Yeah, season might be a good way to look at it. Unfortunately for me, it was like a season that never ends. I really am happy, if not sometimes overwhelmed, with what I have gearwise, and my new studio is finally almost finished.

The latter has had an effect too. I was not comfortable at all working in the cramped room I've been in for several months. Not being able to play here with a live band has not made me happy. Most of my studio work has consisted of clients and / or bandmates giving me a piece to work on, and then me doing it here alone, or I've been traveling somewhere else with a lot of gear. There is barely enough room in here for a guitarist with a small amp.

I have learned much over the years that I didn't know, and for that I'm grateful. I staretd out in my first working band almost 25 years ago. I was a young kid. I knew nothing of the business. I knew I showed up, played my butt off, and got paid. It seems like I could always play, that was the easy part. I didn't know how much money the band was making, what or if any royalties were paid for doing cover tunes. I knew none of that stuff, as our singer ( who also managed the band ) did all that. I knew very little about studio work. I knew how to turn a recorder on, and play into it. Not much more.

Ya know what ? I was pretty happy. I always had decent keyboards. A CP25 and a Polysix back then. My recording gear was very crude. A two track Technics cassette ( yep two seprate tracks, a couple of old reel to reels, and a little later a 4 track portastudio and a drum machine.

What's surprising is when I listen to my old recordings ( some solo stuff too ), it's surprising how good it sounds knowing that I used that ancient gear. Some of my songs were pretty complex too, but not overbearing. I was into jazz fusion in a big way in those days. Some were just way out there though..lol. I guess the point I lead up to is, I recognize the need to use what I have in my head and my hands a much if not more than the latest gear.

AJ



[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 03-12-2005).]