August 11, 2026

When I look back on my guitar-playing “career” of nearly 40 years (I started very young), I can divide the time into two major periods.  The first, lasting 30 years, was before I learned to practice; the second, for the last 10 years, was after I learned to practice.  Yes, it took me 30 years to learn how to practice.   It never even occurred to me that I might need to learn how to practice.  I had taken lessons with several teachers over the years, and none had ever mentioned anything about how to practice, just that I needed … Read more

Kasino Natural bass amplifier head

August 10, 2026

Vintage Kasino Natural Bass Amp Repair: Early 1970s Solid-State Bench Troubleshooting

Jeff Bollettino

Project Scope: Vintage solid-state audio repair, schematic signal tracing, and capacitor replacement bench log. Technical Specifications: 1970s Kasino Natural Bass Amp Specification Details Manufacturer Kustom Electronics (Kasino Brand) Model Kasino Natural Bass Amp Era Early 1970s Topology Solid-State Output Power 75 W RMS / 150 W Peak Board Schematics 5104 Preamp Board / 5033 Power Amp Board Background & History: Kustom vs. Kasino In this installment of “The Repair Bench,” we are repairing a vintage Kasino Natural model bass amplifier head from the early 1970s. The Kasino brand was made by Kustom Electronics, maker of Kustom Amplifiers. If you’re not … Read more

August 8, 2026

Fake Books 101: What is a Fake Book & How to Use The Real Book

Jeff Bollettino

What Is a Fake Book? Fake books are large compilations of the tunes that musicians most commonly need to know to meet the demands of their audience. Though many variations have evolved, a fake book typically includes the melody and chord changes for the tune. The melody line is typically shown as notes on a music staff. Chords are typically notated by name, such as “Cmaj7”, and not as written notes on a staff. In modern sheet music, this format is often referred to as a lead sheet, making a fake book essentially a large collection of lead sheets bound … Read more