• Registered: 2009-03-18
  • Posts: 30

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

guitarman19853 wrote:

I've had bad experience with the local guitar centers.  The sales staff aren't knowledgeable and pushy, any gear there is already used in my opinion because anyone can walk in and wank on it.  The "high end" guitars they have are overpriced and usually not even anything really special.  I was in there recently and saw the setup and sign for the blues competition and Joe's name on the poster so that caught my attention.  Good luck to anyone who is still in it (if anyone?). 

Actually a side note, I just discovered that theres only one other guitar store in Pittsburgh besides guitar center carrying Gibson and THATS depressing.  Luckily, the one thats still here is an expert on Les Pauls


   Isnt it odd how so few people know that much about the best guitar company,lol. Its the same here in Memphis. I had to learn how to do all my own setups on my Gibsons at a young age cause i'd pay for a "pro" setup and be very unhappy with the results. Everyone wants to slam the action down and raise the pickups sky-ward,lol.

  • Registered: 2008-03-07
  • Posts: 508

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

guitarman19853 wrote:

I've had bad experience with the local guitar centers.  The sales staff aren't knowledgeable and pushy, any gear there is already used in my opinion because anyone can walk in and wank on it.  The "high end" guitars they have are overpriced and usually not even anything really special.  I was in there recently and saw the setup and sign for the blues competition and Joe's name on the poster so that caught my attention.  Good luck to anyone who is still in it (if anyone?). 

Actually a side note, I just discovered that theres only one other guitar store in Pittsburgh besides guitar center carrying Gibson and THATS depressing.  Luckily, the one thats still here is an expert on Les Pauls


#1 On that         

I was in Orlando GC when I was in Hols in Florida I went in to see if they had any JB les pauls
While browsing I seen what looked to be one but it was the highest one on the wall I asked the sales guy
do you yave a JB LES PAUL to which he replied we dont have any Sir I pointed to it and he still said no
so I started to doubt my observation and asked if he had any Billy gibbons he said yes so I tried it out
THEN 2 guys came in and gave me some heavy duty sales pitch, on how the B.G was reduced from 11000 usd to
7500usd so then I told him I was really looking for a JB LP so the other guy says we dont have one.
I went back another day and asked for the JB les paul lookalike to try and low and behold it was
A JB LES PAUL  nice guitar BUT I wont be giving GC my cash.

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2006-05-31
  • Posts: 489

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

Everybody who takes part in such a competition is a winner. It takes courage and discipline to step up on stage and play in front of a jury. Most essential to me is that you enjoy playing and I guess the folks here that took place in the competition did so. I wish I was living in the states and could play the KOTB. My respect to those who took part.

Jimi75's Website

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

I'm going to quote myself from 2 months ago here...

Danny! wrote:

Unfortunately the judges are just local dudes who have been around for awhile. I watched my former guitar teacher play last year, it was a solo that made you feel like you were going through hell and back, truly incredible, and he got beat out by some flashy dude who played behind his neck.

Oddly enough my teacher had judged a competition that one of the judges played in a number of years back!

You have to have the personality to win the King of the Blues Competition (which my former teacher didn't exactly have, just talent), I can say with certainty that if someone of Derek Trucks' caliber and personality were to compete he wouldn't win.

It is entertaining to hear the same influences for every white competitor though (Stevie, Clapton, BB King, Johnson, Cray, blah blah blah), when from their playing you can hear that Stevie's the only one they've ever studied, they just like throwing out big names tongue

Yes, I am bitter.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

With all that said, I wonder what it takes to become a judge?
I've been playing guitar since the early 90's, but I'd much rather be a judge than a competitor... plus all the blues studying I did for my Master's degree would make me qualified to judge a blues competition. hmm

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

Funny you should mention the SRV clones...there were plenty of guys trying to cop that during the few nights that I attended.  People tend to forget that there are/were many other great Strat slingers out there except SRV.  Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher, Bonnie Raitt, Robin Trower, and Jeff Healey just to name a few.  While I'm totally over losing I am still a little disgusted at what kind of people they are looking for.  I'm no authority on the blues but MY view is that blues is an outlet for emotion.  That outlet should be the guitar and your voice.  Blues came from a very oppressed, dark, depressing, sad, and cruel place.  Slavery, chain gangs, hard labor, blood, sweat, tears...not dancing around and playing the guitar through your legs.  There comes a point when you are like, "OKAY ENOUGH".  I love watching BB King shaking in his chair while singing a love song to get the croud jumping...or even Buddy Guy fixing his tie while hanging on a big note...but the acrobatics takes the "soul" out of it.  Showmanship, not a clown show.  I actually thought afterwards that if I made an **** out of myself by whipping the guitar behind my back and shredding I would have advanced.  It's something stupid I use to do when I was a kid before I knew what the blues was really about.  Great point about Trucks...it's sickening that the reality is someone with Derek's supernatural talent (like top 5 guitarist alive) would LOSE at a blues guitar competition...:o

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

Dude, Jurys suck balls. I have plenty of experience with jurys in different settings. And usually the jury is just for show. A typical move is to choose jury members that are famous (but don't know anything about the subject).

I know that Jury's fall for crap flash like playing behind your (insert body part). That's just how it goes sometimes. It should be a vote instead hmm Sorry man but, I KNOW what you're feeling, Jurys suck balls...

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

I think while it's called the "King of the Blues" competition, that's not what it's about. stratpaulguy86 (I'm sorry, I don't remember your name) hit the nail on the head with where the blues came from, but this competition is about entertainment. It's bluesy entertainment, but entertainment all the same, not ability. If you can put the guitar behind your back or whip out a slide mid solo or bleach your hair piss blond in the middle of a lick, you're golden.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

Dude everyone and their mother knows Guitar Center sucks... So why would you think that this competition would have anything to do with skill or knowledge of scales, or what gear you use, or your tone, or whatever. 

I was looking for a Historic R8 a few years ago and the sales guy said they were not made in the custom shop because they didnt have the logo on the back.  When I told he was wrong he went and got the manger who agreed with him.  When I went to my car and got the Sweetwater catelogue which said they were made in Gibsons Custom Shop they said that was a different guitar.  Then I asked them to play one of those guitars and they said they didnt have one.  I was looking at the wall of gibsons and I could count 10 or 12 R8's, R9's, and R0's. 

So to hell with Guitar Center and to hell with their competitions. 

Lets start a boycott of all things guitar center and maybe we'll see some local shops with passionate employee's who know how to string a guitar, make a return.  Then we can join their blues competition.

Lets move on.

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

I only buy strings and pics from them, if it helps. It's just because it's convenient, but anything more than that I go elsewhere.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

jgalvan8804 wrote:

Dude everyone and their mother knows Guitar Center sucks... So why would you think that this competition would have anything to do with skill or knowledge of scales, or what gear you use, or your tone, or whatever. 

I was looking for a Historic R8 a few years ago and the sales guy said they were not made in the custom shop because they didnt have the logo on the back.  When I told he was wrong he went and got the manger who agreed with him.  When I went to my car and got the Sweetwater catelogue which said they were made in Gibsons Custom Shop they said that was a different guitar.  Then I asked them to play one of those guitars and they said they didnt have one.  I was looking at the wall of gibsons and I could count 10 or 12 R8's, R9's, and R0's. 

So to hell with Guitar Center and to hell with their competitions. 

Lets start a boycott of all things guitar center and maybe we'll see some local shops with passionate employee's who know how to string a guitar, make a return.  Then we can join their blues competition.

Lets move on.

Well said.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

Another common thing with jurys is to select people who are famous, or somehow crowd-attracting, while their knowledge of what they are judging is irrelevant. What makes David Hasslehoff such a great jury of talent?

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

His chest hair.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

stratpaulguy86 wrote:
jgalvan8804 wrote:

Dude everyone and their mother knows Guitar Center sucks... So why would you think that this competition would have anything to do with skill or knowledge of scales, or what gear you use, or your tone, or whatever. 

I was looking for a Historic R8 a few years ago and the sales guy said they were not made in the custom shop because they didnt have the logo on the back.  When I told he was wrong he went and got the manger who agreed with him.  When I went to my car and got the Sweetwater catelogue which said they were made in Gibsons Custom Shop they said that was a different guitar.  Then I asked them to play one of those guitars and they said they didnt have one.  I was looking at the wall of gibsons and I could count 10 or 12 R8's, R9's, and R0's. 

So to hell with Guitar Center and to hell with their competitions. 

Lets start a boycott of all things guitar center and maybe we'll see some local shops with passionate employee's who know how to string a guitar, make a return.  Then we can join their blues competition.

Lets move on.

Well said.


I live in the UK so there are no Guitar Center shops here. I was on holiday in Boston last year and popped into one to see what the fuss was all about. Basically a guitar version of walmart or one of these other super store types who don't give a F*&% about you and just want your money.

I am a believer in using local shops and no doubt these guitar superstores are killing the independant ones much like the online retailers are doing. Support your local stores. You get better service and if you use them often enough discounts which will almost be as good as these huge online retailers.

On the plus side these king of the blues competitions seem to be able to bring the blues to the masses which is the only good thing.

  • From: South England
  • Registered: 2009-04-23
  • Posts: 154

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

Danny! wrote:

His chest hair.

....i think i love you.

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

GregP wrote:
Danny! wrote:

His chest hair.

....i think i love you.

LOL - I was ganna say its his voice.  His voice is like a combination of Fergie and Jesus.

Ben

  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

ZampraZ wrote:

Another common thing with jurys is to select people who are famous, or somehow crowd-attracting, while their knowledge of what they are judging is irrelevant. What makes David Hasslehoff such a great jury of talent?

Don't Hassle the Hoff lol

Oh yeah Guitar center is to music what taco bell is to mexican food...just sayin'

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?

54 Reply by Danny! (edited by Danny! 2009-09-26 01:43:55)

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: King of the Blues competition updates...

Hey man, I love Taco Bell, but it's not fair to hold it up to real Mexican food. It's Mexi-American food smile

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan