Say Hi to Rick!

Recently our friend and all around good guy Rick Miller joined our team as Strymon’s customer service and community manager. If you send us an email or give us a call, chances are it will be Rick that you’ll be talking with! He’s active and available on several popular gear forums, and he also offers support and answers your questions on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

So how about we throw a few questions at Rick and let him tell you a bit more about himself?

What was your first guitar?
My first guitar was a cheap Strat knock off that I got for my 15th birthday. I remember my folks made me play my mom’s old acoustic guitar for a full year before they committed to buying it for me. Before that, I had played the baritone horn in grade school and, surprise surprise, quit shortly after! I’m convinced it was because of the first time I had to march. I just didn’t have the coordination to read music and march at the same time. In the end, guitar and bass were a much better fit for me!

Most random job you’ve ever had?
When I was about 19 years old I actually worked at a local hardware store in Connecticut for a whole entire month. The ironic part about this is that I knew nothing about tools at all. One time a guy asked me for a “C” clamp and I took him to the plumbing aisle and showed him the hose clamps. He looked at me like I was an alien and then proceeded to explain to me what a “C” clamp was. Super embarrassing!

Celtics or Lakers?
Celtics! C’mon, I’m from New England!

First CD you ever bought?
This is a tough one because I didn’t actually own a CD player until I was old enough to use my own money to buy one. Before that, I was all tape baby! I think it may have been Nirvana Incesticide. I DO remember buying my first album though. I was about 8 years old and i bought a copy of Sports by Huey Lewis and the News. I still love that album.

Things you miss about Connecticut?
My entire family still lives in Connecticut so without a doubt I miss them the most. I also miss the Summers in Connecticut. It’s so green and vibrant and there are so many cool lakes and streams to swim and fish in!

Things you don’t miss about Connecticut?
The blistering cold, gray winters will never be missed by me! After almost 10 years in Los Angeles my blood has thinned to a point where I refuse to go back to Connecticut in the winter unless I absolutely have to!

Your favorite beer?
Wow, what a great question. I love so many different beers for so many different reasons. You cannot go wrong with a Sam Adams Boston Lager and that’s typically my go to beer if the bar only offers the usual American swill from Miller-Coors or Budweiser. If I had to pick an absolute favorite I’d say Russian River “Consecration”. It’s a fantastic dark sour ale brewed with sour ale yeast and aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels along with black currants. It’s truly an exceptional beer.

Your favorite beer you brewed?
I’ve been brewing for a long time now and have literally brewed at least 100 different batches of beer. I’d say my absolute favorite batch was the very first one I brewed. It was a simple red ale that I completely screwed up by not adding enough water to bring it up to a full 5 gallon batch. In the end, it came out incredibly strong and barely drinkable but it was the catalyst for a new obsession that I still enjoy today.