Friday, October 16, 2009

My Underground Bunker



The mystery Gibson....in action (mp3).


This is my "comfy chair" in my home office... seated: the Chapman Stick.
Here's an MP3 of the stick in action. Here's a rough mix cut from a 4 track demo I did with my friend Alice some years back. It was Stick/ Acoustic guitar/ mandolin trio. Here's my Les Paul and Fender P-Bass in action.


I don't have any rations stored in my bunker, but I've got plenty to read. I've got two other walls of books (to the left, and in front of the camera) not in the picture.

I keep a small office upstairs, all the books and junk stay in the basement. Now with so many books and resources on the Internet, who needs to keep a room full of books? Off to the basement, ye ol' takers up of space.

If anyone can identify the two guitars (manufacturer and model), I'd be impressed. The Chapman Stick lives upstairs. There's also a few other guitars around, plus a bunch of those those 200 pound amps that I don't know how I ever carried around.

21 comments:

Alex said...

Hopefully no humidity down there!

James Swan said...

Yes there is, I keep a dehumidifer going during the summer. When it cools off, all is well.

My books don't have a lot of value after I go through them. Most of them have my notes and comments written in the margins. Of course, I don't want them ruined, but they are, just books.

mlculwell said...

The identity of the guitars are: 1.) a Gibson Les Paul(Sunburst.) The other a blonde Gibson also but the model I not for sure.

mlculwell said...

Oh yeah, they are lefty's.

Alex said...

Do I see 2 copies of Fr. O'Hare's book (one is located on the second self from the right-two rows up, and the other is on the row above that)?


Now I feel like I'm invading your privacy.

James Swan said...

Actually, the other Gibson was originally right handed. It was given to me in two pieces- the peg head was snapped off, and the truss rod bent out.

The guy who gave it to me for free didn't think I'd ever get it fixed. The estimates were outrageous.

I took it to a friend who was cabinet maker. He simply glued it back together. He didn't charge me. It worked fine. Since I'm lefty, we resanded the pick guard the opposite direction. I probably killed the value of it, but it was kind of beat up anyway. I've had it now over 20 years. It's never needed any adjustments.

James Swan said...

Do I see 2 copies of Fr. O'Hare's book (one is located on the second self from the right-two rows up, and the other is on the row above that)?

I actually have 3 copies of O'Hares book. One is an old prinitng-

http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2007/12/facts-about-luther-1916-edition.html

Unfortunately, my books aren't in any real order, and they are stacked two deep in most instances (there is a row behind a row).

Next to O'Hare's books are 5 or 6 by Grisar.

Anonymous said...

James, I am so jealous. I used to play the guitar for a number of years, and I always wanted a left-handed Les Paul. I loved my Ibanez EX, but there's nothing like a Les Paul. FWIW, I saw on the news not too long ago that he passed away. God rest his soul.

As for the books, I can't believe you don't have them in any order. That's so weird to me. All of my books are in topical order, e.g., ecclesiology, christology, popular Roman Catholic apologetics, etc.

EA said...

The guitar on the left looks like a Gibson L-7.

The one on the right looks like a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe with a missing control knob and a funky replacement knob where there should be 4 identical control knobs. If not, I'd love to know what it is...

Judging from the vinyl collection and the archtop, I'd venture a guess that you play jazz.

Turretinfan said...

I trust that the reason I don't see Turretin's Institutes in the picture is because you keep them in the safe, or in some other similarly secure location.

Pilgrimsarbour said...

Of course, I don't want them ruined, but they are, just books.

What?

WHAAAAAAAT????!!!!!!!

David Waltz said...

Hi James,

A very nice start on a good collection of books (minus the albums and guitars [grin]). Don’t take this wrong, but since we are on the topic of books…about the size of my Reformed and Adventist collection. Keep up the good work on your Luther contributions.

Grace and peace,

David

Russ Rentler, M.D. said...

The guitar on the left I believe is a Gibson L5 which is similar to what Mother Maybelle Carter played.

James Swan said...

James, I am so jealous. I used to play the guitar for a number of years, and I always wanted a left-handed Les Paul. I loved my Ibanez EX, but there's nothing like a Les Paul. FWIW, I saw on the news not too long ago that he passed away. God rest his soul.

You're a lefty? I actually can play a guitar strung right handed, upside down as well, though not with the same caliber. Basic chords, some songs and scales.

As for the books, I can't believe you don't have them in any order. That's so weird to me. All of my books are in topical order, e.g., ecclesiology, christology, popular Roman Catholic apologetics, etc

I have had them in order by category at times, but I just can't keep up with keeping them in order. So, one shelf may have all Reformation books on it. Everything off to the right is mostly Reformation or Reformed.

James Swan said...

the guitar on the left looks like a Gibson L-7.

Close, but no, it is not an L7.

The one on the right looks like a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe with a missing control knob and a funky replacement knob where there should be 4 identical control knobs. If not, I'd love to know what it is...

There are no missing knobs. Back in the mid 80's I switched the pickups to a special pick up made by a local NJ guy. The odd looking knobs are tone controls for both pickups. I didn't want to drill the guitar, so I just switched the knobs- this is/was in case I wanted to put the regular Gibson pick ups back.

Judging from the vinyl collection and the archtop, I'd venture a guess that you play jazz.

I can play some jazz, but not nearly as well to call myself a jazz player. There are a lot of jazz albums, but also rock and classical.

James Swan said...

I trust that the reason I don't see Turretin's Institutes in the picture is because you keep them in the safe, or in some other similarly secure location.

Nope, I don't have them. A friends called from a convention this past week offering to buy some Turretin tomes for me.

James Swan said...

What?

WHAAAAAAAT????!!!!!!!


I think I must be growing in sanctification. "Stuff" doesn't have the same appeal as it previously did.

James Swan said...

A very nice start on a good collection of books (minus the albums and guitars [grin]).

Well, I don't collect them. In fact, I don't really buy books that often anymore, unless it's something important (like the new volume of LW).

Don’t take this wrong, but since we are on the topic of books…about the size of my Reformed and Adventist collection.

I recall you having a large library. Now with the so many books on line, I'm not so fast to buy a book I may look at once. I have nothing against people with large libraries. I prefer to read a book, rather than a screen,. Since I don't collect books, having them isn't all that important to me.

Keep up the good work on your Luther contributions.

James Swan said...

The guitar on the left I believe is a Gibson L5 which is similar to what Mother Maybelle Carter played.

You're very close with L5, but no it isn't an L5.

James Swan said...

I added a picture of my mystery Gibson.

Pilgrimsarbour said...

I think I must be growing in sanctification. "Stuff" doesn't have the same appeal as it previously did.

Books are stuff?

STUFFFFFFFF??????!!!!!!

What's so all-fired sanctified about calling books "stuff?"

David Waltz understands. Don't you, David? Back me up on this, will ya? After all, we've discussed your library...

And hey, James, how about a Bechstein or a Bösendorfer?