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Topic: Rejoice with me my friends... and please,,, wish me luck. |
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 8:41 am |
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Why??.. Well when I was struck with Tinnitus I figured my playing days were over forever .. I have extreme Tinnitus, not just a little "ringing in the ears".. Mine is always there, and is so loud, and so extremely high pitched[12K Hz], that nothing can mask it, not even standing next to a big waterfall, or even a thunderstorm with 65 mph winds ,crashing thunder and horizontal rain.. The T just rises right up over it.. Its called "reactive tinnitus".. Its debilitating at times..
I have the worst classification, "catastrophic', which means its heard always, and one cannot live a normal life with..
That has certainly been the case for me.
Anyway, I needed to get my life back as best I am able, as I haven't had any life since that day of 7/10/11, when this curse came to stay forever..
I put an ad on Craigslist, advertising what I could do musically, my limitations, and the fact that I simply cannot risk playing in a loud band... If it got worse than it is, I would NOT be able to live with it.. I'm at the cusp right now, and can't afford to take any risks...
So anyway, Lo and behold, I get a call from a local singer songwriter, He plays really good stuff, has an excellent band of acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, and a fiddle player.. NO drums, NO electric bass.. They play a lot of small venues, at lower volumes.. he came to my house, I played along with him cold, and aced it on both guitar and steel.. He was mightily impressed, and I was asked to play in his band. a GOOD band.. He emailed all his upcoming gigs, and I am right there with him.. Plenty of gigs, and the guy plays ALL original music.
It really is a perfect fit, and I thank the Lord for the chance to play again.. Actually, I had 3 other bands ask me to join all at the same time from the one CL ad.. One was the modern country band that I was playing with when this demonic affliction hit me.. They are the top band in this part of the state, play a lot, and make good money, and want me back, but er umm, NO THANKS.
I should NEVER had played with those guys.. "Modern Country" at ear shattering volume, at my age..
I played with them for a while, and payed for it with the hardest struggle of my life.... That ship has sailed.
So anyway, I chose the situation that was best for me I think, and start playing again in a few weeks. With my plugs in of course..
I have a good rep in these parts, even though I am just an old country rock journeyman, that can't hold a candle to the good modern steel players I hear on this site each day..
It does make me feel good that there are still guys that think I can make their music better..
My friends, I ask for your best wishes... I will be using my Pro I, 5+4, and perhaps even my Fender 800 6+4 after I have the pickup rewound... with a tiny little tube amp..
I look forward to it... Here's a taste, let me know what you think... btw, the steel on his CD is NOT me.. I hope to add my musical personality to this tight little ensemble... thanks for reading my little diatribe... bob
http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=16465078&ac=now
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 9:03 am
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You are blessed, Bob. May your good luck continue.  I too have experienced a serious hearing impairment and am at the same point as you were - trying to decide whether to try and trudge forward in spite of it, or just let it go. It's really frustrating.  |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 9:11 am
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Barry, I wish you all the best.. Its TOUGH having your passion in life suddenly ripped from you.. I hope I got some of it back.. Well see..
Heal well my friend...
bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Ron Page
From:
Penn Yan, NY USA
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 9:14 am
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Best wishes in living with Tinnitus, but most especially with your new gig. When one door closes, another one opens. You're living proof, Bob.
_________________
HagFan
Emmons Lashley LeGrande II |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 9:23 am
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| Thanks, Bob. You hit the nail on the head. |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 11:19 am
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Bob you have my best wishes. Dedicating most of your life to music, as I suspect, you more than deserve this happy co-incident!
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Lyle Bradford
From:
Gilbert WV USA (deceased)
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 12:17 pm
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| Thats great Bob!! I think a few more of us would like to find a good band that knows how to handle volume. |
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Dennis Coelho
From:
Wyoming, USA
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 12:41 pm Topic: Rejoice with me my friends... and please,,, wish me
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Bob: I guess you probably keep up with research on tinnitus. I've got the same problem and for me it is more frequency specific than volume related. VEry high pitch tomes will bring it on. My audiologist got me involved with a set up that gives me four choices for music tonality and a variety of voice settings. It also has three fractal-generated programs that provide different sorts of random tones, rather like wind chimes, but different timing for each ear.
The fractal tones do not mask the tinnitus but rather they give the brain something different to focus on and the tinnitus moves to the background. It might worth checking out. The company is called "Widex." I carry a small device that looks like a tiny cell phone that gives me a lot of control over music and noise environments.
I was about the give it all up until I found this system. There are probably other companies as well. Current thinking on tinnitus is moving away from the nerve-damage idea to more complex brain / cognition research. It is not perfect, but it so much better. It has given me back my music.
BTW, like you, I can trace the onset to one specific event when a lead guitarist put his extension speaker right behind me, but promised not use it. No need to guess what that was worth. |
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Bud Angelotti
From:
Larryville, NJ, USA
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 1:26 pm
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Nail it Bob!
_________________
Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not. |
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Larry Behm
From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 2:05 pm
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Bob some people are deaf in one ear, what would happen if you had the doctors make you deaf in that ear, at least you could sleep and carry on a more normal life and still play etc. Just a thought.
Larry Behm
_________________
'70 D10 Black fatback Emmons PP, Hilton VP, BJS bars, Boss GE-7 for Dobro effect, Zoom MS50G, Stereo Steel amp, Telonics 15” speaker.
Phone: 971-219-8533 |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 2:46 pm
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| Larry Behm wrote: |
Bob some people are deaf in one ear, what would happen if you had the doctors make you deaf in that ear, at least you could sleep and carry on a more normal life and still play etc. Just a thought.
Larry Behm |
Larry. its not an ear problem.. Its hard wired into the brain.. A few desperate folks have had their auditory nerves severed.. The result??.. They were totally deaf, and the ONLY thing they heard was their tinnitus with NO way out... Pure Hell...
Its a brain problem that starts with a hearing problem.. I hear voices fine. My hearing is gone above 13 K,, No matter how loud, I can't hear frequencies in that range.. There REALLY not much to hear up there anyway....
In any case, I look forward to playing again, and these guys are really quite good.... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Jonathan Shacklock
From:
London, UK
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 2:59 pm
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| I really liked the myspace song. Have a great time Bob, and let us know how it goes. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 4 Feb 2013 3:50 pm Re: Topic: Rejoice with me my friends... and please,,, wish
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| Dennis Coelho wrote: |
Bob: I guess you probably keep up with research on tinnitus. I've got the same problem and for me it is more frequency specific than volume related. VEry high pitch tomes will bring it on. My audiologist got me involved with a set up that gives me four choices for music tonality and a variety of voice settings. It also has three fractal-generated programs that provide different sorts of random tones, rather like wind chimes, but different timing for each ear.
The fractal tones do not mask the tinnitus but rather they give the brain something different to focus on and the tinnitus moves to the background. It might worth checking out. The company is called "Widex." I carry a small device that looks like a tiny cell phone that gives me a lot of control over music and noise environments.
I was about the give it all up until I found this system. There are probably other companies as well. Current thinking on tinnitus is moving away from the nerve-damage idea to more complex brain / cognition research. It is not perfect, but it so much better. It has given me back my music.
BTW, like you, I can trace the onset to one specific event when a lead guitarist put his extension speaker right behind me, but promised not use it. No need to guess what that was worth. |
Thanks Dennis.. i already have the Widex 440 Zen... Good hearing aids, but the Zen program was useless in my case.. The intense 12 k noise I hear in my head was badly overpowering the Zen program... They were a waste of money... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 5 Feb 2013 4:04 am
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This may sound like "hate-the-rich" and class warfare* but I can't help but think there's some kind of new technology or treatments out there that's working well. The reason I say this is because, at one point players like Jeff Beck and Pete Townsend had basically quit playing entirely because they had such a terrible time, Al DiMeola was adamant about only playing acoustic for the rest of his life... and now these guys are up there on stage smiling about it. Yes I know they're using little amps, have expensive in-ear monitors etc. But these were guys who had terrible & chronic problems, you don't just "put up" with that kind of problem. Go snort some stem cells?
*(Having catered for one-too-many millionairess Coral Gables Trophy Wife, I... ummm... mmm... well I just wish I had married a brain surgeon or trial lawyer too. Cause I can be a real snot when I want to, too.)  |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 5 Feb 2013 8:15 am
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| Good going Bob. You are a great player. I'd like to come donw and see you play the Fender with the band this year. |
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Fred Glave
From:
McHenry, Illinois, USA
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Posted 5 Feb 2013 2:23 pm
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Good luck Bob. I cannot imagine having a hearing impairment because I love music too much. Makes me want to take more precautions to protect my hearing. I have heard of cases of Tinnitus that have been successfully treated or even spontaneously stopped. I sincerely hope the best for you.
_________________
Zum Encore, Zum Stage One, Fender 2000, Harlan Bros., Multi-Kord, |
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Duncan Hodge
From:
DeLand, FL USA
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Posted 5 Feb 2013 2:28 pm
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Attaboy Bob. I dunno, I just thought you could use an attaboy after receiving a blessing.
_________________
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over." |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 6 Feb 2013 2:01 am good news from bad news
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| Wow, it's great to hear a positive "news story" about someone I know via the Steel Guitar Forum. I have a favor to ask, Bob/. If you have the time, could you send me an MP3 of your playing that I can listen to via email. I My Space and Youtube are blocked here. I will send you an email with my address. Keep on Truckin' steve t |
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Ray Harrison
From:
Tucson, Arizona, USA (deceased)
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Posted 6 Feb 2013 7:30 am
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Bob, congratulations on being able t extend your illustrous playing carreer.
So glad to hear about a win/win situation. Enjoy the great music.
_________________
Ray Harrison
Bass/sing/Love PSG
77 Stingray/Kiesel 5 string bass
Telonics , Fender Rumble500, Polytone Amps
D-16 Martin, 1970 Ovation guitars |
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Don Poland
From:
Hanover, PA.
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Posted 6 Feb 2013 8:58 am
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| Congrats Bob, always did love your picking! |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 6 Feb 2013 4:04 pm nice playing, Bob
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| Bob, just sent me a couple of MP3s of his work. Mark Knopfler's "Sultan's of Swing" phrase "That boy sure could play." came to mind about Bob's music. Keep up the quality work. I have my fingers crossed for you in the future to able to lessen that tinnitus noise. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 6 Feb 2013 5:32 pm
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Thanks so much Steve.. Its is so uplifting to get kind supporting words from a fellow steel player... They are a tough lot to please.. I am glad you thought well of my playing. I call my "style" journeyman/honkytonk... Its not too awful bad I guess, but I still wanna play like Sneaky when I grow up... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Dave Van Allen
From:
Souderton, PA , US , Earth
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Posted 8 Feb 2013 9:12 am
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| Good news Bob! I hope the gig is as musically rewarding as you anticipate. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 8 Feb 2013 2:32 pm
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| Dave Van Allen wrote: |
| Good news Bob! I hope the gig is as musically rewarding as you anticipate. |
Dave there is actually a link in the band I am going to play with, to one that you play with.. Check your PM....bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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