust me, we have many other members here at vguitarforums  who surpass my accomplishments.
Welcome aboard!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Toby Krebs on September 06, 2013, 09:32:11 AM
@ Elantric- As one of my teachers used to say-"Don't sell yourself short"-he was and still is an amazing jazz pianist and R&B vocalist.
"No one else can do what you can do, with what you have been given"-Steve Lukather.
These are a couple of things I keep in mind when playing learning and teaching.
Title: Re: Re: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: tekrytor on September 07, 2013, 06:18:54 AM
Quote from: Elantric on September 05, 2013, 07:59:44 PMTrust me, we have many other members here at vguitarforums  who surpass my accomplishments.

WALSTIB comes to mind when reading your fascinating bio. A lifetime following the dream is just a fantasy for most people. As a frustrated wanna-be musician with over 30 years slaving away by day at a hot mouse and keyboard... I'm envious and read almost every Elantric word here on the forum to learn what I can from your experience. I too want to say thank you for generously sharing your time, energy and knowledge with the throng. "We're not worthy!" %) and very happy you're here.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on September 07, 2013, 06:36:06 AM
QuoteWALSTIB comes to mind when reading your fascinating bio.
Had to look it up
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=WALSTIB (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=WALSTIB)

"What A Long Strange Trip It's Been"
Indeed  - what a long strange trip its been - and on going.

You are welcome!

I am a firm believer of settings your course in life to always  follow your passions and lead by example.
Glad you enjoy my posts, as much as I enjoy being exposed to all the permutations of how others use these tools for creative expression.

I'm currently performing again as guitarist in The Kristen Black Band
https://plus.google.com/108300001383438096043/posts (https://plus.google.com/108300001383438096043/posts)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on November 27, 2013, 12:55:51 PM
I had the good opportunity to see Living Color as opening act for Joe Satriani. It was a great show and afterward I met Vernon Reid and we discussed his live rig and VG99. Vernon personally wanted me to thank Marc Benigni for his GR55 TouchOSC control template for iPad. And all the great advice and ideas he gets from reading all the posts here at VGuitarForums.



(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F2082014%2F1406585083_1329204130_SteveVermen_2.JPG&hash=0e76ae625a3b6e19c59c292cc826aa5070d819d7)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on November 27, 2013, 04:59:00 PM
Meeting Vernon, Had to have been very cool
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on January 13, 2014, 09:22:47 AM
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F122014%2F1389633539_416883152_1545149_10201467465704930_1142106672_n.jpg&hash=7e0307f2a3dfaeb52fb10a07c6452f4d21bbb0ce)

I'm back in a Studio cutting tracks for a new CD release for the Kristen Black Band  - Been working with a great Drummer (Jeffrey Perkins), and playing some very funky stuff for someone as pale as I. 
http://www.paulthorn.com/bio/band.html (http://www.paulthorn.com/bio/band.html)
http://www.evansdrumheads.com/EvArtistDetail.Page?ActiveID=3551&ArtistId=42739&sid=3a9fe5b6-49e1-4c74-8650-9f19ae413bf0 (http://www.evansdrumheads.com/EvArtistDetail.Page?ActiveID=3551&ArtistId=42739&sid=3a9fe5b6-49e1-4c74-8650-9f19ae413bf0)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: amplayer on March 20, 2014, 11:11:34 AM
Like everyone else, I am very impressed with your bio.

The thing that most impresses me though, is the vast variety of careers you excelled in.
I'm sure you worked very hard to make all those career changes/choices, but reading about it makes it sound like it was effortless.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: amplayer on March 20, 2014, 11:28:53 AM
Quote from:  Elantric on March 20, 2014, 11:23:55 AM
Currently employed as "artist"

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F782014%2F1395339771_1299251474_pcb.PNG&hash=8fb9c57de4cb6d84a4da236da7925f49df083962)

Hmm.  I'm a nerd myself.  I'd agree there is plenty of creativity involved.  I've never thought of layout as pure "art" though.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: gumbo on March 20, 2014, 03:35:26 PM
Quote from: amplayer on March 20, 2014, 11:28:53 AM
Hmm.  I'm a nerd myself.  I'd agree there is plenty of creativity involved.  I've never thought of layout as pure "art" though.

...Art is from the heart...if what is happening is coming from inside you, then it's art...unmistakably.. ;)
...otherwise you might as well be a parking inspector..
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: amplayer on March 20, 2014, 04:01:42 PM
Quote from: amplayer on March 20, 2014, 11:28:53 AM
Hmm.  I'm a nerd myself.  I'd agree there is plenty of creativity involved.  I've never thought of layout as pure "art" though.

Steve,
I guess what I was getting at is this: Is your title really "artist", or is that just how you think about your current position?
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Bill Ruppert on June 06, 2014, 09:04:35 PM
Steve I got scared that you were the one in the middle playing guitar!:-)
Than I scanned the pic with my eyes and saw the spring reverb and Cube amp.
I knew that was you.

Quote from:  Elantric on June 06, 2014, 08:21:26 PM
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F1572014%2F1402110934_330896855_P1000944.jpg&hash=76fe3fa3bb33f1860d7d1c568a8470ee274b726b)

This was a fun event I played last week in Shell Beach California.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on June 08, 2014, 02:23:49 PM
Looks like a fun gig !
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on June 08, 2014, 02:27:13 PM
Just admit it Bill, you were immediatly drawn to the LEGS and then the reverb ;D
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: DreamTheory on June 08, 2014, 09:05:10 PM
This was so interesting and personal I redid my own introduction (maybe I will add pictures). Though I have zilch claims to fame, I think it is cool to share who you are (at least musically). Well done.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: big_jan on June 08, 2014, 09:30:41 PM
Well done Steve - still in awe! Great stuff. Inspired by you after all these many moons playing guitar. More power and good health  :)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Vaughn on June 27, 2014, 12:00:04 AM
Great to read about your storied past, Steve...sounds like a heck of a ride so far.  ;) My musical career has taken several similar turns, but none to the breadth and depth of yours. (I did play a number of week-long gigs Shaky Drake's in Flagstaff a few years after you did - 1981/82 era, as I recall. Wouldn't surprise me if we've got some other venues in common. We were based out of Albuquerque and played around the southwest and Rocky Mountains.) Looking forward to learning a lot from you and the rest of the gang here as I embark on my first journey into the GR-55.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on June 27, 2014, 08:03:46 AM
Back in 1977-79 we were an LA based band, yet our booking agent was based in Tuscon, AZ -  Each month  was two weeks on the road, and 2 weeks home, and we were popular in AZ, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, even El Paso. Many stories, as we were a dirt poor rock band "on tour" in college towns across the southwest back when such a lifestyle was feasible. 

Here's a site with  MP3 recordings  of that band at a live gig at Shaky Drakes  in Flagstaff , AZ from 1979:

http://www.lovedrums.com/audio/Rocket88/ (http://www.lovedrums.com/audio/Rocket88/)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: amplayer on June 27, 2014, 08:36:38 AM
Quote from: Elantric on June 27, 2014, 08:03:46 AM
Back in 1977-79 we were an LA based band, yet our booking agent was based in Tuscon, AZ -  Each month  was two weeks on the road, and 2 weeks home, and we were popular in AZ, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, even El Paso. Many stories, as we were a dirt poor rock band "on tour" in college towns across the southwest back when such a lifestyle was feasible.

Sounds like it was fun.
Question: Why would you say such a lifestyle not feasible anymore?  Is it due to the changes in the entertainment industry, or changes in yourself, or both?
I'd guess both, but I'm just curious.

There are many clubs that still feature acts that aren't big names.  I guess the difference is that they don't pay enough to actually live on, even for artists that live the stereotypical life of neglecting everything but food and recreational mind enhancers.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on June 27, 2014, 09:07:26 AM
Its economy and wages.

Back in 1978 I was renting a 4 bedroom Victorian house in downtown LA for $250 / month, with  two room mates  - my rent was $83, and Tom Waits was my next door neighbor
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6125.msg83168#msg83168 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6125.msg83168#msg83168)


One morning I was late to work because  a film crew and cast of midgets doing take after take of filming the video below

To me this is like old home movies from 1981 Union Ave near Beverly Blvd, downtown Los Angeles  and a glimpse of my back porch, and the old AT&T  / Pacific Bell parking lot full of old cars 

http://youtu.be/HLDA3GQpYJ4 (http://youtu.be/HLDA3GQpYJ4)


Our 4 man band On the road we would typically earn $1000 to $1200 per week playing 5 nights at a local bar  / club in a college town, two weeks on / 2 weeks off  - so the math works out to around $500 per month was my income, and I occasionally would save up for a new flanger or delay box. Most of the time the money went back into keeping my 1966 Chevy Van on the road.

Our booking agent could "sell" our band to Arizona club / bar owners as ""Rocket 88 - the hot Rock band from Los Angeles", and back in the pre -internet "word of mouth" days, based upon that criteria alone, we found lots of work playing nearly every bar in the southwest  - everywhere but in LA, where the "pay to play" Hollywood club scene was just beginning.

Today - its possible to see the world in a rock band, using social media - but its very tough going. The fact that 90% of the clubs I used to perform playing rock & roll 4 hours every night  back in the 1970s today are either closed, or no longer offering live music - preferring a Dance DJ, is the main significant problem / hurdle

So it probably makes more sense to study composition, compose tunes and make your best possible youtube videos to get noticed (and get work) if pursuing a full time music career today. And relocate to Nashville, New Orleans, Austin, LA or New York, immerse yourself in as many  different musical settings as you can to gain experience, and remember to look after what works best for your own career, and not place all your hopes simply as the lead guitarist to someone else's dream. 

   
   
Title: Re: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Kevin M on June 27, 2014, 10:14:21 AM
Quote from: Elantric on June 27, 2014, 09:07:26 AM
Its economy and wages.

Back in 1978 I was renting a 4 bedroom Victorian house in downtown LA for $250 / month, with  two room mates  - my rent was $83, and Tom Waits was my next door neighbor
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6125.msg83168#msg83168 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6125.msg83168#msg83168)

Our 4 man band On the road we would typically earn $1000 to $1200 per week playing 5 nights at a local bar  / club in a college town, two weeks on / 2 weeks off  - so the math works out to around $500 per month was my income, and I occasionally would save up for a new flanger or delay box. Most of the time the money went back into keeping my 1966 Chevy Van on the road.

Our booking agent could "sell" our band to Arizona club / bar owners as ""Rocket 88 - the hot Rock band from Los Angeles", and back in the pre -internet "word of mouth" days, based upon that criteria alone, we found lots of work playing nearly every bar in the southwest  - everywhere but in LA, where the "pay to play" Hollywood club scene was just beginning.

Today - its possible to see the world in a rock band, using social media - but its very tough going. The fact that 90% of the clubs I used to perform playing rock & roll 4 hours every night  back in the 1970s today are either closed, or no longer offering live music - preferring a Dance DJ, is the main significant problem / hurdle

So it probably makes more sense to study composition, compose tunes and make your best possible youtube videos to get noticed (and get work) if pursuing a full time music career today. And relocate to Nashville, New Orleans, Austin, LA or New York, immerse yourself in as many  different musical settings as you can to gain experience, and remember to look after what works best for your own career, and not place all your hopes simply as the lead guitarist to someone else's dream. 

   


A non-music backup plan doesn't hurt, either!  :-)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on June 27, 2014, 10:23:01 AM
QuoteA non-music backup plan doesn't hurt, either!  :-)

True! - Luckily My parents drilled into my head the importance of having an alternate career objective !


But its true that most of the folks I knew back in 1978 who remained with music 100% are today either composing music for Major Films  / TV Commercials - or party too hard and died young.

Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: gregjon on July 28, 2014, 12:55:54 AM
Thanks Elantric. That was an awe inspiring bio.

I figured you new so much about so much.

You have been a lot of help for me and I really appreciate it.

My little 3 man band plays Pipeline here in Guam and people still love it.

Thanks a million for everything !

Gregjon
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on October 09, 2014, 09:19:40 AM
Elantric, now that looks like a fun gig 8)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Headless68 on January 18, 2015, 03:01:56 AM
Jaw dropping, Forrest Gump moment filled, brilliance !
Thanks for giving back in this forum, I don't know how much time that takes (quite a lot over time I know that) but THANKS

Phil (Headless)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on September 22, 2015, 06:43:21 PM
Recent gig -  I'm playing my red Epiphone Wilshire Re-issue performing 1st with Steve Key (totally unrehearsed - just sitting in)  - then (at 1:27:00 ) with Kristen Black Band, then (at 2:17:00) some Surf tunes  -Friday Sept 11, D'Anbino Cellars Paso Robles, California
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F2642015%2F1442945404_661909920_KB_Band3.PNG&hash=9701053c01cc5e0ccb1175498fbd370c75333a0a)

Video Link
http://youtu.be/Y5jeiKSrXbU?list=PLqqClAG89WTiQosAaBeWyT_tGASZGyaRb (http://youtu.be/Y5jeiKSrXbU?list=PLqqClAG89WTiQosAaBeWyT_tGASZGyaRb)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: ainsoph on September 24, 2015, 02:17:37 AM
Quote from: Elantric on September 22, 2015, 06:43:21 PM
Recent gig -  I'm playing my red Epiphone Wilshire Re-issue performing 1st with Steve Key (totally unrehearsed - just sitting in)  - then (at 1:27:00 ) with Kristen Black Band, then (at 2:17:00) some Surf tunes  -Friday Sept 11, D'Anbino Cellars Paso Robles, California

Coolness  8) , with fine crunch-y sound :)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on December 29, 2015, 04:54:32 PM
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F3632015%2F1451436188_795879120_920611_10207949289668368_4447981254508004670_o.jpg&hash=8e580d51ef9dc7423409604dcede58587a4945f8)

Recently located a pic from the 1988 NAMM Show were I was demonstrating the RackMaster MIDI Reactor and MIDI Relayer

Basically these were a few months ahead of their time -   
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on December 29, 2015, 05:01:05 PM
I probably saw you there. I use to go every year and actively sought out anything MIDI that was guitar related :)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on January 24, 2016, 07:52:55 PM
https://www.facebook.com/steve.conrad.9022/posts/10208467759390304 (https://www.facebook.com/steve.conrad.9022/posts/10208467759390304)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F292016%2F1454115532_175867218_Vai.jpg&hash=18bf69f9dbbc297ebe4a975bc466747d75357db0)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Autana on January 24, 2016, 10:46:29 PM
Wow, simply amazing! besides admiration, I am so proud to have the opportunity to share with Steve in this incredible forum.
My respect sir.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: thunderfingers on January 25, 2016, 01:47:39 PM
Awesome bio. Did not know about Valley Arts- very cool. Thanks for the info, congrats on great stories, looking forward to reading your posts.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on January 25, 2016, 02:05:21 PM
QuoteAwesome bio. Did not know about Valley Arts- very cool. Thanks for the info, congrats on great stories, looking forward to reading your posts.

Thanks!  - My musical journey is still in progress, and in 2016 I plan on documenting things in more details and behind the scenes stories  in more detail here on the forums and on  other media outlets.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on February 27, 2016, 08:52:51 PM
I worked at Valley Arts Guitar 1980-1986
(https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/737123_4542735279157_910696790_o.jpg)

and installed the 1st Floyd Rose on Steve Lukather's Strat.
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi412.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp208%2Felantric%2FVA_Luke_Mike_1990_zps74f29900.jpg&hash=961055275b482cd7af6f98d916c7e2b3beaef18a)
(https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/p843x403/10448522_10205087529766159_5892058158820695702_o.jpg)

https://youtu.be/cOeB4oANTVg (https://youtu.be/cOeB4oANTVg)
Here is a video with some of that history, and some unique behind the scenes of high quality guitar production 
http://youtu.be/0Viy42rl4Ao (http://youtu.be/0Viy42rl4Ao)

http://youtu.be/2BXdqDOzQGw (http://youtu.be/2BXdqDOzQGw)

Old Lukather video from 1986 worth watching for some perspective on FX and routing.
http://youtu.be/odZsCxusbpY (http://youtu.be/odZsCxusbpY)


http://articles.latimes.com/1990-12-28/local/me-7325_1_valley-arts-guitar-center (http://articles.latimes.com/1990-12-28/local/me-7325_1_valley-arts-guitar-center)
QuoteNoted Musicians Join Sad Refrain Over Store : Fire: None of the businesses damaged in the Studio City blaze have elicited as much sympathy as the Valley Arts Guitar Center.
December 28, 1990|LESLIE BERGER and GREG BRAXTON | TIMES STAFF WRITERS
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Share

In the good times, musicians famous and not so famous come to the Valley Arts Guitar Center to get their instruments repaired, catch up with old friends and occasionally break into jam sessions.

Thursday was definitely not a good time for the Ventura Boulevard music store, but its patrons still faithfully stopped by--this time to offer condolences to owners Al Carness and Mike McGuire as they surveyed the wreckage of a $2.5-million fire that gutted two businesses on the block and heavily damaged theirs.

"I spend so much time here, it's like a home away from home," said guitarist Laurence Juber, who used to play with Paul McCartney and Wings. "It's more than a store--it's like a social club."

Juber left his Studio City residence for Valley Arts on Thursday after reading the morning newspapers. Guitarist Randy Meisner, formerly of the Eagles; Lee Sklar, a bass player for Phil Collins and James Taylor; and Stewart Levin, a composer-arranger for television's "thirtysomething" were among the other artists who either dropped by or called.



Guitarist Larry Carlton said he hopes to organize a benefit concert.

"It's in everybody's hearts and I've started a list of contacts," said Carlton, formerly one of the city's top studio players and today a well-known solo artist.

"I'm sure I won't have trouble finding support for them. There's a lot of love for that store. I can't think of any other store that has such a relationship with the customers and artists."

Of the businesses hurt by Wednesday's suspected arson-caused fires, none seem to have elicited such sympathy as Valley Arts, whose owners estimate they lost at least $600,000 in guitars, drums and keyboards, not to mention their boyhood dream.

Pier 1 Imports and Strouds Linen Warehouse, the stores gutted by the fire in the 12100 block of Ventura Boulevard, are national chains. But the Valley Arts Guitar Center is a family owned operation that McGuire and Carness bought with money they saved playing gigs and selling guitar strings.

The second floor of the music shop, which is just west of Pier 1, burned and the ground floor was ruined mainly by smoke and water from the firefighters' hoses.

"I was on the phone all night," McGuire, who also makes guitars, said. "Duane Eddy called from Nashville and Larry Carlton called me from a session."

McGuire and Carness took guitar lessons at Valley Arts' original location on Laurel Canyon Boulevard when they were 10 years old. They became friends, and as young men decided to buy the store. They relocated to 12162 Ventura Blvd. 17 years ago, quickly becoming a fixture in the music industry.

Autographed album covers, greasy with smoke, still covered the store's walls Thursday. Upstairs in the percussion room, warped cymbals and charred conga drums lay under dangling pieces of water-swollen ceiling. Downstairs, guitars of all shapes and sizes appeared intact but some of their faces were blackened by smoke and McGuire said their sound still has to be tested.

"The sad part is, a lot of those guitars were custom-made to the musicians' own order," Carness' wife, Fern, said. "They may not be burned, but they won't have the same tonality and feel.



"It's like a woman--you just can't replace them exactly."

McGuire and Carness said they have insurance, although they are not certain it will cover all their losses. They plan to reopen as soon as possible. On Thursday, with employees' help, they began taking inventory.

"This is our life, and not just ours, but our employees," Fern Carness said.

They have yet to determine which instruments, if any, were damaged beyond repair.

Juber said he had some amplification equipment in the store "but nothing irreplaceable." Professional rocker Jon Walmsley believes he lost a rare and valuable Gretsch country guitar, but said, "No one was hurt and that's all that really matters."

Fern Carness, who watched her husband stay up all night making lists of fire cleanup tasks, said she took down the Christmas tree at their Chatsworth residence first thing Thursday morning. She worries too much now about fire, she said.
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F582016%2F1456637951_1606963658_10917802_10205633044883696_8050608493304140_o.jpg&hash=f9b5c721b34fe9beefba4e09fa7fa9f6c67c4204)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F582016%2F1456637942_714662897_10900168_10205633941706116_2606939572915775116_o.jpg&hash=3f6faaefdb35612ac634665808ce76df4bfba78b)

Valley Arts Fire Fire was an Arson


His name is John Orr, and he was an arson investigator for Glendale FD. Charges against him for the Valley Arts Guitar Ventura Blvd. fire were dropped, but he was convicted of serial arson and mass murder for a fire that killed 4.  He got life plus 20 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Leonard_Orr (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Leonard_Orr)

http://youtu.be/ffM1pHuILhk (http://youtu.be/ffM1pHuILhk)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: aliensporebomb on February 28, 2016, 07:20:47 AM
I watched the Forensic Files episode linked here.  Unbelievable.  I knew it was Arson but not that it was one of the departments own.  Unreal!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on February 28, 2016, 08:28:31 AM
I only recently " connected the dots" myself.

Only thing to walk away from this is a lesson that each individual in this world carries  responsibility for their actions and choices in life, and those actions (positive or negative) often impact the course of history and impact many lives.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on March 28, 2016, 02:52:33 PM
Recently stumbled upon a demo of my 1975 Swedish Dyn-Electron Longhorn

http://youtu.be/v67hPygzkYI (http://youtu.be/v67hPygzkYI)

Had not seen another one like it  - a friend was working at SAAB aerospace in Linköping Sweden in 1976 and purchased it for me.

My band PR photo from 1978
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa2.ec-images.myspacecdn.com%2Fimages01%2F121%2F8c9ed0dba0f0a7a9cf51f69e33190259%2Fl.jpg&hash=e156c8734d7b61b3066ce8d0a2f2ddfac940cbcf)
photo courtesy: Harold Naidaeu
http://naideauphoto.com/ (http://naideauphoto.com/)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: whippinpost91850 on March 28, 2016, 03:01:03 PM
Very cool, I have never seen one. Cool band photo too
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: admin on April 19, 2016, 04:18:08 PM


https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Brands-Reviews-E6869.htm?utm_source=watcher&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=watch-n&utm_content=wat-n- (https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Brands-Reviews-E6869.htm?utm_source=watcher&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=watch-n&utm_content=wat-n-)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: CodeSmart on April 19, 2016, 04:32:33 PM
Quote from: admsustainiac on April 19, 2016, 04:18:08 PM

https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Brands-Reviews-E6869.htm?utm_source=watcher&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=watch-n&utm_content=wat-n- (https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Brands-Reviews-E6869.htm?utm_source=watcher&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=watch-n&utm_content=wat-n-)

Yikes, not very positive vibes...
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on April 19, 2016, 04:39:46 PM
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=82.0 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=82.0)
Almost moved to Nashville in 2009 to be Director of Engineering for Gibson. . . . . buts thats another long story.
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=downfile&id=23 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=downfile&id=23)

Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: HecticArt on April 19, 2016, 06:54:27 PM
Wow, that looks like a smear campaign orchestrated by the interns at Fender.

I hope it's not that bad over there.
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: chrish on April 20, 2016, 09:37:42 AM
When I read these types of employee abuses, I wonder as consumers of these products if there is something we can do to improve things. A boycot of Gibson products may send a messege, however, that may hurt employees in the short term as business drops off. However, this problem runs all the way to the child labor sweat shops of india, where the abuses are even more dramatic. (Sorry , i volunter my time and sanity as a public land use activist in favor of restoring our eco habitats for the benefit of all life, and this stuff gets me fired up).
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on May 18, 2016, 02:40:07 PM
(https://s6.postimg.cc/y2k2049s1/Steve_And_Fito_1.jpg)

Jaming on "BullFrog" with Fito de la Parra (Canned Heat)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_de_la_Parra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_de_la_Parra)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canned_Heat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canned_Heat)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: HecticArt on May 18, 2016, 02:52:15 PM
That's pretty cool.

How was it that you were hanging out with him? Did he play the Reverend? (I don't know if he plays guitar too.)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on May 18, 2016, 03:02:46 PM
Fito is a drummer - and my girlfriend's local cable access music show featured Canned Heat band on past episodes

She introduced me to Fito back in 2007, and Fito invited me to jam a couple weeks ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_de_la_Parra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_de_la_Parra)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canned_Heat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canned_Heat)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F1382016%2F1463607458_53658156_FitosJam_2.jpg&hash=e7d3826104c960713bf15bb3a8b5a66d371de491)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: HecticArt on May 18, 2016, 04:44:23 PM
Way cool.
I wasn't sure if he played guitar too. Looks like it was fun.

Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on June 08, 2016, 10:27:23 PM
https://youtu.be/nAbjOUnNCKc (https://youtu.be/nAbjOUnNCKc)

Quote1984 - Larry Carlton, Rick Morotta, John Patitucci, Terry Trotter, Brian Mann, Michael Fisher

1980-1986 Both myself and Steve Fryette worked at the Valley Arts Service department, after Paul Rivera left to pursue design work for Yamaha, Pignose , PMG BUF IV,
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnicosonic.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fpics%2Fbuf.jpg&hash=0ddfe653e46f55256be141fa618a88e34fcc5297)
and Fender before starting Rivera Research - in the video above Larry is playing a Paul Rivera designed 1980 Yamaha G100-112 loaded with EVM-12L speaker -popular with Carlos Rios, Buzz Feiten, Robben Ford -
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.rguitars.co.uk%2FfileSendAction%2FfcType%2F0%2FfcOid%2F377348449214322102%2FfilePointer%2F377348449220988788%2Ffodoid%2F377348449220988783%2FimageType%2FLARGE%2FinlineImage%2Ftrue%2FYamaha%2520G50-112%2520Mk2.jpg&hash=372456f729250ced5283da66540f9a6fc0908425)

http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?72813-Anyone-familiar-with-this-Yamaha-amp (http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?72813-Anyone-familiar-with-this-Yamaha-amp)

And Larry is also using a Paul Rivera designed 1983 Fender Twin Reverb II Head


(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi263.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii147%2FChrispcritter_2008%2FTwin%2520II%2FHPIM1345.jpg&hash=0c6f8027c553f3006c67a87386c0ebf3c522ecf5)



At various points in time , I have had each of these amps on my repair bench for general service / maintenance, because working at Valley Arts back then was rather like being "pit crew" to the LA Wrecking Crew, and then some.

I remember in 1982-83, Paul delivering one of each ( Fender London Reverb Head & Fender Concert head and Fender Twin Reverb II Head) - as Larry was looking for something more than his prior amp - a 1976 Mesa Boogie Mark 1

By 1986, Larry had switched to a Dumble Super Overdrive 1x12 combo.

As always Larry's effective use of a ShoBud Volume pedal is his tone secret



Larry's Fender Twin Reverb II Head fed a closed cab enclosure with EVM12L speaker facing both a SM-57 mic and AKG 421 - each to feed the PA for controlled low decibel stage volume. - got close, but was not quite right until Howard Dumble with a bag of various value capacitors worked with Larry on my workbench at Valley Arts selecting the best turnover frequency for a custom passive DI box to be used from the Fender Twin Reverb II Head's speaker output.

At least thats how I recollect Larry's Rig back then

Larry is playing one the early Valley Arts Strats too
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on January 11, 2017, 12:32:12 PM
last day of 2016 - Fun New years Eve - Jamin the Blues with Fito de la Parra  (Canned Heat)
(https://s6.postimg.cc/h3u7qdo1t/15822714_1851374138474058_7888132360614581713_n.jpg)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canned_Heat

Cake is due to Jan 1st being my birthday ;)

Great time
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on January 26, 2017, 02:34:43 PM
Interesting blog from Byron Fry , an LA session player that I was recently made aware of

http://byronfry.com/2016/02/22/burning-electric-wheels-on-auto-tuned-horseless-carriages/
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbyronfry.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F02%2FSamhot-Rear.jpg&hash=7c958d1467cf40335df576f89cbd66042072376a)



My exposure to and indoctrination into all of this was thanks to my having recently made the acquaintance of the aforementioned Don Ramsay, a very gentlemanly, unassuming, soft-spoken mechanical genius, who in turn introduced me to Thomas Nordegg, the mad genius behind some very audacious guitar-techery.  Thomas, Don and Steve Conrad ( a.k.a. "Elantric"  , the most knowledgeable guy alive for guitar electronics, according to Don) kept feeding me hi-tech weaponry at the Bogner booth, ceaselessly flipping switches and changing sounds as I played, from various open tunings, to bass, to 12-string acoustic, to a piccolo mating with a canary.  I was so far outside my comfort zone I couldn't even see it from where I was.
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbyronfry.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F02%2FBogner-Booth.jpg&hash=811d0e792a067312e8cd8a48f77239c38938af05)
In my world at least, these guys occupy the headwaters of the guitar invention river and the tip of the spearhead.  They have such a healthy and complete disregard for tradition, just to be around them I have to re-evaluate what is and isn't sacred between me and my instrument, and in a broader context, humankind's relationship with technology.  This last is of course a long-standing area of concern for me; I'm writing this piece as much to define my new personal boundaries as anything else.  That said, let's introduce the players and set the stage:


(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbyronfry.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F02%2FThomas-Sonica.png&hash=d435606c0e234913c4c2af5972737bd184d40421)
Thomas Nordegg with "Sonica"

 (https://s6.postimg.cc/ukv1ccfwh/NAMM_22.jpg)
Meeting with Mr Yoshihiro Ikegami ( Head of Roland / Boss Guitar products)
Steve Conrad (Elantric/Admin) in center.
(with Thomas Nordegg) 
https://www.vintageguitar.com/26857/thomas-nordegg/
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: bbob on January 26, 2017, 03:09:17 PM
When I lived near Bishop, CA I took a couple of guitar lessons with Byron.

He drove around town in an old police car.   :D

Bob
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on January 26, 2017, 03:11:34 PM
Small world!
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on April 08, 2017, 03:52:15 PM
Back in 1962- to mid 1963 -Surf Music was king -  I lived in Glendora California , and at age 7 I touched my 1st electric guitar.( Gretsch) It was owned by Mr. Bob Berryhill , ( The Surfaris) who allowed me to pluck one of the strings between songs as they rehearsed just around the corner from where I lived on North Hawk Lane in Glendora . The reverb tone was intoxicating.

this event had a major impact on my life.



https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/bob-berryhill

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wipe_Out_(instrumental)

The same Grestch guitar can be seen here
https://youtu.be/ezarUTXKA7I


Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on July 08, 2017, 05:51:06 AM
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Fe%2Fe2%2FEarl_slick_at_serious_moonlight_1983.jpg%2F1280px-Earl_slick_at_serious_moonlight_1983.jpg&hash=3fc1472a75a49733f275065e727a0cf6828b2ca9)

https://reverb.com/ca/news/earl-slick-on-being-david-bowies-sideman-and-his-new-documentary
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: JoBoss on July 08, 2017, 09:16:33 AM
Mamma Mia ..you are an institution/monument Steve.....full of information .....the backbone of Vguitarforums IMHO....one of a kind.....wow....!!  8)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Hurricane on July 17, 2017, 08:01:50 PM
8)
Great stories - great history of Valley Arts , must have been a wonderful time in
your life . I recall those days of the arsonist and how he got nailed .

EZ :

HR
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on September 18, 2017, 09:13:11 AM

My old friend Grant Geissman

Playing his solo on Chuck Mangione's "Feels so Good"

https://youtu.be/cYlvKIXHVIA


https://youtu.be/dwkwjOd7MCU
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on October 05, 2017, 01:16:57 PM
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fimages%2F2017%2F10%2F05%2F20171001_121644.jpg&hash=fe33fb62f8335573a6e79c12eb7dabc0b7f6d0f2)

Caught up with my old college buddy Grant Cihlar at recent LA Amp show


Grant used to play in a band with me back in 1973, and has not changed a bit!


(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com%2Fimages01%2F77%2F303aeb5f8e1ac7f5e9305c24baae3eb4%2Fl.jpg&hash=44da0214debf426827fdd1e12282f5969c8527d0)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on December 20, 2017, 12:24:31 AM
I will be at a Christmas day Jam this  Monday
Jamin at Mr. Fito de la Parra's place ( Canned Heat)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_de_la_Parra
(https://i.postimg.cc/T1gQ3mQ8/Fito-Steve.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SssXrfBD/15822714-1851374138474058-7888132360614581713-n.jpg)
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on February 06, 2018, 03:29:26 PM
1960's Chicago pop  music history
( I went to High School in Westmont / Darien / Hinsdale / Downers Grove area

https://youtu.be/J3p-lqKYu2g
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on February 11, 2018, 12:07:07 PM
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/l-a-in-the-1970s.1910973/

Quote
I've read and heard (mostly in rock bios and documentaries) that L.A. was a very weird place in the '70s. Did anyone here live through it and can you describe what it was like? Maybe share stories or anecdotes?
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Majiken on February 11, 2018, 01:33:54 PM
I read recently that Richard Pryor's widow confirmed he had sex with Marlon Brando, saying something like "hey, it was the 70s, and drugs (especially Quaaludes) were much cleaner then. You might get so high you'd have sex with a radiator and send it flowers the next morning"  :o
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Hurricane on February 11, 2018, 02:57:21 PM
8)
It's a different world when mega bucks can and does turn anyone into something
they would never be . Unlimited indulgence has it's caveats .

Anyone who's been around the super rich super stars who's not one can see it fast ,
see how really wild people can get when unlimited $'s meet unlimited substances ,
drugs being one of the most life changing elements to factor in to one's life when
used liberally/daily .

It's a wild world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp6LT2MdaPI

EZ :

HR
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on June 04, 2018, 08:15:49 AM
Quotehttps://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?posts/26546827/

Seems low, his Broadcaster brought $325K and that was considered low.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Fender/2004-SRV-Number-One-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar-113834980.gc?cntry=us

Quote84Bravo said: ↑
I had the pleasure of holding the real one @1985. Well worn, light.


I had the pleasure setting up the real one right before SRV & Double Trouble recorded demos at Jackson Brown's LA (Los Angeles) studio when I worked at Valley Arts 80-86

It was just another day at the shop I'd been working at Valley Arts two years I had met Jimmie Vaughan and the Thunderbirds through Steve Fryette who worked part time in Amp repair

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=82.0;attach=604;image)
Thats me on the right

I recall asking a coworker "who's the guy in the Hendrix hat "?
when out of SRV's mouth

" I'm here to see Steve about my guitar.

and since Steve Fryette was out that day , I was the only VA employee named Steve in the room. At the time I was not familiar with his music , only knew it was Texas Blues and he tuned to Eb
And had a list of custom string gauges we wanted.

I did use the self locking 1/2 wrap restring technique on the stock kluson tuning pegs on his 61 strat. ( i own a 61 Strat as well ) as this aids tuning stability during whammy bar use by shortening the non speaking string length
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Funcletim.com%2Fimages%2Fbobsmethod.jpg&hash=fbc1b35da88a95a8f64cac7bccbfa9c40ba2ff10)
And yes , I used a Conn Strobotuner to set the intonation /adjust the action a bit, 1st a slight polish up the frets
And a couple swipes of dry Ivory Soap across the Nut to aid lubrication prior to installing the strings

-a few other details below



Later I heard from his brother Jimmie that SRV was very happy with my work
He got a record deal soon after .


Quote from: gweeterman1, post: 26548889, member: 18731So did he really use 13's and high action or? Big neck or med c?
Just curious,
Thanks for your time
C
It basically was in same condition as seen in the 1982 Montreux video

At the time I could see it was an early 60's  slab rosewood board Strat , with a re fret with medium frets at that time   , and closer to 9.5 radius ( a popular mod to prevent fret out on extreme string bends that occurs on most  7.5" radius fretboards)   medium C neck around 0.85" thick at 1st fret, not too narrow nut a bit wider than 1 5/8" wide , worn finish sunburst  ( ridden hard and put away wet)  SRV in reflective stick on letters on upper cutaway , a body route for extended unrestricted drop down with left handed steel block tremolo and custom hand bent arm and a wood patch to  hide the hole in body where original right hand trem arm was.

The pickups seemed to be stock except a 5 way switch  had been installed and a black pickguard . Staggered height magnet pole piece pickups( No reverse wind/reverse polarity middle PU )

I never had his pickguard off the guitar, But its possible he may have had a mod that Christopher Cross informed me about ( he was prior owner of this same guitar)
. make the lower Tone pot for bridge & Middle PU and mod the 5 way switch using dremel to modify the switch contacts which removes the Tone pots from the circuit in switch positions 2 & 4
Then set the guitar tone pots on "7" - but set the amps with more treble
Net result is those clapton tones at position 2 & 4 with no tone pots in the circuit  jump out and remain bright and dont sound dull ( as is typical on stock strats )

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4568/24285501158_2ca0e9cfd4_k.jpg)
But I recall I installed 11-58 strings  ( but might have been 13-60. Ernie Ball is what we had in the maple custom gauge  box , he did have a list of what specific gauges he wanted ) tuned half step  down and I did cut short pieces of Heat shrink for each string  to prevent string breakage as they emerge from the top bridge plate  , and I left the Nut height and bridge height  alone as was his preference. The action was a bit on the high side, which provides room to bend stretch  B string at 13th fret under the G string as fingernail / finger can push the G string up out of the way .


And yes he kept a supply of super glue for his finger tips - inside the guitar case


In 1982 It was the height of LA new wave KROQ,music scene (oingo boingo, missing persons,  Berlin, Thomas Dolby, Howard Jones, Duran Duran)  or Van Halen wannabes doing the Hollywood Pay to Play scene and full page ads in local BAM magazine - and not much in between except for John Hiatt at Madame Wongs every week  I admit I thought to myself at the time ( guy wants to make a career playing Albert King Blues these days - good luck with that . . )


So I wished him luck and " say hello to Jimmie"  as  he picked up his guitar the following day.


Flash forward to August 1990 I had gone to college, changed careers ( could not continue at $6/hr wage ) and was in Dallas for Mil/ Aero radiation effects engineering gig the week he died and he was due to sit in with the Fabulous Thunderbirds with his  brother that weekend at a festival in a local park .

To say he was  focused and skilled and sadly missed is an understatement

https://youtu.be/S0XdpHb4CAQ

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/srvs-strat-50k-at-gc.1947244/page-2
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on August 31, 2018, 01:18:28 PM
Meanwhile, back in 1978 

My old band Rocket 88

"High Altitude Love"
https://youtu.be/40QqWA9dGGk
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40536713_2071593239538131_4921569991892926464_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=9eaf23d53c1d0c56bf7f75b9f9d77850&oe=5BFC9EDB)

Steve Conrad, Bruce Bossert, Jeff Nadeau
Here's a site with  MP3 recordings  of that band at a live gig in Flagstaff , AZ from 1979:

http://www.lovedrums.com/audio/Rocket88/

Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on October 29, 2018, 05:18:37 PM
Back in 1980 i was working on Steve Bartek's guitars (Strawberry Alarm Clock, Oingo Boingo, he worked as  Danny Elfman's orchestrator and now composes many TV shows as well
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bartek
Oingo Boingo toured with XTC and The Police on a few world tours in the late '70's  / early 80's -   

https://youtu.be/9uS0YQjzUa8
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Hurricane on October 31, 2018, 12:47:33 PM
8)
Sat in one night with The Strawberry Alarm Clock - [ Slim Jim ] from
The Stray Cats was the drummer that evening .
They are quite a talented lot . They cover The Blues very well .

Nice pic thanks for sharing .

EZ :

HR

Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: Elantric on February 07, 2019, 04:22:32 PM
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2296156583995809&set=a.1657531974524943&type=3&theater

(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/51103771_2296156587329142_8535288215559471104_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=f5fbecfa3eb6b7af86e956df86c641f1&oe=5CEF5215)

At 2019 Winter NAMM  - Shirley and I met up with my idol - Don Wilson of The Ventures at the Wilson Bros Guitars Booth

https://vimeo.com/313301449?fbclid=IwAR31mcAIO7x-UIo734iQBqBUi79H6fM2rwvTfZL7bPjr7639LTrBccjj6fg
https://www.facebook.com/TheVenturesMovie/


Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: admin on February 07, 2019, 04:34:23 PM
https://www.facebook.com/TheVenturesMovie/videos/382551322320516/
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: admin on June 27, 2021, 01:30:45 PM
https://youtu.be/2mBXQp-Woxo
Title: Re: Elantric's Bio
Post by: plexified on June 27, 2021, 11:11:34 PM
Thank You ,
                  That is an amazing piece of history and documentation. You SIR are 'THE' American Treasure occasinally spoken of in actual " AMERICA " . God Bless You my FRIEND !!!