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Toronto Roofing Industry

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While my brother was here from Chicago visiting this past summer, we all bumped into a mutual friend of ours from our elementary school days and his wife! It was great to caught up with what is going on with each other’s lives and share a pint or two over dinner!

We met up at the Balmy Beach Club, members only and sat out on the patio! It’s right on the beach front in the “Beach area” near our home.

Out in front of us on the patio there are these little break water islands around 75 feet from the shore.

My brother and I saw that our buddy seemed bummed out so we asked him what is was that we could do to brighten up his day. His response was something like “why don’t you two swim out to those break water islands and show us what your made of.” So we did!

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As it turned out it was just a little tried from working too hard with his company Toronto Roofing industries.

The guy was always a perfectionist and was always looking at ways to improve what ever he did. One thing that I can say about Tim is that he always did his homework! He also came over to the house that we were going to buy and he did a quick visual on the roof and was bang on the money. He told us about when the roof was done, the overall structure of it and some tiny little faults in it that was easy for us to fix! Good eye Tim, you should of been a jeweler!

Keep on Jammin’ Tim!




Oscar Peterson RIP

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I don’t know where to start on this post because I have been in a state of disbelief ever since it has happened. One of the last jazz giants Oscar Peterson has left the building. On top of it all, was Canadian! Not many people are aware of this fact, especially Canadians themselves.

He was born on August 15, 1925 in a limestone house on Delisle Street in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He played trumpet THEN piano, he had TB at the tender age of 7 then concentrated solely on piano. He did most of his recognizable contributions to jazz in the 50’s and 60’s and was best known for his impeccable playing technique. Some may have thought that was his only real gift but when he flew up or down the keys in either PPP or FFF, it was obvious the the guy knew exactly how to execute his talent like no one before. To all of you guitar speed freaks not familiar with him, think Eddie Van Halen!

Over the years he played with the many of the great Jazz Masters. He worked with Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, and Joe Pass. Most of these are not household names, but trust me they are giants in the Jazz world!

Most of his major musical influences more well known though. They were Nat ‘King’ Cole, the legendary Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson and James P. Johnson.

Some people consider Oscar Peterson a jazz player who plays standard blues licks over and over again. Although this maybe true, he sounds like he was comfortable in blues as he was in jazz.

As they say ” the world is smaller then you think “, a great guy that I work with is his 1st cousin! He told me that his part of the family was not that close to them. He can’t remember the last time that he saw him which is sad.

I have always wanted to see this legend live, but sadly I didn’t. Not witnessing one of the last remaining great Jazz pianists to play live, is one of the many great acts that will have to be played only on DVD and regrettably not within my memory.

Oscar Peterson RIP

Keep on Jammin’ Oscar

Fender Duo Sonic Pick ups

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I just love the sound of the single coil pick ups that I have in my Fender Duo Sonic.

They are the earliest example of what the Humbucking pick up sound would become when you put the pick up switch in the middle. In this position, you are using BOTH front and back pick ups at once.

This configuration or use of the Fender’s pick ups would later help Gibson develop their own signature sound, only on a Fender guitar. Neat eh?

This is how the wiring of the pick ups work on my baby!

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This a great example on how the single coil pick up works in regards to single strength. It basically shows how the string effects the pick ups output/signal going to the amp. This is also called be considered as the voltage or sound that comes out of it, once again going to the amp.

Pick ups are basically isolated copper-wire wound around a magnet. Their magnetic field is disturbed when the the string coming closer or vibrating above it. These magnets were cast in sand believe it or not thus they have this rough and unfinished look to them.

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OR

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Some more information about technical and sound terms that they use are a great read for the general interest reader all the way to the seasoned guitar aficionado.

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This link is fabulous for my Pickup specs. I found that the information here is quite detailed.

So I hope that I gave you a better insight into the inner workings of what they call a Single Coiled pick up.

One more thing, look at who else used Duo Sonic guitars, Mr. Jimi!

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Keep on Jammin’

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