Fuel Additive Jam

Here I am experimenting with Strat-o-Power as a mileage and fuel booster.

Right now the 3rd most watched Google video is a 75 minute lecture outlining the entire reason for our current energy crisis. I stumbled upon it by accident, but watched the whole thing. I recommend checking it out and making your own conclusions.

A Strat for Friday #81 - GMW/Empire Standard Series

(photo:www.gmwguitars.com)

Takin' a walk on the bling side this week with the work of California builder Lee Garver and GMW Guitar Works. The model featured above is part of the Empire "Standard" line. There is also a Custom line. Trim-wise, these are anything but standard-- incorporating mother-of-pearl body binding, extensive fretboard inlay, etc. If you love the inlay thing, you've come to the right place. This model also has a maple capped ash body and top end hardware & electronics.

Their headstock design totally makes sense. They basically reverse & shorten the Fender shape, and do the tuners 3 x 3. A great way to be both classic & unique while still maintaining a familiar profile for that body style! To me, this actually makes Ball's Music Man 4 x 2 headstock seem kinda goofy. My opinion...

You MUST spend some time at the website checking things out, i.e. the GMW Guitar Generator , a tool for configuring your custom guitar from the ground up. They do all shapes, graphics, paint, natural, inlay; an enormous spectrum of possibilities. Check out the HUGE archive sections too.

The Guitars for Sale page currently displays an interesting variety, including a green Heineken graphic'd Flying V (possibly a poignant & poetic nod to Mikey Schenker).

I cover the relic thing a lot, but the bling thing is still alive and well, and GMW is just the outfit for serious bling guitars that you can help design.

more Friday Strats

Howie Simon's Shredded Strats

L.A. based shred master Howie Simon (orig. from Buffalo) plays some nasty lookin' distress-o-casters. Truth in Shredding blog also features a sweep lesson clip of Howie playing a light blue Strat with a severely deep fried maple neck. It's cool to see a shredder playing a relic'd Strat, as opposed to another ESP, Schecter, BC Rich or something resembling a medieval kitchen utensil.

The Strat in the above video appears to have seen service either in Iraq, a Carl's Jr. fryolator or an AAMCO Transmission center. That's "Double A-- HONK! HONK! -- MCO!".

EDITOR NOTE (later): No relic projects here! According to a message just in from Howie Simon, both aforementioned Strats are orig. '72 models. One he's owned for over 20 years, the other nearly that long. Howie informs me that the wear and tear on these guitars is naturally occurring. Both have been re-fretted, traveled around the world and soaked up a lot of climate and sweat. Very important to know!

Cary, if you're reading this-- how far are you gonna take that Tele neck??

Relic Guitar Resources

Straight Business from Jimmy Bowskill

Jimmy Bowskill has been in our Young Guitar Wonders directory for awhile. This is a great little interview/documentary clip about him.

There are more than a few kids out there doing this, and doing it with the Blues. Why change a good thing? What are your plans for next lifetime?

SPLAT-O-Caster!

This angry specimen, I call "SPLAT-O-Caster" is just another find from The Diabolical Dr. Wilson at GUITARZ guitar blog. Mostly from eBay, these guitars are tagged Hideous Guitars. The Doc has compiled quite an array of disturbing pieces.

Actually called the Wollerman Monster (thought you'd wanna know), this "guitar" looks like something I recall from a Johnny Quest episode. "Help! Race!"

A Strat for Friday #80 - 'Layla Strat' by Shadoe McKee

(images:www.bcguitars.com)

Beyond Custom Guitars (www.bcguitars.com) is the palette of Florida based fine artist/painter Shadoe McKee, who specializes in custom graphics for guitars. You give Shadoe your ideas and she helps duplicate the concept on your guitar. Our featured "Layla Strat" (click on image for better look) is just one of several gallery examples which span a diverse range of subject matter, style & techniques.

Everything is hi-end quality work! Those acquainted with Pamelina H., who does most of the Fender Custom Shop graphics, i.e. the calendar pieces, etc., will find Shadoe McKee's work of comparable quality. bcguitars.com provides all needed details & contact info. for anyone considering a custom guitar art work theme.

Here's another avenue for personalizing or "unique-izing" your guitar, besides doing the relic route or sticking on a pin-up decal. The possibilities are limitless.

more Friday Strats

KLH Custom Relics, Nasty Mojo!!

(photo:www.klhcustomrelics.com)

A recent anonymous tipster comment referred me to KLH Custom Relics, the mad relic laboratory of Indianapolis guitarist/luthier Kevin L. Heffernan. Yes, he does Strats too, but this Tele, dubbed "The Continental" just reeks of nasty goodness thru & thru. Just click the image for a better pic-- (which also contains a closeup magnifier).

The Continental features an old Lincoln Continental chrome name strip and a 40's era Cadillac emblem plate behind the bridge. Another gallery piece is a black Tele named "Dynaflow", which bears a similar chrome name strip from the 40's Buick Dynaflow transmission equipped automobiles.

KLH's Strat stuff is cool too, but the Tele treatments seem to get the most creative touches. He's even relic'd some Thinline reissues. So go check 'em out!

Relic Guitar Resource Directory

Tribal Tech at MI in '93 - Face First

Don't mess with Scott Henderson! Here's a youtube clip I found from 1993. Move forward to 4:00 for Scott's solo. (I hope Rich Murray catches this.)

Another interesting item about this vid is that Kirk Covington is strangely absent from the drums. Hilary Jones is handling those duties. Kirk must have had a boat gig...

Hilary Jones is awesome! Drummer chicks are out there, but prog-fusion drummer chicks aren't exactly the most common species on the planet.

Fenderpick Guitar Forum

(image:www.fenderpick.com)

I registered at the Fenderpick.com forum a few months ago, but haven't gotten over there much. Today, I got an auto-respond email Happy Birthday message from them (yeah, today is my birthday).

Anyway, Fenderpick.com looks like a terrific discussion group. The amount of posting and threads over there indicate a very active forum. I meant to blog about this months ago.

While we're at it, also check out www.Strat-Talk.com and TDPRI.com (huge Tele forum site).

These forums are well moderated, and a gold mine of resources.

Vintage Gear? Well, It All Depends...

Ready for "Hug Your 'VINTAGE' Guitar Week"?

Dave at Sans Direction blog, along with the help of Ed Roman (spiritual guide), recently took on the vintage issue in his "Why Vintage Isn't Worth It" post.

I left a comment there which went from 2 cents to a whole $3.73, and I'm thinkin', "Wow! At a wopping $3.73, what I'm payin' for a gallon of gas-- this week, I could post in my very own blog ".

Thus the following essay on the meaning of life and how it relates to guitar value, which I'll also be reading aloud this week at a local Borders, to the music of Rickie Lee Jones:

"You really gotta keep your guitarist hat separate from your collector/investor hat. As for investing, this isn't a onesy-twosy game. If you're gonna do that, ya have to do some big numbers and lots of instruments. AND you have to be able to totally detach from your musician side. Don't use the product, or you'll become a junkie too, with the impaired judgement that accompanies being a junkie.

Otherwise, you gotta go for tone alone, which can show up in the most status-less guitars. It's probably best to wear a blindfold in the music store and buy with your ears alone. Of course that's no guarantee of a bargain, but at least you are focusing on sound and feel only.

There's lots said about the right wood, resonance, set-up and the integrity of all the right elements into one instrument. And I appreciate those who build fine instruments. But rarely discussed is how the musician resonates with and through his instrument. Plenty of those old Blues cats blew us away on some real cheesy guitars.

When a guy steps up from a cigar box with a broom handle neck and screen door wire strings-- to an actual guitar, he's on cloud 9. A musician on cloud 9 will transcend considerations about reality.

And some white Harvard MBA investor with a geetar hobby will pay any amount for the cigar box that Muddy made as a teen, just for a virtual pretense of how cloud 9 might possibly feel.

"Reality" is what people agree upon. "Actuality" is another thing altogether. Actually, we're only talking about a few pounds of wood, metal and plastic that can be spun in various ways to various results and effects.

Whatever object humans might create which allows them to express a way to attract the most favorable attention and agreement, will acquire the highest relative value. Otherwise-- a few pounds of wood, metal and plastic...

He who can express, creates the value-- and IS the value, although some are only able to perceive the object.

I hated my Strat because it didn't weigh 7 lbs, didn't have this mojo, that feature or some of the other stuff that fits the super Strat standard. It didn't sound as good as Strats I couldn't own. But then I picked it back up and after some time discovered its sweet spots and how to work it. Lo and behold I found a good Strat was there all along. It was me who lacked the tone and presence.

Everyone wants a guitar that seems to play itself in your hands. I had one of those once too, but it made me lazy, and I had to get rid of it because it wouldn't learn for me.

Trophys are best kept on the mantle."


Relic-tile Dysfunction? Ask your luthier today if Viagrit is right for you.

Hug Your Guitar Week

(photo:www.hotguitarist.com)

key words: modeling, cyber-twin(s), implants, curves, contours, string(s), blue, knobs, pickup(s), thin, skin,

"Hug Your Guitar Week" could use a little spice. And a photo of ME hugging my guitar just ain't gonna kick it up a notch for anybody.

With the help of www.hotguitarist.com- a site of great variety & good taste- Hug Your Guitar Week can still be a memorable event that we can all treasure for years to come.













"Have a great weekend kids-- and remember to hug Mom this Sunday!!"

Relic Guitar Tools of the Trade

Cary, over at Electric-Guitar-Review blog is currently doing a relic project on an MIM Tele he scored on eBay.

His latest acquisition is a rock tumbler, in which he places metal parts, i.e. tuners, neck plate, screws, etc., along with gravel-- that's right, GRAVEL. Works real good too!

He's also been sanding off polyurethane till the wee hours.

The project is well documented and photographed, so get over there and check it out.

Eventually Cary plans to have a rough lookin' guitar-- and a bucket of polished gravel...

Relic Guitar Resource Links

A Strat for Friday #79 - Custom 'Flaming Blue'

(photo: Guitaritus)

Nick from the Guitaritus blog recently completed this personal project-- and it's got some real nice touches. Click on the photo for better photos you can click on & enlarge-- along with the build details.

Basically, a nice ash body with maple top, Clapton Strat electronics with TBX, Wilkinson bridge, staggered Sperzels and an incredible piece of maple for the neck. The neck was made by British luthier Paul Creedy of ArrowHeadGuitars .


more Friday Strats

Rickie Lee Jones' White Strat & Some Black Coffee

Rickie Lee Jones surviving a book store gig with a double espresso and a white Strat. Yes, God still has a sense of humor.

This is one for Simon Cowell.

I guess RLJ is an acquired taste. If due to some misadventure, you ever find yourself dangling by your fingernails from some 4th story window ledge, over stopped traffic and terrified pedestrians...

Just make like Rickie Lee and sing something.

Poetically enough, this tune is called "Falling Up". Imagine being hungover some Sunday morning and stumbling into your local Borders book store to this one. I'm actually a big RLJ fan, but this has me hangin' from my own window ledge wondering... no, dying to know the story behind it all. Everybody sing along!

Is that the Reagan biography facing out on the shelf behind her?

Strat-o-Sisters

Hubert Sumlin to Blues Hall of Fame this Week!

(photo: Annie Leibovitz)

This Wednesday- May 7, Hubert Sumlin will be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Tunica, Mississippi. The ClairionLedger.com features a fascinating article by Billy Watkins.

You've GOTTA read the article!!!
(click clarion link)

The life of Hubert Sumlin tracks right along with some of the greatest events in Blues history, including a relationship with one of the most important Stratocaster's in history as well.

Also, check this PREVIOUS post and video about Hubert. The video is priceless!

Chris Duarte Grooving in '92

I recently attended a brew fest featuring an SRV tribute band from Texas (whose name I won't mention). The performance was way over the top and sloppy, with the brim adorned guitar player blowing his entire load on every tune. Then we get the little talk about how he was a good buddy of SRV back in the day-- blah, blah, blah... What a hose job!

According to the Youtube user who uploaded the above Chris Duarte clip, it's from a Canadian TV show in '92. With SRV a little over one year gone, Chris Duarte was already doing that thing very well. It would be easy to write off Duarte as an SRV clone, but instead I think there was a collective dynamic of Texas bluesmen in the 80's who were simultaneously evolving a form of playing which blended Hendrix flair with classic T-Bone Walker and Albert King. Obviously, SRV busted into the mainstream first, and arguably did it best. However...

Other players like Ronnie Earl, Charlie Baty and Duke Robillard were also forging ahead with contemporary electric blues guitar interpretations. Although Duarte is clearly cooking in SRV's kitchen here, he does so with plenty of his own passion, clean attack and good taste.

So let's keep that torch burning, but don't accept just any substitutes kids!

A Strat for Friday #78 - Real '56 Sunburst Stratocaster

$44,500.00 is the asking price for this 1956 burst, currently listed at eBay Store:

Indigo-photo Fine Apparel and More
(I'm only gonna write that one time)

The current listing has all the breakdown photos and a huge description. That's a two-piece ash body folks-- just look at that grain, will ya! You can park a Harley between those rings! They don't make the wood like that no more. No sir!

Not a mere Custom Shop limited edition relic'd closet classic master built reissue. This is the real deal baby! The routing cavity could very well contain chunks of bologna sandwich sneezed by Leo himself while wiring it up just after lunch. It doesn't get any "realer" than that folks.

While you're visiting, be sure to also peruse the fine selection of Brooks Brothers suits-- "you'll get some leg tonight for sure. Tell us how you do!".

Yes. A genuine fine aged Strat and a fine suit. God almighty! On top of the world Ma!!

Any hedge fund managers out there?

Hey! Air Guitar This!!!

This is from an old Neatorama post. Cruel humor...

Guitar Blog-roll Additions at Stratoblogster

A couple of these are waaaay overdue, but here are some interesting blogs for all you guitar enthusiasts out there-- and I think you know who you are.

Guitar enthusiasts themselves, just like us (we?), these folks regularly provide fresh guitar oriented content that's loaded with just the nutrient-rich insights you'll need to develop your very own big & strong guitar concepts.

With that, be sure to visit these fine Stratoblogster-Approved purveyors of top guitar cultural excellence. Show them the love and respect they deserve.

Sans Direction

Guitar Flame

Guitar Gear

Little Rock Jams

(and if the bums quit posting, they're outta my freakin' blogroll!)

Solidbodies is a Cool Guitar Film

I've already posted about this film, but I'm posting again having gotten the DVD and watched the whole thing.

Now I really recommend everyone getting it. Now available at AMAZON.

Lots of history on these guitars and their creators, as well as interviews with experts and great players.

Kudos to Guy Hornbuckle for making a great guitar film. Strat and Les Paul fans alike will enjoy this. Both guitars are given equal billing throughout. Featured players like John Roth and Joe Bonamassa enjoy playing both Strats and Les Pauls.

I came away feeling like I need a Les Paul too. But maybe I'll get over it...

Solidbodies, The 50 Year Guitar War

Order @ Amazon