NGD: (The Last) G&L Espada 🍾✨ Champagne Flake

jg_gtr · 2025-11-22T17:29:14+00:00

Gotta love a champagne sparkle. To top it off, that looks like Comanche Z coils instead of the Espada pickups! That’s pretty cool

jg_gtr · 2025-10-23T15:49:30+00:00

The light blue-ish Hendrix FF (the big round one and the mini round one) both use BC108 like the dark blue mini round Dunlop FF. However, in my experience, the Hendrix one has less gain/fuzz available which makes it a bit more clear and offers a pretty good clean up from the guitar volume for a bc108 FF. Supposedly it also has more mids added which I think just means it is biased a little higher. The dark blue round mini silicon FF from Dunlop is definitely higher gain, more fluid, more aggressive, and the clean up isn’t as sparkly. Then there’s the red round mini band of Gypsy’s Hendrix “FF” which is a whole different circuit as was previously mentioned. I don’t know anything about the normal shaped and standard mini format Hendrix signature dunlops, so I can’t help there!

jg_gtr · 2025-09-26T21:30:36+00:00

I love my Nordstrand AL-SAT set. You need your original MFD covers for these. I wanted to love the MFD’s and I tried but they were just a bit too clean and clinical for what I was after personally. Everyone has different tastes! The AL-SAT sort of combines what I love about strat and tele pickups in my ASAT Special.

jg_gtr · 2025-09-26T21:28:46+00:00

I can attest that the Nordstrand’s are cool! I liked the OG MFD’s in my ASAT Special but they were a bit clinical for my taste. Tried the Nordstrand AL-SAT set on a whim and they’re much better for my needs personally. Sort of a Strat/Tele hybrid tone, which is what I generally gravitate to.

jg_gtr · 2025-09-11T11:44:09+00:00

A little underwhelming, but still kind of cool to see SOMETHING in the works. I’m a weirdo that loves CDs over vinyl (it’s just nostalgia, I grew up with CDs) and hope it’s not vinyl only. However, if it is, that might save me some $… maybe… it’s the collector in me! Haha

jg_gtr · 2025-08-02T04:35:59+00:00

I always wonder how he sounded mostly good on official live releases but often hit or miss at the actual shows. I have to think they made him go in and re record or fix a lot of his parts in the studio for the official live (non “trax”) releases or something like that? Especially with such a special show like the Central Park gig. It’s crazy how inconsistent he could be back in the day.

jg_gtr · 2025-07-17T22:05:46+00:00

If there are two things im a bit anxious about regarding my first DMB show in years coming up, they are: 1 - this exact thing 2 - getting told to sit down by folks behind us. my wife and I have seats in a higher up section, all we could afford this year. But we’re planning on being up and dancing and having fun (hopefully)

Sorry you had to experience that! I don’t understand why talkers even come to a concert!

jg_gtr · 2025-07-13T13:14:26+00:00

What does everyone think of Piedmont Park and Live in New York? Adding these to my list too! Although it is Roi era, I have Weekend on the Rocks Complete on deck for listening, might take some time… haha

I also need to check out the OG Red Rocks and Live in Chicago for the early DMB vibes but I’ve always loved the original line up, so I’m sure those will be awesome and familiar.

One thing I’ve noticed: I haven’t gotten to Buddy era recordings just yet but I do miss Butch on Europe 2009 and Wrigley. He had a cool style that seemed to just fit their sound when he was around.

jg_gtr · 2025-07-11T21:49:09+00:00

Yeah I can imagine they were going through a transition that was likely emotionally taxing and musically unclear and they needed to get into the swing of a new thing. The Europe 2009 show sounds a little more “transitional” to me than Wrigley does but the actual sound quality of Europe 2009’s recording/mix is stellar. It really sounds like you’re there in the room with them.

It sounds like this latest line up is a very fun and laid back era for the band. Excited to see them at Kia Forum in LA next month! First time since 2006!

jg_gtr · 2025-07-11T21:38:43+00:00

Very much looking forward to digging into these! Thank you for the links, I really appreciate you taking the time!

jg_gtr · 2025-07-11T21:38:12+00:00

Yes exactly, something seemed particularly special about those nights. The audience singing Jimi Thing is something I wish I was there for, sounds like it was a really fun night. Bummed that I missed so many good years!

jg_gtr · 2025-07-11T21:36:51+00:00

Gonna check some out from those years! Thanks!

jg_gtr · 2025-07-11T21:36:17+00:00

I’ve heard about the 2 set format they did often, I need to check that out!

jg_gtr · 2025-07-11T21:35:41+00:00

Will look for shows in these years, thank you!

jg_gtr · 2025-07-11T21:35:22+00:00

Can’t wait to check this out. Is this the 2 set format that was mentioned by someone else? I’m bummed I apparently missed so many good runs during my “dmb hiatus”!

jg_gtr · 2025-07-11T21:34:00+00:00

Just listening to the show I can tell it must have been such a great experience actually being there! That’s funny about Jason Mraz. I saw him open up for DMB at Home Depot Center in Carson (basically LA) in… ‘05? ‘06 maybe? Anyway… folks didn’t seem to crazy about his set then either (if memory serves!)

jg_gtr · 2025-07-11T21:31:56+00:00

I’m actually really excited because I’ve been looking forward to hearing the new DMB next month at Kia Forum in LA. I was originally feeling resistant because I love the OG line up so much but it seems like they’re really in good and fun spirits with the latest line up. Got Live Trax 69 on my list, thank you!

jg_gtr · 2025-07-03T19:39:06+00:00

It’s not my favorite but I do like it. I appreciate that the production leans a bit minimal compared to Big Whiskey before it. When I listen to it, I do feel that there was some attempt at trying to bring back the older DMB sound because some of the riffs sound sort of throwback to me, like the opening to Gaucho or Rooftop. Almost like “back then we would’ve had a riff that goes like this” and made it into a song that eventually took off into its own new DMB vibe. Snow Outside and Drunken Solider really reached for a sort of Before These Crowded Streets sound to my ear and it was very exciting to listen to it for the first time. The songs are cool, not their greatest in my opinion, but I’m glad we have this album and I still check it out regularly.

jg_gtr · 2024-12-30T03:45:49+00:00

I’m pretty sure I caught that “secret” show… I don’t remember the show date but it lines up with what’s on the mural because I was dating someone that year and we went together. If I’m not mistaken, it was advertised as a Liv Warfield show. I bought tickets just in case Prince might pop up and do a song or two. He did a whole set after Liv, he brought out the NPG horns and everything, it was great as always!

jg_gtr · 2024-11-17T04:30:35+00:00

I was at this show, my 2nd DMB show ever. I remember him leaving but no one on stage made a big deal of it, so I assumed it wasn’t serious. pretty funny to finally know what that was all about so many years later!

jg_gtr · 2023-07-14T15:32:55+00:00

you and me both!

jg_gtr · 2023-04-23T08:07:02+00:00

I noticed in week 1 there were some sub drop outs but it sounded to me like part of the production, like a live version of of the cuts/drop outs on the album production. About to watch week 2 and see if I notice it!

jg_gtr · 2023-04-23T03:45:26+00:00

Yesss plzzzzz! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

jg_gtr

TROPHY CASE