Reunion Blues Backstage Banter

The Reunion Blues Blog

Category Archives: Instruments

Reunion Blues & Laurence Juber

As far as contemporary guitar players go, you’ll be hard pressed to find a player with more feathers in his cap than Laurence Juber. And those are some big, bright feathers. Laurence has done it all. He is the former lead guitarist for Paul McCartney and Wings, Alan Parsons Project, Carly Simon and too many other top stars to mention here.

Laurence Juber, now and then!

He has his own Laurence Juber signature model C.F. Martin Acoustic guitar OMC-LJ. He is a world renowned fingerpicking expert, composer, arranger and all around guitar virtuoso.  He composed and performed music for Ken Burn’s follow up baseball documentary film The Tenth Inning.  And he has recently completed LJ Plays The Beatles Vol. 2. These are just a few of his achievements and accomplishments in a hugely successful career.

And who does Laurence turn to for gig bags and cases for his prized guitars? Reunion Blues, of course! When I asked him about his squadron of Reunion Blues gig bags, he commented:

“I am indeed well-equipped with your bags, with my first purchased at Manny’s Music on 48th St in NYC in 1978.”

The Juber Squadron

Laurence sent us this photo of his Reunion Blues gig bags and cases titled: En Route to a Session (I bet that was one heck of a session!  He added:

“As a traveling musician, I appreciate the value of a well-designed and functional gig bag. There are certainly some competitive alternative products in the marketplace, but none have the consistency of style, ‘fit’ and ‘finish’ that I associate with Reunion Blues.”

When asked about traveling with his guitars, he offered this comment which may be even more impressive than our famous drop test from the top of a 3-story building:

“I’ve been happy with the Reunion Blues Continental for my Les Paul and have checked it as baggage with no concerns.”

Laurence was one of the first people we showed our new RB prototypes to at the 2011 NAMM show. Here is what he had to say:

“The suede finish prototype bag at NAMM was cool – I particularly liked the zippered flap over the outside pocket.”

We are obviously thrilled to have Laurence as an official Reunion Blues artist endorser. To learn more about one of the most exciting guitar players of our time, just go to laurencejuber.com. Enjoy with amazement!

Keith Barr Remembered

Sometimes we just have to share a story when we lose one of the really great ones.

Keith Barr died of a heart attack at 61 this week… inventor, icon and founder of many music industry companies including Alesis where I worked in 1991 as director of communications. Keith had a brain the size of a Buick, a sense of humor, and a 300+ employee company that was fueled with some of the most competitive people I have ever met, all of whom the company fed a free lunch to… every day!

 

Keith.Bar.8

The VHS tape-based Alesis ADAT Digital Multitrack Recorder was a hot product in 1991. I was charged with pulling together all the presentation tools to help Keith and his co-brainey conspirator Marcus Ryle (founder of Line 6) thwart the DAT tape-based competition. And thwart we did.

The ADAT won multiple industry awards that year. Always one to shun the limelight, Keith would leave the acceptance speeches to Alesis President Russell Palmer. There was this one time, however, when neither could make it to an award ceremony, so yours truly was chosen to mount the podium. When I asked what I was supposed to say, Keith pulled me aside and secretly suggested we create a Russell Palmer cut-out puppet with a moving mouth and let him do the “talking”… operated by the worst ventriloquist in the history of mankind.

Keith

The end result was one of the most embarrassing, hilarious, memorable nights of my existence with the room falling all over the place and “Team ADAT” having the time of their lives. We laughed until we cried.

Thank you Keith. Rest in peace.

 

Louie’s Legacy Lives @ Reunion Blues

Louie Armstrong was so hip, so creative, his musical roots and influence can still be found in today’s new music. I, for one, regard him as the best of the best.

Louie's

About 10 years ago, I spotted this picture in a St. Louis junk shop and, at first, didn’t even know what it was. After studying it, I realized it was a brass instrument mouthpiece. I was especially intrigued by what appears to be hacksaw grooves in the metal. Something made me buy that picture and, to this day, it hangs in my office.

Imaging my surprise when I stumbled across this web site.

http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/collections/jazz.htm

That’s right, it’s Louie’s cornet mouthpiece.

Go figure!

New RB Continental Triple Trumpet Case

At Reunion Blues we are expanding out popular RB Continental line with the introduction of a new triple trumpet case that combines sleek contemporary design with the ultimate in instrument protection.

RBC.TripTrump.PR.SM
RBC.TripTrump.PR.SM

On the outside, a 1″ thick shock-absorbing Flexoskeleton™ exterior is lined with reinforced impact panels, and a knurled abrasion grid covers the bottom to help resist scuffing. A large zippered accessory pocket is also provided, along with an adjustable shoulder strap.

A unique, padded, wide-mouth lid opens to a hidden accessory pocket and reveals a very roomy interior that features adjustable dividers providing custom space allocation for securing trumpets, mutes and accessories… all crafted with a plush, quilted “double helix” velvet lining, one of the trademarks of the new RB Continental case line.

A  Ballistic Quadraweave™ exterior features high-strength corded edges and all seams are double-stitched with high tensile thread and reinforced at tested stress points. This new case also includes a Zero-G palm-contoured handle with weight distributing foam core to help reduce hand fatigue when the case is carried over long distances.

Like all Reunion Blues products, this new RB Continental triple trumpet case comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

 

Updated November 1, 2011: Below photos added at request of Michael’s comment.

 

 

Adjustable divider using Velcro.


Reunion Blue Corvette coming to NAMM

40 years after it was stolen, Alan Poster’s returned Stingray will be featured at the Reunion Blues exhibit.

RBCorvette@NAMM.CC
RBCorvette@NAMM.CC

You might remember how, back in 2006, the international news was burning up about Alan Poster being reunited with his 1968 Stingray, 37 years after it disappeared.

Alan had been going through a rough time that winter. A Brooklyn native and a 26-year-old guitar salesman, he had just divorced and moved from Queens to a 21st Street studio in Chelsea. He bought himself a flashy treat that he could barely afford but could not resist: a blue ’68 Vette.

He had owned it for only two or three months when it was stolen from a parking garage on 23rd Street. It was Jan. 22, 1969.

In December 2005, Mr. Poster got a call that it had been recovered, just days before it was supposed to be shipped to a buyer in Sweden. The car was flagged during a routine check of the vehicle ID by California Homeland Security and US Customs, sending two New York detectives on a long-shot search through thousands of crime reports to connect the car to its first owner.

Alan was reunited with his Corvette in January of 2006, during a news conference in Carson, CA, that made worldwide distribution. The original “International Blue” exterior had been painted silver, the original blue interior was red, the gas tank was missing and the engine had been replaced. Inexplicably, it had no transmission but the body was still close to mint condition.

Dubbed the “Reunion Blue” and arguably the world’s best known Corvette, Alan spent the next three years bringing the hot-rod back to like-new condition, including the original blue-on-blue color scheme.

Coincidently, the company Alan owns today is called Reunion Blues, a prestigious high-end musical instrument case and leather bag line that is considered to be the best among serious musicians. Alan had just acquired the Reunion Blues company when he was reunited with his blue Corvette… a twist of fate he does not take lightly. “Coincidence?” he said, “Perhaps.”

Alan and the whole Reunion Blues crew will be showcasing new products along with this legendary Stingray in the Reunion Blues exhibit 5968 at the NAMM (International Music Products Association) convention in Anaheim, CA, a four-day, 85,000 attendee conference starting January 15, 2010.

RBC-We Accept.3
RBC-We Accept.3

Earlier this year, Reunion Blues released a high-altitude “stress test” video on You Tube, tossing their new RB Continental case off a three-story building with a Strat-style guitar inside. After two throws, the instrument emerged unscathed. In an unexpected twist, the video drew numerous comments from doubting guitarists who dared Reunion Blues to try it with a tilt-back headstock guitar.

“We didn’t think much of these comments at first”, said Reunion Blues’ Alan Poster, “but they kept coming in until, after passing tens of thousands of views, we decided to accept the challenge.”

According to John Maher, Reunion Blues marketing director, many three-on-a-side tilt-back headstocks are actually glued to the neck at an angle, creating the potential for the peghead to snap off at this junction when hit hard. “So, in an attempt to satisfy the skeptics, we decided to get our hands on a tilt-back designed guitar and do it all over again.” Maher added.

The first RB Continental drop test video can be seen by clicking on www.rbcontinental.com. Stay tuned for the results from the second toss.

On The Road With The RBC!

 

So recently real life circumstances required me to travel to my hometown of Grand Junction Colorado for a week. About a year ago my good friend, Phil Street, who is also from Grand Junction and was the drummer for my band Crunch here in California moved back to Western Colorado to be closer to his folks.
He’s drumming in a band there called Missy’s End,

 

R to L Joe, Todd and Phil of Missy's End.

R to L Joe, Todd and Phil of Missy's End.

 

led by a talented singer/songwriter named Joe Davis, and they just happened to have a gig scheduled while I was there and asked me to sit in for a couple of songs. This was the perfect opportunity to give our new Reunion Blues RB Continental case the ultimate road test, by checking it in as baggage with the airlines and letting the handlers do their worst. So I caught the bus from Petaluma

 

Me and the RBC at the Petaluma Airporter

Me and the RBC at the Petaluma Airporter

 

to the Oakland Airport on a sunny Saturday morning, arrived at the US Airways baggage check in, handed over the company’s Epiphone Dot Studio in the RB Continental case, checked it in and told them to do their worst!

 

RBC at Oakland Baggage Check-In

RBC at Oakland Baggage Check-In

 

I had to make a connection in Phoenix to Grand Junction. The flight to Phoenix was quite turbulent as their were storms lined up the whole way. Then if that wasn’t enough fun, I got to hop on a 2 propeller prop job for the final leg to GJ.
It had been a number of years since I’d had the pleasure to fly on one of those and I’d forgotten just how much “fun” they can be.

 

Keeping cool on the bouncy prop job

Keeping cool on the bouncy prop job

 

Luckily our pro flight attendant Sandra kept everything calm, cool and under control. Upon landing in Grand Junction all 9 of us intrepid travellers  got off the plane and I headed to baggage claim with more than a bit of apprehension. Within a few minutes I saw the RB Continental Case come down the baggage carousel.

 

RBC arrives GJ baggage carousel

RBC arrives GJ baggage carousel

 

With nervous anticipation I slowly opened the case and voila! There was the Dot in perfect condition. Not a scratch, dent, ding or blemish of any kind. 100% Success!

 

An Epi Dot without a spot!

An Epi Dot without a spot!

 

Now all I had to do was learn Suffragette City by Friday, play the gig and then see how the axe survived the return trip back to the Bay Area.  The gig was at Quincy’s Bar, the only alternative lifestyle bar in Grand Junction, the crowd was probably around 200+ with one of the most interesting mixes of humanity I’ve ever seen.

 

The one and only Quincy's Bar in GJ.

The one and only Quincy's Bar in GJ.

 

The people watching was almost as entertaining as the band. We even had a party bus pull up and out came 25 bouncing bachelorettes ready to rock.

 

Missy's End and yours truly rocking Suffragette City!

Missy's End and yours truly rocking Suffragette City!

 

So we obliged them and then headed to Todd the bass players house for an after gig party until about 3:45 AM. That’s the latest this old man has been out in quite a few years but we had a blast. The next day I had my good friend and martial arts expert  Kerry Wong give the case a good hard karate chop with the guitar in it and yes it survived the Kung Fu test beautifully as well.

 

RBC passes Kerry's Kung Fu Karate Chop test!

RBC passes Kerry's Kung Fu Karate Chop test!

 

After taking care of all my family business it was time to head home. The return trip was smooth even if I did have to find a way to kill 3.5 hours in the Phoenix Airport (UGH!) . I arrived back in Oakland to find my wife and kids waiting for me (a sight for sore eyes for sure!) and waited for the RB Continental to come down the carousel. When we got home my kids helped me check the guitar and as expected it was in perfect condition. I even stuffed some extra clothes, toiletries, etc… in the accessory pockets of the RBC to save space in my carry on. You can literally pack everything you need for a 1 or 2 night gig in this case and not even need any other luggage. And if your guitar happens to fall off a 3 story building or has to be subjected to the whim and whimsy of airline baggage handlers you can at least have some peace of mind knowing that it’s ensconced safely in a Reunion Blues RB Continental Guitar case. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it! Rock on everyone!