Death of the Mimosa aka Albizia julibrissin

A severe Seattle wind storm on the eve of Nov 15 2010 takes down our 60 foot Japanese Silk tree aka Mimosa or more correctly the Albizia julibrissin. The count of the tree rings place the age of this tree to have been about 45 years old.

 Peering above our home's 2nd story, our Japanese Silk Tree, the Mimosa in full and last bloom before the wind uprooted it. Click on the image for a larger version of the photo. The late summer view of this magnificent tree in bloom from our living room was one of this home's eagerly awaited times of the year.

Worst Pedal Ever in the World

Another one of my original guitar effects pedal designs created in a 3D design and rendering application.

Nearly Dan + Tom Scott at Jazz Alley Seattle 10-06-2010

A session of photos I took of my friend's Steely Dan cover band featuring

special guest Grammy Award winning saxophonist Tom Scott.

I first met Tom Scott 3 decades ago while working on a Dolly Parton album.

At Jazz Alley Seattle
10-06-2010
Night Two

Pasadena California Huntington Library Visit Summer 2009

 
 Fire and smoke billows in the hills behind this fascinating glass greenhouse structure

of 

The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science

A very hot summer day!

El Porto California's Sea View Inn Hotel.
I lived in El Porto in my twenties and early thirties.
 Great beach for board and body surfing and people watching.

Chairman Meow Effects Pedal 3D realm prototype

The Chairman Meow Effects Pedal
To each according to their color needs...

Madman and Mushrooms

Another original guitar effects pedal. An actual prototype of the Mad Man Overdrive effects pedal for electric guitar. Click on images for larger versions.

Fullerton Calif Rental House of Murder

When I was working for Roland Audio Development in the mid 90's I rented this house that a triple murder took place in. The elder of two sons killed his mom, dad, and brother in this house and then loaded their bodies into a car trunk and set the auto on fire after driving it a few miles away. He was arrested few days later. The new owner of the house installed the nice brick paver driveway in order to cover up the blood stains left on the old concrete driveway.

Link to LA Times Article on the triple murder

Rent was discounted a bit as few others besides me would dare to enter the house let alone live there.

update June2011; This house has been recently demolished down to the foundation and is for sale. The son was convicted of the triple murder in 1998 and now sits on California's death row.

Bro Andrew's Panda Puppy

Tacoma WA Auto Show June 2010

CNC Router - New Garage Tool

I plan to use this to do light metal machining and automated guitar part carving.

Gibson Moderne 1982 serial number 001

The Gibson Moderne is an electric guitar model first designed by Gibson in 1957. It was designed alongside the Flying V and Explorer-"Futura" as part of a stylistically advanced line of electric guitars. However, unlike the Flying V and Explorer, the Moderne was not put into production until 1982. Because few if any prototypes were made in the 1950s, and no authenticated example is known to exist, the hypothetical 1958 Moderne has been called both the "Holy Grail" and the "Loch Ness Monster" of collectible guitars.

Bristol Audio Combo "The Machine"

The 3 channel tube preamp section of my Bristol Audio Devices "The Machine" combo guitar amplifier.

The preamp has 3 unique preamp styles,

- A Fender Blackface Channel
- A Marshall Plexi Channel
- A Mesa Boogie Mark 1 Channel

The channel selection is straightforward.
One switch to choose between clean Blackface or Distorted Channel.
A second switch selects between which of the 2 distorted channels is selected

Bristol Audio Dumble Overdrive

Another custom designed vacuum tube guitar amplifier I was commissioned to build for Michael McGee. My take on a circuit design made popular by Howard Dumble.

Nearly Dan at Seattle's Jazz Alley June 2009 with special guest Pete Christlieb

Pete Christlieb played the legendary sax solos on Steely Dan's song Deacon Blues from the album Aja, Natalie Cole's Unforgettable, and the extended tenor sax solo on the song FM from the movie of the same name.