For sale in this month's Vintage Guitar---who's going to step up?

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For sale in this month's Vintage Guitar---who's going to step up?

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surferjoemusic Joined: Jan 01, 2008 Posts: 2107 Livorno	Posted on Sep 23 2019 03:00 PM Good luck on that. — Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini (www.surfmusic.net) Top
surferjoemusic Joined: Jan 01, 2008 Posts: 2107 Livorno	Posted on Sep 23 2019 03:29 PM I just post this to express my Astronauts love as a regret for not being able to spend this money. — Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini (www.surfmusic.net) Top
Surfing_Sam_61 Joined: Jan 15, 2019 Posts: 1515	Posted on Sep 23 2019 04:00 PM Surf Party dude . . .old amps are a pain in the ass anyway - you'll live Top
Matt22 Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 2858 Fredericksburg, Virginia	Posted on Sep 23 2019 07:55 PM Wow! Great post and great pictures! — Matt "tha Kat" Lentz Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020 Skippyandtheskipjacks.net https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015 The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014 www.theamazingcoconauts.com Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013 http://www.gcmband.com/ The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009 the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007 http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html Top
Sonichris Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1907 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies	Posted on Sep 23 2019 09:12 PM I don’t think this deal is 100% done, but I’ll tell you all how it went down. Preface: I build guitars at Texas Toast Custom Guitars in CO. We have a Youtube channel that has a bit of a following. We do a Sunday live-cast where we talk about the weekly goings on, etc. I talked about going to see the amp, and it’s history. Joe Emery, from the Thunderchiefs, watched the Sunday youtube podcast. Anyway, I talked about going to see the amp. Joe contacted me, and I shared the pictures. We both agreed we didn’t have the money to buy it. He asked if it was okay to pass them on to a guy from the Phantom Surfers. “Mel Bergman?” I asked. “Yes” was the answer. Of course it was ok. Next thing I know, Mel is driving from Ventura CA to Boulder CO to buy it. $4000. Apparently the first autograph he ever got was Bob Demmon’s, and he had to have the amp. So. That seems like a pretty cool ending. It would have been fun to own it,but at least its in good hands with Mel. I’m glad Ferenc started this thread. I would have never seen it if he hadn’t. I’m also glad I’m the only guy in CO that was close enough to go see it. It was a really fun experience, even though I knew I wouldn’t be the new owner even before I got there. I hope I at least helped the amp find a new deserving owner who will get it going and playing again. I don’t know who the biggest Astronauts fan is, but I think I might be in the top 10? Top 20? — "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" Last edited: Sep 23, 2019 21:14:53 Top
surferjoemusic Joined: Jan 01, 2008 Posts: 2107 Livorno	Posted on Sep 23 2019 09:24 PM Well I could have pushed the button and buy it yesterday evening after re contacting the person. I placed an offer that was much lower considering missing quite a few original parts and not knowing if the amp is working. And I would not feel offering more. Mel will take good care of it I am sure and at least it is in the hand of the surf community. All I know is that the Astronauts are my favorite all time band. Ever. This would have been cool, but you cannot have all — Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini (www.surfmusic.net) Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4537 Wisconsin	Posted on Sep 23 2019 09:30 PM Sonichris wrote: I hope I at least helped the amp find a new deserving owner who will get it going and playing again. This has been a very cool thing to watch happen, thanks for relating all the info Chris. "Showman, this is Mr. Variac, he's going to jog your memory. "Variac, this is Mr. Showman. Be nice & take it easy, alright?" — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
Sonichris Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1907 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies	Posted on Sep 24 2019 12:39 AM Oops. Matt Quilter is the original poster. So sorry Matt. And, also kind of surprised you didn’t buy it before anyone noticed — "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19337 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Sep 24 2019 08:17 AM This is a great story. Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes scoop and of course the photos. This thread is another reason to keep this site open. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
Matt22 Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 2858 Fredericksburg, Virginia	Posted on Sep 24 2019 08:54 AM Brian wrote: This is a great story. Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes scoop and of course the photos. This thread is another reason to keep this site open. I totally agree. I get a kick out of stories like this. Before this site there was Cowabunga. And somehow, I don't remember exactly how, I got a hold of Bob Demmon and we emailed back and forth for a while as we were both teachers. It must have been 1996 or 97 because he was still teaching middle school in California somewhere. Anyway, he told me many stories about the guys and that Dennis had died just a few years prior to our email chain. He was a classy guy and told me that out of all of the others, he was the only one who held on to all of the guitars that Fender gave them. He said Rich was the first one to sell off his things, so that is somewhat corroborated by what Sonichris wrote earlier. It's cool that the amp was kept in the area by people who were either in the band or knew the band. And, working or not, I would have paid that price for the amp just because of the history. But also, I have a 1961 Olympic White Jazzmaster because both Rich and George Tomsco played those exact (year and color) guitars (George first played a '59 that was later loaned to Jimmy Gilmer). I'm glad it's staying in the family and I'm sorry Lorenzo didn't get it, but it does make perfect sense to me that Mel would jump on it. It's in good hands. Now, I'll have to go see if I still have those emails somewhere... — Matt "tha Kat" Lentz Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020 Skippyandtheskipjacks.net https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015 The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014 www.theamazingcoconauts.com Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013 http://www.gcmband.com/ The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009 the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007 http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html Top
kick_the_reverb Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 1338 Escondido, CA	Posted on Sep 24 2019 09:30 AM Ha! I just realized Matt was perhaps mentioning me as a possible interested party. Thanks for thinking about me, Matt. I am glad it stays in the Surf family. Sorry for Lorenzo not getting it. Hope to see the amp used live for playing Surf music. I was never a contender. I don't, and can't, pay for provenance. R.M. reventlos wrote: I can think of a few! R.M.? — The Scimitars Top
josheboy Joined: Mar 13, 2009 Posts: 2367 Twin Cities, MN	Posted on Sep 24 2019 09:35 AM Sonichris wrote: Word on the street is Mel Bergman is driving from CA to CO as we speak to buy it. Congrats Mel!!! Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2687 Ventura, CA	Posted on Sep 25 2019 01:49 PM Maybe I should have kept playing with Mel. I probably could have played through this amp or at least heard it up close. Oh well, he has lots of other treasures that I got to try. The amp will be in good company with him. Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11075 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Sep 25 2019 02:58 PM It's in good hands - congrats Mel! I suspect we'll be seeing a video with this amp in the future. — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19337 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Sep 25 2019 03:01 PM I hope Mel chimes in here with an update! — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
wooza Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 1618 Ithaca, NY	Posted on Sep 25 2019 08:10 PM This is such a cool story! An SG101 highlight for sure. Thanks Chris for all the reporting work! Top
MelPhantomSurfers Joined: Aug 21, 2008 Posts: 56	Posted on Sep 25 2019 10:20 PM Hi all, I’ll give a full report later, but I can say that the amp is in remarkably good condition. It was well taken care of over the years. And special thanks to Chris. Before I left Boulder, I had to take this pic. Just because. Mel Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on Sep 25 2019 10:51 PM We're gonna need a new Phantom Surfers album now please. Top
reventlos Joined: May 23, 2006 Posts: 209 Costa Mesa	Posted on Sep 26 2019 12:54 AM Sonichris wrote: Oops. Matt Quilter is the original poster. So sorry Matt. And, also kind of surprised you didn’t buy it before anyone noticed Well, I HAVE a '61 Showman, which I love dearly, but hardly ever play anymore. I sold this identical amp (a '62 1X12) a few years ago, and am down to just a Showman, '63 Tremolux, and a couple of Reverbs. Oh, and about 10 of my brother's amps. Damn you, Patrick Quilter! Ran, you are the current king of Vintage Showman owners! I love seeing/hearing them in action. Glad this went to a good home! I was kind surprised that nobody else noticed it, and I hope I didn't screw up anyone's deal. Top
surferjoemusic Joined: Jan 01, 2008 Posts: 2107 Livorno	Posted on Sep 26 2019 01:47 AM Biggest regret in my life. Congrats Mel! I will buy my 18th copy of Surfin’ With and be happy... — Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini (www.surfmusic.net) Last edited: Sep 26, 2019 01:55:22 Top

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