New Ontario Vinyl Plant Aims to Be 2nd Largest in North America

Precision Record Pressing plant expects to manufacture 4 million units in first year

A massive upswing in record sales has led to a new vinyl processing plant in Burlington, Ont. (CBC)

Southern Ontario is reaping the benefits of a worldwide vinyl resurgence, with a massive new record production plant set to open next month in Burlington, Ont.
The operation's new dulcet analog tones come courtesy of a partnership between Canadian music distributor Isotope Music Inc. and Czech vinyl manufacturer GZ.
But getting the new 20,000 sq. ft. Precision Record Pressing plant operational wasn't without obstacles, vice-president Gerry McGhee told CBC News.

• Streaming music: a villain or saviour for local labels?
• Vinyl records make comeback with younger music fans

McGhee had to scour the world to look for someone to sell him vinyl pressing machines — which is difficult when most processing plants are running at full capacity on 40-year-old machines, trying to keep up with an onslaught of demand for vinyl the world over.

Bands Tell Us About the Worst Places They've Crashed While Touring

I've interviewed musicians since I was a teenager, and in that time, I've learned two main lessons. The first lesson is that playing in a band is the greatest job in the world. For months at a time you and your friends get to travel from place to place sharing your art and ideas with audiences who are excited to see you play. The second lesson is that playing in a band is the worst job in the world. For months at a time you're away from your family and loved ones, performing songs you poured your heart into for minuscule crowds that are only there for the beer.

There are a lot of highs and lows for touring musicians. Anyone who has spent time on the road can tell you that one of the biggest concerns is figuring out where they're going to spend the night post concert. Recently I sat down with a handful of bands and asked about the worst place they've ever slept.

Catl European Tour Invasion Continues In Part 4

Catl European Tour Invasion Continues In Part 4

We had 9 minutes to transfer to our connecting train to make the show on time and we made it! With all of our shit that we're carrying it was no small feat. We then proceeded to get drunk on the train once the hard work was over. Sarah ate a curry that wasn't bad. We arrived in Vienna and met up with our host Stefan. Super nice guy, who just happened to be the manager of the club we're playing at. We walked to the club in the rain and I ate a falafel from a Turkish food stand that was pretty tasty.

Off Road Free Riding By Kris Foster In British Columbia

Off Road Free Riding By Kris Foster In British Columbia

Being out of control on a dirt bike can be equivalent to the fine line of being absolutely in touch with your surrounding environment. If you have ever just blazed across open pasture and jumped or wheelied anything in site, then you have an inclination how technical and badass Kris Foster's riding style is. Absolute respect for his skills on a two wheeled machine and the balls to keep rollin' on some steep inclines and jumps that would make most just squeamish.

Modern Motorcycle Mechanics, Paved The Road For Repair Manuals

There are basic principles, which will always be needed when fixed anything that is mechanical. First and foremost, take your time and pay attention to how parts are disassembled in order to put them back correctly. If you are unsure, take photos of the process or write down what you have done. 

If you have seen any sort of modern repair manual or lack there of, many new products aren't made to last and are vastly inferior in parts quality, than older machines. My other huge gripe is the lack of mechanical aptitude in describing how to fix or reassemble the parts, within new repair manuals as they scrimp on the details. If you haven't noticed Youtube has become the best place to find out how to work on anything.

This is where a tome such as Modern Motorcycle Mechanics is flat out amazing. The book and the technology it is referring to are now considered vintage, but how J.B. Nicholson describes each item and how to properly maintain your motorcycle, is truly refreshing. 

Much of his guidance within the book has been hard earned through years of wrenching and solid understanding of basic mechanical principles, when it comes to machinery operation. Knowledge of this caliber can be applied to all modern bikes as many of the new parts and design schemes still function, on the same basic principles. If you want to give a great gift to the rider in your family, this is indeed something they will enjoy.

Want a piece of motorcycle history, get your copy of Modern Motorcycle Mechanics

Crankcase Reassembly, as part of the Modern Motorcycle Mechanics book.

Modern Motorcycle Mechanics, the first repair manuals created by someone who actually worked on bikes.

"Before Clymer and before Haynes service manuals, there was J.B. Nicholson and Modern Motorcycle Mechanics.

Nicholson, together with his brother Lawrence, opened Nicholson Bros. Motorcycles in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1933. To this small city in the middle of the Canadian prairie they imported DOT, Calthorpe and Douglas motorcycles and by 1935 the brothers had transformed the business into a fledgling mail order parts supply house.

But it was a 25-year old J.B. (Bernie) Nicholson who published what could be considered one of the first comprehensive texts regarding the operation and maintenance of motorcycles of the day. In 1942 the first edition of Modern Motorcycle Mechanics was distributed widely. They sold the book themselves, and industry giants such as Johnson Motors bought books for resale in their showroom. Floyd Clymer himself ordered hundreds of copies for resale through his motoring catalogs.

Nicholson went on to revise his book six times, with editions appearing in 1945, 1948, 1953, 1965, 1969 and the final and seventh in 1974.

Over the years more than 100,000 copies of Modern Motorcycle Mechanics books have sold from Canada to England, India, South Africa, Australia and beyond.

Jam-packed with Nicholson’s clear and concise service and maintenance information and ever-handy clearance and settings charts for several different makes and models the Seventh Edition Reprint of Modern Motorcycle Mechanics is 766 pages – just like the original. The book covers everything from setting the timing on a single-cylinder Lucas magneto to rebuilding the engine of a Harley-Davidson 45”."

Nicholson Bros. Motorcycles in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Nicholson Bros. Motorcycles in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

To The People Who Stole My Les Paul...

Thieves are the lowest form of life and a one finger should be cut off for every theft and then eventually a hand and a arm til' they can no longer steal. Help a Vancouver dude get his guitar back. Read below and find out the details, via craigslist.org in Vancouver, Canada. Thanks to the fellas in She Rides for finding this post.

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To the people who stole most of my stuff out of my studio on June 5, including my main guitar of 43 years, let me tell you about it.

It's a very altered, but very real 1953 Gibson Les Paul Model - Serial # 3 0621 (stamped on the back of the headstock)

This is not a gold-top. In the 1950's, it was refitted with an ABR-1 bridge and stop tailpiece, and then refinished, all by Gibson. The green colour in the picture, (especially on the rear half of the body where the light reflection is less), is accurate. It's one of the lightest Gibson Les Pauls, and the only one of its' colour, that I've ever seen.

I've made many other changes to this guitar in favour of playability:

--changed the P-90's to humbuckers

--had the neck thinned and it, the back and the sides were refinished

--when it was refinished, the serial # was stamped in

--replaced worn out machine heads with gold Gibson ones

--added brass switch ring, jack plate, and rear cavity covers that were made for me by my now-deceased brother-in-law

--added a truss rod cover with "Les Paul" on it

--installed strap-locks (for obvious reasons)

--there will be traces of violin bow resin in and under various parts. It is the best guitar ever for bowing.

This is a one-of-a-kind instrument in so many ways. It is completely recognizable, down to every screw on it.

I've been in the music business all my life, and have a large list of friends and contacts. With the help of countless amazing people, many who I don't even know, http://web.me.com/outgolfing/Equipment (which details what you took) has been sent across Canada and around the world to more people - musicians, music stores, pawn shops, studios, rehearsal rooms, and other musically related businesses - than I ever imagined possible. It's been passed around since you broke in, and is continually going out to more people. In fact, I'd bet people reading this will pass the link on to others if they already haven't. This will continue unendingly until I find my guitars and other equipment. My green Les Paul is already one of the most recognizable instruments in Canada, I can guarantee you that.

Here's your scenario:

--No collector will want this instrument because it's not even close to original.

--No legitimate business will buy it from you.

--Any creep who would knowingly buy a stolen guitar will give you a pittance for it.

--If you keep it for yourself, you'll never be able to play anywhere with it, and it will tie you to the crime and to all of the other stolen equipment for as long as you have it.

--You didn't even take the case.
It's my most personal possession, and I have always planned for my son to have it one day. By the way, the other Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier head you took was his.

It's not of much value to you, but to me, I can't buy another Les Paul like it because another one doesn't exist.. Here's a thought:

Have some decency and redeem some karma. Bring my guitar back. You've fucked my studio up and stolen a life-time collection of my shit. You stole my guitar rig, which was MY sound that I've spent years achieving.

You haven't ripped off a money making business. You've ripped off my life and my spirit immeasurably by taking away the tools of the pursuit of my passion. I've worked extremely hard for my whole life to earn my right to do so, and you took it all away in an hour or two. You've also ripped off my son, now, and in the future. I don't have the money to replace the gear, so it's just gone.

Just give it back - NO QUESTIONS ASKED. PLEASE

use Canada country for number below
Maurice
(604) 943-6160
(604) 816-8987 cel