06.18.08 Break until August 12th (European Vacation and more).

We are officially not taking in repair work right now so that we can finish the work that we have before I go on vacation! I will be out of the shop starting July 4th and will be back in on August 12th** We will be taking equipment in again starting on August 6th, but only equipment on our new intake list.

While I’m away I’m going to post an updated list of what we will and won’t be taking in for repair. I’ve been getting a little bit tired of having a 2 week (or more) turnaround time, as I’m sure alot of my customers are too, so we are going to be cutting back on certain types of equipment we work on. I think this will do alot to help speed things up and to be quite honest I’ve been getting a little burned out with working on alot of lower quality amps (Peavey did great with the MACE amp, but I can’t work on anymore Classic 30s sorry!). I have alot of plans for the fall including producing a few inexpensive pedals for Portland Custom Shop and stepping up into a bit more regular production of micpres and amps, but I don’t believe I’ll ever get there if things stay the way they are.

Also, I’ve made this decision instead of raising my hourly rates. Everything is more expensive right now, but I enjoy being affordable, and though the economy would seem to dictate a need for things to be more expensive, I’ve decided to keep my rates the same. My goal being to just work on what I enjoy working on and let that support me. Be less stressed and have less money… I’m good with that. I’ll be putting that list up with the new website which should be online early July.

Portland Custom Shop will still be open while I’m gone for all your custom cabinet and guitar repair needs. Also check in frequently because the amps/effects stock is changing daily at this point…

So Modest Mouse is (has been for a while) on the road with R.E.M. - this time with a new version of Isaac’s amp dubbed “version 2″. Here’s a link to some video I found http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei2fPFewo4A&feature=related Check out Brian Watson @ work…

At the same time I’m still trying to finish up the 2×12 amp I’ve been working on for Dave Hernandez from The Shins. This is one of the nicest combos ever… I can’t wait to update the gallery page (which we are working on I swear!).