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doc
Into the 60's
Status: offline |
 Posted - October 04 2005 : 12:11:41 PM
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RichM,
Being in Vegas and being a guitar collector, have you ever visited the Ed Roman guitar shop.? He sells and stocks a large supply of Heritage guitars. |
Edited by - doc on October 04 2005 4:09:00 PM |
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doc
Into the 60's
Status: offline |
Posted - October 04 2005 : 3:20:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Yelnats
nah, s i grew up on washington ave 7 houses from ocean ave. around the corner from Zubas Bar where we used to go in and walk to the back and order our pizza pies.
Yelnats,
I recall walking with my family to Zuba's for a pie and sitting in one of the booths. Had to be a special occasion in the late fifties. Probably '59 because we had "the baby" with us (Kevin) and had to leave.
7 houses down from Ocean ave. on Washington.?? Hmmm. sounds like you were next door to the Miller's. |
Edited by - doc on October 05 2005 10:32:06 AM |
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richm
Into the 60's
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 04 2005 : 4:33:52 PM
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Doc: I have been to Ed Roman's before they moved the store, and spent some time noodling with some of the Heritage guitars there. I never saw so many guitars in one store, and the experience was exhausting. Ed says his is the largest Heritage dealer. I could believe that. There is a jazzer out here named Joe Lano that uses a Heritage guitar. He is quite an amazing player. If you have met some of the Cobbs Gang you might have played with Marty Badamo with Dan and Doug. Marty is a great jazz player, too. Marty once told me to check out the Heritage Golden Eagle. I did. It was a very good guitar, better than I would ever need.
I did not know Doug, but to hear my friends, he's quite a musician. Dan played with him in the early seventies, and it sounds as if you were at that Sayville get together.
I was at an East Rockaway reunion, but not the one that Joe Carbonaro (Cobb hisself) attended. But I made one that Kerry Gavin was at, along with his talented brother Dave, and wonderful sister Kathy. I knew Kerry and Kathy from Central High School. Dave is one of the few strangers I have met that knew all the words to 'Willin'. That reunion was at John Kleiss' house in East Rockaway.
Did you say more drinking than gigging? That sounds like a country song waiting to happen..... |
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Bean
Still Hangin' At The Mailbox
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 04 2005 : 4:47:37 PM
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bouht my first set of drums at Alden music when they were still on Linden Blvd, before they moved down the block on to Elmont Rd. Also took lessons there for a very short while. Next set of drums my vintage Ludwig set was bought at Sam Ash In Hempstead.
Also my ex wife was best freinds with Kathy Downs the daughter of the Downs school of Music...
Jack Patty jammed a few times with some of the bands we had at our practice sessions...Jack was ( and still is ) the cousin of Jon Urgo who I went all the way through grade school with and stayed friendly with after we graduated Central in 1971...
The last I knew or heard of Jack I think he was working in real estate ofice opposite the old Nathans on Long Beach Rd. ) before they knocked it down and turned it in to a new modern type one ) |
Edited by - Bean on October 04 2005 4:51:27 PM |
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Bean
Still Hangin' At The Mailbox
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 04 2005 : 4:55:00 PM
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| you guys should browse around some of the other forums on this site and the older posts and see if you recognize any one or anything talked about... |
Edited by - Bean on October 04 2005 4:55:46 PM |
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richm
Into the 60's
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 05 2005 : 12:37:16 AM
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Doc: I am so sorry that you had to take accordian lessons at Alden School of music, and hope you have fully recovered from the experience.
As you may know, there have been many cordeen jokes in the Cobbs Gang threads, so I will spare you further humiliation. I hope you find peace and redemption in your jazz guitar studies.
Bean: as for perusing other forums here, I have done some, and saw mention of Andrea Raso, who I assume is the little sister to Louise Raso. Their family lived down the block from me on Fairfax Street and have long been considered 'good people' by this correspondent. They were both at the East Rockaway reunion at John Kleiss' house and Louise sang a killer rendition of 'In the Still of the Night'. She has great pipes, and judging by her song selection that evening, great respect for her elders, of which I count myself.
Incidentally, John Kleiss grew up on St. John's Place, not far from the erstwhile Mailbox I suppose, and introduced me to Jack Patti and Willie Petillo way back in the early seventies. I was no longer a Valley Streamer at that point. Rich |
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Bean
Still Hangin' At The Mailbox
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 05 2005 : 01:59:35 AM
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The Valley Stream MailBox that this page is named after was the Mailbox on the corner of Everette St and Franklin Rd, that was just across the St. from Doc's and Richie Federici's ( the man behind this page ) house...Eddie and Roger Macowski's house was actually the closest house to the Box, Foch ( Neil ) lived a few houses down at 14. S. Everette, The Powers family was across the St too...but this was our central focal point for meeting especially when we were still kids before we did or went where ever we were going. It was also out street baseball field ( and Halloween battle ground field ) where we would play and drive the neighbors wild. As we got older the The (Village) Green by the Valley Stream railroad station became our spot to cause, find, and look for trouble! (:
btw the last time I looked there is no Mail Box at that location any more. ):
" I'd go back if I could only find a way " ...Ray Davies |
Edited by - Bean on October 05 2005 02:01:07 AM |
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doc
Into the 60's
Status: offline |
Posted - October 05 2005 : 10:24:30 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by richm
Doc: I have been to Ed Roman's before they moved the store, and spent some time noodling with some of the Heritage guitars there. I never saw so many guitars in one store, and the experience was exhausting. Ed says his is the largest Heritage dealer. I could believe that. There is a jazzer out here named Joe Lano that uses a Heritage guitar. He is quite an amazing player. If you have met some of the Cobbs Gang you might have played with Marty Badamo with Dan and Doug. Marty is a great jazz player, too. Marty once told me to check out the Heritage Golden Eagle. I did. It was a very good guitar, better than I would ever need.
I did not know Doug, but to hear my friends, he's quite a musician. Dan played with him in the early seventies, and it sounds as if you were at that Sayville get together.happen.....
Rich,
I agree, the Golden Eagle is truly a beautiful instrument. I bought a Heritage 535 from Ed Roman about two years ago. It is the same model as the Gibson 335. I used to play it every day until my son grabbed it and took it to the University of Miami with him. I am now religated to a Washburn j-10 jazz box which actually isn't bad at all.
I played with Marty years ago in Doug's basement in Gibson and then again out here. He played his "Lucille 345?" What a beautiful sound. That boy can play...
Regarding my 'cordeen experiences, I appreciate your sparing me from further humiliation. There was nothin' like playing in the Downs all 'cordeen band. Imagine 60+ accordians playing at the same time. A lot of wind was passed through those bellows! And I have to tell you that it is much more peaceful and satisfying to play a Joe Pass or Frank Vignola version of "All the Things you are" rather than playing an um Pah version of "Man on the Flying Trapeze".
I still have that old "La Tosca" Although a bit large, it makes an excellent door stop. |
Edited by - doc on October 05 2005 3:12:52 PM |
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richm
Into the 60's
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 05 2005 : 10:31:19 AM
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Doc: If you can play 'Man on a Flying Trapeze' then I am impressed. To hear sixty at once on cordeen would truly be a religious experience!
Did you buy that Heritage at the store, mail order, phone or internet?
I have an old ES 345.
I have also had the pleasure of playing Marty's Lucille, which is beautiful. I don't know how he keeps it so new looking. |
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doc
Into the 60's
Status: offline |
Posted - October 05 2005 : 3:16:42 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by richm
Doc: If you can play 'Man on a Flying Trapeze' then I am impressed. To hear sixty at once on cordeen would truly be a religious experience!
Did you buy that Heritage at the store, mail order, phone or internet?
I have an old ES 345.
I bought the Heritage from what seems like Ed Roman's first and only e-bay offering. Since they had no feedback I got it for 900 bucks. The tech I spoke to seemed pissed but they managed to recover a couple of dollars when they charged me 50 bucks for the shipping. That old 345 must sound nice though. |
Edited by - doc on October 05 2005 5:39:11 PM |
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richm
Into the 60's
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 06 2005 : 10:35:52 AM
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Doc:The 345 is a great sounding and playing guitar, but it is stereo, so I need two amps for it to sound right. Therefore, I don't take it anywhere. I never feel like carrying an amp, to carry a pair of them would be too much for this lazy old man.
Marty's Lucille is similar to a 345, but the decoration is of the 355 series, with block inlays in the neck and a more complex binding. Also, the new ones can be played stereo or mono, which is a great idea.
The next time you come to Las Vegas, I will escort you to Roman's and you can see an acre or so of Heritage guitars, and then to Cowtown Guitars on Maryland Parkway where your jaw will drop at the sight of his vintage guitar offerings. Pretty good supply of old amps, too.
Now for the nostalgia: when I was ten or eleven years old, taking my guitar lessons at Alden School of Music from Joe Gennelli, a new Gibson guitar was introduced. On the counter in the front of the store was a promotional piece of a beautiful model in a red dress with a red 355. I was too young to lust after the girl, but I always wanted the guitar. Now I am married to a beautiful woman, and I have a 345. Life is good. |
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Yelnats
Still A Babe
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 06 2005 : 12:35:49 PM
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to Doc;
I lived two houses east of the Millers same side of the street. lets see, the oldest was Kathy, then artie, then laurie and eileen. who did you know?
to RichM,
spoke to Patty Badamo at work today and she speaks very highly of you. Said you are quite a musician and she did mention the group you were with but I suffer from CRS and forgot.
i'm still here in V.S. but put a buffer zone between my present house and HookCreek .......in Gibson now |
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richm
Into the 60's
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 06 2005 : 8:13:52 PM
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Yelnats: Patty is too kind. The current buffer zone between my house and Hook Creek includes several large states, the Mississippi and a coupla three mountain ranges. To think that I once could walk into Laurelton for some great pizza at La Tosca's....
Doc: Do you know what sinookas are? And have you played the Heritage Sweet 16 guitar? |
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doc
Into the 60's
Status: offline |
Posted - October 07 2005 : 3:55:44 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by richm
Do you know what sinookas are? And have you played the Heritage Sweet 16 guitar?
Rich,
The next time, actually the first time, I am in Vegas, I will take you up on that offer. As for sinookers, as far as I knew it was a form of billiards. And no, I haven't played a sweet sixteen. I have only seen them on the internet.
Wasn't La Tosca's next to the bicycle shop in Laurelton?
Yelnats,
I used to be friendly with the late Artie Miller. Did you and Artie both have Newsday routes? |
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richm
Into the 60's
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 07 2005 : 8:01:08 PM
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Doc: Sinookas are not a form of billiards, but rather a term from Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, and mean the 'tendrils of one's life'. An example might be if you meet someone and find out that many years ago they might have some kind of shared experience, such as making music with the likes of Dan Loesel or Ric Mango.
Another example could be La Tosca's, which was at least very close to the bicycle shop in Laurelton, if not right next to it.
The Heritage Sweet Sixteen is a 175 sized guitar. I played one here in Las Vegas a couple of years ago and was very impressed. Short scale neck, maple back and sides, and I think a solid spruce top (I might be wrong on that). Great comfortable sized jazz box.
Yelnats: say hello to Patty for me, please. She's good people, too. |
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Bean
Still Hangin' At The Mailbox
USA
Status: offline |
 Posted - October 08 2005 : 07:47:56 AM
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I don't know every group Doc has played in since but I can vouch for the best group he played in and they were the infamous
F.T.W.
where it was LOUD NOISE AT IT'S NOISY and raunchy BEST!
Bean founder,creator, drummer, and spiritual advisor for F.T.W. and all its off shoots, including Frank Wrappa and The Greasers of Invention aka Iggy & The Stooges. I supplied the entertainment as the frontman, DOC supplied the transportation to, and Richie was the get-a-way car and also supplied the segovia beatle bass that big Arthur cracked over my head. ( thank god for the helmet but I still had whiplash and a giant headache!) |
Edited by - Bean on October 08 2005 07:54:43 AM |
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doc
Into the 60's
Status: offline |
Posted - October 08 2005 : 2:33:13 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by richm
Doc: Sinookas are not a form of billiards, but rather a term from Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, and mean the 'tendrils of one's life'. An example might be if you meet someone and find out that many years ago they might have some kind of shared experience, such as making music with the likes of Dan Loesel or Ric Mango.
Another example could be La Tosca's, which was at least very close to the bicycle shop in Laurelton, if not right next to it.
The Heritage Sweet Sixteen is a 175 sized guitar. I played one here in Las Vegas a couple of years ago and was very impressed. Short scale neck, maple back and sides, and I think a solid spruce top (I might be wrong on that). Great comfortable sized jazz box.
Yelnats: say hello to Patty for me, please. She's good people, too.
Rich,
I guess I was thinking of snooker due to my limited Vonnegut literary reference "pool".
And it continues still ..... as you mention Ric Mango. I never played in his band but played bass with one of the bands in his stable (Ric Mango Orchestra's) a bunch of years ago. We chatted a number of times when he would come into the affairs for his $. He told stories of the Valley Stream days. (Sounded fictional to me though). Not sure what he is doing now but he was doing very well back then. He was booking his own band and three or four others.
Regarding miss Heritage... is the short scale neck maneuverable enough to be comfortable? I've never played one. Also, I can relate to the "lazy old man" reference. I bought a new "portable" bass amp last year for clubdates and made my final decision based soley on weight. Sound was secondary, although I did opt for the 15" rather than the ten. Pretty sad huh? |
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richm
Into the 60's
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 08 2005 : 3:20:05 PM
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Doc: Ric has a tendency to, how shall I say this, embroider some of his exploits, but all in all I would have to say he's had a pretty amazing life. He is one of the most colorful characters I have ever met, and that first meeting dates back to fifth grade at Shaw Avenue School, probably in 1957. He was a performer by then, with a professional version of 'Rockin' Robin' in his repertoire and a D.A. hairdo. It was as if a star had suddenly started attending our school.
He's probably worked constantly, or nearly so, since then, and I keep on bumping into him, sometimes in strange circumstances. I first played guitar with him when we were at Shaw, and last in his wedding band in 1982, which was a fun gig and an education all rolled into one. My good friend and saxophonist extraordinaire, Tom Sullivan, still works with Ric on Long Island. I am not sure if one should believe all of what one would hear from Ric, but I would recommend believing most of it. He's lived through a lot.
The Heritage Sweet Sixteen neck scale is, to the best of my knowledge, the same as the Gibson ES 175, which is known as the 'workhorse' of the jazz guitar world. Players who have used this ax include Joe Pass, Pat Matheny, Steve Howe, Jim Hall, Bonnie Raitt and many many others. I find the size and scale of the neck, and guitar, very comfortable.
My first good guitar, a Gibson L-4C, was a Christmas gift purchased from Alden School of Music in 1957 by my parents. The L-4C is of the exact dimensions as the ES 175, the differences being the L-4C has a spruce top and no pickup, and the 175 has a maple top and pickup or pickups installed. Sixteen inch body and Florentine cutaway on both. The smaller neck scale was great for this ten year old. Ric Mango loved that guitar of my, and I would lend it to him, to my Mom's dismay, at times. I still have the guitar, the pickguard has to be reattached, and it could use a fret job, but it still plays great. It has no pickup now, so I only play it 'acoustic'. If I need to plug in....I just plug in an old 175 I have. I'm spoiled.
What kind of bass amp did you get? And do you love it? |
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Yelnats
Still A Babe
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 09 2005 : 12:58:14 PM
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doc,
artie was a few years younger than me, passed on way too young.
his mother and father worked with me for a few years and then they retired and moved out west. havent seen any of his sisters for at least 20 years now |
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doc
Into the 60's
Status: offline |
Posted - October 10 2005 : 8:43:59 PM
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Rich,
So, you played with Ric Mango in '82. I started playing for his office about '83. The only other band I recall from the office back then was the Rob Prospect group. Have you been out of that "other" group for that long? I had the impression that you were with them into the 90's. Ever get the urge to go back?
Tom sullivan. He was working in the ad" media business out here in Islip for a short while with a buddy of mine, Bob Ferring (a trumpet & keyboard player). I met him about two years ago through Bob.
Regading guitars, I'm very familiar with the ES 175. a great great guitar. I still look for them on e-bay but wouldn't have much use for it except for playing it around the house and for home recordings. I opted for the 335/ Heritage 535 because of versatility. I can use if for lots of different applications. the bass amp I picked up is a self contained unit. Ampeg model BA-115. It's the contemporary version of the old B-15. Sounds great and has lots of sound variations but is limited due to the size. For larger venues I still use the Hartke 4x10's with an old beat up GK top. I haven't played a job in a few months so they haven't been used very much lately. I'm starting to put some feelers out now. |
Edited by - doc on October 10 2005 8:47:08 PM |
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richm
Into the 60's
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 10 2005 : 10:01:46 PM
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Doc:I was last with the 'other' group in '79, until I took a teaching job. By '82 I wanted out of teaching, and Ric offered me a gig while I trained in the securities industry, where I've been since.
Ric also asked me to be part of Prospect's band that was being put together. I recommended my good friend Paul Petrucelli for that gig. Did you know Paul? Great bass player and singer. I haven't had a regular paying music gig since. I consider myself retired from the music business, though I still play.
I try to get together with my Cobbs Gang friends every time I visit Long Island. The last of these get-togethers was in none other than Valley Stream, NY at Richard 'The Count' Kopsco's house. Our buddy Dan Loesel was in attendance, along with Marty Badamo, John Kleiss and a few others. We could have used a bass player. Marty brought Lucille. I played John Kleiss' fabulous old Telecaster through his equally fabulous tweed Tremolux amp. Among the Cobbs Gang family of attendees was Barbara Bradley, nee Quinn. Her husband Bob was drummer for the Bad Boys group I see mentioned elsewhere in these forums, as well as the Stanton Anderson Band. It is a small world, isn't it?
I believe Marty has played a gig or two with Tom and another very talented friend of mine, Neal Ferraro. Neal plays about thirty five thousand instruments and makes jingles for a living out in Patchogue. Great guy. You should meet him, and I wouldn't be surprised if you did one of these days.
I remember those old B 15 amps. Every recording studio had one in the old days, and one of the very best bass amp combinations I ever heard was a society group's bassist I met in the Riverboat Cafe in Manhattan. He played a Fender Jazz Bass through a B 15 top and a Fender single Showman cabinet. It was perfect for that room, and that was a big room.
When I lived in Valley Stream, back in the 1960's, I played my Jazzmaster through an Ampeg Reverbrocket amp. I loved the guitar, but not the amp. Now they are both gone.
Thinline guitars are versatile indeed. To get a good one for less than a thousand bucks is a great bargain. Roman probably was not happy about that. |
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doc
Into the 60's
Status: offline |
Posted - October 16 2005 : 4:58:51 PM
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RichM,
Just returned from Savannah, GA. Beautiful old town with lots of history. Sherman banged it up a bit but left most of the town intact. We visited SCAD with my daughter Kerri. Interesting place.
Regarding the B-15. I worked six and seven nights a week in a society/show trio in Manhattan, FLa, and summers at the Concord Hotel from 1980 until about 83 or 84. It seemed that every bass player used a b15 and a jazz bass in those rooms. (Rainbow rm., Jimmy Westons, and St. Regis Hotel, etc.) Sounded great with a nine foot grand. It didn't sound quite right without that setup.
My Jazz bass which I still use, was made in about '78 and it weighs a ton. All of my tuxedos had a hole worn out on the left shoulder. In the 70's when I played with a top 40's band (at Holiday Inns all over) I used a 1970 Rickenbacker 4001 bass. Nice and light but it sounded like a Rickenbacker. I later pulled the frets out which improved the sound but still didn't make it very versatile. I don't use it at all anymore so it might be going on ebay soon.
Although I ran into Paul Petrocelli at showcases back then, we never really spoke, only to say hello. Also heard of Neil but I don't think we ever met. We were going to use his studio once when my hard drives crapped out. He is also a friend of Bob's.
Ever miss the road with the "other" group? I guess It probably got to be overwhelming. Many/any of the originals still with them besides the lead singer? |
Edited by - doc on October 16 2005 5:03:15 PM |
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richm
Into the 60's
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 16 2005 : 11:57:27 PM
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Doc: I am not sure of which Bob you refer to. Paul played in Lester Lanin's orchestra as well in the seventies, maybe the eighties, I'm not sure. He was lead singer in a terrific vocal group called the Lost Souls, and played bass in The Albert.
I do not miss travelling to play music, though I do miss playing and recording. My old friends will be here in Las Vegas at the end of November, so I will see them then. Four original members are left.
Years ago, when I played bass more frequently, I had a blue Jazz Bass. Unfortunately, I sold it to Scott Donaldson (he was a South High School guy), who had a bass of his stolen.
I now have a reissue Precision Bass, and an original Fender Bass VI. I need a good bass amp, but don't play out, so I won't be getting one. Have we turned the Corner Mailbox into a guitar players' forum?
Let me try to switch gears back to the Valley Stream/Shaw Ave./Central High School realm with a question I posed to my fellow Cobbs Gangstas in another internet space:
Who was your favorite teacher?
This was spurred by my son asking that question of his Aunt Carol, my sister. Without hesitation she answered her fourth grade teacher at Shaw: Vincent Leatham. I had him for grade six, and I'll vote with my sister on this one.
If anyone knows of Scott Donaldson's whereabouts please let us know. He is MIA for Cobbs Gang, and will be welcomed back with open arms. |
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Bean
Still Hangin' At The Mailbox
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 21 2005 : 02:18:20 AM
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| There were a few favorites, Ms. Harris and Mrs. Roche' from shaw Ave...Harris got married shorlty after, can't remember what her married name was? She was still there as of the early 90's when I had to stop there for something and she remembered me! So did Weimer at Central when I stopped in to visit once around the same time. |
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Bean
Still Hangin' At The Mailbox
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - October 21 2005 : 02:20:28 AM
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| and Doc talk about places with lots of history??? You must go to Italy if not for the art & history than just for the food because it is to die for! Did you see Dink and Lillian in Ga.??? |
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Valley Stream Pool friday night dances
