Pribek

I got a tube dilemma right now. My amp, Fender Hot Rod DeVille 4X10, uses two 6L6s as the power tubes. Last night, during the first set, I was experiencing a lack of power and the clean sound was overdiving. After the set, I pulled the amp off the stand so I could look at the back of it which, involves a sort of major hassle in a tight space like it is at the Pub. One of the tubes was glowing purple; not good. I just kind of wiggled it a little and then, it started glowing orange; good. The problem re-occurred a couple of times but, not as bad as during the first set.

This morning, I took the back panel and fired up the amp, let it warm up good and the tube that was glowing purple before looked fine, the other tube wasn’t glowing at all; hmmmm….so, I wiggled that one around and it started working fine. The first one may have been glowing purple because the other one was loose, maybe. I played at different volumes for an hour or so then, put the amp on stand-by and, the second tube stopped glowing again…wiggled it and it’s back on. The whole thing could be that it’s just a loose tube but, my gut says no. Anyway, I have to make the decision to run up to Springfield to grab a set of 6L6s and, I need to do it in the next hour or so.

Speaking of Springfield, there is some interesting guitar history associated with the town. I’m not an authority by any means but, the thing is, when I talk to people who have been around the area for a long time, I get bits and pieces.

I found an interesting song on YouTube a while back by Thumbs Carllile called “Springfield Guitar Social”. I don’t know much about the record but, I do know that all of the guys he mentions on it like, Grady Martin, Jimmy Bryant, Billy Byrd, Speedy West, Hank Garland and Thumbs himself made regular appearances on the Ozarks Jubilee TV show that emanated from Springfield in 50’s and early 60s. A couple of others, Les Paul and Chet Atkins, had regular jobs on the radio at KWTO in Springfield before the Jubilee ever came along.

It’s a fun record, check it out.

As always, when nobody is looking, press pause on the music player located in the side bar before playing the YouTube.

Now, if you don’t know about Thumbs Carllile, here’s a video that demonstrates his technique of playing the guitar in his lap. The description at YT said this was Thumbs warming up on “Cotton Eyed Joe”. He goes in to some chord subs at the end that are real neat. It will give you a general idea.

A phenomenal player. One guy who raved a lot about Thumbs was Danny Gatton. At one point, Danny and Thumbs were in Roger Miller’s band at the same time. That’s a lot of guitar for one room. By the way, you can find all of the Thumbs Carllile at the official site, click here.