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Featuring the DMCA-Free Rock of KCWM & Cold the Winter

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      • 197x Session Les Paul Custom Copy
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  • New and Sold Guitars Guitars
  • The Hondo H-737: Are “Bad” Guitars Actually Bad? Gear Talk
  • Two New Songs On the Horizon KCWM
  • Goodbye Pedalboard Currently Owned Pedals
  • Goodbye, Pedalboard…maybe Currently Owned Pedals
  • The Release Plan for Volume Four KCWM
  • “It Feels Familiar” Volume Four
  • “Go On” Volume Four

2009 PRS SC245 Ted McCarty

The PRS SC245 McCarty Soapbar is probably the “nicest” guitar I own. The color is called “Amber Burst” and might actually my favorite finish of all of the guitars I’ve owned.

The SC in the model name stands for “singlecut” and the 245 indicates the guitar’s scale length of 24.5″, both of which are normally found in the Gibson Les Paul type guitars and not the typical PRS scale length of 25″.

The headstock also shares the headstock of the PRS Santana line and features a flame maple finish as well. The bird inlays of the neck are mother of pearl, and the pickups in my model are soapbar shaped P-90s, which are hotter than a normal single coil pickup but do not eliminate the 60-cycle hum like humbuckers do. Mine also features a “10-top” which is how PRS describes the more prominently figured flame maple top.

The '09 PRS
It Hung Upon the Wall
Back the Very Next Day
The Intervening Years
Unfortunate Damage
The Future
The '09 PRS

Back in 2009 or early 2010, I was more or less still at the start of my journey into the larger world of buying nicer guitars than your lower-mid level Fender strats or Epiphone Les Pauls.

I think I’d bought and traded a nice Fender American Standard from a guy off of The Gear Page because it smelled like smoke (which I was able to finally get rid of) and it would one of many strats I’ve owned and been unhappy with.

My wife had been involved in an automobile accident and broken her wrist. As she was not at-fault we sued the insurance for damages.

Eventually, we were awarded a decent sum of money (something we should have been smarter with). She told me, “Go to Guitar Center and buy any guitar you want, within some reason”. I had the opportunity to buy basically any guitar I wanted outright.

It Hung Upon the Wall
 

I remember seeing this really cool looking PRS, similar to the picture in the previous tab, in the nearby Guitar Center for some time before I had the means to consider buying it. It hung at the very top of the used wall, well away from the grubby hands of teenagers and bedroom players to simply just grab and play.

I’d wanted a proper PRS for years. I’d bought an SE Santana and SE Soapbar before, but ended up selling them both, but it never quite scratched the PRS itch. Looking back, that Soapbar model, which was a singlecut as well, was a REALLY nice guitar for the $300 I paid for it.

I asked a sales rep to play it and they got the rolling ladder to get it down for me. They actually suggested I play in the small room where all of the REALLY nice (aka expensive) guitars were. There was an Egnater Tweaker 15 combo amp in there and as that was closest to what I had at home (a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue), I choose it. Interestingly, this guitar and my experience with that amp led me to buy the head and cap version of the Tweaker and hold onto it for almost 14 years.

Yeah. That guitar was magical. I loved the singlecut shape (I’d later discover that I’m more of a Les Paul and Telecaster guy), the pickups were so clear and articulate, and rolling off the volume cleaned up the natural break up I was getting out of the Tweaker.

I wrote two songs then and there in that room, though they are songs that remain unfinished to this day. Sometimes, a certain piece of gear just lends itself to writing new music and this guitar definitely did that. I think I played that guitar for two hours before packing up and going home.

Somehow, I was able to exercise restraint and not immediately purchase it. That was smart on my part. I told the sales rep that I’d be back the next day and that I needed to sleep on it. Most of the time, I assume that most sales reps would think, “Yeah, OK, sure…tire kicker” but I’d spent enough time at this GC, and spent money, that they knew me well enough to know I’d keep my word.

 

Back the Very Next Day

True to my word, I was back the next day. Now, while I give myself credit for at least sleeping on it, what I should have done was check out some of the Gibson Les Pauls in the same price range. I might not have been able to afford a Les Paul Standard, but I’m sure there would have been some nice offerings available. However, I did not do that. I was enamored with that guitar.

I went back into the room and played more. I honed the two songs I’d written and finished arranging them. At one point, a kid who was, at most, 15 came in and listened to me play. At one point, he asked me “What song is that? Can you teach it to me?” and I told him it was something I’d written. He thought that was the coolest thing.

I didn’t teach him how to play it.

Yeah, for some reason, I was paranoid that he’d steal it and make it his own song. Stupid me. Here I was, some bedroom player that some kid thought was cool and wanted to learn. I should have been humbled, I should have encouraged him by teaching him the song, but I was a selfish jerk about it. “I’m still working it out” was my response. Blech.

I played that thing for another solid two hours and took it up to buy it.

The Intervening Years

This PRS SC245 McCarty was easily the most expensive guitar that I’d owned, and that remains the case to this very day. While I paid the same retail price for my Gibson Les Paul Classic and PRS McCarty 594, I bought this one used for that price.

The P-90 pickups would prove to be this guitars downfall, as they were incredibly noisy and made recording the type of music I tend to write a bit tricky. P-90s might lend themselves to better sounding overdriven tones, they are still quite susceptible to noise. Eventually, I’d obtain a PRS Singlecut with humbuckers and this guitar would sit in its case in the closet for five or six years.

At some point, I pulled it out and, while the strings were definitely old, the guitar played as well as if not better than every other guitar I owned. I’d had Big John set it up when I first bought it and, all of those years later, even after two moves and six years, the setup was still solid.

I used it to record the rhythm guitar for “So Far” on the Cold the Winter EP. The end section with the tremolo from my Princeton Reverb still sound really good to my ears. It handled the overdrive in that song really well. I kept the drive low because it fit the song, but also because of how noisy those pickups were.

Unfortunate Damage

Unfortunately, the SC245 has received some significant damage over the years. I’ve been the cause of some dings and dents here and there, which happens to the best of us, but some of the damage was not my direct doing.

Part of the gold lettering in the Paul Reed Smith signature was broken off. This damage has been in place for years and I believe it’s from a friend mishandling the guitar.

The back of the guitar has some pitting from a Pro line A-frame guitar stand. The foam that protects the guitar from these sharp bits of frame was worn and moved to the side allowing the sharp bits to dig into the guitar. This went on for months before I noticed, but the damage was done.

I also left the guitar out in a stand where our daughter, as a toddler, was able to get at it. There are a couple of dings that broke away and show the raw wood underneath.

I checked into a refinish, and perhaps a different color burst (like a blueburst), but that would run $500-$900, money I simply do not have to spend on something that is aesthetic. I’d definitely lose money if I sold the guitar because of this damage, but fortunately life hasn’t come to that point yet.

Maybe one day this one will get restored to its proper aesthetic appearance.

The Future

Earlier in 2022, I took the guitar back to Big John to see what he could do about the noise. He took the guitar apart and was surprised that there was no shielding paint in the cavity. He put in some copper tape, worked his usual magic, and now the guitar is pretty quiet for a P-90. Yeah, it still buzzes with a lot of drive, but so do my humbucker guitars because this house’s wiring is garbage.

I’ve used it more on the newer songs that will make up Volume Four and it will continue to be used on upcoming recordings, especially if I can fade the parts out before the buzzing kicks in.

In spite of a setup that took place well over 10 years ago, this guitar still feels better in my hand than any other guitar. There’s something to be said for the level of detail that went into the construction of this guitar. Sure, heftier prices are often the cost of aesthetic choices, and I have no doubt that those factors play into what this guitar cost new.

That being said for a guitar to sit for years in a case and play amazingly well without anything being done after taking it out shows just how much of a difference a company’s QC and a good set up can make.

Cold the Winter · Skylines and the Horizon

Latest Instagram Posts

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I have a number of minis I’m working on at the m I have a number of minis I’m working on at the moment. Here’s my table of things in different stages of #tabletopquality for use in my #dnd campaign, some of which haven’t been started or might not be used. The kobolds you see will be painted green.

When I started the genie, I didn’t realized my pre-painted one was also blue. It still works though. 

I’m still not sold on the idea of a steel dragon but it could be cool and I already have a “large” silver dragon. I used magnets on the bottom of the dragon, the large and huge bases, and I can stack them if I need it to be an adult-sized dragon. I just need to decorate them in complimentary ways. 

 I have an idea for mini painting streams and these are some of the things I’ll be painting on there.
I have a soft spot for kobolds in my DnD campaigns I have a soft spot for kobolds in my DnD campaigns. My players have met one that has hinted at future quests, they fought some green-scaled kobolds, and I foresee more in their future. 

I pulled the old minion old rule from #dnd 4e…enemies that have 1 hp and auto fail most saves. Kobolds (and goblins) make great minions. 

 I have quite a few, so I foresee more red (two of them are pre painted), green, and blue scales in my future. They might be #tabletopquality but I’m ok with that. I have fun and painting is relaxing for me. 

The red plastic minis came from a D&D board game, and tall but one of the gray and white ones are from @reaperminiatures #bones4 and #bones5
In March of 2021, I discovered the Lovepedal Purpl In March of 2021, I discovered the Lovepedal Purple Plexi and it was finally the closest I’ve come to getting that Marshall-in-a-Box pedal sound. 

Earlier this year, I picked up a Lovepedal Vintage/Modern, which is a Purple Plexi and Church of Tone in one enclosure. 

Not too long ago, I came across a post @cklabofficial posted of their take on a Purple Plexi/Jubilee, two pedals I owned at the time. I really like CKLab pedals and would have loved to have it, but, alas, I missed out. 

I reached out and asked about the possibility of a 2-in-1 from CKLAB. This is the result. 

I am beyond stoked. This will make my 3rd CKLab pedal and I hope to own more. I love the idea of support local makers and, seeing as how the Vintage/Modern is my go to drive, this will be my #1. 

Visit their store on Reverb and buy their pedals so I’m not tempted to. Seriously. The LSDelay I bought is so damned cool. 

#supportlocalpedals #cklab #miabpedals #gooddudes #newpedalday
A couple of #WIP #dndminiatures projects from this A couple of #WIP #dndminiatures projects from this weekend. I intend to use both in the #dnd campaign im running, but it will be a while before I do. 

I need to add some white lines to the texture around the iris and add something to the black section of the base. 

The mold lines on the pumpkin dude are bugging me now that I see how clear they are in the picture. Will cut those down and fix the color. 

I intend to prime up some of these #reaper #bones5 minis I have sitting on my shelves and paint them on stream. I might only paint to a #tabletopquality but it’s still fun and relaxing to do.
After picking up almost all the paints in the thir After picking up almost all the paints in the third picture, I’ve taken up mini painting again. I decided to start with a treant to work into my #dnd campaign. 

This is still a work in progress. I started with some normal paints and then added some contrast paint on the beard and to accent some of the wood. I need to make some adjustments to the paint. 

I plan to add leaves to the top but my foliage is too crumbly so I need to get some bigger chunks. 

It’s been fun. I’m likely going to stream some #minipainting on stream. I have minis to paint to get on the #tabletop, which is also the level that I paint at but it works for my table.
This kid. This past Saturday marked 10 years with This kid. This past Saturday marked 10 years with our wonderful child…a blend of her mother and I in so many ways. 

I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years bring us. She has a good head on her shoulders. 

I’m a proud parent. She’s weird AF but I wouldn’t have her any other way.
Cross post from Twitter, but I have more room here Cross post from Twitter, but I have more room here. 

This is my current stable of electric guitars, minus my Epiphone ES339.

PRS S2 McCarty 594: “Fat” rhythm. This guitar has “coil tap” which  changes the sound of the respective pickups giving me a lot of flexibility. 

Fender Telecaster (sunburst): Lead/rhythm. I do 90% of my 2nd guitar and lead work on this. It’s on every track I’ve recorded since 2018. 

Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Stratocaster: General rhythm. Newest addition. Everyone needs a strat, even if I rarely grab one. 

Fender Road-worn ‘50s Telecaster (purple): Bright rhythm. 

Gibson Les Paul Classic: “Fat” rhythm. My #1 guitar. It’s crunchy compared to the smoother sound of the PRS

PRS SC245 Ted McCarty: Bright rhythm. 

Squier ‘51 (modified): Lead

Yes, some guitars overlap but they sound different than their role-siblings. Wood, pickups, etc. I compare guitars to chocolate…yes, they’re all guitars but they do things differently. Hersheys doesn’t taste the same as Toblerone or Ritter Sport. Milk chocolate differs from dark chocolate. Heck, I even threw a peanut butter comparison up there. 

I have two basses and an acoustic. One of those basses is new so I’m not sure of the roles just yet. 

#kcwmmusic #dmcafreemusic #guitarsarelikechocolate #gearaddiction #guitar
Bought a new caddy from Michaels and was able to s Bought a new caddy from Michaels and was able to stack my unopened #nolzursmarvelousminiatures and #reaperbonesminiatures to better see what I have. 

Left row is full of player mini and humanoids, the middle row is made up of monstrous humanoids and undead, and the right row consists of elementals and fiendish things. 

I have a lot of minis to paint, but this helps me visualize what I have left between the shelves and this caddy.
Well… Well…
Ever since having COVID last month, she’s been a Ever since having COVID last month, she’s been a constant by my side when she can get in. She will lay with me or on the other pillow. She might be ornery, but she’s the bestest of friends. 

#tortiesofinstagram #tortitude #tortie #catsofinstagram #imakittycat #frausafriend #cat
Hey, uh @walmart, this isn’t how rollbacks work. Hey, uh @walmart, this isn’t how rollbacks work. #rollback
Not too long ago, we picked up a KALLAX shelf syst Not too long ago, we picked up a KALLAX shelf system from IKEA to store my #dnd minis on. It’s been handy for sorting the minis by “collection” like my Bones 4 and Bones 5 minis, but, as you can see in the 2nd picture, I lost plenty of vertical space. 

A few weeks ago, I saw a video on TikTok where a guy used KVISSLE letter trays to store his minis on. They are easy to assemble and the trays simply slide in and out without rollers. 

For most minis on a 1” or smaller base, it’s absolutely perfect AND there’s room at the bottom for the box sets like the Essentials Kit or Starter Set. For larger minis, you can see I removed one of the trays and that shelf has plenty of giants on it and the KVISSLE still has two shelves out of the picture (Ellie took it and sent it to me). 

He used spray paint to paint the shelves black but I’m opting for the white on black look. You can also buy magnets to install on the bottoms of the minis but I’ve yet to do that. 

It’s easy to amass a big collection of DnD #miniatures through the #reaperbones collections or the #nolzursmarvelousminiatures packs and having an easy way to organize them is incredibly useful. 

Now it’s just a matter of painting them. Oof.
My newest single, “Go On”, is live on Spotify My newest single, “Go On”, is live on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/album/0bTGahUMwQnPrIECWapOby?si=aGrl3wvhQAOugU3Yo07EeQ for your DMCA-free listening needs. 

#Distrokid put this image together and I dig it. Check it, and the other 90s-infuenced instrumental rock music on Spotify and other streaming platforms!

#dmcafreemusic #dmcafreerock #streammusic #music #guitarrock #guitar #kcwmmusic
He’s a good #pickle @teresa.aldaco @moriaheliz He’s a good #pickle 

@teresa.aldaco @moriahelizabethofficial
Started on 6/7/21, shelved due to significant burn Started on 6/7/21, shelved due to significant burnout, and delayed due to health reasons, "Go On", the 1st song of #kcwmmusic Volume Four is moving along. 

The EZKeys you see plays a more front & center role on this song than the last time I used keys on "Sometimes It Works Out" on Volume One. I might end up going with a more traditional piano, but so far I'm digging the setting you see pictured. 

As with my previous KCWM releases, I'm using Superior Drummer 3, though I plan to dig more into some of the presets and expansions to vary the drums, especially on some of the more laid back songs.

This album is the first of mine to feature acoustic guitar on numerous tracks thanks to a pair of Rode M5 mics, another significant shift. 

I'm definitely looking to add some more songs to the more relaxed playlist on Spotify. Acoustic guitar and piano definite help keep me in that headspace. 

I have two days off and I'm hoping to get the 2nd, and maybe a 3rd guitar, recorded. Then it's just a matter of spacing things out before getting this up on Spotify as a single for people to use. 

I'll keep you posted

#dmcafreemusic #dmcafreerock #songwriting #ezkeys @toontrack @rodemic
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3 Feb

Any DFW 40k players interested in a massive blood angels/space marines collection? Texans even. I need to update the list because there’s more.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/tag/d/north-richland-hills-large-blood-angels/7578974479.html

1 Feb

My wife & youngest kid did @23andMe kits. We finally got the results & our kid shares 50% of my DNA, but only 49.6% of my wife's. Also, looking at all of our percentages & seeing how that turned out is fascinating. My wife is 52% Italian, I'm .2%, but Ellie is 30%. Interesting!

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