Once more, Dan, you’ve proven yourself my doppelgänger, or vice versa. (I’ll share pics of my axes one day.) Fascinating stuff here, and, for me, timely as I’m working on a guitar pub.
Serious question: If you were working on a book on 20th century guitars, what would you call it?
Dude - I did the same thing with the amp jury-rig before getting a proper amp, albeit even more crudely (if that's possible) by plugging into the MIC jack on a component stereo. I had no idea what 'impedance' was or whether things would start smoking. All I knew was that the plugs & jacks fit!
I remember Fender had the 'Lead I' & 'Lead II' guitars in the early 80s and my buddy had one - I thought those were super cool - kind of a more relaxed strat body style and very playable with more limited pickup options. Hey, if they were good enough for Steve Morse from Dixie Dregs they must be cool, right? I'd love to get my hands on either one of those someday.
My freshman year college roommate had a Fender Lead II — I borrowed it for band practice a few times when my Hondo Fatboy was in the shop, and thought it was pretty cool. In retrospect, I'm pretty sure that was the first actual Fender I ever played!
Yeah, I have a couple of guitars that I'm jonesing pretty hard for right now, as well — but I'm also on a bit of a self-imposed spending freeze these days due to [gestures wildly] all this.
Great piece! Why, why, why do I love guitars so much? (a rhetorical question).
My first was an acoustic Stella with action about 3/4 of an inch off the neck - got it for Xmas from the folks along with lessons when I was 10. It was bitch to play but perfect to start on, as when I moved on to a higher-quality instrument with normal action I could immediately play better than before!
If it wasn't for "all this" and a similar avoidance of spending money right now, I'd consider one of those pretty new Fenders - the Tele with humbucker looks great - though I'm really more of a Gretsch lover these days.
Guitars are like records - you can never really have too many!
I don’t know how you found a photo of a Wieners Circle sign that just, like, advertised product, but I have to tell you that I always love reading what you have to say and I loved reading this in particular because it is hard to find any discussion of guitar mods that isn’t dudes duding out trying to make absolutely damn certain they sound like they’re talking over my head.
Awww thank you Cathy! I remember being really frustrated when reading all the over-my-head/"inside baseball" stuff in guitar mags while I was a teenager, so I've always tried to keep my own guitar-related writing as lucid and accessible as possible — glad that came across here!
Once more, Dan, you’ve proven yourself my doppelgänger, or vice versa. (I’ll share pics of my axes one day.) Fascinating stuff here, and, for me, timely as I’m working on a guitar pub.
Serious question: If you were working on a book on 20th century guitars, what would you call it?
Hey Tom! 20th century guitars in general? Or specific to a particular country/style/period etc?
In general.
Hmmm…
Your uncle John would have loved this guitars in the life of Dan commentary ...and loved you all the more for writing it!!!!
Thanks, Toni! I always loved talking about guitars with Uncle John...
Dude - I did the same thing with the amp jury-rig before getting a proper amp, albeit even more crudely (if that's possible) by plugging into the MIC jack on a component stereo. I had no idea what 'impedance' was or whether things would start smoking. All I knew was that the plugs & jacks fit!
I remember Fender had the 'Lead I' & 'Lead II' guitars in the early 80s and my buddy had one - I thought those were super cool - kind of a more relaxed strat body style and very playable with more limited pickup options. Hey, if they were good enough for Steve Morse from Dixie Dregs they must be cool, right? I'd love to get my hands on either one of those someday.
Great read, as always - rock on!
My freshman year college roommate had a Fender Lead II — I borrowed it for band practice a few times when my Hondo Fatboy was in the shop, and thought it was pretty cool. In retrospect, I'm pretty sure that was the first actual Fender I ever played!
Though I really ought not to be 'shopping', I can't help it now that it's stuck in my head. Or an SG :-D
Reverb has a number of both Lead Is & IIs for <$1000.
Guitars are always a good investment, right? Right?
Right?
Yeah, I have a couple of guitars that I'm jonesing pretty hard for right now, as well — but I'm also on a bit of a self-imposed spending freeze these days due to [gestures wildly] all this.
Yea - it is frantic I know
Great piece! Why, why, why do I love guitars so much? (a rhetorical question).
My first was an acoustic Stella with action about 3/4 of an inch off the neck - got it for Xmas from the folks along with lessons when I was 10. It was bitch to play but perfect to start on, as when I moved on to a higher-quality instrument with normal action I could immediately play better than before!
If it wasn't for "all this" and a similar avoidance of spending money right now, I'd consider one of those pretty new Fenders - the Tele with humbucker looks great - though I'm really more of a Gretsch lover these days.
Guitars are like records - you can never really have too many!
I have always admired Gretsch guitars from an aesthetic and sonic standpoint, but sadly I’ve never played one that felt “right” in my hands.
I love the Cliff link and how many hits he got from Cobain guitar seekers! - still have Devil Woman 45.
Great single!
I don’t know how you found a photo of a Wieners Circle sign that just, like, advertised product, but I have to tell you that I always love reading what you have to say and I loved reading this in particular because it is hard to find any discussion of guitar mods that isn’t dudes duding out trying to make absolutely damn certain they sound like they’re talking over my head.
Awww thank you Cathy! I remember being really frustrated when reading all the over-my-head/"inside baseball" stuff in guitar mags while I was a teenager, so I've always tried to keep my own guitar-related writing as lucid and accessible as possible — glad that came across here!