Chubtone
Well-known member
The hard rock guys who play Fender amps thread reminded me of this little story from the past.
There is a local hero guitarist here in Orange County named Kurt James. I have mentioned him in the past in other topics but here is a quick resume.
- Replaced Paul Gilbert in the band Black Sheep when Paul went on his own to form Racer X
- Replaced Yngwie Malmsteen in Steeler when Yngwie left to join Alcartrazz.
- Played guitar in Stryper before they got signed
- Was the guitarist Rudy Sarzo and Tommy Aldridge selected first after they left Ozzy and formed Driver
- Played in Dr. Mastermind that did an album on Shrapnel
Kurt used to come in the store pretty often to check out gear and play. It was always inspiring to listen to him play.
One day he came in with this guitar that looked like an old Kramer but was actually custom made for him by a builder in Japan called Eranan or something like that. He saw we had an old Bassman in and asked if he could play through it. He borrowed either an old DOD OD250 or a Tube Screamer out of the display and plugged in. That amp had been sitting here for 2 months at least and I had pretty much ignored it.
So he starts messing with the amp and within 30 seconds of dialing it and the pedal in, was getting tones that were blowing my mind. He keeps playing and getting more and more warmed up and is just ripping. Jaw-dropping stuff. He has some of the coolest bends and vibrato around and totally shreds. I have walked out from behind the counter and am standing over by him, memorizing the settings on the amp and the pedal. "That amp is going home with me tonight", I kept thinking to myself. Only one thing stood in the way. If Kurt wanted the amp, I had to sell it to him. That was only fair. A couple of people are milling around the store this whole time and I'm talking to them in between talking to Kurt. He tells me he has a couple amps just like this one already and this is a good one. I am getting excited as this will be mine as soon as he turns it off.
So he stops playing and I am helping someone buy an acoustic guitar. Kurt is talking to another customer that was walking around while he was playing. While writing up the acoustic guitar I hear the guy ask Kurt if he is going to buy the Bassman and Kurt says no. Then the guy says, "Cool, because I am going to buy it! It sounds awesome". And I am thinking, "son of a $^%$$#!"
Kurt helps the guy unplug the amp and the guy brings it up to the counter and Kurt leaves. I "hate" this guy by now. He had snaked me in my own store and to make it worse I had ignored that amp for months. The amp was marked $599 and I was just ready to field his low ball offer and politely decline anything lower than $599 with ulterior motives. The guy offered $599 cash including tax. I just started laughing and told him how bad I wanted that amp now too after we had both heard Kurt play through it. I told him I didn't really even want to sell it and before I could finish my sentence he put $650 cash on the counter. I had to sell it to him.
That customer still comes in and we have become pretty good friends over the years and every time I ask him if he still has my amp. He does and he still loves it. I HATE YOU DAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is a local hero guitarist here in Orange County named Kurt James. I have mentioned him in the past in other topics but here is a quick resume.
- Replaced Paul Gilbert in the band Black Sheep when Paul went on his own to form Racer X
- Replaced Yngwie Malmsteen in Steeler when Yngwie left to join Alcartrazz.
- Played guitar in Stryper before they got signed
- Was the guitarist Rudy Sarzo and Tommy Aldridge selected first after they left Ozzy and formed Driver
- Played in Dr. Mastermind that did an album on Shrapnel
Kurt used to come in the store pretty often to check out gear and play. It was always inspiring to listen to him play.
One day he came in with this guitar that looked like an old Kramer but was actually custom made for him by a builder in Japan called Eranan or something like that. He saw we had an old Bassman in and asked if he could play through it. He borrowed either an old DOD OD250 or a Tube Screamer out of the display and plugged in. That amp had been sitting here for 2 months at least and I had pretty much ignored it.
So he starts messing with the amp and within 30 seconds of dialing it and the pedal in, was getting tones that were blowing my mind. He keeps playing and getting more and more warmed up and is just ripping. Jaw-dropping stuff. He has some of the coolest bends and vibrato around and totally shreds. I have walked out from behind the counter and am standing over by him, memorizing the settings on the amp and the pedal. "That amp is going home with me tonight", I kept thinking to myself. Only one thing stood in the way. If Kurt wanted the amp, I had to sell it to him. That was only fair. A couple of people are milling around the store this whole time and I'm talking to them in between talking to Kurt. He tells me he has a couple amps just like this one already and this is a good one. I am getting excited as this will be mine as soon as he turns it off.
So he stops playing and I am helping someone buy an acoustic guitar. Kurt is talking to another customer that was walking around while he was playing. While writing up the acoustic guitar I hear the guy ask Kurt if he is going to buy the Bassman and Kurt says no. Then the guy says, "Cool, because I am going to buy it! It sounds awesome". And I am thinking, "son of a $^%$$#!"
Kurt helps the guy unplug the amp and the guy brings it up to the counter and Kurt leaves. I "hate" this guy by now. He had snaked me in my own store and to make it worse I had ignored that amp for months. The amp was marked $599 and I was just ready to field his low ball offer and politely decline anything lower than $599 with ulterior motives. The guy offered $599 cash including tax. I just started laughing and told him how bad I wanted that amp now too after we had both heard Kurt play through it. I told him I didn't really even want to sell it and before I could finish my sentence he put $650 cash on the counter. I had to sell it to him.
That customer still comes in and we have become pretty good friends over the years and every time I ask him if he still has my amp. He does and he still loves it. I HATE YOU DAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
