Nearly 20 years ago, I hand picked a chunk of curly ash... not maple, ash.
Seriously flamed, one piece, big enough & thick enough to make a Strat body,
without a seam joining 2 sides.
A couple of years later, I was a sales manager for Jackson Charvel
guitars... back when the high end custom business for Jackson was in its
heyday. I took that chinck of ash out to the factory in California... set
one of their machines to rout it like a very early heavily reliefed Strat. I
had it routed for humbuckers and trem, even though I intended to use 3
single coil sized pickups, and block the trem.
I then went to a bin with 100 or so neck blanks, selected a birdseye maple
neck with an ebony board.
They did a beautiful honey colored finish on the body that really
highlighted the figuring in the wood, and did an early Fender headstock, yet
with the Jackson logo (patent infringement), set it up real nice, and
shipped it to me. My total cost was $100. A comparable instrument created in
that manner for the general public was over $3k at the time.
It plays like a dream and looks way cool.
I've got a few Martins left in the closet... a D28-12, and a D37K2 (flamed
Koa)., and some other odd collectibles.
Most of my collector guitars went to a variety of vintage dealers (including
the last HIGH dollar guitar I sold.. a '55 Strat to Larry at Axe in Hand in
Dekalb, IL. His check bounced, and he was within hours of getting kneecapped
when he coughed up cash). Other old stuff I had went to Skunk Baxter of
Doobie Brothers & Steely Dan fame. I knew him from my days at Akai.
My Father's been parting out his complete woodshop to me, and eventually,
I'll have it all set up, and tackle making a flat top before I assume room
temperature.
-----Original Message-----
From owner-spridgets at autox.team.net [mailto:owner-spridgets@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Jim Johnson
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 5:20 PM
To: Mark Hineline
Cc: Spridget List
Subject: Re: Can't Make it Here Anymore
On 1/6/06, Mark Hineline <hineline@ocotillofield.net> wrote:
>
> Cripes! I think we have a winner.
>
> Wait, wait. No National Steel with the desert island engraved on the
> back?
No but I've always wanted one. Elderly instruments has had a few but
I've had too much money in cars and motorcycles to buy them... I do
have a 1995 Regal Resophonic which is a blast to play for old blues
stuff!
Years ago, I looked at getting into making instruments but never had
the time to dedicate to it. My friend John Paganoni taught me a little
about making mandolins but I never followed up on it. I have a lot of
respect for people who both make AND play these instruments! I just
play and mostly folk, bluegrass, and blues....
Cheers!!
Jim - Acoustic Midget in Dodge City
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