"On My Way!" - Song Insight

Sometimes the song writes itself.

…and sometimes the guitar writes it for you.

My 12-string definitely wrote this song.  Take a listen:

I hadn't held my 12-string in well over a year. I took it out of the case to take a "family photo" of all my guitars. Yet during that entire photo shoot, it's like this 12-string was calling to me, “I HAVE A SONG THAT NEEDS TO BE HEARD”. After I put all the other guitars away, my 12-string kept calling, sparking something in me that I knew I should play it. 

I knew something special was in store since even though it had not been played in so long, the strings were still bright.  It’s like it was keeping ready until I heard it’s beckoning. 

I tuned it to standard tuning but 1/2 step down, in Eb, like I have since I bought it in 1995. That’s how it was tuned when I found it at a used guitar shop in Excelsior, MN, and it seemed to sound bigger and better not wound up so tight.  And don’t be fooled: that 1/2 step lower is a BIG DEAL.  Most Van Halen songs are a 1/2 step lower, and it just adds a unique tone, a freedom, and in this case, the chance to sing a melody that would have been just a bit too high in standard E tuning.

“On My Way” is such a fun, rockin’ song. The chords and outline of the song poured out from the guitar quickly. The lyrics, as usual of late, took longer. Seems I am quite creative in what I want to play, but have a harder time deciding what I want to say. 

The 12-string helped me write the lyrics, too. In a way, the guitar was demonstrating to me how important it is to have unity in our lives. If you’ve never owned a 12-string, it is much more challenging to tune. Each string has an important role, but they all must play off the other strings in order to sound full, make an impact, and not distract from the song. But interestingly, the slight variances of the strings, the unique attributes that cause imperfections, are actually the magic that makes 12-string guitars so awesome sounding! The beautiful, full, chorus effect is actually a result of these imperfections and if each string were exactly in tune, removing those uniquenesses, it wouldn’t sound the same. Further, each string supports the full sound. Without string 11, string 12 would sound weaker.  Without string 2 adding octave higher tone (and harmonics), string 1 wouldn’t sound as rich. 

I think that’s what this song is trying to say. As a family, a community, we need to embrace our uniquenesses, recognize our differences, yet support each other and love each other…and that could, just possibly, make each other more successful, and whole communities more successful.

The Scene

As a dear friend suggested, “On My Way!” could be an awesome Movie opening or an inspiring short! 

I imagine the scene:

~~~~

> Lights up: Wide open plains. Silence with just a slight sound of wind. Close-up of a cool car's front wheels on a gravel road “looking out over a curving, winding road that cuts through the openness and disappears on the horizon“.

> A sudden commotion! Boots in gravel rush towards the car and open the door.

> A driver jumps in, peels out, and the song starts.

> Driver is racing down that winding road

> drone shot from on high zooms into the driver window.

> driver starts singing “I’M NOT OK!”

> …song plays, communicates, tells the story, inspires, gathers, unites, connects.

> …song ends.

> Credits roll, in the background a 12-string acoustic in the background strums the chords of the song…like the mission will never end, there is always more work to do, more ways to communicate, inspire, connect.

> During credits, a long list of teams, neighbors, communities, societies that were changed for the better because of the message this song delivered.

> Fade out

~~~~

THAT is what I wish the video would be. A visual paired with the lyrics… a call to action…a call to unify…a call to care about one another.

Power of a 12 string

Now that you heard the full version, take a listen to this acoustic version. I really like this since it speaks volumes of how a 12-string with passionate vocals can deliver a song with nearly the same intensity as the full band version.

12-string and Vocals version:

If you're interested in how I recorded the song, here are the technical specs:

Technical Specifics:

• Recording Unit: Logic Pro
• Drums: Logic Pro
• Handclaps: Greg and Jack
• Acoustic Guitar: Ovation 12-string Ultra Series 1515
• Electric Guitar: Paul Reed Smith Starla
• Guitar Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
• Bass: "Thumb Bass" Logic Pro
• Acoustic Guitar Mics: 12th fret: CAD E100, 3ft back: Rode NT1
• Electric Guitar Mics: close: Shure Beta58
• Vocal Mics: Sure Beta58
• Tracks: 
• Drums
• Acoustic: One guitar, stereo recording, hard panned
• Electric Rhythm: 2 tracks (doubled) - panned
• Lead guitar: 2 tracks (doubled)
• Vocals: Lead, sometimes doubled
  
• Vocals: harmonies 3 tracks: High, Low, HEYs
• Claps: 2 tracks, doubled

Lyrics

The lyrics were finished during vocal recordings. I find that some word choices just don’t feel right in the mouth as I sing them, so I’ll make some subtle changes to the phrase so it says the same thing but in a better way. In the end, I am quite happy with what it says, and even the vocal performance.

Intro:      

V1

I’m not OK!   I woke up on the other side of

disaster         end of days

But not Today!  through my epic failures I will find what i’m 

after

Bridge

          and there I see a tiny glimmering of light

    I clear my head, sharpen my faith, and say  “HEY!”

Ch 1

I’m on my way

Don’t get in my   way

my inner healing starts today I’m on my way!

Intro:     

V2

We’re not OK! It’s you against me against him in

meaningless chatter it’s got us frayed

This is our Day!

It’s time to Lift each other up it’s what

Matters

Bridge

         together we can climb these mountains filled with hope

      just follow me  I know the way  “HEY!”

Ch 2

We’re on our way!

nothing will get in our our   way!

our inner healing starts today We’re on our way!

Break

V3

We’ll be OK!  it’s you and me and him filling up with

laughter       it fills our days

From now until the end of o-u-r time

we’re traveling together

Bridge 2

and if you ever drift off course

I’ll grab your hand, pull you close       HEY!

Ch 3

We’re on our way!

nothing will get in our our way!

and now our journey starts today HEY!

We’re on our way!

Song Insight: "I Hate, I Love"

Summary:

I started writing this song with a desperation to get out of a life situation I was in...only to realize it wasn't the situation that needed to change...but my attitude and how grateful I should be for all the amazing situations that make up my life.

Composer: Greg Hintermeister, ©2017
Arranged: Greg Hintermeister
Performed by: Greg Hintermeister
Recorded: 2017 in Hint of Light Studios
Emotions: Anger, Frustration, Hope, Love, Excitement!

Listen:                     Other song insights

PS: Listen with nice speakers or headphones and you'll hear all the cool stuff
Insight:
In May 2016, I was lost...angry...desperate. While I could point to many situations throughout 2016, on this particular day the area getting my attention was my job.

I was driving home, and this lyric bursted out of my head, "I HATE THIS JOB SO MUCH I WANT TO...!"...and after hearing the Prince song "My Name is Prince", I had a mood I wanted to use to capture my desperation.

I got home, strapped on my guitar, and fairly quickly created the riff you hear in the song. I was stoked! What a way to get all my aggression out! However, as I started writing more lyrics, they turned false. I really wasn't angry at my job. Well, I was, but I shouldn't have been. I quickly mapped out the storyboard of what I really wanted to say, and got to work. Maybe I could create a song that focused on my attitude, not the situation, that can affect my outlook on life...and if I can change what I focus on, change my attitude, maybe my frustration can turn into gratefulness.

Maybe it could help not just me, but maybe help others feeling this way.

...as a result, the rest of the lyrics came out...where it's not really the situation I was in, but how I was emotionally responding to the situation...my attitude...my anxiety with how situations were impacting me that I could change.

One other result is that this is my first song in 31 years of composing that has a swear word in it. Not a bad one...some would argue that it's not even a curse word, but I ended up using it because it helped connect to my emotion, and also removed the need to have a noun that I'm mad at. The listener can add any situation they are struggling with and connect to the song.

Did it work? the attitude change? We'll see. The past 2 years have been a challenge if I'm being honest. But focusing on being creative...whether it's composing, photography, writing, or inventing at work, I am much happier.

In the end, I am grateful for the struggles. It makes me grateful for the great days.

Also, I got a killer song out of it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Technical Specifics:
Recording Unit: Logic Pro - iMac
Drums: Logic Pro "drummer", with Roland XV-5080 for congas
Electric Guitar: Paul Reed Smith Hollowbody II
Guitar Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Electric Guitar Mics: close: Shure SM57;
Vocal Mic: Sure Beta58
Keyboards: 80's synth: Logic Pro; Synth pads: XV-5080; synth pad: RD-500
Bass: Roland XV-5080, Logic Pro "Thumb Bass"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recording Specifics:
I wrote the 2 main riffs in May 2016, then put it aside while I music directed Rock of Ages, and not until February after getting back from Madrid for work I finished.

One unique thing is that I recorded this REALLY fast. Whole thing in about 5 hours. Usually I spend a month detailing and perfecting, but this time I just took the energy I was feeling and kept what I recorded.

The only thing I'm not thrilled with is the guitar solo...it's OK but would like another shot at composing something really interesting...I think my adrenaline was pumping so I just played lots of notes...rather than composing something thoughtful.

I was REALLY happy with the way the vocals came out. Not just the verses that sounded nice and angst-y, but the choruses that were 3 part harmony and even swooped into the right chords! (I'm not very good at harmonies so it was a big surprise at what you hear).

Finally, because I use Logic enough now, I have nice vocal presets and Mastering presets so I can very quickly print a production-ready version of a song.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

I hate this so damn much I want to…

Shout!            Scream!

I hate this so damn much I want to

Poke both my eyes out    throw them out the window

So I’ll see    what it’s like     to be alive and a little bit

Chorus:

Free!        …to be          Happy!

Verse 2:

I hate this so damn much it’s time to

Go!  Run!   Pump my fists in the air!

I hate this so damn much it’s time to

See all the good here     have a little fun

could it be    I could believe and be more than a little bit

Chorus:

Free!        …and  be         Happy!

B Section:

I choose to  Love

Live

Breathe

Laugh so hard I lose my breath  so when I die there’s not a thing left!!

Solo

 I love this life so much I want to

Play!

Now I feel   in my head I feel alive and completely

Chorus:

Free!        …and I'm

Happy!
 

Verse 3:

I love this life so much I want to

Scream!

I love this life so much I want to

Shout!

End:

So come along and have a little bit of fun and laugh and be

Free!

--> -->

Servants or Savages?

Few moments in my life are better than when I'm belting out a song on stage at the top of my lungs just after pulling off a great guitar solo. This happens regardless of the stage I'm on...including our church stage. It must be a common feeling since many recent worship songs seem to be designed so worship guys can wail their voices and guitars...pouring every ounce of energy from the stage into the audience.

The songs are fast, guitar-driven, and in a key optimal for someone like me; a guitar-playing tenor who loves riffing and singing high, loud, fast, and energetic. When the song is done, I feel invigorated because I've given all I have to help the audience enter into an immersive worship experience.

It's an awesome way to serve.

...Or is it?

While I think I'm a servant, am I really a savage?

Let me explain...

This struggle of servant/savage has been rattling around in my head for a couple years, and maybe I'm extra sensitive because I live with a true worship leader...my wife. For her, some of these awesome-songs-for-guy-rockers-to-sing are not invigorating at all...they're frustrating. Turns out that many of these songs are just too high to sing…and instead of being immersed in worship, many women are immersed in frustration.

I've noticed it too. When I'm in the audience and singing away happily, I sometimes stop, look around, and see many of the women are not singing. They're somewhat involved, but they could be immersed at such a deeper level.

The final straw for me was last week when I lead the student worship band. The group picked a song, I listened to the CD, liked it, and practiced. The result? Awkwardness. The female worship leader was very uncomfortable singing the chorus because it was just too high.

It didn't even occur to me to run through the song with my wife. Now, that's not surprising because of my well-documented lack of concern for most all other people, but for some reason being the cause of this awkward worship moment really bothers me.

I'd like to think I was just being naive.

But to be honest, I wonder if I was being something worse? Did I choose the song key because it was fun for me? Did it sit in a great range for my voice? Was I choosing the song not based on how it would help both men and women enter into deep worship, but because I'd have more fun performing it in that key? Or maybe because I'd sound/look better performing it?

Am I really a savage?

If I put my personal benefits above providing a song designed for women to worship through, how different is that from when women weren't allowed to worship at all…or were treated as property? Do I have a sense of privilege that because it's ME singing and preparing the songs that I'm entitled to do the song any way I please?

Am I actively (savagely) preventing women from deep worship solely because the melody is too high? By feeling entitled to play the song that's best for me, am I being selfish, arrogant, and disrespectful to the women in our church?

If I can convince myself that my song/key choice is not for my personal benefit, then am I putting too much weight on the entertainment value? When confronted with the opportunity to change keys of a song so it's singable by all, I instantly think one of these excuses:

• "Well, the artist wrote it like this" (the "artistic integrity" excuse)
• "Ya, but in that key it loses all its energy" (the "why make all suffer rather than half" excuse)
• "I just don't have time and the band doesn't know those chords very well" ( the "I'm really just lazy" excuse)
• "The song has such a big range, changing the key makes the verses too low for men" (the "I love this song even though it's not really a worship song" excuse)

I'm starting to wonder: If we as men are to love women like Jesus loved the church, wouldn't our primary purpose be to do whatever it takes to enable women enter into deep worship? Shouldn't we as male worship leaders be OK singing a song with a smackrel less energy so that woman can enter into deep worship, too? I know it's a sacrifice, but I think Jesus showed how far sacrifice could go, and He went a tad beyond singing a song in a lower key.

I'll be the first to admit that if we're attending a stadium concert, these songs are perfect. The purpose of a concert is to move the listener, entertain, and create memories. However, if we're in a church service, and the primary purpose is to enter into deep worship, then shouldn't the songs be in a key that is decent for both men and women? And if the songs have such a big range that they really can't be changed, maybe they're just horrible worship songs? Further, shouldn't we as songwriters be writing songs tailored to women singing? I know. It's hard. I've been writing songs for 27 years and it's always hard for me to pick a key that works great for my wife to sing.

One final thought...something intriguing…

…as I've re-keyed worship songs when my wife leads, it turns out that if a song is comfortable for an average woman to sing, men can sing it too.

I wonder…did God design our vocal chords knowing that if men wrote songs as a servant for woman to worship through, we'd at the same time be writing songs that we could all worship through? Is the offset of male/female vocal ranges specifically designed so that men would need to serve women in order for all of us to enter into deep worship together?

I wonder…

What do you think?

Song Insight: "Gonna Get High"

Composer: Greg Hintermeister, ©2011

Arranged: Greg Hintermeister

Performed by: Greg Hintermeister

Recorded: 2011 in Hint of Light Studios

Emotions: Passion, Love, Community, Magic of life!

Listen and Watch:              Other song insights

Background:

It all started with an inside joke referenced in a post, "Just got pics of my new guitar from my PRS Supplier".

It ended with a surprisingly passionate and uplifting song.

Here are the pics I posted:

I assumed everyone in my friends list knew that I joke regularly about my "addiction" to my guitars...that, for me, my passion for my guitars, and the music/worship/relationships that resulted from playing them are so core to my life that I can't imagine living without their influence (you know, small things like meeting my wife, traveling the world, life-long friends, leading others in worship, ...all directly resulted from playing guitar)

Naturally, since I found a guitar dealer who over the years I've grown to fully trust, and who helps me build an outstanding specimen (he seems to have a secret tunnel into the PRS factory, where he sets out the best wood and chooses the best builders), I can honestly say I have a supplier for my PRS guitars. This dealer, Jack Gretz, knows the kind of music I play so he offers suggestions as to what options and wood choices I should make to get the most out of my guitar.

I have purchased three PRS guitars from him: My PRS Hollowbody II, my PRS Swamp Ash Special, and now my PRS Tonare Grand acoustic (I have a fourth PRS, a Starla, that I won at the PRS Experience event in 2008).

Surprisingly, some comments in that original post made it clear not everyone was 'in' on the inside joke. I actually removed the post since I started to get some concerning comments about how I shouldn't take a scourge on society like drug addiction so lightly. 

My first thought?

Write a tounge-in-cheek song using all the drug-use metaphors I could think of about how I'm addicted to this new guitar (you know, lyrics about breathing deep, holding my breath, holding my addiction between my fingers, seeing places I've never been, and, of course throwing in the suggestive comment or two about gliding my fingers across a g-string).

What did I end up with?

A surprisingly passionate and uplifting song that I completely adore.

I think I found a way to communicate what I feel when I play guitar...a sense of wonder, passion, exploration, and excitement that fills every fibre in my being...especially when I'm playing a new, freshly written song.

I hope I can live up to these lyrics in songs to come. and I hope you get a glimpse into what it feels like for me to play my guitar.

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Technical Specifics:

Recording Unit: Cakewalk MIDI software, Soundscape DAW

Drums: Roland XV-5080

Acoustic Guitar: Paul Reed Smith Tonare Grand Custom

Electric Guitar: Paul Reed Smith Hollowbody II

Guitar Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

Acoustic Guitar Mics: 12th fret: CAD E100, 3ft back: Rode NT1

Electric Guitar Mics: close: Shure SM57;  3ft back: Rode NT1

Keyboard pad: XV-5080

Bass: RD-500

Recording Specifics:

The first version, acoustic-only, was the first one I recorded so I could see how the guitar sounded on its own. Here's the acoustic-only YouTube video:

Once I recorded that, I felt there was a lot of un-tapped energy I could release if I added more instruments. The version at the top of this post is the full version with drums, bass, and electric guitar. I could have added even more vocal harmonies, guitar solos, but I think this is a great blend of instruments to squeegee out the passion I wanted to convey without making the song too hard-rock. I really wanted to keep the acoustic a driving instrument through the song.

The tuning of the guitars was unique:  C# - G# - C# - F# - A - C#      

However, this let me chord on the 3-5th strings with normal fingerings, yet have the 1, 2, 6 strings ring open for much of the song, which gave it the full acoustic sound I was looking for.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

Gonna breathe in

    breathe deep

Slowly let out my breath

Go places I've never been

Gonna find love

Gonna find pain

Gonna find there's a secret for livin' this life

and I'm holding it in my hand

Chorus:

Gonna get high

High on this guitar

Gonna dig deeper

Down to the depths of who we really are

We'll play songs of laughter and tears

we'll play songs to lovers and friends we hold dear

and who knows   what we'll find...  when we're high

Verse 2:

Gonna sing out

Gonna sing loud

Sing with all my breath

with feelings I can't speak out

Sing about faith

Sing about peace

Sing from the depths of my inner most dreams

I might even have to scream

Chorus:

Gonna get high

High on this guitar

Gonna dig deeper

Down to the depths of who we really are

Lets touch our soul through these strings

Let this wood carry our heart when it rings

'Cause who knows what we'll find...  when we're high

B:

Let's close our eyes

Verse 3:

Gonna breathe in

    breathe deep

Slowly let out my breath

See places I've never been

Gonna find truth

Gonna find grace

Gonna find we're all here for a reason tonight

Lets all raise our hands and say

Chorus:

We're gonna get high

High on this guitar

Gonna dig deeper

Down to the depths of who we really are

The thrill of a lifetime is here

It's you and it's me and what we believe

and Who knows   what we'll find...  when we're high

End:

Gonna get high

Gonna get high

A Really Good Day: PRS Experience - September 22, 2008

"Let's give away a guitar!", said Paul (owner/founder of Paul Reed Smith guitars)

Thus began the end of a really good day.

It actually started the day before where I had finished giving a rousing presentation and demo at the IBM Future Interfaces Conference at MIT in Cambridge, MA. Which, by the way, had the best science lab I’ve ever seen:

I would tell you all about my presentation, but then I'd have to answer to Watson, and he's really not happy with me after I made fun of him.  But I can tell you that I was at an emotional high...at least at that time I thought it was my emotional high for the weekend.

Boy, was I wrong.  :-)

The morning after my Future Interfaces success, I drove down from Boston to Stevensville Maryland (just next to Baltimore). Amazing drive! I fully under-appreciated how accessible the east coast is. Oh, and I had some quality time with my iPod :-)

My destination? The PRS Experience. Paul Reed Smith, founder of PRS Guitars, loves his customers and dealers so he puts on an "open house" with players (like me), artists (like Mark Tremonti, Johnny Hiland, and David Grissom:

I knew this was going to be a good day...

I knew my current emotional high would be carried through by what I was about to experience...

I didn't know just how good it would be...

I wake up and walk out of the hotel to wait for the PRS shuttle. 10 PRS fans await with me...the nicest group you could ever meet. Some have their own guitars to have artists and PRSh (Paul Reed Smith himself) sign. Some have shirts. All have a grateful attitude that this 2 day open house is free.

Amazingly, I meet a friend. I don't have good friends anywhere. I met one here. John. Older guy who's wife died and has always wanted to own a PRS, and who's daughter urged him to come to the PRS Experience. We form a bond that I'll never forget.

I get off the bus, and receive a crazy-cool packet of PRS stuff: hat, shirt, stickers, keychain. I walk up to a tent and see an intimate session where Johnny Hiland is talking about his guitar...and playing some of the most amazing guitar I've ever seen (Watch this)

I walk to the 'spin and win' wheel...where Mark Tremonti walks by...I shake his hand and personally thank him for redefining hard rock for me...from an angry, tense experience...into a beautiful soundscape of hope, melodic lyrics, and rockin guitar you could sing to.

Oh, and I spun and got some cool PRS guitar picks, and unfortunately get a lousy raffle ticket.

I spend the rest of the day amazed at how guitars are made, played, and got an education I’ll never forget.

Then the evening approaches.

The main show consists of stunning music. All 1400 of us are at the same time both inspired to practice more, and depressed at how we'll never be that good that we think we may never want to play again.

My emotional high has not wavered...it has been an outstanding day.

...It is about to change.

PRSh walks on stage...hushes the crowd. "This is the part of the the show that I am most excited about", he says with a big smile.

"Let's give away a guitar!", he shouts. 

We shout in agreement! Most of us are excited for some lucky fan...because we know we never win anything.

...the mood of the night is the closest to Heaven I've been in...we're all rooting for each other...sharing the love of a common instrument...and talking about how grateful we are all to be there.

His assistant walks out with a big, black case.

Paul opens it up, and pulls out a real beauty. "This is our new Starla. Fresh from the factory". Now, we're talking really fresh...the factory is only 100 feet away. Bigsby tremolo...a rare thing on PRS guitars, Cherry red, and custom pickups that sound amazing.

"Someone here will win this guitar months before it even goes on sale. You'll be the first in the world to own one". We all look around for some other that will jump at their name.

He raises a bowl 1/2 full of raffle tickets....

...my mind snaps to attention...the raffle tickets couldn't be purchased...only won from that 'spin and win' wheel...the same raffle ticket I was disappointed in winning...mind spinning...spinning...

He pulls out a single ticket.

"Hmm", he mutters to his assistant...asking how to pronounce the name? Sweet! My name is hard to pronounce...

"OK! We have a winner..."

...spinning...spinning...

"Wow, all the way from..."

At this point my mind... my heart...stomach...eyes, my whole being is spinning...

"...Minnesota"

AAAAH! I can't get excited! CALM DOWN! YOU NEVER WIN UNLESS IT'S CRAPPY TRADE SHOW STUFF!

...but how many people traveled from Minnesota!?!

"The winner is... Gre..."

I don't fully recall when exactly I jumped up and shouted "YEAH!!!"...if I waited until my full name was said, but I truly only remember my first name announced...and the slow-motion jump that would have been perfect for an energy drink ad.

My new friend John was so happy for me.

Turns out, everyone was so happy for me! Again...like what I imagine Heaven being like. I walk towards the stage...I'm getting cheers, back slaps, hand shakes...the fellow PRS fans are truly happy. Not even teasing "in fun".

I get on stage and shake Paul's hand. He hands me the guitar. He asks, "You dig Bigsby!?!"

I say, "Yeah, I dig Bigsby!"

"What? You hate Bigsby!?" PRSh shouts...I hope he's joking...

"NO, I LOVE BIGSBY!". I shout back over the laughing crowd…He winks.

He puts the guitar in the case, hands me the case, and asks for another round of applause.

Now, in my dreams I would have either bowed, or pulled the guitar out and started to play "Garden of Eden" by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (Seriously. Listen to it. It rocks!) to the cheer of the crowd. Instead I just walk off stage with Paul's assistant...

...a huge smile...

...and my new guitar.

Later, I ask her how I should bring this on the plane for my trip home. She says, "Oh, heavens. Let us ship it using our secure shipping boxes". So nice.

I arrive home, await for my guitar (much like Doc Brown waiting for Marty McFly at the end of Back to the Future), and play it the next Sunday. The sound is truly amazing. Rich, thick, with what I can only describe as "Ballsy". It shimmers with the tremolo, and it tunes down to dropped-D wonderfully.

It is now my favorite guitar for hard rock songs.

~~~~~~

Someday I'll be asked what the best day of my life was...I'll probably answer with the words 'wedding' or 'birth of a child', but somewhere deep in my mind...I may just be thinking of this day.

God, I LOVE This Guitar!

…and I wonder, did You plan this all along?

Then God said, “Let there be Luthier-quality tone-wood”. And God saw that it was good…saw that it was better than good. God saw that it rocked! Thus ended the third day.
Genesis 1:11-12 (GRH Translation)

I know Day 3 was a big day for you, but among creating all the “Seed-bearing plants” and “Fruit-bearing trees”, did you put a little extra love into East Coast maple, Indian Rosewood, and Mahogany… knowing that in 1999 these woods you created would be formed into my Paul Reed Smith Hollow-body II Black Sunburst 10-top?

Did you end Day 3 thinking, “I can’t wait to see Greg’s reaction”?

When you taught the Eagle to fly on day 5, did your eye twinkle knowing their flight would be honored on the rosewood neck using abalone inlays from the sea shells you made on the same day?

Were you giddy knowing that when I turned 30, and decided to buy my ‘dream guitar’, that you had already planted, cultivated, and grew the trees that would be used?

Did you guide the invention of glossy finish, 000 grit sandpaper, and black-sunburst stain procedures knowing it would only enhance the guitar’s flamed-maple top?

Do you wink when the wood reflects my smile, knowing it also reflects yours?

I wonder…did you gather the angels around your throne to watch (and sing) at the exact moment I first plugged my guitar into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, turned the gain to 3, and strummed an E chord?

…and did you audibly whisper to me, “Yeah, I knew you’d like it”, or did I just imagine it?

How about when I play? I know you are ruler of the universe and all, but do you smile when I nail that solo I’ve been working on…even if it is during a church service? Or, maybe, especially when it is during a church service?

When the band is tight, anticipating each others phrasing, filling the stage with sonic goodness, and I’m playing more from instinct than paper (and playing far better than I should be), is that you surrounding me? Is that my heart laughing with you?

Do you bless Jim Marshall when I play dropped-D through my Marshall Gov’nor Plus pedal because it’s the exact hard-rock tone a troubled soul in the audience needs to hear so you can soften his hardened heart?

How about on that cold winter morning when my PRS fell and was cosmetically damaged. Did you shed a tear with me, even though you knew I had to learn that a guitar shouldn’t replace You as the focus of my music?

I wonder…

Do you use my passion for this guitar as your way to help me understand how much you really do love me?