Norm

By day, I’m a Financial Systems Analyst and by night/weekends, I’m a husband to a beautiful/wonderful wife and dad to two cute/terrific girls.  I also play some music on the side, dabble in the latest geeky tech stuff, and explore foodie establishments (the latest in food trucks/restaurants).

I upgraded to a work-issued iPhone 4S =)

I shoot pictures with my Nikon D90 dSLR

…usually with a Nikon SB-600 AF Speedlight Flash mounted (for bounce flash with diffuser)…

…and one of two lenses (AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR zoom lens or AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G fixed/prime lens) attached.

I also learned my lesson the hard way by accidentally dropping the camera, flash, and zoom lens trying to shoot a family picture.  This required my to purchase a replacement for the zoom lens and a tripod sturdy enough to hold this entire setup.  For a tripod, I use the JOBY GorillaPod Focus with Ballhead X (holds up to 11 lbs.).  I position it in the regular three-footed triangular position or can wrap it around anything sturdy.

Source: Engadget.com

I carry all of this in a LowePro SlingShot 102 AW sling camera bag.

Rambling about music gear, I usually play my acoustic at church: a 2003 Taylor 714ce-LTD Summer Strummer.  I use this when I primarily strum and occasionally flatpick.

  • Premium Cocobolo 3-Piece Back and Sides with Flamed Maple Center Wedge
  • Sitka Spruce Top
  • Abalone Purfling and Soundhole
  • Flamed Maple Binding
  • Snowflake Inlays
  • Expression System Electronics
  • Upgraded Bob Colosi West African Hard Ivory Saddle

For songs using mostly fingerpicking/flatpicking, I recently acquired a RainSong Shorty SG-FLE (Forum Limited Edition).  It’s my secondary guitar and also Joyce’s guitar.


  • 12-fret OM (short-scale Orchestra Model)
  • Carbon Fiber/Glass Hybrid Body
  • All-graphite unidirectional carbon soundboard crafted using Projection Tuned Layering technique
  • Abalone Soundhole
  • Abalone Bridge Pins
  • Abalone Shark Inlays
  • Fishman Prefix Plus + T Electronics
  • Custom TKL Limited Edition Hardshell Case (fitted specifically for a RainSong Shorty)

I play the two acoustic guitars above (although not at the same time) through a Fishman Loudbox Mini acoustic amplifier.

I also have a discontinued Baby Taylor Rosewood for campfires and dinkering around with at home with the kids.  It’s currently high-strung in Nashville Tuning with a set of D’Addario EJ38H Phosphor Bronze (.010-.027) made specifically for Nashville Tuning.

If I feel like visiting Hawaii (that’s almost all the time), I spend some time playing my Kamaka HF-3 Tenor ukulele.

DSC_0345

  • Solid Hawaiian Koa Top, Sides, and Back
  • Mahogany Neck
  • Rosewood Fingerboard and Bridge
  • Kamaka Ukulele Brand Tenor-Size Hardshell Case
  • Fitted with a Fishman AG-Series Ukulele Passive Undersaddle Pickup

When I go electric, I play this sunburst Fender Classic Series ’72 Telecaster Custom.

My AKS PedalPad pedalboard (powered by Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2) looks like this:

DAISY CHAIN ORDER (left to right):

  1. Boss Noise Suppressor NS-2
  2. Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi USA
  3. Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer
  4. Line6 DL4 Delay Modeler
  5. Ernie Ball 6166 Mono Volume Pedal linked to a Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner

It’s backed by a Fender Blues Junior tube amp.

I also play one of the best passive jazz basses out there: Lakland Skyline DJ4 (upgraded with Chi-Sonic pickups).

DSC_0711

It’s backed by a Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 1×12 Combo tube bass amp.

I use a mini synthesizer/vocoder when playing in a band setting: the KORG microKORG XL..
And I finally have a 25″ x 14″ Remo Djembe Earth.

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