Howdy,

I've been a Rickenbacker lover since eye-balling my first Beatles album with pictures: The Beatles Second Album, then Something New, especially!
My observation is on the "Easy String R Tailpiece". I just don't have that much difficulty re-stringing. I read so much on Harmony Central the complaints about the "R" tailpiece and I just don't understand. OK, it's not as easy as stringing with the "F" brand, but thier headstocks have those tedius slotted posts on the tuning pegs which offset any advantage at the bridge!
What about ya'll? Do any of you feel that the "R" tailpiece is a hassle? For me, the whiners are making a mountain out of a mole-hill. I love Rickenbacker1 Mr. Hall, don't you dare change a thing!

Eggman

I never noticed R tailpieces being difficult, but since there ARE difficult tailpieces around I just keep tension on the string while I hook 'er up.

Worst is the Gibson T6! It's got fine tuners with claws that fall backwards out of reach if you let them.

I'll confess to having had trouble with it. The process isn't complicated, but I've had more trouble with it than my guitars from other manufacturers.

To change either "E" string, I must lift the tail piece if I don't want to scratch the guitar. Sometimes a new string will snag in the tail piece, only to slip when tuning. I don't have this problem when changing strings at home, but it happens a lot when I try to change quickly in a live situation.

This isn't a complaint, just a quirk of a guitar that I love very much.

Looks like the Santa Cruz contingent is not gigging too late this evening.
Got home from a wedding at "Michael's" in Soquel about 8pm myself. About the same time their house band starts.
I could dig a Sat. nite schedule like THIS!

This IS Sat, isn't it?

Man, I gotta get a better day job!

No Med anymore, can only handle the Aptos Club once a month, trying to move up from weeknights to weekends at Moe's, and still looking for that opening slot at the Catalyst. In between we're playing up in the City. For a community full of artists, it's tough out there!

I had a casual Sunday evening thing at The Brookdale Lodge that was a nice way to prep for Mondays until recently, but they fired the sax player and I went with him outa loyalty.

My son has played the Aptos Club a couple of times. Catalyst too. More his generation anyway. Can't believe the Med is gone?

The Med's still there (I think), but the city is now enforcing their permit which never allowed live music to begin with. I can't remember all the details, but I think they're permited primarily as a restaurant with a bar. Recently, they upheld the "restaurant" part of the permit by ordering Domino's from a few doors down.

Henfling's is under new ownership, so that holds potential. Also, Don Quixote's has an impressive stage, sound system, and lighting rig. It's nice to see a local venue make an investment in live music. BTW, I'm on the lower westside.

Jeez, me too!

Gotta run to Scotts Valley right now (beeper duty), but we should get together...

Yeah, sounds good. You might want to sit in with us. We rehearse Wednesday and Sunday nights.