TNF Forum Lunch Phat Phillies Tues, Feb. 7

[sgrizzle]

Wow! That was even more dilapidated than I remember.  No wonder I thought they'd have to knock the building down.  Glad they were able to save the old Strings West, that's a nice adaptive re-use.  After looking at the signage inside and a few other cues, anyone else want to bet they are planning a micro-chain or franchising?

I don't know, but I was surprised that not a single employee looked high and the reggae music was gone.

[Hoss]

I don't know, but I was surprised that not a single employee looked high and the reggae music was gone.

Some of the patrons, however.....

[Conan71]

The markings on the pole of all the celebs who have bought guitars at Strings West (a virtual who's-who of rock and country) got me to searching out some Larry Briggs links.  I thought he had an FB page I creeped once with a lot of celeb shots and guitars, but it may well have been elsewhere.

Larry Briggs has been active in the music business since 1970, when he and his father opened a used guitar shop in rural Tulsa County, Oklahoma.  In 1974 he purchased a music store in Tulsa, and proceeded to combine his extensive collection of old and rare instruments and amplifiers with the existing new inventory.  Larry was one of the few people in the Southwest dealing in vintage guitars during this time period, and his reputation grew rapidly.  Consequently, Strings West became an oasis of old and rare guitars, amplifiers, banjos and mandolins.

Larry was appointed to the dealer advisory board of Guitar Player Magazine in 1983, and served thereon for many years.  He sold guitars and amplifiers to many of the super groups and stars of the seventies, eighties, nineties and into this century, including Stevie Ray and Jimmy Vaughan, Billy Gibbons, Ted Nugent, Vince Gill, Neil Schon, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Joan Jett, Little River Band, Heart, Bob Dylan, the Bee Gees, Barney Kessel, Brian Setzer, Bobby and David Carradine, the Climax Blues Band, Elvin Bishop, Hank Williams, Jr., J. D. Souther, J. J. Cale, Ry Cooder, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ricky Van Shelton, John Fogerty, Junior Brown, Thom Bresh, Merle Travis (Larry owns Merle's 1962 Cadillac convertible), Leo Kottke, Michael Martin Murphy, New Grass Revival, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Pete Anderson, Pink Floyd, Pure Prairie League, Robert Blake, Scotty Moore, Stone Temple Pilots, Survivor, David Bromberg, Ronnie Dunn, 1964 Beatles Tribute Band and many others.  In 1988, Larry co-authored  "Guitars, Guitars, Guitars", bible which contains some of the first comprehensive serial number reference information for Fender, Gibson, Guild, and other American brand guitars, and which was used extensively in the vintage guitar business.

http://www.stringswest.com/

Ahhh, I wasn't on drugs:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strings-West-of-Tulsa/93530552447

[AquaMan]

I wish I could have talked with each of you. At least I have some new faces to put next to GG and Hoss. Maybe we should set these lunches up like "speed dating" or insist on round tables. Wevsus and MsGrizz are probably getting tired of hearing my stories all the time (even though they are quite remarkable).

As interesting as Strings West and the empty buildings next to it were, Phat's is a vast improvement.

[Hoss]

I wish I could have talked with each of you. At least I have some new faces to put next to GG and Hoss. Maybe we should set these lunches up like "speed dating" or insist on round tables. Wevsus and MsGrizz are probably getting tired of hearing my stories all the time (even though they are quite remarkable).

As interesting as Strings West and the empty buildings next to it were, Phat's is a vast improvement.

Found out today a good friend and old co-worker of mine is Larry Briggs' cousin.  Guess what?  He's a guitar player for two local bands.  Who'd a thunk it?

[GG]

It was good seeing everyone today. 

[nathanm]

Sorry I missed you guys. It's probably for the best, though. SWMBO came home and informed me that she required a philly. That's four for me since they reopened. As if I wasn't already fat enough. 

[EricP]

FYI the Reggae music is back....

.. give it time

[TheMindWillNotLetGo]

what's all this then? 

I am interested next time one of these comes up...someone holler at me. 

I was just thinking today to see if any of you hit the pub.

[sgrizzle]

what's all this then? 

I am interested next time one of these comes up...someone holler at me. 

I was just thinking today to see if any of you hit the pub.

TulsaNow folks used to have a monthly happy hour but attendance waned. There has been talk of restarting it.

[Conan71]

what's all this then? 

I am interested next time one of these comes up...someone holler at me. 

I was just thinking today to see if any of you hit the pub.

Picnic lunch at Rotary Park next week.  We've got another thread going on it.  We'd love to meet our newest member.

[we vs us]

Picnic lunch at Rotary Park next week.  We've got another thread going on it.  We'd love to meet our newest member.

Where's the thread? I want all the detes.

[carltonplace]

Where's the thread? I want all the detes.

http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=18827.0

[we vs us]

http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=18827.0

Good stuff, thanks.

[TheMindWillNotLetGo]

TulsaNow folks used to have a monthly happy hour but attendance waned. There has been talk of restarting it.

count me in if you do - I'm a lush.