Wow - just seeing this thread now. So much cool gear and so many great stories too!
I've been playing music since 4th grade at Mantua Elementary in Fairfax (where I played alto sax). Fast forward to Jr. High (in NYS) where I switched to tenor, and HS where I scored A+ on solo classical and fundamentals at the highest difficulty level in the NYS HS competition. At that point, I read music and had no idea how to improvise.
Then on to university, where I found that bass was fun and a better way to get into a rock band. After practicing for months I got a tryout. I lugged my Fender P Bass and Lab Series L4 300W head with 2x15 cab across campus (I wheeled it) to audition for a band. Little did I know they'd already found their bass player, but had invited me because they found out I played sax. Bastards. I got the gig on sax, and learned to improvise. That was scary but boy am I glad I did it. That band had moderate success (to the point where we discussed touring) as did another one later on, but ultimately I graduated and got a job in NYC.
I tried to find a band there but it was hit and miss (mostly miss). After a few years in NYC I moved to Boston, where I knew musicians who were recording in real studios (this is back in the late 80s), and playing awesome shows. After playing in two local bands in Boston and doing some recording, including at the original Q Division studio (look it up - I was star-struck being there), I found my way into a ska band called Steady Earnest. It was a local "supergroup" with members coming from several ska, funk and rock bands. It was a side project for everyone, but when we got together we did short tours, and routinely sold out East Coast venues. Our second gig was a sold-out show at Avalon in Boston (now the House of Blues) opening for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones in front of 2500 people. 😳
Since that band was on-again-off-again, I quickly joined another local ska/rocksteady/reggae band, The Allstonians. We built ourselves up through word of mouth and before long we were doing the same kind of shows as my other band, and I was busy. We visited DC a 2 or 3 times a year, playing at the 9:30 Club and Phantasmagoria in Wheaton.
Both bands put out 3 albums, toured the US/Canada and Europe, and were always on the brink of "making it." Until we weren't. LOL.
Since then, I just play for fun, mostly drums. I'm a semi-talented songwriter, and learned power and barre chords on guitar to facilitate that. As you can imagine I've got lots of stuff in the house. Last count was 11 saxes, 2 basses, 3 guitars, 2 keyboards, and 2 drum kits.
Here are some photos:
L to R:
1924 Wurlitzer (Conn imprint) bass sax
1923 Conn Bb soprano sax
1937 H. N. White King baritone sax
1940 Conn 10M Naked Lady tenor sax
1938 Conn 6M Naked Lady alto sax
Not pictured is a 1923 Conn C-Melody sax - it's a unique sound like an alto but less shrill
My Yamaha Hipgig Al Foster Sr. kit with Paiste Giant Beat HH and Rude cymbals; I'm an intermediate skill level drummer (plays with good feel, but weak on rudiments and related speed/accuracy) and continue improving a little at a time. We play a few shows and record, and I can do that as long as I don't try anything too fancy.
Epiphone acoustic, heavily modified 70s P Bass, and Fender Marauder
Orange Micro Terror with Fender Marauder
Ric 4003 bass (now has black pick guard and truss rod cover, which makes it look super bad-ass
Finally, something I bought really cheap off eBay, thinking I could fix it on my own...
A Farfisa VIP 600 combo organ. Anyone know an electrical engineer with lots of time on their hands?
I've also got several old Conn saxes in pieces until I can re-implement my sax repair bench, a Yamaha electric kit, and an Arturia MicroBrute analog mono synth.
I honestly don't consider myself a gear addict, as I've accumulated this stuff over the last 40 years. I actually laugh at the guys I play with since they're always buying new axes or pedals or amps, endlessly searching for the perfect result. All I know is I have the necessary tools to play and have fun, and I do. I'm thinking I'm the BGO back-up drummer and probably would end up being the bari or bass sax player. We'd probably need to re-purpose a few guitar players.
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