Anyone going to the Dallas Show this year??

[Ken Byng]

.

[Ken Byng]

A special shout out to my mate Paddy Long - a Kiwi but founding member of the Commonwealth Corner. He played on the main stage last night and did a blinding set. Only the 3rd Commonwealth member to participate, along with David Hartley and myself. We have all flown the flag in the best possible way.

[Malcolm]

Ken, hope back is better, carrying Mr Wong home would certainly not do it any good.Did you get a look at the new Peavey amp, any prices on it.Hope you have a good flight tomorrow, enjoy Nashville.

[Jif]

Geoff, If one or two of the gauges are out it doesn't matter too much, a wee tweek at the changer sorts that out
Your new guitar looks stunning
Thanks again
Asleep at the steel

No problem Willie, the stall wasn't open earlier but should be open later.

[Ken Byng]

Ken, hope back is better, carrying Mr Wong home would certainly not do it any good.Did you get a look at the new Peavey amp, any prices on it.Hope you have a good flight tomorrow, enjoy Nashville.

Malcolm - I have seen the new Peavey amp. It has been a PR disaster for the product. Not only is there a reluctance to give a firm retail price, the amp has real issues. Doug Jernigan was invited up to the Mezzanine room to play through it as part of a demo. The amp was breaking up with distortion at fairly low level volume. My thought is this. I am told that the combo amp is based on the Robert Randolph amp which probably would be required to overdrive as part of Robert's sound. However, the majority of us want clean. As it stands, the amp has issues, and word has quickly spread among the the community here to that effect. It is not in the same class as the Quilter or Telonics amps. I will be interested to see how Mike Brown and Hartley Peavey deal with this.

I am told that Mike Johnson will definitely be at the Station Inn on Tuesday. I hope so as he was the main reason for me flying to Nashville.

I had a long chat with Kyle Bennett, Dave Horner and Jerry Anderson in the MSA room yesterday. They have been the epitome of civility and friendliness. Kyle gave me a pile of nylon tuners for Johnny Roche, and Jerry just want to talk about my experiences of bringing his brother to the UK in 1977. I also brought Jerry's and Reece's cousin Jess Hudson over at the same time. Jess was a fine multi-instrumentalist, and I enjoyed his company very much. Jess passed away quite a few years ago, but he still stays in my memory bank.

From a construction point of view I have to say that MSA are streets ahead of any other manufacturer here, including Show Pro, Mullen, Rittenbury, Jackson and Williams. BUT - talking to an established steel guitar builder of 40 to 50 years or more, he reckons that there is no comparison between MSA and others. It is way beyond anything else in terms of build quality. He then added that in his opinion, they don't have the greatest tone. That's not me saying that - a viewpoint from someone who is not connected with me in any shape or form. Ivor will bear this out.

Fred Justice didn't show up this year, and I am told that there is an issue that prevented him from coming that was political - i.e. a small contractual dispute. Don't know if that's true but that is the rumour.

Charles Tilley broke my heart this morning. He looked all around for me yesterday morning but couldn't find me anywhere. His wife has dementia, which means that she has to have someone there with her at home all of the time. Charles' daughter looked after her on Thursday night and Friday morning, but he has to look after her now for the rest of the weekend. He posted on Facebook that he was sad not to have met up, and as he is in his 84th year and this is definitely my last trip to the USA, we won't see each other again.

[Malcolm]

Thanks for report Ken, saw on US forum that there was still no fixed price on new Peavey, think they have shot themselves in the foot with this one, to little to late plus all the secrecy on price and if would be availabl in Euro format.
I will have words with Kyle, I left strict instructions with him to give you a hard time, but I'm sure MSA's UK rep Mr Greenwood will certainly been doing that already--well done Ivor!!!
Did you buy a Quilter Pro block?
Give my regards to Mike and Joanie when you see them at Nashville.Sue tells me they are boycotting the bar due to the massive hike in prices, $6 for a small bottle of beer, they went out to liquor store bought their own plus a cooler and just drinking in room, believe food prices also up drastically, can see a change of venue coming.Keep reports coming.

[Ken Byng]

A quilter Block?? What on earth for. I have 14 amps at home. way more than I need.

Yes - the Sheraton has become more expensive. Spoke to Charles Tilley on the phone this morning. He says that the food has become exorbitant, but I didn't think it was. I have had a few meals there, and it's OK. Anything but Dennys for me, in the same way that Andy Murray said Anyone but England.

Defo will be my last trip, but it's been better than I thought it would be. There seem to be fewer people this year, but today is the big day when the attendance is highest. I will keep fingers crossed that it's a good turnout.

Kyle is my new best mate. When I mentioned you he said "Malcolm Who"??

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Ken
Many thanks for Your informative posts on the happenings at Dallas,it is much appreciated and I eagerly look forward to more.
I am sorry You have discomfort with Your back and I hope it is much better by the time You read this,a good steep in a hot bath will do a bit of good.
Have a safe onward trip to Nashville and enjoy it to the full as I know You will.
Best regards
Billy

[Malcolm]

Ken, new Peavey is $1799 won't be getting one of those.

[Ken Byng]

Thank you Billy. A few Jack Daniels will help deaden the pain further. I got your book by the way, and Bruce signed it specially to you.

Malcolm - You can reckon on converting that to pounds to buy one in the UK. It is a digital amp, and when Peavey brought out their last digital steel amps, the 1000 and 2000 amps, they were not officially made available to the UK. With that pricing however, they are in Webb and Telonics territory, which are infinitely better amps. I guess people will just hold onto their Nash 400's, 112's, Session 400's etc.