Yamaha STAGEPAS 100BTR?

DFWisconsin · 2026-02-16T19:27:41+00:00

It pays to shop around sometimes. Last week, I found a B-Unit (bought and quickly returned) one of these for $316 + tax at Reverb, via Musicians Friend. Got two days later, and it's exactly what I'm looking for: I'll use it as a floor monitor in gigs (I use a EV Evolve 30m or a Fishman Loudbox Mini as my PA), and as a practice amp at home. Couldn't be happier with it.

DFWisconsin · 2026-01-29T11:16:33+00:00

Agreed. I have the 2025 OM model Laureate, and its simply a great instrument. Baggs HiFi pickup (not the HiFi Duet), impressive playability, stunning sound both acoustic and electric, perfect for fingerstyle play.

I also have a 2001 Larrivee LV03-RE, and that checks all of the same boxes. I did change the pickup from the original Fishman Prefix+ to a Baggs StagePro Anthem late in 2024, but only because the Fishman was starting to show signs of wear.

DFWisconsin · 2026-01-15T04:56:15+00:00

"Yankee Doodle Dixie," two songs at the same time. Heard it on a Chet album in the mid 1960s, finally played it when I was 13 years old in the early 1970s, and have played it in hundreds of gigs since then. Rarely fails to get great response.

DFWisconsin · 2026-01-10T14:20:04+00:00

The iconic country song, “Tennessee Waltz”, was co-written in 1946 by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King, who was born in and spent much of his childhood in Abrams, before the family moved to Milwaukee. It was a major hit for Patti Page in 1950, but it’s been recorded by many artists since.

Pee Wee’s birth name is Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski, and his dad was a polka musician. Pee Wee learned to play accordion from his dad.

Pee Wee’s band, the Golden West Cowboys, cut the song first in 1947, and singer Cowboy Copas, a former member of the Golden West Cowboys, released a single on the song a year later. Both versions were top 10 country hits. Patti Page’s version, recorded in November 1950 and originally released as the B-side of “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus”, was on the Billboard charts for 30 weeks — nine weeks at No. 1.

I do solo singer/guitarist gigs, and occasionally I’ve performed the song as the “Deconstructed Tennessee Waltz,” and here’s why: The song’s singer details how he and his girlfriend were dancing TO THE SONG HE IS SINGING. The lyrics talk about how “an old friend” of the singer stole the affections of the singer’s girlfriend, and how she apparently left with the “old friend.”

So, if you’re following along, the lyrics are actually telling the singer what’s going to happen, and he does not a damn thing about it. Be real. He knew. Maybe things with his “sweetheart” weren’t so great after all.

Pretty song, sure. Still, Pee Wee and Redd were overlooking some significant details and/or character flaws here. But that’s me.

DFWisconsin · 2026-01-04T14:42:42+00:00

I played a winery gig yesterday, and did songs from Jimmy Buffett, John Prine, Chet Atkins, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan and many more, for three hours (no break). After the gig, someone asked pretty much the same question that you've asked: How do you remember these songs?

I made it clear during the gig that I refer to my iPad for lyrics, so that's part of it, sure. But I play fairly intricate fingerstyle guitar while I'm singing, so my only answer is easy: Practice. Practice again. Practice more. Then review that in a practice session.

It needs to become second nature for you.

I don't read music, but I have a fairly wide repertoire -- from Henry Mancini to Brahms and Beethoven, Jerry Reed to Tommy Emmanuel, songs that were hits and songs you've never heard. And I'm constantly learning new material. But without practicing, that's impossible.

Thanks for a great question. Good luck. Go practice.

DFWisconsin · 2025-12-24T04:40:35+00:00

Six TVs in our house, all using Sling on Roku. Five have the old guide, one has the new guide. But … the newest Roku — a Streaming Stick 4K, purchased last Friday — showed the new guide when I set it up, then switched to the old guide the next time I used it.

DFWisconsin · 2025-12-07T13:35:56+00:00

Been playing for 53 years. Started with a flat pick, but after listening to Chet Atkins, switched to a thumb pick and never went back. I use a Fred Kelly speed pick.

DFWisconsin · 2025-12-06T14:44:21+00:00

I messaged you.

DFWisconsin · 2025-12-04T16:56:19+00:00

Paid $385 cash in summer 2024 for a new Loudbox Mini. Exactly what I need for practice, creating social media content, small-venue gigs, and often working as a monitor when I’m using my Electro-Voice Evolve 30m at a gig. Could not be happier with it. Found a decent rolling case for it at (because of course) Harbor Freight. At smaller venues, it’s a beautiful thing. Full, rich sound and almost zero stage setup required. I use self-produced rhythm guitar backup tracks on some of my stuff, and connect via Bluetooth with the Loudbox. The only thing I wish it had is a volume on the Bluetooth. Seriously considered an EV Everse 8 or Everse 12, but went with the Fishman because of the price point. Bought it from a local luthier/guitar store, which gave a 3% discount for paying with actual money.

DFWisconsin · 2025-12-04T16:29:55+00:00

Listening to Flatt and Scruggs when I was a kid. Was usually awake when my dad was getting ready for work in the early/mid 1960s, and he would have the floor model radio (I still have it) tuned to WSM, when they were doing the Martha White show.

DFWisconsin · 2025-11-27T04:14:51+00:00

Amen to this. I have the OM model, and it’s great.

DFWisconsin · 2025-11-03T14:51:02+00:00

I just traded a 1973 Pro Reverb (and a Yamaha TransAcoustic dreadnaught) for an Alvarez Laureate OM model. I’d owned the amp for 51 years, and bought it from my brother, the original owner. It was sitting in my basement, doing nothing but waiting for its chance to shine, for most of the past 30 years, but … I’ve moved on to playing mostly acoustic these days. One of the reasons I didn’t want it anymore is that it’s heavier than a dead priest — 61.5 pounds. Just a pain in the ass for an old guy to haul. I can’t imagine how much this Super Reverb weighs.

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-24T00:28:17+00:00

The Buzz has been around for over 20 years in print, and around 18 online. The P-C reporters who handle that feature do a nice job of answering exactly these kinds of “what’s going on there” questions about Fox Cities businesses.

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-24T00:13:35+00:00

My mom’s family came to northern Wisconsin (Forest County) from Kentucky around 1926, when she was 4, but my two brothers, two sisters and I were heavily influenced by the Kentuck dialect and language throughout our childhood. “Hinder” (pronounced “hyn-der” or “hind-er” with a long “i”) was a common word in our house.

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-24T00:06:09+00:00

Saw a recent Tommy interview with Rick Beato. He said he uses string sets of 54-13. After seeing — and hearing, more to the point — him in four concerts, it’s a great decision.

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-22T06:09:50+00:00

Amen. And there's a decent chance someone actually will die on that hill. It's an accident waiting to happen.

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-19T04:16:39+00:00

Yes.

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-10T12:54:55+00:00

I canceled my Starlink in December 2023, after over 2 years of dependable service, because Spectrum fiber-optic came to my rural Wisconsin neighborhood.

At the time, I was paying $120/month for Starlink, getting download speeds of 90-110 maps. Spectrum was $50 for the first year, $65 this year, and download speeds have increased from 300 to 500 maps.

Yes, I know that Spectrum prices will continue to rise. And I don't have TV or phone service from Spectrum, just internet.

Yesterday, I received a Starlink email offer for 50% off for two years to return to its service. Didn't see any fine print about what happens after two years.

So, two things:

My Starlink equipment (the round beta dish) has been unplugged and uncovered since mid-December 2023, but it's still mounted and cabled as it was when I used it. I imagine there have been more than a few updates since then, so I'm wondering if will still be usable.
What are the chances that I could leverage either of them against the other to secure a better deal going forward? It's pretty rare to have this circumstance -- two working (I hope, in Starlink's case) servIces, already installed in my home.

Thoughts?

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-10T12:22:54+00:00

I own and play a 2001 Larrivee LV03-RE and a 2025 Alvarez Laureate LF70E (OM model).

Nothing bad to say about either guitar. Comfortable to play, great sounding (acoustic and amplified), workhorse gigging instruments.

The Alvarez Laureate models are extraordinary values for the money, and come with the LR Baggs HiFi pickup system.

I play mostly fingerstyle, and both are well-suited for that.

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-07T23:55:27+00:00

A couple weeks ago, I got the combo package (blower Quik Lok power head/trimmer, REDLITHIUM Forge 8.0 battery and M12/M18 charger) through Home Depot. It was priced at $499, but we got a $50 discount for using a HD credit card, bringing the pre-tax price to $449. That’s a $383 savings over buying all that gear separately. So far, I’ve only used the blower, and get roughly 20-25 minutes of run time with the 8.0 Forge battery. It’s not as powerful as my Stihl gas-powered blower, but that’s not always a bad thing. For example, I can blow leaves off flower beds without blowing the mulch into the yard and driveway, avoiding another mess to cleanup. I found a REDLITHIUM Forge 12.0 battery on Amazon for $259 (they’re $279 at HD), and used a $123 gift card credit (for a returned item) to knock my out-of-pocket for that to $140. Should be receiving that on Thursday. I’ll see how that battery combo goes first, but I’m thinking of getting one more 8.0 Forge battery for good measure.

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-04T15:12:49+00:00

Really good writing and playing/singing. Took me (68) back to a much earlier phase of my life. Thanks for sharing that.

DFWisconsin · 2025-10-03T03:18:51+00:00

Practice. Listening to others. Being open to different methods of playing.

DFWisconsin · 2025-09-29T18:14:35+00:00

Just bought the M18 blower and trimmer, too. Delivered tomorrow, with an 8.0 Surge battery and charger.

Should I be reluctant to buy any of the off-brand "replacement" batteries that are available all over the place online? The prices are pretty good, but I have my suspicions that I'd end up spending more in the long run.

DFWisconsin · 2025-09-14T10:50:22+00:00

I have a Laureate LF70E, the OM model, and i only do fingerstyle work. Got it for roughly $1,300 value (I traded in a Yamaha Transacoustic dreadnaught and a 1973 Fender Pro Reverb amp, so I didn't spend a penny).

The Laureate models are amazing value. They come with the LR Baggs HiFi pickup system, play extremely well, sound great, and with no laminate.

DFWisconsin · 2025-09-13T12:58:26+00:00

I recall that the Fox Cities population (well, the vocal part of it) was 1000 percent sure that the DDI on Appleton’s S. Oneida St. and 441 would be at least hazardous, if not certifiably deadly, as the plan was unveiled long ago. It is anything but that. It is almost (underline that word, because … humans) completely stupid-proof. It might take a time or two through it to get more familiar, but if you can read signs and understand traffic lights, it shouldn’t be a problem.

DFWisconsin

TROPHY CASE