Happy birthday, John!

[johnallg]

Today's the day, and I am looking forward to a great Thai dinner with my wife. And this weekend. Going to see a great band in Erie - http://www.everchange-band.com/!!

[ajish4]

Oh man,

I hope I'm not late to the party!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!

Hey, GOD'S WAITING ROOM?!!?!?!?!?! LOL....

C'mon in, the water is fine!

I hope you enjoy your day & I wish you MANY, MANY MORE!

[shamustwin]

Happy Birthday! Your always a pleasure to hang with at the confluences.

[ram]

John - wishing you a very merry Birthday and many happy returns! Hope you enjoyed the day!

[johnallg]

This place is the bestest!!!

[jimk]

Awww gee, guys and gals. Thank you all ever so much! 16, huh? I gotta tell my wife that one!

Robbed the cradle, did the missus, eh? Happy birthday, John.

JimK

[johnallg]

Awww gee, guys and gals. Thank you all ever so much! 16, huh? I gotta tell my wife that one!

Robbed the cradle, did the missus, eh? Happy birthday, John.

JimK

Thanks Jim. Actually, if I would have been born about 13 1/2 hours later, I would be 14 this time.

[pacealot]

You were so close to nearly eternal youth!

Happy Birthday John! (It's still your birthday out here on the left coast for an hour or so....)

[johnallg]

Once again, thanks all. And a special thanks goes to Kevin Teed who put up with my indecision and allowed me time to be able to get my own birthday gift - his V63 MG flamed beauty. Yes, it now resides in the 'Zoo, happily sharing space with the other Ricks in my menagerie.

I combined a visit to my daughter in Erie with a chance to meet Kevin and pick the bass up in person. Other than missing the road sign for his street and going about 6 miles further than I had to (he's out in the wilds of PA), it was a really great time. I met his wonderful wife, son, and daughter, was treated to his son (8 IIRC) playing along with Dad on a couple tunes he's learning on 6-string (a 63(?) Fender Mustang, I believe), got to see and play the '69 4000, '71 4001 21-fretter (fixed a broken wire on that one letting Kevin hear both pups for the first time), his '93 V63 (beautiful deep FG), and his early 60s Jazz. Very nice instruments, all of them. Kevin was such a class act he remembered I like Erie Brewing's Railbender Ale and had a case for me to take with me - once again, thank you sir!

Saturday evening was a treat as I took Irene and my daughter Kaija to see Everchange, Kev's band. These guys are good! Great drummer and he and Kevin are tight. Of course there were great Rick tones all night long. If you're ever in the NE Ohio or NW PA areas and his band has a gig, you've got to go and see them.

This morning I had more time to plug the V63 in and hear it. I flattened the neck a little, liking lower action than Kevin, and this morning it was still where I left it. Tone is very deep, solid, and LOUD. I measured the pups, and the toaster is one of the 11.4k ones, while the RIHS is at 11.2, making a nice balance. I couldn't remember if the V63s had the .0047uF cap in line, so I pulled the pickguard and nope not there, but noticed the HS tone circuit had a .01uF cap instead of the usual .047uF cap, which I had found in an envelope. That accounted for the deeper tone. I put the .047uF cap back in, heard the more familiar Rick tone I am used to, but decided that for now I want the .01uF in. Rattle the walls!

I've been looking and drooling over this bass ever since Kevin started posting pics of it, and now I can call it mine. Thanks for a great time and bass, Kevin! And thanks, Dad.

Like an idiot, I forgot to grab my camera in my haste to get out of town Friday so all I had was my camera's pictures:

03-01-08_2212.jpg (9.64 KiB) Viewed 908 times

03-01-08_2204.jpg (9.17 KiB) Viewed 910 times

[paologregorio]

How'd I miss this thread?!

Happy Belated Birthday John!!! Glad you had a good one. I wish you many more!

[rickboy88]

I'm coming late to the party as well. Happy big 6-0, John.

With your new MG V63 I think we each have 4 RIc basses. I'm trying hard to stop there...

[winston]

Hey John,

Another late comer. I was on the road all last week so I have a bit of an excuse. Anyway, happy 16th. I hope you enjoyed your day.

[sloop_john_b]

Very cool, John! Glad you had a great time out in "The Snow Belt" (wherever the heck that is!) with Kev and family. And of course, lest we forget the wonderful souvenir you brought home with you:

[johnallg]

Thanks again all, and though the Railbender was a great surprise, this was the real souvenir:

Oh, and it was only my 56th, thank you very much!!

PS - David, I guess I'm one up on you now. This was my 5th. Heaven help me!

[teeder]

I'm glad you had a great birthday, John! It was a pleasure meeting you!

See you again in RIO!