Ask Larry something, in the VCB box below, with very little chance of a reply….just kiddin’ class!
1,022 thoughts on “Ask Uncle Larry – VCB”
Tom,
I’m from South Jersey and did the same gig buying cigarettes for my mom.
Mom would send us to the store for cigarettes with a handwritten note.
For a “Pack of Salems”….signed with her full name.
And a little extra coin for us to buy ourselves a candy bar.
I laugh now…was the store owner checking the handwriting and name on the notes against any on file?
Send it down to the lab for analysis?
Good times,
Thanks for bringing back a good memory.
Your videos and playing are really a force for good in this world. Thanks for that.
Gig places for Michigan maybe. Would be great if you and Guthrie and those cats could come by.
Machine Shop in Flint – Blackberry smoke plays there and some country acts.
Capitol Theatre in Flint
Lapeer has some summer festivals
Token Lounge in Westland – They have people like Kings-X, Stu Hamm, Greg Howe..
Clio Amphitheatre in Clio
There is a jazz club in the basement of the Detroit Opera Hall – nice but a little small
Hello Uncle Larry!
Following you for at least a year maybe more. I started watching you, Guthrie, and Jed when my son moved to Nashville. I’m 70, live in Indy, and bucket list check marked a 335 recently. I have been trying to find your video which you show your ’64 with a headstock weight and I think you had mentioned where one can be procured. I play sitting down without strap and find the need. Can I get one of those weights somewhere?
Your videos are so entertaining and come with huge learning value for me. I’m a hack intermediate and I really love your style and the challenge. I have two sons who are a little older than your boys – I relate often to your Dad stories!
Anyway, thanks for everything including your time! I look forward to seeing all of you guys sometime when I am in Nashville!
Hi Tom,
Just wanted to share a couple things after watching your videos.
The first thing is a while back when you were mentioning passion . You’re so right the whole key to this life is to find something you’re passionate about. Like you mentioned you run into these people and they don’t have any passion for anything. And I agree with you. It’s almost like a waste of life. I’m lucky like you to have found music and guitar that I’ve been passion about since I was 17 I’m now 58 and I tell my son who’s 11 that it doesn’t matter what it is, something that like you say lights your fire and gets you excited in the morning when you get up. it could be anything it could be drawing, it could be building miniature houses, cars. It could be sports. It doesn’t matter what it is. Being passionate about something is what gets you through and makes like a whole lot better!
The other thing you mentioned a while back that hit home with me is when you said no purchase of gear or buying the right guitar will ever fill that hole in your heart that we all have since our childhood . again so true we’ve all done it and it just does not work that way. I’ve tried it many times. it was great to hear you mention that because I could totally relate and I think a lot of people can.
The last thing you mentioned, in a more recent video is that the prison or cage that we all live in is the one we built. It’s easy for us to blame others for the situation we are in, but we are the ones who are responsible for our situation, our prisons our cage our soup as you called it , for good or bad.
By the way I love your playing. You play with such a maturity, taste and class that is refreshing to hear.
BB King once said that whenever you play a note , every life experience you lived up until that very moment in time is reflected in your playing and i can hear that in your playing. It’s all there. All that wisdom!
But as much as love the playing it’s the words of wisdom that keeps me coming back!
Mike
Same question as Leslie up top re: upcoming dates in/around Nashville please.
Introduced to you by a friend back when you started the channel and we moved here last July. Been wanting to catch a show, but life has a way as you know of getting in the way.
Have another fan of yours in town 4/12-7/17 and “hoping” you might sit in with Guthrie on 4/14?!?!
Looking forward to seeing you live. Thanks for all the work keeping us “mostly” sane.
Hey Tom,
Huge fan of your work and would love to see you live. Is there a calendar of your schedule somewhere ? I know that you make appearances at the Underdog from time to time. I live in Pennsylvania but would definitely travel to see you.
Thanks for the CD and pick!! Looking forward to the new course. Thanks for all the great videos – I watch and learn from you Guthrie every chance I get.
Hey Tom. Your playing is pure inspiration. Thank you for sharing with us as often as you do. If you had to only play a modern(say 2020) 335, what pick ups would you put in it to give it that buttery tone of the vintage PAFs? Is it Ron Ellis or bust, or are there others the you like as well?
Any chance of a second pressing of Plexi Soul anytime? I missed the boat on the first batch and it’s pretty impossible to get a copy now.
-Steve
PS…had the pleasure of meeting and getting a photo with ya at the Guitar Party shows in Chicago. Just wanted to say thanks again for a great time and we hope to have you guys back again soon.
Also…check out a venue called The Shitty Barn in Spring Green Wisconsin. I saw The Sheepdogs there last summer and it’s a pretty special atmosphere. Seems like you guys could really light that place up recording a live album there. Heck…take the kids along and have some family fun in the Wisconsin Dells too!
Hello Tom, big fan of the show here! Some time ago I bought a Gibson ES-335 ’61 (with blood and tears) and now I’m wondering if the PAF’s are original or not. There are lots of opinions out there online, and I would appreciate if you could give a look to the pics I linked. You saw hundreds of pu and stickers, I’d trust your judgement only 🙂
I hope you can help me, thanks!
Why does my recorded tone sound different from what I hear live? When I hear my guitar live, it sounds trebly and lacks sustain. When I hear my recorded sound (usually from a gig), My tone sounds great and I have the sustain that I have been seeking. My Deluxe Reverb amp might be a smidge louder 4 instead of 2.5) but everything else is the same.
I really like your work! Right now, I’m trying to buy a vintage guitar, but I’m having a bit of trouble deciding. I’d love to know what you would do in my place— which one would you go for, or which one caught your attention? I’d also appreciate it if you could tell me something about them that the seller wouldn’t mention.
Below, I’m sending you the links. Thanks in advance for your reply!
I’d love to talk to you about these extension cabinets I make in all sizes with wild mixed and matched speakers for unbelievable voicings with 3 piece backs that tune the cabinets even further I would love to know your favorite guitar if you could build one I build beautiful instruments also in painted and beautiful book matched figured woods I have a huge inventory of mahogany walnut and maple all with the most beautiful figures also some really open face maple with just the right amount of eye and shimmer let me know if there’s a way I can send some pictures or if you would like to FaceTime I’m cool to that also
Tom,
I’m from South Jersey and did the same gig buying cigarettes for my mom.
Mom would send us to the store for cigarettes with a handwritten note.
For a “Pack of Salems”….signed with her full name.
And a little extra coin for us to buy ourselves a candy bar.
I laugh now…was the store owner checking the handwriting and name on the notes against any on file?
Send it down to the lab for analysis?
Good times,
Thanks for bringing back a good memory.
Your videos and playing are really a force for good in this world. Thanks for that.
Hey Uncle Larry,
Gig places for Michigan maybe. Would be great if you and Guthrie and those cats could come by.
Machine Shop in Flint – Blackberry smoke plays there and some country acts.
Capitol Theatre in Flint
Lapeer has some summer festivals
Token Lounge in Westland – They have people like Kings-X, Stu Hamm, Greg Howe..
Clio Amphitheatre in Clio
There is a jazz club in the basement of the Detroit Opera Hall – nice but a little small
Keep HomeSkoolin’
Jeff D from Michigan
Hello Uncle Larry!
Following you for at least a year maybe more. I started watching you, Guthrie, and Jed when my son moved to Nashville. I’m 70, live in Indy, and bucket list check marked a 335 recently. I have been trying to find your video which you show your ’64 with a headstock weight and I think you had mentioned where one can be procured. I play sitting down without strap and find the need. Can I get one of those weights somewhere?
Your videos are so entertaining and come with huge learning value for me. I’m a hack intermediate and I really love your style and the challenge. I have two sons who are a little older than your boys – I relate often to your Dad stories!
Anyway, thanks for everything including your time! I look forward to seeing all of you guys sometime when I am in Nashville!
Best regards to all!
RicK
Hi Tom,
Just wanted to share a couple things after watching your videos.
The first thing is a while back when you were mentioning passion . You’re so right the whole key to this life is to find something you’re passionate about. Like you mentioned you run into these people and they don’t have any passion for anything. And I agree with you. It’s almost like a waste of life. I’m lucky like you to have found music and guitar that I’ve been passion about since I was 17 I’m now 58 and I tell my son who’s 11 that it doesn’t matter what it is, something that like you say lights your fire and gets you excited in the morning when you get up. it could be anything it could be drawing, it could be building miniature houses, cars. It could be sports. It doesn’t matter what it is. Being passionate about something is what gets you through and makes like a whole lot better!
The other thing you mentioned a while back that hit home with me is when you said no purchase of gear or buying the right guitar will ever fill that hole in your heart that we all have since our childhood . again so true we’ve all done it and it just does not work that way. I’ve tried it many times. it was great to hear you mention that because I could totally relate and I think a lot of people can.
The last thing you mentioned, in a more recent video is that the prison or cage that we all live in is the one we built. It’s easy for us to blame others for the situation we are in, but we are the ones who are responsible for our situation, our prisons our cage our soup as you called it , for good or bad.
By the way I love your playing. You play with such a maturity, taste and class that is refreshing to hear.
BB King once said that whenever you play a note , every life experience you lived up until that very moment in time is reflected in your playing and i can hear that in your playing. It’s all there. All that wisdom!
But as much as love the playing it’s the words of wisdom that keeps me coming back!
Mike
Greets!
Same question as Leslie up top re: upcoming dates in/around Nashville please.
Introduced to you by a friend back when you started the channel and we moved here last July. Been wanting to catch a show, but life has a way as you know of getting in the way.
Have another fan of yours in town 4/12-7/17 and “hoping” you might sit in with Guthrie on 4/14?!?!
Looking forward to seeing you live. Thanks for all the work keeping us “mostly” sane.
All the best,
Kevin
Hey Tom,
Huge fan of your work and would love to see you live. Is there a calendar of your schedule somewhere ? I know that you make appearances at the Underdog from time to time. I live in Pennsylvania but would definitely travel to see you.
Hi Uncle Larry!!
Thanks for the CD and pick!! Looking forward to the new course. Thanks for all the great videos – I watch and learn from you Guthrie every chance I get.
Jeff D from Michigan
Hey Tom. Your playing is pure inspiration. Thank you for sharing with us as often as you do. If you had to only play a modern(say 2020) 335, what pick ups would you put in it to give it that buttery tone of the vintage PAFs? Is it Ron Ellis or bust, or are there others the you like as well?
And are you sponsored by Fender Tom? Do you know Max Gutnick? Dumb question I’m sure but he’s a friend…figured you must know him but just in case.
Hey Unc…
Any chance of a second pressing of Plexi Soul anytime? I missed the boat on the first batch and it’s pretty impossible to get a copy now.
-Steve
PS…had the pleasure of meeting and getting a photo with ya at the Guitar Party shows in Chicago. Just wanted to say thanks again for a great time and we hope to have you guys back again soon.
Also…check out a venue called The Shitty Barn in Spring Green Wisconsin. I saw The Sheepdogs there last summer and it’s a pretty special atmosphere. Seems like you guys could really light that place up recording a live album there. Heck…take the kids along and have some family fun in the Wisconsin Dells too!
Be well and keep spreading the love brother!
https://shittybarnsessions.com/
Hello Tom, big fan of the show here! Some time ago I bought a Gibson ES-335 ’61 (with blood and tears) and now I’m wondering if the PAF’s are original or not. There are lots of opinions out there online, and I would appreciate if you could give a look to the pics I linked. You saw hundreds of pu and stickers, I’d trust your judgement only 🙂
I hope you can help me, thanks!
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/cyv1twhwu5i478s30hv4t/AEWXFRfngZccQwYPd4gxmy4?rlkey=5slkubgk4bma4hvnctboq9e7t&st=xak533uq&dl=0
Hey Tom…when is your class gonna be available to buy? Thanks brother.
Why does my recorded tone sound different from what I hear live? When I hear my guitar live, it sounds trebly and lacks sustain. When I hear my recorded sound (usually from a gig), My tone sounds great and I have the sustain that I have been seeking. My Deluxe Reverb amp might be a smidge louder 4 instead of 2.5) but everything else is the same.
Hi Uncle Larry,
I really like your work! Right now, I’m trying to buy a vintage guitar, but I’m having a bit of trouble deciding. I’d love to know what you would do in my place— which one would you go for, or which one caught your attention? I’d also appreciate it if you could tell me something about them that the seller wouldn’t mention.
Below, I’m sending you the links. Thanks in advance for your reply!
https://guitarpoint.de/product/1969-gibson-sg-custom-walnut-3/
https://guitarpoint.de/product/1969-gibson-es-335-tdc-cherry/
https://guitarpoint.de/product/1969-gibson-es-335-td-ice-tea/
I’d love to talk to you about these extension cabinets I make in all sizes with wild mixed and matched speakers for unbelievable voicings with 3 piece backs that tune the cabinets even further I would love to know your favorite guitar if you could build one I build beautiful instruments also in painted and beautiful book matched figured woods I have a huge inventory of mahogany walnut and maple all with the most beautiful figures also some really open face maple with just the right amount of eye and shimmer let me know if there’s a way I can send some pictures or if you would like to FaceTime I’m cool to that also
Hi Uncle Larry . Have you ever seen a Gibson Les Paul sg standard from 62/63 that had an unbound neck? G Gruhn hasn’t I ask him.
no i never have
Hello Uncle Larry. Is it true that You and Jed will be playing in Vince Gill’s band for his Summer tour?
I sure hope so, Just got our tickets for the North Charleston Show last night.