I Retired Today

[OldStrummer]

At six p.m. local time, my working career came to an end. I thought I'd simply log off, shut down the computer and walk out the door, but the company had other ideas.

I was thrown a retirement dinner for the local staff (I work on the opposite coast from HQ) and at the end I was handed a pair of envelopes. In one, a hand-written thank you note from the CEO. In the other, five $100 gift cards to Guitar Center. Do these people know me, or what?

Here I was thinking my guitar buying days were over, but now I have $500 and only one place I can spend it. Maybe instead of a guitar I'll buy a case or two. Maybe a pedal that I would rarely use, but would have anyway. Of course, the odds are that I'll use it as a partial payment on another stringed beauty.

Tonight I can stay up late, and then sleep in late. My retired life begins RIGHT NOW!

[phantomman]

No small feat in today's dog-eat-dog business climate.

Congratulations, OS......you've earned it.

[blackonblack]

About those gift cards, as you are singing more, how about a vocal pedal? Maybe a TC Helicon VocalLive Play?

[OldStrummer]

About those gift cards, as you are singing more, how about a vocal pedal? Maybe a TC Helicon VocalLive Play?

Tell me more, Mark! I've never heard of a vocal pedal.

[Bill Moore]

Congrats!
I don't claim retirement, but I don't do very much at the shop anymore,(well personally stuff's maybe). A couple of shops bug me to figure out driveability problems for them, and I try to help old customers, but nothing too heavy.
Years ago I cleaned out a corner of my shop for my old friend Pete, we moved a lathe and mill in, and he could work or not, depending on how he felt. He used to tell me, "William, those folks who retire, go home, and sit on the couch, they don't get up!"
Keep busy and you will be fine!

[Laker]

Congratulations on your retirement!

I celebrated the 10th anniversary of my retirement this year…it’s a wonderful thing.

[gibsonjunkie]

Tell me more, Mark! I've never heard of a vocal pedal.

I use a TC Helicon Harmony GT-X vocal processor. Unfortunately they no longer make them. You plug your guitar in on one end and it reads the chords you are playing, figures out the key you are in and adds pretty realistic harmonies to your vocal. I particularly like the "Doubler" feature which doubles your voice and really fills it out. There are different iterations on this by several companies.

[OldStrummer]

I use a TC Helicon Harmony GT-X vocal processor. Unfortunately they no longer make them. You plug your guitar in on one end and it reads the chords you are playing, figures out the key you are in and adds pretty realistic harmonies to your vocal. I particularly like the "Doubler" feature which doubles your voice and really fills it out. There are different iterations on this by several companies.

So if I'm playing through the house system, I could just plug the pedal into my guitar and the pedal to the house?

[ch willie]

Congratulations on your retirement, and I hope these years are your best.

However, I think you have an incredible work ethic, and I wouldn't be surprised to see you working in some other way. I don't know if you're involved in any civic groups, but community involvement is incredibly satisfying.

Your company and colleagues must hold you in high esteem to have given you such a send off, complete with a sweet gift of the cards. Sounds like we all want to spend your money for you, so I'll chime in: a drum pedal that you can play along with. I have drums on my Korg keyboard, and it's fun to have rhythm when I'm practicing.

[OldStrummer]

Thanks, Bill. I appreciate the kind words. I have some interests other than guitar and work (so to speak) and I might find myself engaged if and when I find the lack of a schedule getting monotonous. I've been part of a Wednesday night church dinner activity for a while, and just this evening when asked why I didn't play with the worship band, replied that up until today I didn't have the time to practice. Since the band never seems to have a bass player, that's what got me started on adding a bass or four to my collection.

But first, I'm going to travel. I've already booked a trip to Peru leaving in a couple of weeks, and next spring I'm spending a month visiting New Zealand and Australia. I also have an open door to working part-time at the running store again, as I did for eight years prior to the COVID mess.

So, I don't think I'm going to get bored. At least not right away. In fact, I slept in a bit this morning, then lounged around in my bathrobe and slippers drinking my morning coffee.

Some people take a while to get used to being retired. I think it took me all of about two minutes.

[Cogs]

Congratulations! Retirement is still away off for me, but I'm beginning to see it over the horizon.

[Don]

Congrats! I've got 5 more years

[Tele-Bob]

I use a TC Helicon Harmony GT-X vocal processor. Unfortunately they no longer make them. You plug your guitar in on one end and it reads the chords you are playing, figures out the key you are in and adds pretty realistic harmonies to your vocal. I particularly like the "Doubler" feature which doubles your voice and really fills it out. There are different iterations on this by several companies.

Nick, I had a TC Electronics Harmonizer. It stopped working the day I brought it home. The store wouldn't take it back and TC Electronics wouldn't replace it.
After several re-loads of the firmware to get it working only to have it fail again during the next 5 gigs in a row, and TC Electronics finally agreeing to look at and return it in 6 to 8 weeks, I did a little surgical repair myself and I felt much better. I will never buy another one of their products.

[Tele-Bob]

At six p.m. local time, my working career came to an end. I thought I'd simply log off, shut down the computer and walk out the door, but the company had other ideas.

Tonight I can stay up late, and then sleep in late. My retired life begins RIGHT NOW!

Congratulations! I retired a year ago and love it!

[blackonblack]

Tell me more, Mark! I've never heard of a vocal pedal.

Well it seems GC doesn’t carry them

they do have some used stuff, including the Mac daddy of VoiceLive Touch 2 at $600. Probably more than you want. They have an older VoiceLive Play at 385.

[blackonblack]

They also have a Perform VG at 170

[blackonblack]

Here you go. boss is the other to look at. The Vocal Performer VE-500 at your gift card value.

[blackonblack]

OS. As an update. I was talking to my Sweetwater rep today who sings. He said while the TC Helicon units are good, that Boss unit I referenced was the one to get. He said the harmonies are better on it, but more so the workflow when using is MUCH better.
Those GC gift card are used up LOL.

PS: I’m asking for some gift cards as well.

[OldStrummer]

The first few pedals I bought when I decided to go electric were Boss. I don't play electric as much any more, but Boss quality has always impressed me.

I wonder if my hearing isn't failing me? (I do have hearing aids but rarely wear them). I checked out this YouTube video on the Boss VE 500 you recommended, but I could scarcely discern the difference when the guy demoing twisted the dials. I gather it's an informative demo, and the basics are covered before the more advanced features, but I'm not sure how well I could set it to use it.

[blackonblack]

That’s okay. Haven’t listened to the video. My Boss Acoustic Singer Live amp does a lot. The vocal doubling and harmonies are good. I need some pitch correction though.

[Offshore Angler]

Nice hammer Bob! What'd that set you back?

[Tele-Bob]

Nice hammer Bob! What'd that set you back?

Bah ha ha! I don't remember. All I know is, I like quality products and inferior ones need to be removed from this world!

[gibsonjunkie]

TC Electronics and TC Helicon were bought by the company that owns Behringer and I understand lots of changes are in the wind. They stopped making the Harmony GT-X. I'd probably look at the Boss if I were in the market today. Also the BeatBuddy is a cool drum pedal. Easy to use in a live environment.

[blackonblack]

OS, curious which Boss video you watched?
Don't want to post things you already watched.

[blackonblack]

I see you linked it.

Try these

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...ocal-performer

[tugboat]

Congratulations OS!!

[jrgtr42]

Nick, I had a TC Electronics Harmonizer. It stopped working the day I brought it home. The store wouldn't take it back and TC Electronics wouldn't replace it.
After several re-loads of the firmware to get it working only to have it fail again during the next 5 gigs in a row, and TC Electronics finally agreeing to look at and return it in 6 to 8 weeks, I did a little surgical repair myself and I felt much better. I will never buy another one of their products.

Is that what's known as percussive maintenance?

[Offshore Angler]

Is that what's known as percussive maintenance?

What would be better with a worthless pedal is to start an internet thread about how it's the end-all, essential tone monster that if you're not using you're a loser, and then add it to the Klon and Bad Monkey club of useless POS's that fetch megabucks from wannabee guitar heros.

If anyone ever asks I'll add my tale of being Klon Conned to a thread.

[Tele-Bob]

What would be better with a worthless pedal is to start an internet thread about how it's the end-all, essential tone monster that if you're not using you're a loser, and then add it to the Klon and Bad Monkey club of useless POS's that fetch megabucks from wannabee guitar heros.

If anyone ever asks I'll add my tale of being Klon Conned to a thread.

I am not a Klon fan either. Far as I'm concerned, the emperor is wearing no clothes...

Where the TC Electronics pedal is concerned, it actually sounded great,......when it was working. Unfortunately, it worked very rarely and after hanging me out 5 gigs in a row, along with the THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE EVER, it had to die very public and painful death. The photos were shared generously on the TC Electronics forum page. What a piece of crap!

I have no room for things that don't work.

[BobbyMac]

Congratulations on your retirement.

[CoyotesGator]

Congratulations on retirement!

[OldStrummer]

Thanks, guys. I know it's too early to tell, but it already feels like the saying, "Every week is six Saturdays and a Sunday."

A friend gave me a book, "How To Retire Happy, Wild and Free" by Ernie J. Zelinski. I've only begun reading it, but there is some indication that the newness wears off and then the "What do I do now?" thoughts begin. I expect that to be the case with me too, but I have some trips lined up and non-work related interests that I've been pursuing long before retirement, so I don't think I'm going to need a lot of encouragement. At least for now.

[Tele-Bob]

I have no idea how I had time to work and pursue my other interests at the same time.
Staying busy takes some effort. But working for a living takes even more effort!
In my younger days I used to get real steamed when I'd hear people complaining about retirement because they're bored. What a waste! I'm sure you've worked very hard for this.
You stand at the most critical point of your life. This YOUR time. Choose wisely. Make the very best of it!