Fender Telecasters, mid-life crisis, and cultural stereotyping

i love being reduced to a cultural stereotype

11Mar08

With thanks to toothpastefordinner.com

If that were not condemnation enough, I’ve found out that there is a type of guitarist known as a “middle-aged, middle-management escapee” who is thankfully always welcome at the completely inclusive International Guitar Festival.

I was chatting to Phil, who runs the IGF, about this only yesterday. He had me pegged as someone who did not practice and does not progress (another stereotype, don’t you know, but then I have discussed this with him before). The IGF runs one of its festivals locally here July/August, and there are workshops, so maybe it’s time that I picked up the nylon-string Luthier I do own, and just keep the Telecaster idea on the slow, back-burner waiting for that rich Russian to hit the tip-jar and put you all out of my misery.

But to show that the Knackered Hack as a site is, in fact, both stereotype and at the cutting edge simultaneously, there is a brand new blog out there called The Ones That Got Away especially for those of us searching for that lost guitar. It’s run by a designer whose other creations have included the curiously entertaining Men who look like Kenny Rogers. The blurb for TOTGA runs:-

Every guitarist has that one special guitar that they wished they had back. It might be because it was a sentimental gift, maybe it was sold to pay the bills, or maybe you just didn’t realize how much you loved that guitar until it was gone. These are the stories of the ones that got away. Most of them are my own stories, but I hope to add stories by other guitarists over time.”

The Knackered Hack is now hoping that his own contribution to the oeuvre will worm its way into the canon over there before too long.

This now raises a new problem for me, because it’s got me thinking about the first bass guitar I ever bought. It was not an iconic instrument, but — you guessed it! — there are sites for those too.

PS For film fans who spotted the cadence of Woody Allen in the headline, you were right — it’s from Annie Hall. Your prize: dinner for two in the Catskills ;-0 .

Donate and help me buy back my Fender ('About' tells you why)

3927 Responses2008-03-11+13%3A39%3A36knackeredhack to “i love being reduced to a cultural stereotype”

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1 Iwan on Mar 11th, 2008 said:

Tim

I continue in my quest for a local source of Kino vinyl or CD recordings in the Great White North, and have been frustrated by my lack of progress. However, a random interaction with a prepared mind proved to be fruitful.

A minor problem with a local ISP lead me into a discussion with the (former Russian musician) IT support technician who pointed me in the right direction both here and “in the cloud.”

I don’t speak or read Russian but have assumed that the site http://1000plastinok.info/artist381.html does allow legal purchase. If I’m wrong, let me know!

Iwan
2 knackeredhack on Mar 12th, 2008 said:

Hi Iwan,

I did not find a way to purchase on that site. Rather it will stream most of the catalogue. There is another site, which another reader directed me to a while ago, but the link was broken, and I have only just found it working again. It has some downloads, guitar tabs and Russian-only lyrics. That is here:-

http://www.amdm.ru/akkordi/kino/

I have tried contacting one or two of the various online resources, but responses are intermittent. Will update as more comes in.

Tim
3 Denis on Mar 25th, 2008 said:

I’m here because i’m searching for materials about KINO and V. Tsoy along the web. If you are interested – there are many people in Russia who maybe can be interested to see your photos of KINO.

Can you write me a letter? Your photos are very interesting! Tell your story about your knowlege of V.Tsoy – I think it will be intresting.

There are site of pretty good people, loved V. Tsoy and KINO.

PS: sorry for poor English..

Whith the best regards Denis Evdokimov, Russia
4 knackeredhack on Mar 25th, 2008 said:

Denis

If you click on the Kino category to the right you’ll find a number of stories related to Viktor and Kino. More will be over the coming weeks.

Regards,

Tim

PS Your English is still better than my Russian.
5 Denis on Mar 25th, 2008 said:

Can we post photos from your web-albom assosiated with V. Tsoy at the web-site http://www.yahha.com?

We will preserves your right as author and will signed pictures by your name.
Author of this site is Rashid Nugmanov – director of film “Igla” (“Needle”), where V.Tsoy played main role. That sait is place of meet serios people who are loved songs and lifestyle of V.Tsoy.

If you are agree – can you send pictures at higher resolution that on the site?
6 knackeredhack on Mar 25th, 2008 said:

Denis

That sounds very interesting. There is still some work to do with the photos before I can share them more widely. Once that is done I’ll contact you and/or the site.

One or two people have asked me whether there is a version of Igla with English subtitles. Is it easy to contact Rashid? He might be able to help me because I have some other photos of people I presume are his friends from that era.

Tim