Spring Fever

It would have still been a fever no matter what season it was.

There apparently is a "bug" going around. Christine had it last week. I was lucky enough to have it this week.

Two days of insomnia, two days of nausea, and two days of all the classic symptoms of an intestinal flu.

Honestly, shouldn't they call it "intestinal fly" in the present tense and "intestinal flew" only when it's over with?

I had the same thing some months ago. On that go around, I was smart enough to combine dehydration into the mix to ensure I'd suffer that much more.

This time I didn't let that happen.

The result being I'm off the seat and back on my feet as of yesterday afternoon.

So what's been going on, you ask?

Well, "Mercedes", our newly adopted little 8 year old Dachshund is fitting in beautifully. She gets along with "Billy" just fine. We had some concerns about bringing another adoptee, especially one that would likely be fixed in her ways, into the mix. "Billy" has established a regular routine in the year plus time he came to us.

"Billy" in his favorite midday spot...........

"Mercedes" in hers.

Christine and I are very pleased with the outcome. "Mercedes" has followed "Billy's" regular routine pretty much since the first day she arrived.

In other news, which is going to be much to the chagrin of the neighbors, I have a new guitar amplifier on the way. I was looking at three different models.

WARNING: "Guitar Geek" segment coming up.

I needed something to play through. I'd brought along my electric guitar last trip, but I didn't bring my amp. Every guitar player knows that an electric guitar without an amp is pretty much just an expensive, pretty stringed stick. Last week I sat down at my laptop, gave the issue some careful thought, and went through the information on some of the various amps I'd played through over the years.

I made my dream list of the best "home use" amps that would be also suitable to play with other musicians in a "jam session" should one arise.

The list came out with these three options:

Roland JC-120

Fender '65 Reissue Twin Reverb

Line 6 Spider IV

Each one has qualities I really like a lot. The Roland amp is damned near bullet proof. It's a big, brawny, well built piece of equipment that is worth every penny a person will pay for it. It has a superior "chorus" sound that makes cheap guitars sound $1000.00 better. It has a killer "distortion" effect circuitry. The downside is it's weight. There's a very good reason it comes with wheels. It weighs in at 62 pounds. Try to carry one up a flight of stairs by the handle and your first/next hernia isn't too far away.

The Fender Twin Reverb is another legendary amp. It might be the cleanest sounding amp I ever owned. Mine wasn't a '65 reissue, it was a 1976 model. It too was on wheels. It needed them worse than the Roland JC-120. Checking in at 64 pounds, it too was awkward to move around on stairs. It's 85 watts of power is deceiving. It can really crank and is more than suitable to "mic" it into the PA system.

My third option was the Line 6 Spider IV. It weighs in at 43 pounds and like the Roland JC-120, it comes with 120 watts of power. The huge advantage of the Line 6 is its number of factory presets that model the sound of a large selection of classic amps from over the years and its ability to allow the guitar player to create and save their own as well. Its about 1/3 the price of the other two and every bit as good an amp. I can honestly say that having played all three.

I priced all three both new and used.

Heck, I'm not afraid to buy or play a "floor model".

All three of these amps are built rock solid.

In the end I opted for the Line 6. I didn't do so for price, I did it for it's flexibility. I like being able to have the sound of a Marshall JCM-900, a Hiwatt Custom 100, a Fender Twin Reverb, or any of the other presets at the flip of a switch.

If I was playing professionally it might not be my first choice.

However, for home use it more than exceeds the requirements.

It should be here by Friday.

My apologies to the neighbors in advance.

Until the next time, all y'all take care of yourselves.

Air Traffic Mike, ret.