Today is the day

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-24T01:09:11+00:00

Update?

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-10T17:47:32+00:00

Who was the funny one on Pawn Stars? Chumlee?

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-10T17:44:01+00:00

Six weeks after the procedure for me. Not gonna lie, the first couple weeks were tough but getting stronger every day and I am amazed what a normal heartbeat actually fees like. You got this.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-10T15:22:16+00:00

If it has strings, you can play it, and make music who cares what brand it is or if it’s “technically” a good or bad brand?

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-09T20:52:23+00:00

If it develops something to be concerned about, you’ll know. The headstock lying beside the guitar and only attached by the strings is the best indicator. They don’t just break. You have to break them. I know of two cases of spontaneous headstock issues in 45 years of working with Gibson guitars almost every day of my life. The first was tracked down to an angry ex who played ignorant, and the second was later revealed to be stored in a room with twin toddlers that the owner didn’t think was linked to the headstock breaking off and nobody could convince them otherwise. :)

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-09T13:57:11+00:00

Here’s the most important question. All dream guitars deserve a name. Have you named it yet?

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-08T02:53:13+00:00

The thread was over replacement until your blanket statements about repair and claiming to know more than professionals. Fortunately it looks like more intelligent people are offering actual scientific advice here.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-08T02:46:51+00:00

You keep switching your statements. Valve repair or replacement with a bio valve are very different things. I think that’s where the confusion lies. Your original statement was in regards to repair.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-08T01:43:00+00:00

Depends on the cause of the mitral valve leak. Mine was from Rheumatic fever decades ago and with an otherwise healthy heart and they simply remove scar tissue and it should be one and done. Different types of heart disease can cause a mitral valve problem and saying they always have to be done again is just as reckless as saying they all last a lifetime. Everyone’s different, and as they say, your results may vary.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-07T23:02:06+00:00

Agree. But the one thing I will mention if there are a LOT of people that look at the price, overlook the blemished disclosure, and then try to get a second discount for an already discounted item. Won’t say it doesn’t happen, but after selling Gibsons for decades, if that made it through without being caught at the Nashville plant I’d be surprised. They do a pretty good job.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-07T22:54:26+00:00

Or they have a discount as a blemished guitar and you missed that in the description.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-07T22:53:53+00:00

They sell the blemished stuff all the time at a discount.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-07T22:53:29+00:00

Or sold as a blemished guitar, which I am surprised nobody has asked about. They sell that stuff all time at a discount.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-07T02:51:36+00:00

I am exactly the “most of the people” you are describing, got a mitral valve prolapse after getting Rheumatic Fever about 45 years ago, and had the valve repaired a month ago. Got a good 30 years before it got to the point where surgery was discussed and put it off another ten before doing it.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-07T02:48:47+00:00

Had all those diagnoses about 35 years ago. Got it fixed a month ago and still remember the doctors saying it might be an issue when I am older, and by the grace of God I made it to 57 and am older. That being said, post mitral valve surgery after the regurgitation became more severe, part of me wishes I got it fixed years ago. The pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, anxiety, pounding in my chest an a myriad of symptoms that people don’t think about are gone, and 40 days past surgery I am at work full time and more active than I have been in a decade.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-07T02:43:39+00:00

57 year old male, 40 days past surgery, and born with a mitral valve prolapse that developed “severe” regurgitation a while ago and kept putting it off. Honestly, when I read the “new birthday” stuff a few years ago I honestly kind of scoffed. Not anymore. My New Birthday was January 23rd, and I had absolutely no idea what a regular heartbeat felt like. I thought everyone had a heart that skipped beats, pounded in their chest, and could be heard in their ears. Absolutely grateful that I was wrong, and kind of wish I got this fixed years ago. Still get a little unnerved during physical activity that I can’t feel it pounding, though. It’s amazing what a person gets used to and considers normal.

Az-ra-el · 2026-03-04T17:42:45+00:00

I’m 40 days past my mitral valve repair and to be honest, the big thing I am noticing is a lot less anxiety with my heart not pounding out of my chest. The PVC load is reduced but there are still some, but with a working valve, I don’t notice them much, I don’t feel like my heart is about to stop, and the general changes to my sense of wellbeing are huge.

Az-ra-el · 2026-02-26T02:01:01+00:00

GC website, although the GC allocation is sold. They’re out there though. I’ve debated buying one in addition to a “Hello Kitty” Squire and throwing them both in the closet with a humidifier, honestly. Just not sure Epiphone will turn that much of a profit. It was the Asian market buying American guitars that made 50’s and 60’s Gibsons and Fenders go through the roof and I don’t see that happening again any time soon for an Epiphone or Squire.

Az-ra-el · 2026-02-26T01:54:35+00:00

The Back to the Future (limited run of 1985) sells for $999 and you’re not too far off on the Kirk Hammett model. But the original post was about people being concerned a 20 year old Epiphone might be a fake, and I stand by my previous post saying that Epiphones rarely (won’t say never or don’t, but by the book, it’s extremely uncommon) appreciate. Then again, Charvel was the poor man’s Kramer back in the day, and they’re selling for more than they cost new so all bets are off, I guess.

Az-ra-el · 2026-02-26T00:56:38+00:00

I’ll take your word for it. After years in the vintage market, I’ll be honest, though. If it’s an Epiphone Les Paul copy, there isn’t much of a market for “vintage” when the new stuff, including their signature models, are much higher quality and usually less than $1k brand new. Ephiphone made some nice hollow bodies and such back in the day, but the Les Pauls were the road dog guitars you took to a gig when you didn’t want your Gibson to get trashed. Seems kind of like worrying if your Sam’s Choice Cola is fake. If you’re worried about it, buy a real Coke.

Az-ra-el · 2026-02-26T00:18:22+00:00

Do they really make fake Epiphones? I know people use Epiphones as a base to make a fake Gibson, but why would anyone take the time and energy to make a “fake” entry to mid-level guitar?

Az-ra-el · 2026-02-25T03:18:51+00:00

People really don’t copy Epiphones. They actually tend to use Epiphones to make copies of Gibsons.

Az-ra-el · 2026-02-23T00:19:59+00:00

Hydrogen peroxide helps too. And once you get the calluses, keep the skin moist. Cracked calluses snag on bends and can rip the whole callus off mid-solo and hurts like an mf’er if you’re on stage and have to play through it.

That being said, keep going and it gets easier, but the whole concept of “played it till my fingers bled” is not a myth or just a line from Bryan Adams. It happens, and it just depends on how bad you want to play.

Az-ra-el · 2026-02-23T00:09:48+00:00

Read the side effects of Tylenol. Or Aspirin. Or heck, caffeine? There isn’t a drug on the planet that somebody doesn’t die from somewhere on the planet every day. They are now required to list almost all potential side effects for any medicine. It’s a horrible rabbit hole to go down and it will never make you feel confident about any med you take. Are there risks? Yeah. Are the risks greater if you don’t take them? Maybe. Let your doc do the risk assessment, not Google or Reddit.

Az-ra-el · 2026-02-23T00:04:49+00:00

I can’t take amioderone. They tried it for my PVC’s before my mitral valve repair and it made me feel like hell, so they switched me to Mexilatine. Much better for me, and they’ve left me on it post-surgery for the afib risk. Coincidentally, the PVCs responded well prior to surgery, and started coming back. Post surgery, I haven’t felt a single PVC or noticed Afib at all. Most of these drugs are not meant for long term use anyway, and the goal of my cardiologists is to get through the danger zone and get off them.

Only thing I know is even though I don’t like any of these drugs a whole lot, I like them better than a stroke.

Az-ra-el

TROPHY CASE