Zagray! amp # 78787 a Healer?

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VacuumVoodoo
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Zagray! amp # 78787 a Healer?

Post by VacuumVoodoo »

I thought I'd share a story, it has a happy ending for all involved.

Sometimes, seemingly unrelated events can lead to unexpected results.
This was one such sequence that brought a great reward for me –
no, nothing that I could take to the bank.
But it gave me a feeling there might be a hidden purpose and meaning
in what we do. Sometimes we get lucky to have it unveiled to us.
That is, if you're deterministically inclined....

Ok, Rob, owner of the very Zagray! Amp reviewed by Premierguitar
- and a good friend of mine is often hosting jam sessions at his place.
Rob tells me often how much his Zagray! is appreciated, especially by a certain Gino
- a good friend and apparently a great player too.
Well, I thought: here's another customer in decision making process....

Fast forward to last fall. Life happens...
Rob told me Gino suffered a stroke, and is looking at a long slow recovery.
I wondered if there's any chance he'll be able to play guitar in the future,
stroke is not a laughing matter.

At around that time I noticed a Zagray! with a custom serial number 78787 a symmetrical prime
for sale in the Emporium. With no takers, it was pulled after a couple weeks.
Rob and I were talking often on Skype, I was occasionally asking about Gino's recovery
which apparently was progressing in the right direction.
Sometime in January that Zagray! 78787 reappeared in the Emporium ...and was again pulled back.

This time Rob stepped into action and convinced Gino to purchase it,
if not for immediate use than for later. Rob closed the deal and a week
or so later I had this short email exchange with Gino:

From: "LAxxxCO@aol.com"
To: ”Aleksander Niemand”
Sent: Friday, February 8, 2013 10:58 PM
Subject: MY AMP FROM ROB

Hello A:
I accepted my amp from Rob (who you know), and boy am I happy! Holy
magoley, am I supposed to sell my Pro-Sonic Amps now? Yes, I think that
the story. I thank you for your amps! I only want to do the amp right! I am
a stroke victim; my brain scan does not go out to 100%. I love this amp!
I live for this amp, and I go to the amp to practice. GJS

From: Aleksander Niemand
To: "LAxxxCO@aol.com"
Sent: Saturday, February 9, 2013 12:49 AM
Subject: Re: MY AMP FROM ROB

Hi Gino,
Thanks for the email. Rob told me about your health situation.
I really hope that the Zagray! amp will help you on your road
to full recovery. Really happy that you like it, and yes,
you can get rid of those Pro-Sonics now ;-)
Be well
Alex

Then silence....
After almost 2 month I received an email from Rob.

Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 20:47:33 +0200
From: "Rob" <ra@counterxx.net>
To: "Aleksander Niemand"
Subject: Gino Jamming

We had a Jam last Sunday afternoon. For the first time since he had his stroke,
Gino sounded like his old self. Of course I plugged him into my Zagray!
which he knows intimately at this time. Everyone caught the fact
that he was back in the pocket and they all gave him room to stretch out.
He was grinning like the cat who ate the canary. It was the highlight of the days jamming.
He has been playing more since he got your amp so I guess
that makes you partially responsible for helping him get back on track.
Regards,Rob

I guess I just had a glimpse of why I was compelled to return to
designing and building amps back in 2004.
So, is that Zagray! 78787 a Healer...or what?
Aleksander Niemand
------------------------
Life's a party but you get invited only once...
affiliation:TUBEWONDER AMPS
Zagray!-review
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NickC
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Location: Upstate New York

Re: Zagray! amp # 78787 a Healer?

Post by NickC »

What a great outcome to a terrible malady! And what a great story to share! Yes, clearly Zagray #78787 should be henceforth dubbed "The Healer", and made a Knight-Amp of the realm. Congratulations on your part of making this healing happen. Fantastic!
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martin manning
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Re: Zagray! amp # 78787 a Healer?

Post by martin manning »

Cool story! I can see where working at recovering guitar playing ability would be good therapy, much the same as any physical or mental exercise. In the case of playing an instrument, both are in play. Success depends to a great extent on motivation, and this amp seems to have provided that in a big way!
Last edited by martin manning on Sat Jul 20, 2013 7:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Reeltarded
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Location: GA USA

Re: Zagray! amp # 78787 a Healer?

Post by Reeltarded »

You are right! Great story. I needed that.

We can all take alot of lessons. Making an amp that sounds great is amazing. Helping someone change their life is also amazing. Doing it all is more amazing and you must feel amazing for it.

Win win win. Congrats to you and Gino on all counts!

Awright!
Signatures have a 255 character limit that I could abuse, but I am not Cecil B. DeMille.
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Structo
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Location: Oregon

Re: Zagray! amp # 78787 a Healer?

Post by Structo »

My late father had a stroke that he never really recovered from.
His stroke mainly affected his speech which I know was very frustrating for him as he knew what he wanted to say, it just came out wrong.

I am so happy that Gino was able to recover and I know that playing the guitar again would be a great goal to achieve.

Congrats to Gino for staying the course.
Hopefully all that stuff is behind him now.
God Bless!
Tom

Don't let that smoke out!
vibratoking
Posts: 2640
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:55 pm
Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Re: Zagray! amp # 78787 a Healer?

Post by vibratoking »

I could say a lot. Instead, I 'll just say thank you for the heart warming story. Nice. :D
Bob S
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Location: Up there with the Michiganders

Re: Zagray! amp # 78787 a Healer?

Post by Bob S »

Thanks for sharing.
What a great outcome.
This is the second good thing I've heard about today.
Win Win.
Why Aye Man
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