HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mantzios@csi.forth.gr (Panixius Achilleus)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Fret problems +
Date: 13 Apr 92 10:58:42 GMT
Distribution: alt

I have no idea of the Les Paul action stuff i have never played with one.

Well my kramer 210 semms to have a problem on the 12 fret on the 1st string.

It is actually shorter that the next one (13th) so it just squeezes the sound

when i play there.

Any suggestions please??
From: kew@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (steve.w.askew)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Re: Buying a GOOD guitar.. any suggestions?
Summary: Blade not Blaze
Date: 13 Apr 92 15:35:51 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Apr12.051636.5896@cam.compserv.utas.edu.au>, rthoff@esk (Rudolph van't Hoff) writes:
> I am in the process of buying a new guitar, hopefully one I can stick with for
> ******************************************************************************
> Well Chris, I used to work in a music store in Tasmania, Australia, and they
> had a Really good brand of guitar that he was importing. The guitar comes from
> Switzerland and goes by the name of BLAZE.... Beautiful sound, lowest action 
> that i've ever experienced, and The Lowest most people that I've talked to have
> The Dude who invented this guitar(Paul Levinson) or something like that, used
> to work for Fender. Anyway If you want to find out more, mail me @
> 		rthoff@esk.compserv.utas.edu.au
> Bye, Rudolph.
> Okay?
The brand is Blade guitars by Paul Levison. They are comparable to the PRS
in quality and price. I have played a Blade Strat on several occasions. They
are great guitars. They also have active electronics, and a dip switch inside
to get several preset tone boosts.

Steve
Doin That Blues ThAng!
Come on down to the Sippin E-Z
From: v125njuc@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (DA BIG FAT FUNKY BUTT-GROOVE)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: tube preamps,speaker emulator,convertibles
Date: 13 Apr 92 17:46:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

I needs info on Ampeg triax preamps-amps, groove tube speaker emulators,
seymour Duncan convertible amps, and dean markely overlord pedals.
any information - such as price, availability, quality - will
be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Rich
v125njuc@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu

"If you have one that you want to sell, speak up"
-me
From: chrisb@lynx.ps.uci.edu (Chris Barrus)
Subject: A question of Amps: Roland vs. Something Else
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Organization: Dept. of Physics, Univ. of California, Irvine
Date: 13 Apr 92 16:47:26 GMT


I have been in the market for a new amp for awhile.  After some wavering,
I think I am going to settle on a Roland JC-120, but I would like to hear
any reports on them good or bad.  What is a good price new?  Used?  What
should I look for when buying them used? etc.

I generally use a Telecaster or a Strat, occasionally a SG and a semi-acoustic
12 string.  The type of sound I am after is somewhere between a David Gilmour
guitar army noise and Edge infinite feedback.  I would like to avoid a stack
for logistical reasons, but I don't want something wimpy either.  For that
matter, what brand of amps should I be looking at.  I've been using a Yamaha
that is OK, but I'm finding it very limiting now.

Thanks in advance,

Chris
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Barrus - P.O. Box 5115 - Irvine - CA - 92714 - chrisb@lynx.ps.uci.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Re: 50 Best Guitar Albums Poll
From: edwards@bgsu.edu (Bruce Edwards)
Date: 14 Apr 92 14:32:33 GMT
Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh.

In article <00T302tW10N601@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com>, gordie@mcode.amdahl.com (Gordon Freedman) writes:
> In article <1992Apr9.072704.4719@acsu.buffalo.edu>, v562f9vy@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Wolverine) writes:

> Danny Gatton "88 Elmira Street"

Just a note for Danny Gatton fans, he will be playing at the Toledo
Blues Fest, SAT-5/23 and SUN-5/24. Its free, at Portside on the river.

> 
> I think Satriani is great technically and musically, but he always does too 
> many fast/doodling/meaningless licks that ruin his music for me. Like we all
> know how fast you can go, dude so please stop already .... I think he would
> be one of the best if he'd just take a cold shower or something.

Ditto's
WHY DOES HE DO THAT!

> There are plenty of great guitar solos out there which don't really qualify
> a whole album, but as long as we're talking guitar players:
> 
> 	Various Joe Walsh

Glad ol' Joe hasn't been completely forgotten.  I used to pan-handle change
when I was in High School to see him play at the Mentor, OH Hullabaloo before
the James Gang were anybody. They had no stage, just a raised platform about
6" high.  I used to stand two feet away from Joe and watch him play fantastic
stuff through an ECHO-PLEX. 

> Yeah I'm an old guy :-)

Hurrah for ol' guys! ;-)

> Gordon Freedman: gjf00@duts.ccc.amdahl.com  -> Dis: DAT

edwards@andy.bgsu.edu

Newsgroups: alt.guitar
From: termite@leland.Stanford.EDU (David Paik)
Subject: Re: Sweaty fingers
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 92 05:39:43 GMT

I haven't seen anyone talk about this yet, but I use Maxima Gold`s and
they last pretty long.  I used to change strings every 3-4 weeks once
they started to get pretty grungy.  I tried quite a few brands.
GHS, Super slinkys (yuck), Blue Steel, Fender Bullets (pretty good actually)
and none of them have lasted nearly as long as my Maxima Golds.
I have had them on my guitar for three and a half months and they still 
shine like new.  The really great part is that they sound great too.
As far as I'm concerned, they sound as good as the Fender Bullets which
are my personal favorite other than the Maximas.
Last thing is the price.  They are about twice as expensive as most strings
but it pays off so far!  (Musicians Friend is the cheapest I've seen
so far)

Any opinions on the Golds for acoustic guitar?

-Dave
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
From: cbolton@csd475a.erim.org (Chris Bolton)
Subject: Re: Might be Offensive to some.
In-reply-to: malek@screamer.csee.usf.edu's message of 1 Apr 92 15:00:12 GMT
Organization: Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: 6 Apr 92 04:33:16

  Well, I'm not sure if she plays guitar since I'm not a big fan, but
was it perhaps Wendy O. Williams?  Sounds like something she'd say.
I was thinking maybe Jennifer Batten, since she's into the Van Halen
style, but I don't think she'd be that crude.

				-Chris Bolton
				 cbolton@csd475a.erim.org

Newsgroups: alt.guitar
From: larryh@cabezon.uucp (Larry Huntley)
Subject: Tuck Andress?
Organization: Logic Automation Inc. of Beaverton Oregon
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 92 21:10:36 GMT


	Sorry, but there was a posting from someone earlier that seemed
	to have a problem with Andress and his recently-released solo
	album.  If there was any (rational) discussion of this, I'd like
	to hear a summary.

	Thanks,
-- 

    Larry Huntley / Logic Modeling Corporation / Beaverton  OR
	  "Pink and wet - they make the best kind of pet"
                   -*- Stop Continental Drift! -*-
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
From: mtm@camis.Stanford.EDU (Mike Macgirvin)
Subject: Re: Where does the fretted (left) hand thumb go?
Organization: DSG, Stanford University
Date:  7 Apr 92 23:05:26 GMT

goodrich@lynx.larc.nasa.gov (Mike Goodrich) writes:

>In article <ktot77INNqc2@early-bird.think.com>, bhk@snips.tmc.edu (Brad Kemp) writes:
>|> I am seeking the nets advice on where to place the fretted hands
>|> thumb. When I started playing guitar I kept it on the top (facing up)
>|> side of the neck, but lately I have been placing it in the middle
>|> of the back of the neck. When I play this way I get faster and
>|> cleaner chords but my stamina decreases.
>|> 
>|> Opinions?
>|> 

	The previously mentioned preferences are all valid. There is
another option which I didn't see listed. That is to get your thumb
out of the dang way altogether; i.e. hang it out in space. If you are
going for the land speed record in guitar playing, this is the only
way to do it. It takes stronger fingers, but you can move around on
the neck -real- fast without having to "clamp, finger, unclamp" every
time you move your hand, you just move it...

mike
From: bulger@ug.cs.dal.ca (Fred Bulger)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Re: 50 Best Guitar Albums Poll
Date: 17 Apr 92 06:26:48 GMT
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada


  Well, before I take off for the summer ( I'm going to miss this group ) I may
as well list some albums I have which contain great guitar playing ... at least
for my tastes:

 Phil Keaggy           " Beyond Nature"           
 William Ackerman      " Childhood and Memories"
 Stevan  Pasero        " Guitar Masterpieces"
 Eric Johnson          " Ah Via Musicom"
 Steve Morse           " High Tension Wires"
 Steve Morse           " Stand Up"
 Steve Morse           " Southern Steel"
 Yngwie Malmsteen      " Eclipse "
 Yngwie Malmsteen      " Trilogy "
 Joe Satriani          " Flying in a Blue Dream "    ( My favourite of Joe's )
 Joe Satriani          " Surfing With the Alien "
 Joe Satriani          " Dreaming #11 "
 Joe Satriani          " Not of this Earth "
 Steve Morse           " Introduction "
 Stanley Jordan        " Flyin' Home "
 Jeff Healey           " Can You See the Light ? " 
 Dire Straits          " Brothers in Arms "
 Steve Vai             " Passion and War "
 Steve Vai             " Flexable"
 Leo Kottke             ?????????
 Stevie Ray Vaughan    " In Step "
 Stevie Ray Vaughan    " Texas Flood "
 ALL Van Halen albums ...  Eddie's so musical!
 Steven Pasero         " The Romantica Guitar "
 Pink Floyd            " The Wall "
 Michael hedges        " Taproot"
 Alex De Grassi        ??? 
 Stan Rogers           " Turnaround "
 Simon and Garfunkel   " Greatest Hits"
 Extreme               " Pornografitti"
 Metallica             " And Justice for All"
 Metallica             " Master of Puppets"
 Metallica             " Metallica "
 Metallica             " Ride the Lightning "
 Living Colour         " Vivid "
 Living Colour         " Time's Up "
 Led Zeppelin          " Physical Grafitti "
 Sarah K               " Travelling Gypsy "

  
	     and a huge wish list ... in case I ever develop a cash overflow.

	      later...

-- 
  Fred Bulger                |  1-(902)-496-9029  
  6222 Chebucto Rd.          |  bulger@ug.cs.dal.ca  
  Halifax, Nova Scotia       |  fbulger@ac.dal.ca 
  CANADA    B3l 1K8          |  bulger@moon.sba.dal.ca
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
From: dana@next07wor.wam.umd.edu (Arturo A. Gigante)
Subject: Signiture guitars
Organization: Workstations at Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 23:10:37 GMT

I recently read an article that mentioned Signiture guitars in it.
I know they went out of business or got bought out or something.  Does  
anyone know what they are making now if anything??

I really want to see if they made such a big mistake as Fender did when  
they became GNL.

Just Curious...
From: Jeffrey.J.Olson@dartmouth.edu (Jeffrey J. Olson)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Hendrix effect
Date: 8 Apr 92 17:54:12 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

Does anybody know what type of effect box Hendrix used to get feedback
with octave-higher pitches added?  I read somewhere that such a thing
exists, but I don't know what I'm looking for.
From: gerald@dopey.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Big muff
Date: 10 Apr 92 02:44:11 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.1992Apr10.024411.6849
Organization: University of Hawaii

This is for my friend who is looking for a big muff or the schematics for one...
he does not care if it is working or not...
From: lewocz@acsu.buffalo.edu (John S. Lewocz)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Wanted: tab for Rock-n-Roll Hoochie-Koo
Date: 10 Apr 92 19:46:47 GMT
Organization: State University of New York at Buffalo/Comp Sci

If anyone has it I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

-- 

--John S. Lewocz                          "It's better to spend money like
lewocz@cs.Buffalo.EDU                      there's no tomorrow than it is
lewocz%cs.Buffalo.EDU@ubvm.BITNET          to spend tonight like there's no
Organization: HAM - Hackers Against MUDs
X-Subliminal-Message: IBM/370 assembler is your friend.
Date: Monday, 13 Apr 1992 18:57:22 EDT
From: john faust <JJF122@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: a question

  Hi all!  I have a hand-me-down guitar from my dad and I'd like to know if it
is a good guitar or not.  It's from around '68 and is a Teisco(sp?),del-ray.
Also, anyone have the tab for 'I could have lied' off The Red Hot Chilli Pepper
s new tape?


Thanks a lot!!

John Faust
From: indigo@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (Adam Schneider)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Re: a guitar, 3 chords, and a REQUEST
Date: 6 Apr 92 20:25:49 GMT
Article-I.D.: darkstar.32184


In <72922@netnews.upenn.edu> simmonsb@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Dazed and Confused) writes:
>In article <1992Apr6.165424.21798@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> behm@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (BEHM CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH) writes:
>>	"Helpless" by Niel Young uses the same three chords
>>	and I don't think it ever changes. G D C. The order
>>	is left as an exercise to the reader <8^)

>BZZZZTTTTT!!!! Wrong.  "Helpless" goes D A G, the order is right and the rythmn
>is pretty freakin easy to figure out.

  No, he's right.  G D C and D A G are the SAME CHORDS, but in a different key.
If you insist on playing exactly the same notes as Neil Young does, then it's
D A G, maybe, but I personally would rather play G D C any day.

3-Chord Wonder: "Land of Canaan" by Indigo Girls. G C G C etc. in the verse,
                 then D for "I'm not your Land of Canaan..."

==-=--=---=----=-----=-------=---------=---------=-------=-----=----=---=--=-==
Adam Schneider     indigo@ucscb.ucsc.edu     U.C. Santa Cruz     (408) 457-2172
             "Your actions will follow you full circle 'round..."
==-=--=---=----=-----=-------=---------=---------=-------=-----=----=---=--=-==
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
From: dv@oahu.linus.mitre.org (Dimitri Vorona)
Subject: Re: Easy playing
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Distribution: alt.guitar
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 13:25:58 GMT


There are many different guitars that are available to the guitar
player, why are some 'easier' to play depends on many different
things...

For example... some guitars have higher frets that are flattened out,
this lets a person who plays more lead guitar play faster since the
fingers never touch the fret board.  Other guitars have rounded frets
that are lower to the fret board and this is considered more of a
rythmn guitar.

Although fret spacing plays a big role in the ease of moving up and
down a neck, neck width is important as well as an unfinished neck so
that the hands can move around the neck more freely.

If you want to help your guitar playing alot, drop the electric for
awhile and use an acoustic for practicing... your fingers will get
much stronger much faster, and even the worst action on a guitar may
not feel so bad anymore.


---
"The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they
 have a common enemy."	-Sam Levenson


     		~	     ~	 ~    __@	Dimitri Vorona
  			~	~   _`\<,_ 	MITRE Corporation
	~		  ~	~  (#)/ (#)	Command Systems Development
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From: fkam_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Kevin McFadden)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Les Paul
Date: 5 Apr 92 20:16:42 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)


	By the subject title you might think that I am continuing the
guitar thread, but I am not.  I am in fact wondering what Les Paul
did for the production/recording industry.  It is supposedly pretty 
revolutionary.


Kevin
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
From: ken@batman.austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach)
Subject: Re: where to buy quadraverb or ART signal processors
Reply-To: ken@batman.austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach)
Organization: IBM PSP Palo Alto, Ca.
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 92 16:08:37 GMT

sprochi@cis.ohio-state.edu (Keith Sprochi) posts:

#I know this has gone around before, but I didn't pay any attention
#to where to buy a quadraverb before because I didn't want one.  Now
#I am seriously considering getting one over an ART processor.  If
#you got a good deal on a quadraverb GT, please let me know where I
#should order one from to get the best deal.  
#
#The only reason I would choose an ART over a Quadraverb is because
#the Quadraverb doesn't have pitch transposition which is one effect
#I would really like to have.  If you have an opinion on this I would
#like to hear that also.


Well, I had  the same problem. I just had to have pitch shifting. You
should know that the pitch shifter in the ART is *not* intelligent. If
you set it for a 3rd, it will play a 3rd no matter what key you're in.
So if you need a minor 3rd instead of a major 3rd, you're screwed. UNLESS
you get some kind of continuous controller to adjust the amount of shift
(which means stepping on another pedal while you play). I'm sure that
eventually I will burn myself out on it, too.

On the other hand, it's so bitchin! God, I love it! Sounds like Vai or
Cacophony or something! Whooo!

Seriously, I use octave shifts more than the others. You can get a decent
12-string sound (even though the bottom three strings shift up, and a
12-string merely doubles them in the same octave). Really cool.

If you are going to get an ART Multi-verb (or is it MIDI-verb?), you
may need to get a noise reduction unit (unless you enjoy a lot of
hiss - no, make that a roaring waterfall). The Multi-verbs also only
do time-based effect (to my knowledge) - delays, reverbs, flange, chorus
(and pitch shifting!!!!). If you want to save $$$, I would personally
recommend an ART SGE Mach II. You get all the time-based effects I
mentioned above plus an EQ, a compressor, an expander, and noise reduction
that really works well. My only beef about this unit is that the distortions
included totally suck. No balls, not enough gain. I use my head's preamp
for tone and the ART for effects.

I cannot speak for the Quadraverb (+ or GT) since I've never tried one,
but I am very please with my ART unit.



THIS POSTING DOES NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF MY EMPLOYERS.
-------------------------------------------------------------
	"We're just a Bob Seger cover band."
		-Les Claypool, PRIMUS
-------------------------------------------------------------
From: ksand@apple.com (Kent Sandvik)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Re: Buying a GOOD guitar.. any suggestions?
Date: 11 Apr 92 20:10:29 GMT
Organization: MacDTS Mongols

In article <1992Apr10.110717.1@acad3.alaska.edu>, fscll@acad3.alaska.edu (Chris
Lott) writes:
>> Oh yeah, I play blues and rock, some heavier metal and sometimes fool with
> jazz/fusion. I really want a fast fingerboard with a low action, something to
> compensate for my lack of finger speed (Malmsteen I ain't)

Malmsteen cheats by having scallops on his fretboard...

Cheers,
Kent
From: jgray@balboa.eng.uci.edu (Jeff Gray)
Subject: Re: Sweaty fingers
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 9 Apr 92 19:10:29 GMT

>>[previous discussions of corrosive sweat deleted]<<

I used to use rubbing alcohol to get all the grunge and sweat off the strings
when I was done playing but stumbled across lemon oil, which I used on occasion
to treat the fretboard.  It seems to work pretty well -- the oil seems
to coat the strings and prevent oxygen from corroding them when you're not
playing, although this is just a theory.

Of course, just the mere act of playing wears away the high polish of a
brand-new string -- anyone out there ever find a way to prevent this
or a string that lasts?
--
Jeff Gray
Dept of ECE, University of California, Irvine
jgray@balboa.eng.uci.edu
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
From: aash@ms.uky.edu (aash)
Subject: Re: CHORDS!!
    <32288@darkstar.ucsc.edu>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 01:55:07 GMT
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences
X-Bytes: 

In article <32288@darkstar.ucsc.edu> indigo@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (Adam Schneider) writes:
>
>In <1992Apr7.193259.21982@src.honeywell.com> koontz@iasdv1.iasd.honeywell.com (Sean C. Koontz) writes:
>
>>Can somebody please explain what the "sus" means and how to interpret
>>it when seen in a chord designation?  For example, how do I play a 
>>Asus4?  Also, what does it mean to write A/C#?  Maybe somebody could
>>post a listing of all the chord syntax and how to interpret and map it
>>to a specific fingering.
>   Whenever a chord has "sus" in it, that means you don't play the third.

i don't think sus has anything to do with the thirds.. example: Csus4
is  X32011 . the thing is, a sus2 is kinda like a 9 only a 9 has
a 7 in it too.. so a 9 without a 7 is a sus2... same for sus4, only
with the 11?   the most common sus4 is raising the third a half step,
and the most common sus2 is dropping the third a whole step.. i think
the fact that you don't play the third is just accidental..

aash
-- 
aash@ms.uky.edu, aash@ukma.bitnet     "the only thing i ever really wanted to
{backbone|rutgers|uunet}!ukma!aash     say was wrong, was wrong, was wrong."
aash@ukpr.uky.edu
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
From: timk@meaddata.com (Tim Klein)
Subject: Re: How do they get that sound?
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 19:10:23 GMT
Distribution: alt.guitar

In article <1992Apr13.185605.25355@ms.uky.edu>, aash@ms.uky.edu (aash) writes:
|> In article <1992Apr10.220836.15996@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu> gistim@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Tim Raebig) writes:
|> >Does anyone happen to know how to get that ratchety, distorted sound
|> >
|> >that Ozzy uses for his voice at the beginning of Iron Man and that
|> > 
|> >Metalicca uses on ... And Justice and the new one?
|> 
|> ever run vocals through a distortion pedal?  i have
|> a Boss ME-5 that i use when i record.. for bass, guitar,
|> vocals, everything... you can get some fun stuff...


Try a delay pedal with a very short delay time, and none of the original
signal mixed in.  I once saw a Pink Floyd cover band use that scheme
to do the vocal in "One of These Days".  I think it's the same effect
as in "Iron Man".

===========================================================================
Timothy Klein                 I wish TV had a knob so you could turn up
timk@meaddata.com             the intelligence.  The one marked Brightness
...!uunet!meaddata!timk       doesn't work.      -- Gallagher
From: echris@cs.cornell.edu (E Christopher Lewis)
Subject: Re: 4-track question #2
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 14:11:03 GMT

ferg@brahms.udel.edu (Christopher Ferguson) writes:

>Thanks to all those who responded to my initial question concerning 
>four track recorders. I have decided to go for the tascam 424 not only
>because the response was overwhelmingly in it's favor, but I actually found
>someone who had one and checked it out. Now that that's done, one more
>question...what is a good price on one of these things. I'd rather not have
>to travel too far, so it doesn't have to be a rock bottom price, just a good 
>one.  The local music store (well, the only decent one) sells it for $475.
>Venneman's Music Emporium (not local) sells a package including the machine,
>two mics, headphones for $525, but given the quality of the mics and the 
>headphones they include, that's really about the same price. 
>ferg

Chris - I've had a 424 for four months now, and I'm very pleased.  If you
don't mind mail order, Sam Ash in NY & NJ will get you a good price.  I
paid around $420.  The people who work there are also quite friendly and
willing to offer advice and support.  I'm not sure of their number
(1-800-SAM-ASHE?), so call 800 directory service (1-800-555-1212) and
ask for the number of SAM ASH.

Good Luck - E