THE GUITARMOURY
Fiddles and Banjolele's!
The Guitars that I currently use. My main squeezes are first.Â
Unfortunately my beginner instruments aren't here and some had to sold as I've grown accustomed to eating real food and not living in a ditch!
As a perpetually skint parent, all my kit is scrimped and saved for. consequently I spend months, if not years planning each purchase. so everything is evaluated and re evaluated, studied, stared at, stalked and sniffed until I'm bored of it or can actually get one. Where possible I will pick up pre-owned items and rescue guitars. I refuse to pay over £500 for any guitar. I've yet to play one that warrants the price tag.
WHAT'S WITH THE SKULL DUDE?
I like skulls!?! I wanna be a Pirate!?!
You may notice that pretty much all of my main performance guitars have a Skull "Tattoo" on them somewhere. This kinda became a thing after spotting a cool sticker while waiting for an MOT. I put it on my Schecter and thought it looked cool, so I put one on my Les Paul. And then on my Ibanez and so on and so on. Originally it was always a Skull and Crossbones but now its a mix with a slightly more subtle skull. It gives my instruments a little personal touch and we don't count a guitar as part of the family until it gets its Ink!
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DEEDEE
Ibanez Artcore
This saucy little minx has slid into my Collection. Never thought that I'd be rolling with a hollow body but here we are. Got her to use primarily with Velvet Asylum, where I'm largely singing and providing rhythm guitar. I'm really happy with her. Simple control layout and the stock Infinity pups are doing the job.
Doing the Business with my Artcore "DeeDee".
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There's a strong chance that this one will remain unmodified. The rest of the band says she sounds sweet.
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I could be tempted with some Alnico V's to give her a Grohl-ish bark tho'
EVH WOLFGANG
Another one that bypassed the wish list and went straight into the playlist. It's probably not so much of a surprise considering my fondness for the offset and Axis shapes. This is a Wolfgang Standard that I fitted a D Tuna to. Coming in Stryker Red, which harks back to my first real guitar and my first serious Ibanez. It's got the bells and whistles that I like - Roasted Maple neck with a sweet compound radius. Locking trem and very nice EVH pickups. It's fallen into place as one of my favourite 6 string solid bodies and has hit the stage with Velvet Asylum within the first few weeks of ownership.
Rolling with the EVH Wolfgang with Velvet Asylum
"BRUCE" G.O.D 1
Sterling By Musicman AX
My main 6 string. Largely unmodified from stock except for Dimarzio pick ups and re set of the bridge to a slight float.
I owned a Tanglewood copy of the original Musicman Axis when I was a youth. I regretted having to sell it but eventually I found one again. I simply love the shape and feel of these models (as can be seen by my choice of Bass!) and maple fretboards are also a firm favourite.
THE ICE QUEEN
Harley Benton Progressive Series
My one and only 8 string, for the moment.
This is a seriously awesome guitar for the money. It has a sexy maple neck and as a multi scale it plays sooooo fluidly. At some point I plan to drop in some Fishman Fluence pickups.
My main 7 String and the guitar responsible for me breaking some sort of land speed record! I only went into the shop for a guitar stand! This guitar has been my best friend for a long time.
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Currently going thru' a bit of a refurb -
Dropped in a Dimarzio Tone Zone and Air Norton. Brings the Bitch close in tone to my Axis. I could only get hold of coloured bobbins so she's looking a bit "80s/90s check out my fancy pick ups" flex!
At least until find some pick up covers.
The Dimarzio's just hit the spot, so disappointed with the FIshman's in comparision.
The Bitch
Ibanez RG Series
LOOKING A BIT FUNKY.....
Upgraded Pick ups - Dimarzio Tone Zone and Air Norton
NEW LADY IN THE HOUSE
Ibanez GRG7221M "Nova"
New to me, and officially "Inked" up!
So impressed with the Ibanez GiO's. I saw this Maple fretboard and wanted it so bad, I may have been swayed by its resemblance to Angel Vivaldi's axe (Hence naming it Nova!). I loaded a set of Fishman Fluence OpenCore Pickups. The Jury is still out on these pups. They're good units and clean up the 7 string low end mud, but.. No wow factor. When I loaded Dimarzio's into my Axis (Bruce, G.o.D 1) it melted my face off from the get go. For something so highly touted these active pups were a bit, well.... Meh! I can see their value in multiscale land, and I'm still lining my 8 string up for a set. Maybe I'll stick to my passive Dimarzio's. Anyhoo... the Nova still rocks, it's nice to have a maple board 7 string and another sexy Ibanez in the stable.
THE KING T "ROYALLE!"
Hand Modded Table top!
I wanted a different 6 string to use with Velvet Asylum, so I built this. Contrary to popular belief (and my Ex) it wasn't made out of my dining room table. It's a FrankenTele made up of budget guitar parts. I dropped an Alnico Rail in the bridge with a PP tone pot to switch between series and parallel coils. The neck pickup is unknown, cheap but does its job. Straight forward 3 way selector. I "reliced" the body to get a satin feel along with some body contouring and chopping the bottom horn to give it that offset look I love so much. Did a bit of work on the back of the neck so it has a similar profile to my Axis. I'm more than pleased with how this turned out, especially since I got a bit lost in the wiring at one point. The King T makes it recording debut on "Rack Em Up" on the "I've Got Wood" Album,
THE BASS
Gear4music Santa Monica
I used to play 5 string bass, but switched back to 4 while playing in a cover band. When I saw this bass I had to have it! It was dirt cheap but is THE best bass I have ever played. Obviously the neck and body shape may have swayed me a little. I'm gutted that these are no longer available
GIO
Ibanez Gi0
Another 6 String. I love Ibanez Guitars for their quality and versatility and this little rescue is no exception. picked it up from ebay and its worth way more than I paid for it. It sat as stock for a while before I upgraded the pick ups. My favoured bridge option - Satchur8. Along with a rail in the neck and a standard single coil in the mid. I did a bit of sanding and painting on the body to remove the damage left by the previous owner and threw on the Yggdrasil detail across the neck to match one of my 7s.
Red Talman for the unplugged vibe
After an age of waiting, I finally rescued a Talman. This red natural open pore beauty makes it's debut on the "I've Got Wood" Album. While it doesn't have as deep a voice and character as my Dreadnought, it does have a slim neck and light overall profile that makes it a dream to play. It has a crisp and malleable tone and it's light making it gig friendly.
I may have a "thing" for Ibanez Guitars!
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We're at 5 and counting !
DREADNOUGHT
Fender Electro Acoustic
My principle acoustic and dining room noodling guitar. Upgraded from a Boston acoustic to this stage worthy beauty. Popped a detune device to switch into drop d, tend to play this without a pick.
THE LADY
Schecter Diamond Series "Sunset" C7
The first wife! Not my first guitar, but my first 7 string and longest serving guitar. Got this before the turn of the century and it is currently used for low A tuned riffage.
THE PAUL
Epiphone Les Paul 7
Another long serving instrument. 3rd 7 string I ever bought. Set off to get either an Ibanez or an ESP and came back with this! Probably the heaviest gigged instrument I own.
JIMI LEE
Left handed Frankenstrat
My Tattooist gave me a left handed strat body loaded with Burns Tri-sonic pickups. I made it into this beast. I do try to play it, its a fun challenge to play left handed
DOGGY BOWL
Homemade Dog Bowl Resonator
Sometimes I do stuff just to see if I can.
This is the product of one of those moments. Fitted with a peizo and a cigar box pick up. I was happy with how this came out. I may have a blast at a full size one someday.
ASHTON
Another rescue
Kindly donated by a work mate, this budget HSS super strat is my 2nd Dining room noodler and is left in Drop D. It may be my permanent MiDi guitar if i ever get around to it.
HONEY JACK AND THE UKE
Cigar Box Guitar and Standard Ukulele
I like monkeying around with stuff, hence the cigar box guitar. I've got other random build ideas floating around due to my success with this.
The Uke stems from an encounter with Amanda Palmer.
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