PRS CCM Report

So if you receive PRS Guitars' CCM Report email newsletters, you'll see that my PRS SE Custom Semi-Hollow demo video was included in the mail-out... Pretty cool! I knew that this was in the works, but I didn't know they'd use a picture of me for the top of the email!


This is a bit of an early Christmas present for me!

I think incredibly highly of the folks at PRS, and their awesome guitars. I had my MIRA set up and tweaked out this week, and it plays better than ever! I'm impressed with this guitar all over again. So go to prsguitars.com and check out the amazing things they're doing over there!

If you'd like to check out the newsletter, click here for the online version.

Snowball Fight in Times Square

This is NOT what I think of when I think of Times Square!

Awesome!



Thanks Mom, for sending this to me!

I think my favorite part is the girl yelling "RETREAT!!!" at the end. Haha.

Jonathan

Oh We're Getting Christmas-ey!

The Steingard residence is officially ready for Christmas. We've got a killer tree and plenty of presents under it for the whole family..... My entire family is coming down to stay with us this Christmas, so it's going to be a full house! We're gonna have eight people in the house over the holidays - so fun!

I hope your holidays are all wonderful, and you get to spend them with family and friends!

















Jonathan

How We Think About Money : Part 2

I had a comment on my last "How We Think About Money" post that I thought was worth discussing...

Anonymous said...

Be careful with that credit score - it affects your car insurance premiums, property insurance premiums, any rentals you might want to partake of, mortgage rates, even jobs, as employers often check credit scores. Ramsey ignorantly assumes that people must go in to debt to build a credit score. This is not true. If you use a credit card, pay it off each month. You're building a credit score without going in to one penny of debt. Ramsey has no problem with people paying more for insurance, etc, possibly missing out on a job opportunity, by adhering to his little set of simpleton financial 'rules'. Think it through - Ramsey's advice is only advantageous to those who have no financial savy at all, and is useless for those who are in a stable financial situation and in a position to start building wealth. I wouldn't have been able to build the wealth I have today if I'd listened to his advice.

December 19, 2009 6:01 AM

Jonathan said...

Anonymous -

Good thoughts.... some of which i partially agree with. in other areas I think you're missing the point.

Firstly, I still have 1 credit card which I've had for quite some time, and I decided to keep it open for the very reasons you described... I just didn't want to have multiple credit cards open when I don't need or want them. I've got a long credit history with my bank, my mortgage is always current, my bills are always paid, and I've never missed a payment on anything. I'm sure my credit will be just fine... it's not that I'm looking to destroy it - I'm just choosing to live a lifestyle that isn't dependent on it.

Secondly, you say you wouldn't have accumulated the wealth that you have if you had followed dave ramsey's plan.... well good for you, you have money! That's not the primary goal of these financial plans. These plans are designed to create financial peace and security, not just wealth. These goals involve nurturing marriages and families, it's about more than wealth! There is absolutely nothing wrong with having money, in fact, these plans help you accumulate savings and set you up to have much more money in the future... but the ultimate goal is financial peace.

Thirdly, I am one of so many North Americans that got myself into a good deal of debt when I was younger. I discovered firsthand how EASY it was. It took me years to dig myself out of the hole i dug myself in my first few "adult" years. After all that, I made a choice never to put myself in that position again. These debt-avoidance plans have given me a freedom in life that I wouldn't have had if i had just stuck to the status quo, financed everything i wanted, and accepted a debt-laden lifestyle as the norm.

I'm not interested in simply doing whatever I can to accumulate wealth. That's not my aim, nor is it the aim of these types of programs. It's not about accumulating money, it's about living in such a way that you're no longer consumed by it.

I want to cultivate a debt-free lifestyle because I do not want to be a slave to money and debt. You do not need to make $250k a year to do this. Wealth is great - living a lifestyle of financial peace is even better... and many wealthy people do not live in financial peace!

You're right about one thing though - These plans are designed for people who need help with money... people who are unorganized or undisciplined with their money. However, you seem to think that this fact makes these plans irrelevant. On the contrary, I think the majority of Americans fall into this category. I know I did!

So I would ask....What's wrong with encouraging people to take charge of their financial situation, and free themselves by aggressively eliminating debt?

Thanks for your thoughts -

Jonathan

How We Think About Money : Part 1

Today I canceled a credit card. It was as if the heavens opened, and a dove descended from the sky.... and voice boomed "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" Canceling a credit card has got to be one of the best feelings ever.

This particular card was the first US credit card I was ever accepted for, 4 years ago or so. I had originally opened it to build credit here in the U.S., and it carried a limit of on $500, so I figured there was only a limited amount of damage I could do with it. Haha. Well, of course, over the course of the following few years I maxed it out more than once. It did serve its purpose, however, as it helped get my credit to a point where I bought a house last year.... Which was one of the ultimate goals of this whole credit-building endeavor.

Since then, though, my thinking on a few things has changed. I read a book (and then several more) by an author named Dave Ramsey.... and he fundamentally changed the way I think about money, relationships, debt, credit, and so many other things.

For instance, with the cancelation of this credit card today... I did something that flies in the face of conventional wisdom. You see, credit reporting bureaus look at several things to determine your credit score. They look at how much debt you have, how much available credit you have... Basically the difference between your balance and your limit on credit cards, lines of credit, etc... They ALSO look at the length of time you've had those relationships in place. So, by canceling my Capital One credit card today, I've basically severed my longest lasting credit relationship, and that will likely affect my credit rating negatively.

Now, here's the thing. That doesn't bother me one bit.... and I'll explain that with a question...

Why do we have such a reverence for the almighty credit score?

Why is it that we fuss over this little number held by three companies that we don't even have any direct relationship with? Why are we willing to GO INTO DEBT in order to improve this number, by opening credit cards and financing purchases? It's because a good credit rating gives you access to things you wouldn't have access to with a poor rating, right? .... And what is the primary thing a good rating gives you access to? Borrowing money!

So wait.... let's get this straight. We're encouraged to open credit cards and accumulate some "manageable debt" as young as possible, in order to establish a good credit history, so we can borrow MORE money when we're older? Tell me that isn't the plan!

There has got to be a better way to live!

..... and I really do believe there is. Since this fundamental shift in my thinking about money, Jess and I have really buckled down and gotten in control of our financial situation. We made a monthly budget, and use cash in envelopes to set physical money aside for each area (groceries, gas, fun, clothing, etc...)... We've also started aggressively paying off debt, and developed an emergency fund. Essentially, we started paying closer attention to our spending, and started planning our our spending instead of just swiping the card whenever we need (or want) something.

The basic idea behind Dave Ramsey's thinking is this: Take aggressive control of your financial situation, and sacrifice NOW in every possible area of life, in order to secure financial peace for your future.

The truth is that many of the things we spend our money on are NOT things we need, or need immediately. Avoiding debt this aggressively means we can't have everything we want as soon as we want it, but ultimately I believe it leads to a less stressful and captivating lifestyle.

Now, I realize houses aren't exactly easy to buy in cash, and that is one exception that Dave Ramsey talks about, although he's a big proponent of putting 20% down, and doing a 15 year fixed term... but that's another blog!

There is so much more to think and talk about with regards to this whole subject, and I will likely write another blog at a later date that continues many of these thoughts (hence the "Part 1" in the title).

I'm interested in your thoughts on the issue!

Also check out daveramsey.com for more information on financial peace and living debt free!

Jonathan

PRS Roadshow

The Roadshow was a fun event! About 30-40 folks were in attendance, and Paul started off by telling stories from the early days of PRS right up to the present....



He told a story about how many classic guitar shapes came to be.... How the Fender headstock was sculpted to look much like the side profile of a violin headstock, and how the Les Paul shape was basically a smaller, solid acoustic guitar shape. Interesting. He spoke a bunch about different types of woods, and how obsessive he is about wood! I can vouch for that, since I've seen the warehouse full of amazing woods at the PRS factory!

Next David Grissom demoed a DGT model PRS, and a Sweet 16 head.



This guy can really play. He seems heavily influenced by Jeff Beck, although when he listed his influences, he named half a dozen guitar players I've never heard of (although BB King was in there, I knew that one). He discussed his move to Austin, TX, and how other guitar players in Austin told him, "You ain't s*** unless you play a strat!". At the time, he did play a strat, but that kind of attitude made him want to play something else, just to go against the grain! That was the beginning of the long development of the DGT model PRS.

Next David demoed a PRS acoustic.... and Paul admittedly committed a huge acoustic guitar faux pas!



He placed a vocal mic in front of the guitar. Eek! It actually sounded halfway decent though! These acoustics are incredible. If you stand just a few feet in front of one when it's in the hands of a real player, there's nothing like it. Very very incredible workmanship.

All in all, it was a fantastic evening!

Quote of the night from Paul Smith : "You wouldn't go to an ice cream shop just to look at the ice cream, would you? You'd buy yourself some ice cream!" This was followed by a gesture towards the wall of PRSes at the shop, and a big smirk. True enough, Paul!

Jonathan

PRS Roadshow comes to Nashville

Wanna know what I doing today? Of course you do. I'm going to the PRS Roadshow.

In an effort to connect with fans and players of PRS guitars, PRS Amps, and PRS acoustics, the wonderful people at Paul Reed Smith are doing a tour of sorts, and today they're coming to Nashville. Paul Smith himself will be there along with Johnny Hiland, one of PRS's foremost endorsees.

They're going to be at Corner Music on 12th street from 6-8 pm, and they'll be showing off the latest and greatest in PRS gear.

If you live in the Nashville area, and you're interested in PRS guitars, amps, or acoustics... then come check it out! I'm sure it's going to be a rad time!

For those unable to make it, I'll try to post some pictures and possibly video from the event!

Jonathan

End of the World Movies

There have been a slew of "end of the world" movies in the last ten years or so. I'm a fan... because for some reason I enjoy watching scenes of unparalleled destruction. Call it sadistic, I don't know....

In any case, there are certain things that seem to be constant throughout most of these end of the world movies..... So if you ever grow up to be an end-of-the-world-movie filmmaker..... be sure to include these into your story!

1. The President is in charge of the world, and it's up to him to make choices that save America. If other parts of the earth are saved, that's a bonus.

2. Generals are always wrong. They will tell the President to take the exact wrong course of action. They love red phones with no buttons.

3. Nuclear bombs can fix just about anything... Whether it's breaking up an asteroid or restarting the earth's core rotation... Nukes are handy little fellas.

4. When re-wiring a nuclear bomb, always cut the red wire. Never the green. In fact, use the red, white, and blue wires whenever possible. It's the patriotic thing to do.

5. When the destruction starts, you can be sure that it will strike in Europe or Asia first. Rome, Paris, London, Tokyo, and Beijing seem to be the favorites.

6. Destruction will reach America eventually, but will spare most of the population. Regardless, the golden gate bridge must be destroyed at some point in the film.

7. If the movie involves spaceflight, be sure to ignore all basic laws of physics. You can walk on small asteroids even though the gravity wouldn't be enough to hold you down, you can hear explosions in space even though sound can't travel in a vacuum, and of course, nukes still fix everything.

8. 60% of the time, the cause of the destruction is something we did to the planet. Global warming, scientific experimentation gone awry, or something of that sort. Don't worry though, 20% of the time the President is African-American, so the human race isn't so bad.

9. The clock always stops with 3 seconds left..... and the 15 seconds preceeding this little miracle are always enough to say goodbye to your loved ones and have a nice 2-minute flashback.

10. In the end, much of the earth is destroyed, but the remaining population have learned a valuable lesson... or have they?! Well, at least the threat is neutralized.... OR IS IT?!!!.......

Well, at least the dog ALWAYS ALWAYS survives.

Jonathan

Christmas "Decorations"

How tempted am I to do this to my house?

HAHA! A quote from the "decorator":

"Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me take it down.

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard."

Michael Steingard : We Are One

Hey Guys....

So last fall I spent some time working on producing a record for my brother, Michael. It's now up on iTunes and available! It's called We Are One, and it's something of an experimental worship album.... I'm really happy with how it turned out, and I'm excited to see it iTunes now!

Click to view this album in iTunes

.... Also, Michael and I decided to give away one song on this blog to give people an idea of what to expect from the album! So, here you go! This song is called "Would You Come".

Click here to download "Would You Come".

Check it out and enjoy!

It's been a ton of fun working on this album with Mike. There are some songs on here that I just can't get enough of. My personal favorites are "Be My Delight", "Would You Come", "Anchor", "I am in the Ocean", and "Funny How". If you want to hear all these, you'll have to buy the record!

Jonathan

PRS SE Semi-Hollow Demo

So yesterday during our live chat I was asked to DEMO my PRS Se Semi-Hollow guitar by a user named Jkilla - I'm trusting that "J" doesn't refer to me.

Here you go Jkilla!

I used my Bad Cat Hot Cat 30r Head through a Heritage 2x12 with vintage 30 speakers. For pedals, I used my TS-808 TubeScreamer first, and then a Wampler Plextasy overdrive. At the end of the clip, I'm using my TS-808 and a Wampler FUZZ together. The delay is an MXR Carbon Copy delay.

If you've never heard of Wampler, you need to check him out... He's a guy that makes custom built pedals, and he's based out of Ft. Wayne Indiana. I've got 2 of his pedals on my board, and I love them! Go to wamplerpedals.com to learn more.

Awake and Alive Tour - FIN!

Last night, in Grand Rapids, MI, we wrapped up this 50 city tour we've been a part of over the last 10 weeks. We made lots of great new friends and had a wonderful time LIVING LIFE LOUD!

A GREAT MULTITUDE of wonderful memories were made on this tour..... so many I can barely remember them all. Thankfully I don't have to, because of the miracle of youtube! I've been shocked to see how quickly videos from shows get up on youtube.... Heck, just now I found a 10 minute clip from last night's show summarizing all 3 bands. Crazy!

Anyways..... I'd like to share a couple of my favorite moments from these 50 shows, through the miracle of youtube.

Jason's Halloween Costume
Jay wears an orange tux from the movie Dumb and Dumber as a halloween costume!



Jas Gettin' In Their Faces...
Pretty much every night Jason jumps down into the crowd at least once... This is one example of such an occurrence (might wanna turn your speakers down for this one!).



Richard Marx Sing-Along
Richard Marx's son visits one of our shows. Jas decides to serenade him with one of his father's songs.

S-T-L-O-U-I-S

Jason made up a little diddy whilst we were in St. Louis, and decided to grace the crowd with it.

NFL Nike Rewind
This wasn't exactly part of the tour, but we found out about it during the tour.... Live Life Loud was used for the NFL's Nike Rewind!



Then, of course, came last night's show... the final show of the tour.... and that's when the funniest stuff generally goes down. The last night of a long tour is generally "prank night"... when bands and crew pull stunts on each other. It's kind of a way of letting loose and enjoying the final night of a tour. Skillet isn't much for pranks, and we decided not to pull any stunts on them this tour... but the crew decided that WE weren't to be spared.

Kenny, the monitor engineer for the tour, dressed up like Jason, and came up on stage for the beginning of our show AS Jason! We had a few friends from the tour hold back the real Jason, so Kenny would get a moment in the spotlight!



Also, our good friend Jonathan Chu, who plays violin for Skillet, surprised us and came out to play the string parts on "Meaning of Life"! Chu has been riding with us on our bus throughout the tour, and he's a great dude... and a RIDICULOUS violinist!

Then, on the final song, Live Life Loud, most of the crew came up on stage and danced their HEARTS OUT! It definitely made me wonder who was doing sound and lights at that point! Haha... If anybody has any video of any of this stuff.... throw it up on youtube and email me a link, would'ya?!

We've got about a month off now... and I'm very ready for some much needed rest and relaxation! Christmas is just a few weeks away........ so get ready for some VERY FESTIVE blog updates!!!!

Jonathan

Timmy Ho's!

I know I've mentioned Tim Horton's many times on this little blog of mine.... but it appears as if you're going to have to endure another rant about this wonderful place...... as there was a Tim Horton's 0.3 miles away from the venue yesterday!



We all walked down to the Timmy Ho's multiple times..... and over the course of the day I managed to devour the following: 2 mochas, 1 bagel with cream cheese, 1 donut, and a 20 pack of timbits. Delicious!!!!!!

This place really just GETS Canadians. It's cheap. It's tasty. It's ALWAYS readily available on Canadian street corners.... To demonstrate how much this place GETS Canadians... observe.



This is Dan's bagel and hashbrown.... Immediately after sitting down he asked, "I wonder if they have any Ketchup packets?" Then he discovered they had ALREADY put one in the little hashbrown pouch. THAT's how much they know Canadian's desires, and anticipate their requests! Boom! KETCHUP!!

We're in Cleveland today, and I've already used google maps to see if there is a Tim Horton's near us today. No dice...... However, we're in Grand Rapids, MI, tomorrow, and I'm willing to bet there will be one there!

Jonathan

Confessions of a Bandwagon Ducks Fan.

Hey All....

So I've never been a big football fan.... but it's hard to maintain that track record when you've got a friend like my buddy Adam.... who is the biggest Oregon Ducks fan EVER. He watches every Oregon Ducks game in the front lounge of our tour bus (Adam does merchandise with us, so tours with us wherever we go). As the Duck's season has progressed, I've gone from casually listening to the game whilst writing emails to watching every play in complete anxiety.

Tonight the Oregon Ducks played the Oregon State Beavers in a civil war game that would determine who goes to the Rose Bowl on Jan 1st. It was a hard-fought game, but Oregon emerged victorious!




Of course Adam lost his MIND at the end. I think he'll probably cry tears of joy when he goes to bed. Haha....

So on January 1st I will be watching intently as Oregon takes on Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Yeah!!!

Jonathan