Modern Vespa

But regardless, I feel that I represented the marque well with what I had to work with.

JBlacklund,

Thanks for the video. Good on you. Most of those good Harley folks sure have not missed to many meals.

Bob Copeland

Well, they're riding the 'Big Iron', ya know, so they can pack a few extra pounds, what with all those 'Screaming Eagle' engine performance upgrades most of them have.

Whenever I see a Sturgis video, my jaw falls straight on the floor. Around here, we have HD riders too. But over there, you've got the real thing. They're a world apart.

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Although Main Street Sturgis is the traditional epicenter (ground zero?) of the rally, it literally takes over the entire Black Hills region and every small town in the periphery looks about like my video as far as the density of bikers....and noise, of course.

Personally, I guess that I have a love/hate relationship with the whole thing, with a ratio of probably 40/60, though about halfway through the official week it falls to about 20/80, then I just want it to stop.

Say, I have a friend living in Apeldoorn, Marco Krijger, say 'HI' for me if you cross paths with him over there

Whatever they are, they're mostly not "the real thing" that you imagine them to be.

And I think *that* is exactly what I imagine them to be. Let's call it 'meta real'

I don't think that I know what the 'real thing' would be anymore when it comes to contemporary bikers, or what the term's definition even means in modern times.

Bob a little judgmental let's see a picture of you in front of a mirror. Never Mind I look in the mirror everyday.

Here's one of me from a couple years ago...

What happened to the tip of your finger ?

Nothing, it's ok, just bent back on the fretboard.

The camera shot might make it look weird, but it's normal.

I think that this might be my best 'mirror Photo'...

You look awesome.

JBlacklund,

I suppose you can not be from the Black Hills without being a cowboy. "Breaking young girls hearts, just like Jean and Roy, singing campfire songs, oh, I should have been a cowboy". JBlack, you continue to amaze.

Buffalo Bob Copeland

Never ceases to amaze how many Harley rides paddle foot instead of using the pegs and the rear brake for control...

The double Bisons on the Roy Rogers shirt along with the parlor guitar bests the trombone and accordion, unless of course you can play the latter like Flaco Jimenez. Hope you played a few cowboy licks on the guitar.

I had to buy that guitar after seeing Tim Blake Nelson as the character Buster Scruggs playing and singing 'Cool Water' in the opening scene of the movie 'The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs' on this model. It's a Recording King 'Dirty 30's' parlour guitar.

It's really just a 'wall hanger' to me, but was inexpensive. You can still get a new one for a few pennies under $200. They don't play too bad. But my example currently suffers from so much sharp 'fret Sprout' that it'll make your hand bleed if you try to play it.

Fret files are your friend.

https://www.amazon.com/StewMac-Fret-End-Dressing-File/dp/B01HUCYOXE/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=fret+file&qid=1699278550&sr=8-5

I don't expect that filing frets is like Rocket Science or anything, and like those how-to Vespa service videos on YouTube that helped me through some fairly involved service procedures, there's plenty of experienced guidance on how to tame some wild frets there too.

I might give it a try.

Yes, Stewart McDonald website has a great video on how to file fret ends.