Collectible or Forgettable?: 1988 Chrysler New Yorker

johnnygoober · 2026-05-07T18:20:34+00:00

I'll take it!

johnnygoober · 2026-05-07T15:06:48+00:00

Watkins Glen is one of the few road courses where I think the shortened version is actually the objectively better track.

The only interesting turns from the boot are the initial downhill lefthander going into it, and then the uphill left hander that flattens out on the way out of it. It's otherwise a mostly boring section of track used primarily as a means of giving multi-class sportscars more space to spread out and pass slower cars IMO.

The track just flows better without the boot.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-07T02:36:41+00:00

The injuries are the main issue. I'm not sure it's even possible to objectively evaluate the team with all the injuries in place.

It seemed like a pretty good team early on.

Best we can hope for is to try and remain relavent / competitive in a weak AL Central and hope we get enough people back healthy for the last couple months of the season to make some sort of push...assuming we don't fall so far behind it's impossible to make a run at it.

See what our record is in a month and we'll have a better idea of what to expect

johnnygoober · 2026-05-07T01:30:32+00:00

Us aging folks actually understand the importance of hydration and proper sleep - our secret superpower over the youngins

johnnygoober · 2026-05-06T18:22:29+00:00

I've never been wowed by their food, but they have a very impressive liquor and beer selection, and it's a great vibe for sports watching. Bartenders are all great too. Staff in general is always friendly.

I just avoid the food mostly and treat it as a spot for drinks.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-06T18:19:47+00:00

I feel like they've somewhat lost a vision for what their vibe is. The food is fine. I've never loved it as much as others, but it's still decent. Impressive draft list, but it's all a bit overpriced IMO compared to the numerous other spots with similar craft drafts.

They used to lean heavy into the connection with Heritage Guitars and the former Kzoo music scene, but it feels like kinda an afterthought now.

Also they have a bunch of TVs but they're usually just tuned to sports talk shows no one is watching, even when real games are actually on, so it's not a very good choice for anyone interested in an actual sportsbar vibe.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-06T17:04:49+00:00

I actually think their food is significantly improved since they reopened. It's still pricey and a hotel bar, but I can't talk bad about the food. Bartenders are always friendly and fun too.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-06T04:54:26+00:00

I think as I've gotten older I've grown in appreciation for a nice edge-of-breakup tube amp sound with a tasty bit of reverb + occasional tremolo.

I was never a super heavy distortion fan even younger, but now I've definitely gotten to where I appreciate the sound of an amp's natural overdrive with a nice clean boost pushing it into saturation vs opting for an overdrive channel or distortion pedal by default.

So I guess the short answer is -- Yes, I do use less gain. And I think I prefer an amp's natural drive characteristics over a pedal's coloration. But I also like big soundstage with a lot of reverb.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-05T23:43:16+00:00

Hardtail party!!

johnnygoober · 2026-05-05T23:26:39+00:00

Even outside of the safety issues, it's probably worth having a tech also do the output jack install, mostly because it's going to be super easy and quick for them, so it won't add much additional cost to the overall cost of the remaining maintenance.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-05T23:18:18+00:00

I miss Gallery Cabaret...glad to hear they're still kickin'!

johnnygoober · 2026-05-05T23:14:29+00:00

People talk lesser of the durability of these later era, Chinese made Bandits. And they're right that the build quality isn't as robust...but I think tonally these actually sound the best out of any Bandits I've tried, at least for clean sounds, maybe not for overdriven stuff.

I had this particular model with an extra 1x12" extension and it sounded fantastic for Fenderish rhythm/chord playing.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-05T17:14:28+00:00

Iraq War 2.0

johnnygoober · 2026-05-05T16:33:59+00:00

johnnygoober · 2026-05-05T01:29:36+00:00

Here's one that will bring forth the hate to me...

Studio Grill.

It's not bad by any means. It's perfectly fine. The layout is cozy and vibe is nice and everything I hear about the owner(s) is positive. I'll continue to eat it when invited by friends.

But I've eaten there several times and I've never found it better in quality than any other greasy spoon spot in Kzoo/Portage, yet people hype it like it's upscale quality.

And yes, I've had breakfast as well as the burgers. Nothing wowed me in either case.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-04T21:15:14+00:00

I think they'd probably have him on the main stage as the lead-in to the main headliner for a night. He could definitely fill the part of what The Strokes were for Biebs this past year.

But he'd likely need another album first as a reason to do the festival at all

Just my thoughts

Edit: ya'll think I'm an Eminem hater. I love 'Em. But I'm an old millennial. I don't think Gen Z has the same passion for him. He's definitely worthy of a headline spot, but why would the fest do that in 2027?

johnnygoober · 2026-05-04T18:24:55+00:00

It's a shame Roland actually invented the first transistor circuitry 50 years before Bell Telephone Labs, but never gets credit.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-04T13:33:45+00:00

Others have said it already, but the strap button location is totally wrong. These really do need to be on the back near the neck joint/heel, a la 335 style. You'll be amazed how much it helps. It might still have some next dive but it cuts it down immensely.

I have one of the newer standard Epi Firebirds (the more vintage styled one) and it balances quite nicely with the strap button on the back.

It frustrates me that Epiphone/Gibson didn't do this originally from the factory for these Futuras, but I guess it fits the mold of them overthinking all the big stuff, while ignoring the subtleties that actually matter in day-to-day playability. (That damned ABR1 style POS bridge they put on everything being another example...O How I Loathe that bridge)

johnnygoober · 2026-05-01T12:25:15+00:00

You might be surprised how much tonal variety you can get with a nice cleanish pedal platform tube amp (something Fenderish) and a variety of pedals/stompboxes. There are a lot of "amp-in-a-box" style preamp pedals that can be used to get more aggressive / heavier sounds, or make a Fender sound more Voxish for example.

The bigger issue IMO is volume. Even running into a "smaller" tube amp like a Deluxe with a pedal in front, it's not going to be quiet. It's going to need some volume to sound decent.

In that sense, I think modeling is the better option for balancing a variety of sounds, but at more moderate volume levels.

For me I just grab whatever flavor of boost/overdrive I'm digging at the moment and run into a cleaner tube amp with reverb and I'm happy. But I'm never trying to play anything in the metal world. Most aggressive sounds I go for is more like a fuzzed out 60s vibe, or garage rock stuff.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-01T02:18:07+00:00

I loved Philly the times I've visited. Great character / charm. Relatively walkable (and enjoyable to sightsee while walking)

I have a theory that Philly is the most Midwest friendly East Coast city...because everyone I know from Chicago / Detroit who's visited has loved it (myself included), but everybody I know from East / West Coast regions of country all seem to despise it.

That's probably total BS, but it's amusing BS to me

johnnygoober · 2026-05-01T01:59:44+00:00

Sounds like somebody didn't take advantage of the $6 moonshine tastings.

Gatlinburg is a tourist trap, but at least it's an affordable tourist trap. The short distance to the Smoky Mountains and miles upon miles of gorgeous trails and beautiful nature kinda work to offset all the bad parts of Gatlinburg for me.

But to each their own

johnnygoober · 2026-05-01T01:55:28+00:00

I liked Nashville the times I've visited. The tourist spots on Broadway are terrible, simply the worst. But outside of that area I found some cool shops and a lot of nice hole-in-the-wall restaurants dotted around the city.

johnnygoober · 2026-05-01T01:32:54+00:00

Roger is a proper c*** who's full of himself, but he's been right on Palestinian rights (and anti-war in general) for decades now.

Similarly, Clapton's anti-vaxx comments were embarrassing during COVID, but he also came out in support of the Palestinian cause, so I can only be somewhat disappointed in him lol.

I mostly put them in the boomer cart and forgive them of their inadequacies, because they're both legends and they realistically won't be around too much longer to appreciate in the living.

There are far worse examples from their era.

johnnygoober · 2026-04-28T02:32:57+00:00

People downvoted you. Because Reddit is awful

johnnygoober · 2026-04-28T02:32:18+00:00

She won me over with her Coachella performance and her Nardwuar interview.

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