Conference napalm::guitar

    Two of them are John Jorgenson and Jerry Donahue (forget the third).
    
    Jorgenson was in the Desert Rose Band (are they still around?) which
    was ex-Byrds/Burritos/Manassas member Chris Hillman's very successful
    LA country-rock outfit.
    
    Donahue is an American who went to England to get famous playing with
    folks like Fairport Convention.  Since returning to the US in the 80s,
    he became an in-demand country session player.  He even has the honor
    of *two* Fender Tele models with his name on them.
    
    Donahue has two solo albums out on idie labels, one is called
    "Telecasting".
    
    						Jim Bryant
    
    BTW I called up the tape police and you will be getting arrested for
    copying that CD.

    Will Ray is the third. He is resonsible for most of the really country
    licks on the recording. Hot stuff. I think he also uses a hipshot 
    B-bender (or was that jorgenson?). Both he and jorgenson play G&L
    teles. 
    
    Jerry Donahue plays a Fender tele with a 5 position switch. Supposed
    to give him some strat-like tones. The mellow sounding stuff on the
    recording is Jerry. JD spends almost as much time bending strings
    above the nut as below. Try this sometime. Its like putting your
    fingers in a cheese slicer.
    
    Jerry also has a recording out called "Neck of the wood". Got some
    great stuff like Orange Blossom special, Ghost riders etc.
    
    Will Ray also appears on "Wiley and the wild west show". For country
    fans only. I think he also may have produced it.

The Hellecasters currently do a column in Guitar Player magazine.

If anyone wants to see what John Jorgenson looks like, he's the guitar
player in the house band at the Green Lantern on the TV show "Delta".

I also once saw Jorgenson on Austin City Limits playing guitar for
Michael Nesmith (the ex-Monkee).

   > BTW I called up the tape police and you will be getting arrested for
   > copying that CD.
    
    Good, I need a new gig...........can I jam in jail?
    
    N. Karcerated
    

    I recall seeing their picture & an article in a Peavey magazine
    or ad recently endorsing the stuff. I'd never heard them nor heard of
    them (as a group).
    
    Paul

    When I was in Daddy's in Shrewsbury the other day, they were playing
    the Hellecasters disc. G&L is having a promotional deal. Buy a G&L
    guitar, and get the Helecasters disc free.  Whoopee !!
    
    The music was great ! They cover one tune that Roy Buchanan used
    to do years ago. It's probably not a Roy original. Great tune,
    though !
    
    I may pick up the disc, but I doubt I'll be buying a G&L any time
    soon. 
    
    Mark

    Yeah, I also heard them blasting this in Daddy's Shrew.  Liked it
    enough to drop some hints and got it fer me barfday.  What a SMOKIN
    CD!  Kinda like Danny Gatton meets Joe Satch (and grows four more hands
    to boot).  Nice tunes as well, not just jaw dropping licks.  You'll
    find yourself humming most of these.  My wife (who conveniently decides
    to go out whenever I put some Danny Gatton on) loved it.
    
    Matchless Amps and their founder Mark Sampson get credited in the liner
    notes, so I guess this is a good sample of what these amps can do.
    
    I gotta get me a B-bender bass!
    
    /george_fullatone

    You guys like it too!  My fav cut is the first tune on the CD.....
    
    What chops! What tone!
    
    8^)

    The Hellecasters have been seeing regular action on my home CD player.
    Lately whenever I put it on, my 16-month old daughter runs drops what
    she's doing, runs over to me with her arms out and says "dance".
    
    The Helle's make great hip-shakin music.

    Finally broke down and bought the Hellecasters disk. These guys can
    really cook on them thar tele's !! I especially like the Roy Buchanan
    cover "Sweet dreams".
    
    Mark

    Anyone else still playing this one heavily?  It seems to have a lot of
    staying power and is still in main rotation at my house.  This is an amazing
    disc, no filler, every cut is a jem.  It satisfies at many levels, from
    amazing guitar chopsmanship to just plain good listening music.  Currently
    my vote for guitar album of the year (whatever that means :-)
    
    If you read this conference and haven't checked this one out yet, do it!
    Don't be scared off by the "twang factor".  You'll be glad you did.
    
    /rick

    
    The Hellecasters' disc is still in the first slot of my CD rack.  It is
    still getting the lion's share of my listening time.  After listening
    to it for awhile I've developed different favorite cuts: first it was
    the Hellecaster Stomp, then it was Sweet Dreams, now it's Five Minutes
    To Spare (or something like that).  Great tunes all, I get out of
    breath just listening to their version of Orange Blossom Special,
    Yikes!
    
    I think this will be one of those albums that I never outgrow, good
    (ah, make that great) guitar playing is always in vogue as far as 
    I'm concerned.
    
    Al_who_loves_that_tele_from_Hell_sound

    
    Of all the useful (not to mention the merely fascinating) information 
    I've gotten from this notesfile, the recommendation for this CD is
    near the top of the list.
    
    Tone is roolin' and licks is righteous (did I get that right?).
    
    Lots of great cuts but I have to quibble about 'Orange Blossom Special'
    -- it does sort of grow on you but I think someone is going to have to
    pay a terrible price for that in some future life. 
    
    No doubt in my mind that dead fiddle players all over this country are
    rolling in their respective graves whenever that cut gets played.
    
    JP

    I know what you mean about 'Orange Blossom Special'.  It's the only
    tune on the album that just seems like shredding for shredding sake.
    Still, it's cool to hear their interstellar overdrive take on it.
    
    The cut that's been with me lately is "Passion".  It's a Gipsy Kings
    tune (their spelling), a slow burner, and the liner notes describe it
    as "Beck sitting in with the Gipsy Kings".  To me it sounds more like
    a new Satch single.  In fact, it sounds like a better Satch single than
    the ones Satch has been releasing lately.
    
    /rick

    "Hey Steve, Thanks for starting this note and recommending the
    Hellecasters' CD!"
    
    you're welcome ladies and gentlemen!
    
    sdawg

    re: -1
    
    well, did ya like it?
    
    I listened to mine again on the way home yesterday......it's still one
    omf my fav's....killer lix!
    
    stevo

    I've been listening to it in the car ... Dreams and Orange Blossom
    Special are my faves, especially OBS. I hope we get to hear more
    of this type of self-indulgent shred-twang. It wakes me up in the 
    morning!
    
    - Dave

        I just  picked  it  up the way home tonight - it's been on auto
        repeat ever since and I'll be making a tape for in-car use.
        
        Andy
        

    I don't know if these guys tour, but if they come to town I'm there.
    Keep your eyes open and post gigs here.
    
    /rick

The Hellcasters are making an appearance at Manny's Music in New York
City sometime soon (the 15th perhaps?).  I was in NYC last weekend and
saw an add in the Times.

Wish I could get down there....

    This is good.  They do tour.  They are on the East Coast.
    Yes, this is good.

    
    Anyone in 'Da Springs ever see this disc for sale? I've asked
    at the various chains in town. Over the din of rap "music" blaring,
    the teenager behind the counter usually gives me a blank stare
    and points me toward the Metallica section.......
    
    DAP
    

    I saw in the NY Times they're playing with Danny Gatton in NYC
    coming up (not sure the date, might have been at the Bottom Line)
    
    Dave
    

    
    Could somebody enter the record comp. + no. on this CD???
    
    Does it have a title, or is it just 'The Hellecasters'???
    
    Thanks a lot
    
    Poul
    

   >> Does it have a title, or is it just 'The Hellecasters'???
    
    
    It's title is 'The Hellecasters'...there's a cartoon type picture on
    the front (I think...from memory).  It has the look of an old 1960's
    horror movie ad.  There's a girl screaming in horror...and the caption
    goes something like: "They went into the studio, but took their guitars
    to Hell"....
    
    steve

    I thought it was "Return of the Hellecasters"
    
    ????

        Steve, isn't  it  "The return of the Hellecasters" or something
        like that?   I  remember  when  I  found the CD in Lechmere the
        title suggested (to me, at least!  :*) that it was a follow-up.
        
        Anyway, the pic on the front as Steve rightly said has a 40/50s
        type photograph of a horror-struck  woman  and  a  doorway with
        some strats standing vertically...
        
        Andy
        

    The label is Pacific Arts.  Don't have it so can't give you the
    number...
    
    						Brian

    re .28
    
    Those aren't Strats in the doorway, they're Teles!  Such blasphemy :-)
    
    The title is indeed "The Return of the Hellecasters" although its
    they're first album.  After you read the liner notes, you'll see
    this is right in line with their general tongue-in-cheek attitude.

>    Those aren't Strats in the doorway, they're Teles!  Such blasphemy :-)
 
        Picky, picky  -  ok,  some  of these noisy electric thingies that
        makes people grow  their  hair long and wear funny clothes when
        they play them :*)
        
        Andy
        
        PS.  I had  to  go back and re-read the note - couldn't believe
        my brain had thought "Tele" but the paws had typed "Strat"!
        

    >>I thought it was "Return of the Hellecasters"
    
    could be, my memory is in a sad state of, uh, er, what was I saying?
    
    Just get the CD with the picture I described....
    
    Steve

    
    OK, can anyone answer this question? Who is the third mystery
    Hellecaster that appears in the G&L Ads? Jerry Donahue is a true blue
    Fender fan and won't endorse G&L. John Jorgenson and Will Ray do
    however, and appear with a third fellow (I think his name is Ross)
    in a G&L ad billed as the Hellecasters. 
    
    Can anyone identify this mystery Hellecaster??

    You probably know this already, but someone named Jeff Ross plays
    fourth guitar on a couple of tracks; is that who you mean?  Don't
    know more about him; I think that's him playing the maple board Strat
    in the liner photos.
    
    Hellecasters just won best overall guitar album in the GP readers poll.
    A pretty significant accomplishment for a small label release by
    relatively unknown players who rarely tour and do country flavored
    instrumentals.
    
    More Helle news:  the new album is in the works, titled "Introducing
    the Hellecasters".  They also plan to tour some major cities and a
    possible project of demented Christmas covers, Helle style, was mentioned.
    
    /rick

    Is the Hellecasters better than Danny Gatton's Dueces album? I bought
    that one and found it pretty boring and, yes, self-indulgent. Were it
    not for that experience I run out and buy this one.

    DOes anyone working at the Spit Brook facility have a copy of this
    album that they'd be willing to lend me for a day or so?

    I personally find the Hellecasters much more enjoyable than any of
    Danny Gattons albums, including the latest.  Whereas Danny does indeed
    like to show off here and there, I never get that impression from the
    Helles.  Not that they don't blaze (they do), but everything they do
    seems for the music.
    
    Hey, how many times do we hafta tell youz guyz!!!  Get it.  Trust me.
    
    /rick

    >Hey, how many times do we hafta tell youz guyz!!!  Get it.  Trust me.
    
    Didn't you also say this about Sir Lord Baltimore?
    
    

    Watch out, or I'll sick the Dawg on ya

    Didn't you say that about "Trout Mask Replica", Brian?

    Re: .40
    
    I didn't say to trust me!  I just said go listen to it  8^)
    
    

    > Hey, how many times do we hafta tell youz guyz!!!  Get it.  Trust me.
    
    Only so much trust I can put into a card-carrying blueser.
    
    ;-)

    Come to think of it Dave, *you* actually might not like it.  They do
    slow down in a couple of spots.
    
    :-)

    
    	My girlfriend went to buy it over the weekend at Newbury Comics
    	in Salem.  Never heard of it.  Ain't even in their books of bands
    	that start with Hell.
    
    	

>    Come to think of it Dave, *you* actually might not like it.  They do
>    slow down in a couple of spots.
    
    Wow, so... like... they must have great "expression" huh?
    
    	db

    Has anyone figured out what they're saying during the talk-box portion
    of "Peter Gunn"?  It sounds like actual words but I can't make em out.
    

    Re: .45
    
    Everyone knows that to get "expression" you need an expression pedal. 
    That's why all those organ players sound so good....
    
    							Jim Dunlop

    I got this for Christmas, and now I can't get those Tele licks out of
    my head.  Somebody help!
    
    Dave

    Buy a Tele!
    
    That'll cure ya!
    
    
    
    	Then again...   maybe not.
    
    		;^)
    
    			Fred

>    Buy a Tele!
    
    Of course - I intend to.  And a Strat, and an ES-335, and a LP, and...
    
    Then again, maybe I should learn to play guitar first.  Then again,
    maybe I should cure my BTS first.  Then again...
    
    Dave

    Just heard...
    
    The Hellecasters in Atlanta Ga, at the Variety Play House, March 24th.
    
    later,
    RJ

    
    
      I just got that CD last weekend.  It is great.  Are there any 
    northeast dates?
    
      rgds
    
     -Rick.
    

    Caught them on the tube (TNN) last night.  Today is the day, they are
    also doing a clinic tomorrow at the local G&L shop, problem is it's at
    7:00 and I have to play out of town.  Will update you on the show and
    find out if there are any other dates.
    
    Later,
    
    RJ

    Huh? I'll be see em tonight at the Variety in Atlanta.
    
    Where are they doing the workshop???? I could stand to learn a trick or
    two.
    
    

Wow! What an evening! 

The venue was the Variety in Little Five Points, Atlanta in what was at one
time a small local movie theater. Great sound system.

The Hellecasters started off with what at first I thought sounded like a
re-vamp of some big band tune. Three monster guitarists knocking out this
tune in complete lock-step.  It sounded kinda familiar but I couldn't place
it. John Jorgensen told me after the show it was called "Inspector Gadget".
I mentioned it to my spouse this AM, and she starts humming this tune.
I said "That's it!"  My kids when they were a bit smaller were big time
fans of the Inspector Gadget cartoon show. This was the theme song.

The show consisted primarily of stuff from "The return of the Hellecasters".
In fact they did virtually all of it. There were a couple of new tunes,
(one yet untitled, so called "the other new tune). It was incredible to
the tunes off their CD played some much more intensely in a live setting.
It's difficult to identify a high point since each tune featured dazzling
guitar work by one or all of the band. Highlander boogie, Sweet dreams,
Return to terra firma, Hellecaster theme, Hellecaster boogie, Donahue featured
on the Claw, Passion (by the Gypsy Kings). Arrangements faithful to the CD 
except Orange Blossom near the end of the set where everyone stretched out 
quite a bit.

They came out and did one encore. An Allman Bros. tune, I guess a tribute
to Ga. They seemed to nail that AB sound.

These three guys had three completely different guitar styles. But they
fit together so well and complement each other. 

Will Ray, the Country Picker of the group, (G&L ASAT) with B-bender, and
ring slides on both right & left hands. John Jorgensen, the "Jeff Beck"
of the band, played some licks live that I figured could only be done in
the studio. John seemed to be the most versatile and able to easily move
from style to style. An Jerry Donahue more laid back, but a master of string 
bending on both sides of the nut.

John was clearly the personality of the group, and did the intros with
personality and wit.

Rhythm section consisted of a bass player formerly from Rufus, & 3DogNight.
Drummer a buddy of Jorgensens from Desert Rose Band and formerly Rick Nelson, 
and Keyboard player who turned Mike Nesmith onto these guys (Nesmith owns 
their record label).

They arrived in Atlanta after sets in Austin & Nashville. They were joking
about how serious everyone had been there. The crowd was all looking at
their amp settings and pedals. They were glad to be in Atlanta where folks
wanted to have a good time. And a good time it was. (BTW- Chet Atkins came
to see them in Nashville)

After the show all three hung around the lobby, shamelessly flogging T shirts
and CDs. They were quite friendly and I got a chance to chat with Jerry
Donahue and John Jorgenson. Jorgensen has a varied musical background, 
including clarinet, piano when he was young. He wanted to play guitar but
his folks didn't want him starting another instrument. They had a ukelele
around the house but john said that Hendrix on a uke didn't cut it. Eventually
he got a guitar and he did the rock thing, moved on to funk (Bootsy Collins
style) then on to bluegrass & mandolin, to Django, Desert Rose, & now
Hellecasters. He owns a Macaferri, which was quite likely actually owned
by Django. It came from a Frenchman who traded it for a camera. Upon
investigation, it turns out this fellow was good friends with Django in
his later years. He claimed that Django had given him the guitar to pay off
a debt (something that sounds characteristic of Django). So no one knows
for sure but it is likely. John also has a solo album featuring Macaferri
stuff and Benny Goodman style Clarinet.

Jerry got the idea for his above nut bends from a Banjo player, and it
really intrigued him so he really worked at it. He said he was doing this
stuff as far back as his Fairport days. He uses 9-42 strings with an uncut
G string. All three were friends and gigged in the LA area with various
bands and did the "Barn Dance" frequently. The decided to get together and
did a recording mostly as a one off with no real intention of taking it
any further. They got a good response and lots of encouragement and as
other commitments (Desert Rose, Jerry touring in Europe) let up they took
it further.  I've been looking for a copy of Jerry's first solo CD
Telecasting but found it impossible to find. I asked Jerry if it was still
in print. Jerry was kind enough to take the time to get one for me from back 
stage.

They are releasing a video (John said, After all, this is the 90s). Forgot
which tune, might have been Highlander boogie.

See these guys if you get the chance. 

The best line of the evening came from the guitarist for the warmup band.
He's standin' up there with a telecaster lookin' like a sacrificial lamb
and he sez, 

	"Can you believe I had the balls to play a telecaster tonight?"



BTW- April issue of Country Guitar has a big feature on the Hellecasters
  and includes transcription for Orange blossom special as well as a lesson
  by J. Jorgensen.

    The workshop will be today at 7:00pm Atlanta Music Brokers
    10922 Alpharetta Hwy, Roswell, GA, next to Sams Warehouse.  The flyer
    says the entire band will be there to play and answer questions for a
    couple of hours.  There will be a $5.00 cover charge.  Space will be
    limited, (it's not a large store).
    
    I couldn't have written a better trip report.  The show was GREAT.
    
    Later,
    RJ
    
    

    Jerry told me that the response for the clinic has been so great that
    instead of having one, they will shorten it up and hold two.
    
    jim

    Great report, thanks.  I had never heard of any of these guys before I
    got their first CD, but now I notice Jorgenson plays on Mary-Chapin
    Carpenter's latest (and he is very versatile), and Donahue has an
    instructional video out.  Gotta get their second...
    
    Dave

    Hello? Uncut G? Whazat? My mind is enquiring. --Ron

    I guess when he mounts a new G string, he winds the all the excess
    string around the <insert proper technical term for the cylindrical
    post on the tuning key here>. Makes it easier to bend above the nut.

    STOP IT YOU GUYS!  I'm jealous as hell!!!
    

    re: <technical term for the cylindrical post on the tuning key>
    
    Capstan?

    I stopped at this store for lunch and they were cleaning it out to make
    room for this workshop.  I hope they make some money off this, they are
    moveing out all the amps (putting them in a Ryder), putting all the
    guitars in the back.  It seems like alot of work for a 2 hour workshop.
    
    Jim, if you are located at the ALF site, the store is just down hwy 9
    about 3 miles, and if you go to the clinic please give another report.
    Thanks,
    
    Later
    RJ

    The Hellecasters latest disc is called "Escape From Hollywood".  A
    quick glance at the CD reveals they do "Inspector Gadget" on it.
    Look for my review after the holidays (I hope)
    
    /rick

    Believe it or not, I *was* a good boy last year, so Santa rewarded me
    with a fresh, shiny copy of "Escape From Hollywood".
    
    The album opens up with mysterious Coral Sitar licks over ominous
    'Marlboro man in the Sahara' chords, and then BANG! it's off to the
    Matchless rodeo.  Inspector Gadget is next; as J.J. puts it "suppose Les
    Paul had a jam session with Charlie Christian and Django?".  Groovy.
    
    The Helles have developed their own signature 3-part guitar harmony style
    and it's lush sound is in full force.  For the most part, the tunes aren't
    as consistently memorable this time, although several will still stubbornly
    stick in your brain for days.  Also, there are times on this record when
    the Helles sound to me like they're just plain showing off.  To me, the
    first disc has an almost Zen like perfection, not a wasted note or moment;
    this time, there seem to be occasional lapses of pure gratuitous flash.
    Perhaps they felt the pressure of having to outdo themselves.
    
    But all in all, these are minor nits.  The Helles still pack as much skill,
    wit and pure musical pleasure into a disc as anyone.  If you don't have
    it yet, buy the first.  If you do, this one is a worthy second fiddle.
    
    /rick

    
    	I gave their self-titled album a spin yesterday on the way home
    	and forgot how good it is.  I LOVE "Orange Blossom Special", and
    	didn't know until reading some of these entries that it's not
    	their own song.  Who did the original?
    
    	How many releases do they have now?  Iknow there are at least 2,
    	even though I haven't picked up the 2nd one yet.
    

re: .66
    
>	I LOVE "Orange Blossom Special", and
>    	didn't know until reading some of these entries that it's not
>    	their own song.  Who did the original?
    
These kids nowadays! :-) :-) :-)

"Orange Blossom Special" is so ancient that I have no idea who did it
first (Paul Beck, do you know?).  It's an old bluegrass fiddlers' 
tour-de-force.  Personally, I could live my life quite happily if I never
heard it again.  In the bluegrass world, it's sort of like "Color My World"
or "Stairway to Heaven".  It's been played so many millions of times that
musicians are sick of it.

-Hal (feeling curmudgeonly today)

    
    	[Yeah, I know I showed my youth again ... sorry!!]
    
    	Thanks!!
    
    	Sounds like it'd be a great song for Bela Fleck to do, or maybe
    	Charlie Daniels [if he hasn't already].
    

re: .68
    
>    	Sounds like it'd be a great song for Bela Fleck to do, or maybe
>    	Charlie Daniels [if he hasn't already].
    
I'd be very surprised if Charlie Daniels hasn't at least done it in
live performances.  He really isn't a very good fiddle player, though.
Now before all you Charlie Daniels fans jump all over me, I actually
like (or at least used to like) a lot of his music, at least the early
stuff before he decided to cash in on the flag-waving, foreigner-hating,
America-is-macho craze.  He just isn't a very good fiddle player.

-Hal (with asbestos suit ready)

    but... but... he beat the devil!?
    

    Charlie Daniels covered "Orange Blossom Special" about 20 years
    ago. The song was old long before CDB covered it. The song is
    used to showcase fiddle players. Tons of country/bluegrass bands
    play it. It's a great tune, but it has been done to death. 

re: .70

>    but... but... he beat the devil!?
    
Hey, with an impartial judge the devil would have won. :-)

-Hal

    
    	RE: a couple
    
    	And I quote ... "the devil bowed his head 'coz he knew that he'd
    	been beat ...".
    
    	If someone admitting his/her own defeat isn't good enough then I
    	don't know what is.
    
    	8^)
    
    	RE: OBS
    
    	Now remember, people, I heard this song for the 2nd time yester-
    	day [well, I listened to it 3 or 4 times in a row], so it's not
    	old to me yet.  I've got at least 5-10 years of listening to it
    	before it's achieved the "oldness" stature that it's reached with
    	most of you!!
    

    > "Orange Blossom Special" is so ancient that I have no idea who did it
    > first (Paul Beck, do you know?).  It's an old bluegrass fiddlers'
    > tour-de-force.  Personally, I could live my life quite happily if I never
    > heard it again. 
    
    Agreed! Tho Mark O'Connor's version that segues into the Flintstones
    Theme is kind of amusing.
    
    Original copyright was 1938, Ervin T. Sprouse. (Yes, I did have to check
    the Fiddler's Fake Book for that...) 
    
    Tom

    Re. OBS
    
    Strange, but my favorite versions of that song are usually done by
    other instruments than the fiddle (Carl Jackson on banjo, Buddy Emmons
    on pedal steel, etc.) although one version draws a chuckle (Johnny
    Gimble on fiddle and Charlie McCoy on harmonica - Gimble leads and
    McCoy follows his licks, including a *sour* "I've Been working On The
    Rail-Road"..... ;^)
    
    "Color My World"?  Hell, no - it's "Light My Fire" which is great for
    the organist but BORING for the rest of the group....!
    
    							--Eric--

    
    I guess I'm about the only one around here who didn't care for the 
    Hellecasters.  I had the first CD (with the 60's look cover) and I 
    never made it all the way through the CD without being bored to 
    death. There's no argument that these guys are superb players, and 
    I think that's the problem; they try to drive it home on every cut
    with technique up the wazoo.  What's missing to me is the sense of 
    emotion or genuine feeling on the CD.  It all seems to be for blazing
    licks and sheer speed/technique.  I'm not saying that emotion and speed
    can't coexist, they most certainly can, I just don't feel it from this
    CD.  Very precise, and very cold.  
    
     Jmo, Larry

    I have both Hellecaster discs. I've only listened to the second
    disk (Escape From Hollywood) a couple times and it really didn't
    grab me.  I like the first disc a lot more, especially Peter Gun
    and the Roy Buchanan tune "In Dreams". 
    
    Realisitically, "The Return of the Helecasters" disc is a fun 
    indulgence but it's not my favorite disc by a long shot, and it's
    not the kind of music I like best, or aspire to playing. Lately, 
    the discs I listen to the most are from John Hiatt, and Sonny Landreth. 
    If you haven't listened to any of this stuff I would suggest you check 
    out the following discs: (Number of asterisks indicates my approval 
    rating).
    
    
    	John Hiatt:  	Bring the Family *****
    			Slow Turning     **********
    			Stolen Moments   *****
    			Perfectly Good Guitar ***                    		
    			Comes alive at Budakon *****
    
    	Sonny Landreth	Outward Bound    **********
    			South Of I10	 *****  (and growing)
    
    
    	It's no coincidence that "Slow Turning" features Sonny Landreth
    	on some of the best slide playing I've ever heard. The "Outward
    	bound" disc is absolutely amazing. It combines Blazing speed,
    	incredible compositions, one-of-a-kind guitar licks, with a
    	subliminal Cajun feel. Although Sonny has his roots in Cajun 
    	blues, Outward Bound has very little in the way of Blues Content. 
        It's got a very modern feel to it. The tune "New Landlord" is the
    	type of tune that merits' national attention and airplay, but it
    	will never get it. It's just too good, and too thought-provoking
    	for the average listener.
    
	This has been a public-service announcement.
	Now back to our regularly scheduled program. 
    
        Mark
    	

    One other note about the Hellecaster.  Although the discs are not my 
    favorite, the tone on virtually every cut is second to none. This is 
    attributable to 3 things: 
    
    The main thing is their use of "Matchless" amplifiers. The Hellecasters 
    are among the biggest endorsers of Matchless. These amps were designed 
    around the legendary Vox AC30-TB (class-A) circuit designs. They have 
    made several improvements to the original design to make the amp bullet-
    proof.  To me, it's one of the few non-vintage amps that really makes
    my heart pound. 
    
    The second thing that adds to the tone is the use of G&L guitars by
    2 of the 3 Hellecasters. I believe they use mostly ASAT Telecaster
    style guitars (except for Jerry Donahue. he uses his signature Fender).
    
    The third thing that brings it on home is their massive recording
    experience. All three of these guys have practically lived their lives
    in recording studios and they know all the tricks and standard industry
    practices better than most musicians you'll find. I believe the
    Hellecaster projects are the outlet they use to showcase their talents
    and know-how. Most of the work they do is on other people's discs where
    they have limited artistc license.
    
    Mark (I'll shut up now!)
    

    Jerry Donahue records and plays live direct through some sort of custom
    solid state direct-box preamp thingy; last I heard, someone was
    actually going to start selling these to the public too.
    
    To me, listening to the Helles is akin to a wild ride at the amusement
    park.  The feeling is one of fun and exhuberance.  I don't look for a
    lot of "emotion" on these discs, and that's (in my best Stuart Smalley
    voice)... okay.  It's just great pick'in.
    
    Larry, as I recall you didn't care for Duke Levine's latest either.
    I'd classify that one as a much more emotional and less chops-heavy
    effort than the Hellecasters.  Maybe you just don't like Teles :-)
    
    /rick

    Larry, didn't you once own a Fernandez Tele copy at one time? I
    seem to recall you advertizing one for sale at one time. 
    
    Mark

    
     No, actually I do like teles.  In fact, I see an Asat in my future
    at some point.  The Hellecasters are kind of like being subjected to
    a rapid fire guitar-note machine gun.  After several tunes, they all
    start seeming the same to me.  Those guys can sure play though ! 
    
     Duke needs a better band imo.
    
      L

    
    re: Mark, Minister of vintage guitars,
    
     Yes, I did have a Fernandes Tele copy. It was pretty decent too, but
    I didn't find myself playing it all that much.  
    
      L

    RE:  .76
    
    Yo Larry, I'll give you $5.00 for that CD!
    
    
    
    	Fred (a Hellecasters fan)

    
    Too late, someone else scoffed it up. 
    
      Lv

    Fred,
    
    	It probably wouldn't be worth your' while to drive to Sutton
    Mass to get the disk from larry anyways.
    
    	Minister of Vintage Guitars (I like it!)
 

   Heh, heh...  Guess who scoffed it?  And Larry was nice enough to pick up
   the postage from Sutton, MA. to Colorado.  (Don't worry Larry, I won't let
   word get out...  :-))

   -- Sam

    
    	I'm with Rick on this, and I do feel that fun and exhuberance
    	and, to me, craziness are all very emotional things.  They
    	literally crack me up so they're definitely tugging at my
    	emotions.
    
    	Larry, you may want to check out the latest Carlton and Rit
    	CD - great band and definitely not chops for chops' sake.
    
    	Or, if you're feeling adventurous, Tribal Tech with Scott
    	Henderson on guitar.
    
    	Tom
    
    
    	

    I've made no secret in this notesfile that I consider the Helles discs
    (and Duke's disc for that matter) some of the best CD dollars I've ever
    spent.  I still value and enjoy these very much.  I've also had a chance
    to play next to Larry (hey dude, remember Sweatjam!) and know firsthand
    that he's an extremely good and tasteful player.  So his opinion on
    matters guitaristic carries a certain amount of weight with me.  So I'm
    forced to conclude that reasonable people can disagree, nobody's right
    or wrong, and not everyone is going to necessarily enjoy these as much
    as I do.  Vive le difference.
    

    
    Yeah, it really comes down strictly to taste.  Like I said, I don't 
    dispute the fact that the Helles play great, and I did enjoy listening
    to the CD to see what they were all about, but that was enough for me.
    
     I tend to like off the wall chord stuff and somewhat less in-your-face
    type of music.  My favorite all time guitar player is Howard Roberts,
    to me he was the quintessential player.  Great tasteful licks, wicked 
    cool chord comping, innovative.  Too bad that 80% of his recorded
    albums are unavailable.  They would tend to have a dated sound today
    because of the keyboards used etc, but the dude could burn.  He had an
    album called Jaunty Jolly on which he played a tune called Sing No
    Blues.  To this day, this is one of my favorite tunes. 
    
     Btw, thanks for the kind words Rick !
    
    For those diehard Helle fans, I've included this (it may already be in 
    here somewhere):
    
    [Extracted from the Internet]
    
JERRY DONAHUE TELECASTER WIRING
===============================
According to the Fender schematic for the U.S. Jerry Donahue model,
this is how the pickups are connected to achieve a "Strat-like" sound
(when the 5-position switch is in position #4 or second from Bridge-end).
Note that the two pickups are wired out of phase.
        
        
                 + _________________   .01 uf/100 V
           --------|  Neck Pickup  |------||-------|
           |       -----------------               |
           |                                       \
           |                                       / 6.2k
        Ground                                     \
           |                                       /
           |                                       |
           |       _________________ +    6.2k     |
           --------| Bridge Pickup |-----/\/\/\------> Volume
                   -----------------



I tried this configuration last night.  I put a Seymor Duncan strat pickup in 
the neck position and wired the  middle position of my Tele switch to make
it happen ( since I considered the middle position purty useless any way ).

It sounds good to my ears and has a much more useful tone; not vintage strat
but it gets in the general vicinity.

with this configuration will do a pretty good job. Besides, the sound
is nice in its own right. It's basically the sound heard in "King Arthur's
Dream" on the first Hellecasters CD. It's interesting to compare it to the
same song on JD's album "Telecasting", where I'm 99% sure he used a Strat.

    btw, re ASAT Teles, I recently sold an ASAT Special (to pay some bills,
    ugh :-( and regretted it almost immediately.  This is the model that
    Will Ray and John Jorgenson use; the strings don't go through the body
    like on a normal Tele and the pickups are large, almost soapbar style
    jobs.  A really sweet guitar with a very fast neck, tons of twang and
    plenty of kick.
    
    /rick

   I'm currently listening to my copy of "Return of the ..." (thanks Larry!
   I like it!) and so far my favorite cut is #3, "Back on Terra Firma".  Wow.
   It is somewhat overly produced sounding, but I don't really find it 
   "soulless".  There's emotion and feeling there, but not in the class of a
   Santana, or someone like that.  It does sound a bit like studio musicians
   "doing their thing", and looking through the liner notes that is somewhat
   confirmed.  Still not bad for a bunch of guys on Teles.  :-)

   -- Sam (a Strat man)

    
    Cool, glad to hear it arrived okay.  Welcome to Twangville Usa.
    
     Lv

    Rick,
    
    	That's 2 awesome guitars you've sold recently (PRS & G&L).
    You're overdue buddy!
    
    I'm curious?? Did you sell them because they don't have real
    names, just letters?
    
        Mark....Real Guitars don't have letters, they have full names 
    	%^)~

    Naw, just a case of tumeni guitars and notenuff money