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Zac Harmon & The Drive - Live - New Release Review

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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live , from Zac Harmon & The Drive and it's super! Opening with soulful, NTRO , Nate Robinson on bass and Gino Iglehart on drums set a solid foundation, with Corey Lacy building on keys and lush guitar work by Zac Harmon and Kingston Livingston really setting the bar. Terrific opener. Blue Pill Thrill has super movement and soulful vocals by Harmon. Lacy on keys works the rhythm with Robinson and Iglehart and Livingston and and Harmon play stinging riffs on guitar really giving this track some kick. Deep blues track, Feet Back On The Ground features Albert King like stinging riffs and super soulful vocals by Harmon. Keeping the music floor low allows Harmon plenty of space to go dynamically from soft to wow quickly adding real emotion to the track. Excellent! Boogie Down is a strong jam with a firm piano base by Lacy giving Harmon plenty of headroom for vocal corralling. Lacy lays in some real tasty keyboar...
CD submissions accepted! Guest writers always welcome!!

I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com

EZ Link to purchase the reviewed album

CLICK ON TITLE BELOW TO GO TO PURCHASE CD/LP/Download !!!!

How Guitars - Ladder Braced Grand Concert 00/Parlor

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John How builds superb vintage style instrument inspired by the old Oscar Schmidt guitars. This one is a ladder braced Grand Concert that is the size of an L-00 Gibson. It has the wonderful woody sound that ladder bracing provides and it excels at blues, rags and bottleneck slide. For this one John How chose premium Curly Koa for the body and Lutz Spruce for the top. It sports a mustache bridge and Curly Maple bindings on the body, neck, and slotted headstock. Model: Ladder Braced Grand Concert (00) Back/Sides Wood: Curly Koa Top Wood: Lutz Spruce 14 3/4" wide 25.4" scale 12 fret dovtail neck 1 13/16" nut 2 5/16" saddle If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Bman's Birthday Report

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Most of you don't know because this is my first birthday writing my report but I have a tradition of going home (to Pennsylvania) to see my parents (now parent) on my mothers birthday which is only a few days before my own. Today is my birthday and in rural Pennsylvania away from the city you visit family and such stuff. One of the things that I have always loved to do is visit some of the small town antique stores as I love old stuff. I'm not really an antique guy... in fact my furnishings are more steel and leather but I have a real fondness for old stuff. Old tools, old pieces of wood and steel, old photos but especially old gear. I came across (or received) 3 really cool things while here in small town USA. First I received a photograph of a childhood friend who died many years ago. I'll tell you why this is so unusual. My friend was black and born in the 19th century. One of his family friends had heard that I was looking for a photo of him and now I have it. It's ...

Tech Talk - ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons Rig Rundown

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If anyone likes guitar gear more than me...it's Billy Gibbons. Here's a rare chance to look at a bunch of Billy's current gear. Elwood Francis who gives us a look at ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons' array of guitars, including the famous fur guitar, and lets us in on how Billy has everything set up for their tour. Write on our Facebook Wall or post your Photos of great blues events! -  Here

Tech Talk - 1960 National 1210 Twin-Tone Amplifier Demo

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The Valco 1210 is a simple 3 tube amp (5Y3, 6V6, 12AX7) with volume and tone controls, 3 inputs, and a pair of Rola 6" x 11" speakers. While about comparable to a Fender Champ in wattage, the Valco built amp has significantly more grit and growl thanks to a Grid leek bias design. The 4 ohm speakers are wired in series which offers a lot more power handling than you'd expect to find in a small amp. Sure, you'll need to mic it for band volumes, but if you're looking for killer small amp tone for guitar or harmonica this on is a perfect choice. “Like” Bman’s Facebook page. I use Facebook to spread the word about my blog (Now with translation in over 50 languages). I will not hit you with 50 posts a day. I will not relay senseless nonsense. I use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on my blog each day. In this way I can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here

Tech Talk - Linda Manzer luthier

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Today I was told that there was a rumor that world renown Canadian luthier Linda Manzer has gone out of business. I am happy to report that she is alive and well and still has a closed waiting list. Selected  Custom Models Pikasso  |  The Bear  |  Endangered Species Model  |  Sitar Guitar  |  Little Manzer  |  All Custom Pikasso This custom instrument was created for Pat Metheny in 1984. Linda and Pat collaborated on the design together. Featured is the original version of The "Wedge" ©™ 1984. VIDEO See/hear Pat Metheny playing the Pikasso Guitar live in concert in Warsaw with Anna Maria Jopek & Friends. Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115! ORIGIN In 1984 Pat Metheny asked me to design and build a guitar with "as many strings as possible." The resulting collaboration was the Pikasso guitar. In 1992 I was asked by the late Scott Chinery to build a strictly acoustic version of Metheny's Pikasso. Thus, ...

Tech Talk - Fender Bandmaster (1965)

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Model/Circuit Number: AB763 Era: Blackface Configuration: Piggyback (reviewed with alternate speaker cabinet) Controls: Black forward facing w/ white labels Knobs: Black skirted w/ chrome center, numbered 1 - 10 Faceplate Front: Normal: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Bass - Vibrato: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Bass, Speed, Intensity - Pilot Lamp Rear: AC Outlet, Ground Sw, Fuse (2A), Power Sw, Standby Sw, Speaker Jack, Ex. Speaker Jack, Vibrato Jack Dimensions: Head: 8'' x 24'' x 9'' Hardware: Head: Chrome Corners, Large Chassis Straps 5 5/8'', Side Bar Clips. Cabinet: 16'' Tilt-Back Legs, Black Strap handle, Thumb screws, Thumb screw receptacles Handle: Black strap handle Feet: Glides Corners: Chrome Corners with Lip Tolex/Tweed: Black Tolex Grill Cloth: black white silver grill cloth Logo: Grill mounted, raised, chrome & black, script with tail Weight: 49.5 lbs. Effects: Tremolo ~Watts: 40 watts Tubes Pre amp: 2...

Tut Taylor Instrument Collection - II

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Ok Ok...I'm a gear head but I just find this stuff really interesting... and the fact that it's Tut Taylors! Tut Taylor (November 20, 1923) is an American bluegrass musician. Taylor played banjo and mandolin as a child, and began playing dobro at age 14, learning to use the instrument with a distinctive flat-picking style. Taylor was a member of The Folkswingers in the 1960s, who released three LPs; he recorded his debut solo effort in 1964. Later in the 1960s, he played with the Dixie Gentlemen and in John Hartford's Aero-Plain band. Taylor became a local Nashville, Tennessee fixture. In 1970, he co-founded the instrument shop GTR there, soon after releasing another solo album. He also co-founded the Old Time Pickin' Parlor, a Nashville venue noted for performances of old-time music, as well as Tut Taylor's General Store. In a March, 1992 interview, Neil Young reported having bought Hank Williams' Martin D-28 Guitar from Tut Taylor. At the Grammy Awa...

Tut Taylor Instrument Collection

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I know a lot of you are musicians and love the technical stuff that I have presented. Tut Taylor as I have posted in the past is possibly the best Resonator (Dobro) player on the planet. He has played on numerous recordings along with his own. We are fortunate that he has made a few videos illustrating his collection. I really dig this! I hope that some of you do as well Enjoy! “Like” Bman’s Facebook page. We use Facebook to spread the word about our blog. We will not hit you with 50 posts a day. We will not relay senseless nonsense. We use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on our blog each day. In this way we can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here

Leo Fender's Telecaster Promo - Documentary

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(DVD) Leo Fender launched his Broadcaster guitar later named the Telecaster in 1950. Little did he realize that his invention would forever change popular music. This 2-DVD set features interviews with some of the world's finest musicians, including Albert Lee, Steve Cropper, James Burton, GE Smith, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck and many others, plus noted Fender experts and historians such as Tom Wheeler, Richard Smith and Mac Yasuda. Filmed in the US and Europe, this in-depth documentary includes previously unavailable footageof the Fender production line in the 1950s, as well as up-to-date factory and custom shop tours in the Corona, CA facility. Disc One = 83 min, Disc Two = 76 min.

Tech Talk - Dynacord MV 15 (1957)

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Difficult to find much more info on this 15 Watts

Tech Talk - Peavey Backstage Plus (1984)

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Solid State about 25 Watts 10" Emenince speaker

Tech Talk - Dynacord Twen II (1974)

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2x6V6 power tubes 17 Watts 12" speaker

Tech Talk - Masco MA-17N PA System (1950)

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PA amps are the hidden gold of amplifiers. Old Marshall PA amps as well as Hiwatt PA amps are the steal of the century. Here we have a Masco PA and we know how I feel about Masco! 17Watts 2x6L6 Power Tubes 2x 10" Jensen speaker

Tech Talk - Fender Bassman 5E6-A (1956)

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Model No: 5E6-A (55-57) Config: Combo Control Panel: Chrome top facing w/ white screened labels, controls numbered 1-12 Conrol Layout: Ground Sw, Fuse (3A), Power Sw, Standby Sw, Pilot Lamp, Presense, Bass, Treb, Vol, Vol, Normal In, Bright In Knobs: Black pointer Cabinet: Narrow panel, closed back w/ 2 ports, 23" x 22½" x 10½" (58.4 x 57.2 x 26.7 cm) Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Tech Talk - Fender Super Amp (6G4) (1960)

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Model No: 6G4 Config: Combo Control Panel: Brown forward facing w/ white screened labels, controls numbered 1-10 Front Conrol Layout: 6G4: Normal: In, In, Bass, Treb, Vol - Bright: In, In, Bass, Treb, Vol, Speed, Intensity - Presense - Pilot Lamp Rear Conrol Layout: 6G4: Ground Sw, Fuse (3A), Power Sw, Standby Sw, Speaker Jack, Vibrato Jack Knobs: Brown round Cabinet: 18" x 24" x 10½" (45.7 x 61 x 26.7 cm) Cab Covering: Pinkish Brown Tolex Cab Hardware: Brown strap handle, 5½" chassis straps, glides Grille: Brown Logo: Grille mounted, flat, chrome & black script "Fender" Weight: 47 lbs (21.3 Kg) Speakers/Load: 2 x 10"/4 ohms (8 ohms each in parallel) Speaker Model: Jensen P10R, Jensen P10Q or Oxford 10K5 Effects: Tremolo Output: 40 Watts Preamp: Normal: 7025 Bright: 7025 Power: 6G4: 2 x 6L6GC Bias: Fixed Bias, nonadjustable Rectifier: GZ34 Phase Inverter: 7025 (long tailed) Other: T...

Tech Talk - Kinder HarpKing 4X10

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70 watts of pure Blues tone 54 pounds 23 ¼" tall 3-12AX7 pre amp tubes 2-KT-88 power tubes 4-10" Eminence speakers Color choices: Red, Purple or Blond new with matching silk-screen on faceplate. All of the HarpKings come with gold sparkle grille cloth

Tech Talk - Brunetti Singleman (2010)

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Specifications: ONE-CHANNEL PREAMP: VOLUME, BASS, MIDDLE, TREBLE, REVERB controls BRIGHT manual switch SMOOTH, FAT TWEED manual switch BOOST manual switch for medium frequencies AMPLIFIER: class A 16W (6V6GT tubes) or class AB 35W (6L6WGC tubes) POWERLIMIT®: FULL, MODERATE, QUIET manual switch which operates on the final stage reducing power to 1/4 and 1/16 REVERB: Accutronics spring, excluded by remote switch EFFECTS LOOP: send return suitable for rack/stomps, could be excluded by manual switch (true bypass) LOUDSPEAKER: 12” cone Celestion V30 (16 OHM) EXTERNAL SPEAKER: rear output, 16 Ohm for add-on speaker TUBES: 2X 12AX7/ECC83 + 2X 6V6GT (autobias) or 2X 6L6WGC (trimmed bias) STRUCTURE: chassis and panels iron/stainless steel laser cut ELECTRONICS: “Red Series” MKP WIMA capacitors, sealed relays, low noise film resistors OVERALL DIMENSIONS: L 465 mm, H 500 mm, D 270 mm - L 18,3”, H 19,7”, D 10,6” WEIGHT: 18 Kg - 39,7 lbs BOX CONTENT: power cable, reverb switch, o...

Tech Talk - Multivox Bass Amp #45

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MODEL # 45 15 WATTS 1 12 INCH SPEAKER TUBES ARE 1 7591 OUTPUT[GE] 1 12AX7 PREAMP [MULTIVOX] 1 6AV6 TREMELOE [MULTIVOX] SPEAKER CODE PA-12-8,2857644 LOUDER THAN A CHAMP CABINET SIZE 19 INCHES TALL, 19 INCHES WIDE,8.5 INCHES DEPTH

Tech Talk -Steelphon Mustang (Mid 60's)

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Steelphon Mustang (mid 60's) Made in Italy 10-15 Watts 4x8" speaker

Tech Talk - Sonny Jr. 410 (2006)

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# Raw explosive power, punch and volume without feedback # Bench tested at 45 Watts # 55 lbs.; 22.5W x 23H x 9.5D # Unique speaker blend for a wall of tone–4x 10″ # Stock gritty, nasty tone–no need for tube subs # Same pure tone at all volume levels # Crystal mic hot input # Unique paper-in-oil capacitors # Bias pot for perfect idling of the power tubes # Gorgeous seven-layer tint with clear coat tweed with sturdy, thick leather handle # Available with 120V / 240V power transformer at no extra charge