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Jim Mings (pictured above) grew up on the Austin, TX music
scene. He's with the "Jazz Guitar Summit" out of Columbia, SC these days. Jim is a jazz pro and has forgotten more chords
than most will ever learn! He proved it out on the back porch at The Farm. Gibson built that lovely L-5 you see on the side
for Mings back in 1970 -- his main weapon ever since. He also has a new duet, "Borgstedt & Mings," (guitar and woodwinds)
and they are amazing.
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"Here is the gorgeous Gibson GA 50T (1949) that
my friend Joe Stertz of Edgefield Tube Amplifier Co. rebuilt for me. It sounds just wonderful and is very clean and quiet.
Joe really did a fabulous job of tracking down how the amp was actually built in the first place and restoring it to that
point - actually better! This was the amp that Howard Roberts and Jim Hall used to beautiful success for many years. It was
the top of the line Gibson of the era. I guess one shouldn't be proud of an object, but this is a real work of art. Not all
the great old amps are by Leo's men." -- Jim Mings
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This circa 1949 Gibson Model GA 50T was the queen of the fleet
at the time and featured two 6L6GA power tubes, which produced about 25 Watts. This amp also featured an excellent tremolo
with foot switch.
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Mr. Mings has played jazz professionally for decades. He wanted
this amp perfectly matched to his Gibson L-5. Sure Jim, but let's get a pulse first. This thing was DOA with only a hint
of voltage here and there, both chokes fried, weak tubes, and the circuit had been modified with the wrong value filter caps.
I figured if we could make it sound like it was designed to sound, Jim could do the rest with his fingers on the strings,
and boy can he! Thanks Jim! You're the man.
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I was sad to see the GA 50T leave the farm, but Jim was nice
enough to leave his little '53 Gibson Model BR-6 you see to the left, with instructions to "tighten it up." Ya gotta love
it, gents. There's an Ampeg Jet coming when that's done.
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Here are Wendy and Mandy Stertz out at Wright's Tree Farm,
near Ridge Spring, SC hunting that perfect Christmas tree. Needed some filler for this page, but hey, aren't they a couple
of cutie pies.
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