blogphoto #2: hardware (toys for boys)

Let me introduce you to the band! These are my toys, yeup, toys for big boys, hehe. On the left you'll see the Eko Ranger VI. This acoustic guitar from the Italian mark was made somewhere at the end of the sixties. They were built by the thousands, and because it was aptly called the tank among the Country guitars, there are still many around. What is funny though, that apparently this Ranger VI model was made in two waves. The first one, from the sixties, was built with a solid wood body, whilst the one from the seventies wasn't. About two years ago, I looked for a substitute guitar, but didn't find any of the same quality for less then a thousand euro. So I decided to have a professional have a look at it and readjust a few things. After that the sound has aproved a lot, and it has really been a true love of mine! By the way, I got this guitar when swopped for a beaten up bas guitar in the eighties. Still happy with the deal, thanks Jos!

Second, there is the 4-string Cavaquinho. This traditional Samba-instrument from Brazil I got as a present when leaving a former employer. It comes from a social project in Manaus, Amazonia, where young and usually underprivileged kids master the art of luthier. All wood is certified to come from waste wood. That means  that the whole instrument carries a certification from the FSC, the Forest Stewardship Council, pretty cool!!!

The telecaster is not a real one, I must admit. The mark it carries is Chevy, founded at the end of the eighties, at the time when I bought it anew. Even though the people starting the brand were both American and Korean, it's production facilities were in Korea. Later the brandname was changed to Chery, then Cheri, because of (obvious) law suits. At the mid-nineties the brand stopped producing all togethere, which is sort of a shame; I mean in the early years they made great guitars!!
Back in the eighties I must admit to have bought it largely because of the red flamed top and golden hardware, and not so much because of the sound, or playability. But I must say that even though I changed the settings a bit, for example putting in a Seymour Duncan pick up, it has surpised me by the quality of the sound. I'm just still a bit unhappy with the light coloured neck. Maybe I'll change it to a real Fender, with a dark fretboard.

Lastly, on the right, my big love: the Fender Jazz Bass. Made in the USA in 1996, the fiftiest birthday of the Fender brand. I got it from Solon's Guitar Garage in Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is just too bad I don't get to play it often. It does have a spectacular sound, heavy, but detailed. Combined with the tube amplifier you see at the back of the picture, it is magic!

So there you have it. This is my collection, coming from Italy, Korea, Brazil and the USA. My fingers just love to cuddle those multicultural strings...


ps. the amplifiers at the back are a Roland Cube 60 (robust machine, works when, and wherever), and a Fender Studio. A tube amp with appr. 200 watt power (if you change the tubes to new ones, probably).