tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52467840103241322452024-03-13T10:16:46.063-07:00How To Make a Guitar in 736 Easy StepsMDXGuitarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16447106373064534031noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246784010324132245.post-34194422409368298422011-10-18T11:52:00.001-07:002011-10-19T07:21:39.097-07:00The First "Priceless" MDX Guitar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Pretty isn't it? <br />
It is a copy of a Fender S.R.V. Strat with a Buddy Guy paint job..<br />
Each dot is the exact size and placement as Buddy Guy's guitar.<br />
The Only difference is, this one has a rosewood fingerboard.<br />
I had started making it right before my mom and brother got really sick in 1997. <br />
When me and the person I was making this guitar first started talking about it, he said "I'm in no hurry.. Take your time.." <br />
You have NO idea how much I hate to hear someone say that!<br />
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This guy bugged the ever-loving bejesus out of me. My mom had a stroke and was in and out of hospital, Dann was starting to shut down, it was the most absolute worst time in my life.<br />
This f-n guy would not quit!<br />
I am about to lose my mom, Dann doesn't look good at all! He was in and out of the hospital because he was drowning on the inside. He would go in and they would drain fluid from him. He would lose 20-30 lbs in just a few days..<br />
This guy wouldn't give me a minutes piece.. Calling, stopping by, leaving notes, some rude..<br />
A few days after Dann's funeral he stopped by and needed to know when it was going to be finished. He had to have it!<br />
Doing that paint job was one of the hardest I've done. Keeping black out of white, white out of black, it drove me crazy. I remember looking at it so much, it started to not look right. I almost started over..<br />
Drove me completely crazy!<br />
Not even a month after my brother's funeral and just a few days after my mom's funeral, I called this SOB and told him to come get this F-n guitar. It was finished. <br />
I had been completely devastated and I never wanted to hear from this guy again.<br />
He came to my shop, picked up the guitar and picked on it for what seemed like forever.<br />
I finally told him I needed to go and just pay me so I can leave.<br />
He said " oh....... Well, I don't have the money to pay for this."<br />
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I pretty much threw the guy out of my shop, shut the guitar case and shoved it under my bed.<br />
To this day.. That guitar is in perfect condition, still in that case, shoved under a bed..<br />
There is no amount of money that could pay me for what I had to give up for this guitar to exist.<br />
It hasn't seen the light of day in years. <br />
Well, a few years ago I got a recording program for my laptop.<br />
I recorded a few little tunes with this guitar. Great sounding guitar. Too bad it's hard for me to look at. That was the only time it has been out of that case.. Same time these photos were taken.<br />
I really don't have to worry about seeing it tho.. <br />
It's locked up in that case.. shoved under a bed.<br />
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Oh!! About a year or so later he called me (from a different number or I wouldn't have answered). He said he was making speaker cabinets and wanted to know if I would help him sell some.<br />
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</div>Stunned, I hung up on him.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a tune I did with this guitar. Sorry for the flubs. I never took the time to learn (or cared) how to fix them.</div>I was already jaded before pushing "start". Regina Zernay did the bass, in the back lounge of the bus..<br />
Listen if you want, or not..<br />
I never said I was a Musician or an Artist...<br />
I am a Craftsman<br />
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-For more information visit <a href="http://mdxguitars.com/">MDXGuitars.com</a>MDXGuitarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16447106373064534031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246784010324132245.post-15945146535416143762011-10-17T15:11:00.001-07:002011-10-19T07:23:09.268-07:00Sound Engineer saves Guitar Tech's life<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/17/2721.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/17/s_2721.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
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If you have ever actually watched my Cowboy Mouth crew, you noticed we work very hard but when we can, we play just as hard. <br />
A few years ago, we had been on a very hard tour but had a few days off at this fishing resort in Arkansas. They say it is the best trout fishing in the country.<br />
It was beautiful and the people there were very nice to us. They let us use their fishing poles, canoes and paddles. There were no life jackets but the water was only a couple of feet deep and crystal clear. You could see the fish swimming around below us and you could actually hit the fish on the head with the bait if you wanted. This was the kind of day we desperately needed.<br />
Our sound guy Adam and I decided we were going to try our hand at fishing, or at least paddle the river and check out the scenery. I'm pretty sure neither one of us would have known what to do if we actually caught a fish but we were having an awesome day anyway.<br />
We paddled down the river and came to a shallow part. It was so shallow, we had to get out of the canoe and carry it across some rocks then continued.<br />
We were having a perfect afternoon but when we got a few hundred yards past the shallow part, ALL of the birds around us took off, all of the insects quit making their noises then all of a sudden, it was completely silent.<br />
I turned around and looked at Adam in the back of the canoe and said "Well, this is a little weird".<br />
We decided it was probably a good idea to turn around and leave seeing every other living creature around us did the same.<br />
We turned around but it was only a few minutes until we noticed the water flowing harder and harder and faster and faster.<br />
We tried so hard to paddle our way back but the water kept turning the canoe sideways and taking us further and further down the river. We found out later they had opened the dam up river and the water went up 15 feet in 10 minutes.<br />
It took for ever and we were completely exhausted but we made it over to the edge and tried to pull our way to safety using weeds, tree limbs, anything we could grab! <br />
I guess now would be a good time to tell you I can't really swim, huh? <br />
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Adam actually jumped out of the canoe into cold cold water and dragged the canoe over to a place where we would be safe. <br />
While this was happening, I was thinking it would only be a few seconds after the canoe tipped over, I would be dead. It was that simple.<br />
Lucky for me, Adam was able to get us to someones private pier.<br />
Safe!!!! Thank God!<br />
We tied the canoe to the pier and looked at each other...<br />
We didn't have a phone, had now idea where we were, and no clue what to do next..<br />
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We had been there about half an hour when we see Regina walking. <br />
With a raging river between us, we finally catch her attention. We were right where we were supposed to be, just on the wrong side of the river. She looks at us as we are almost in a panic and she yells back "Dinner is ready!!"<br />
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After a few minutes she figured out we were stranded and went for help. It took over an hour and a half for the people who owned the resort to drive down to the nearest bridge to get on our side of the river and rescue us. During this time, Stewart and JP were trying to throw beer to us from across the river just to make it worse..<br />
Now the water was so violent, it broke the rope on the canoe and took it down river along with our pride..<br />
Of course they made Adam and I pay for that canoe.. $400.<br />
So, if you live between Memphis and New Orleans on the river and had a canoe get washed up into your yard, we would like it back.. Or, we would take $350 for it. It may have come with a pair of shoes, sunglasses and maybe 3 fishing poles. it was a mighty fine boat!<br />
Thank you..<br />
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Thank you Adam!<br />
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- For more information please visit <a href="http://mdxguitars.com/">MDXGuitars.com</a>MDXGuitarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16447106373064534031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246784010324132245.post-23363951000397237272011-10-14T01:30:00.000-07:002011-11-14T13:54:18.930-08:00Making the Blue Angel Guitars Step by StepIt was probably 2 in the morning. We had just finished a Cowboy Mouth show and my crew and I were packing the gear. I was slinging stuff into my tech box when a business card fell out of the top drawer. I picked up the card, flipped it over and in big blue letters is the word "Boeing". That very instant I saw a flash of a guitar. This photo is the best way I can explain the flash I saw, but it was a guitar.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1252.jpg"><img border="0" height="160px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1252.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />To actually put this idea on paper, I had to take photos of a model jet.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1253.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1253.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is closer to the concept of what I saw in that fraction of a second. Now I have something to email to the name on that business card.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1254.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1254.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />After several emails back and forth with my new friend Ghost, I made a special trip to St. Louis to meet with some friendly people here.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1257.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1257.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />These are my new friends Paul and Ghost (you can't see Ghost, but he is there) in front of a Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet "Blue Angel" model.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1264.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1264.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is one of the model jets used in the Blue Angel photo shoot. There were 3 models used for this project. 2 Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets and a C-130.<br />Notice the #15. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1266.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1266.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the model of the C-130 named "Fat Albert". It will show up again later. It's in a holding pattern for the moment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1267.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1267.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />1,000 shots (6 gig worth) to get the 7 photos I need. This project must be "Blue Angel Perfect". There is perfect, then there is Blue Angel Perfect. Trust me, there is a huge difference.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1268.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1268.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Now that I have my jet photos, it's time for the hard(er) part.. How do you get photos of a specific shaped vapor trail? I used shaving cream and a mirror.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1269.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1269.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This will be the first test print for the guitar body. At this point, I probably have 20 hours per jet. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1270.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1270.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />If you have wondered how I did the finish on Guy Fieri's "PorkChop" guitar, it is a photograph blown up and glued to the top then clear coated. My friends at <a href="http://staples.com/"><span style="color: red;">Staples</span> </a>on Ponce in Atlanta did the printing for that project so.. of course I am going to them for the printing for this one! <br />The printing is the most important part of this project. Getting and keeping the colors consistent will be extremely hard. The photo of these jets will be glued to the top of of a guitar body, cut just like the photo.<br />The image on the fingerboard will be a process that only leaves ink toner. (More than likely, I won't share HOW I do this part). The colors in this part must match the images printed at Staples. Then I will make paint to match both colors for the back of the guitars.<br />ANYWAY, my point is there is a lot of trial and error here<br />(A LOT!)<br />and there is no way I could do this without the help from my friends at the <a href="http://staples.com/"><span style="color: red;">Staples </span></a>on Ponce in Atlanta. They have donated all of the printing for this project. These prints are "Blue Angel" perfect! <br />I want to give a special <br />"Thank you!" to Shoner, Will and everyone else in the printing department!!! You do beautiful work! <br />Couldn't do this without you!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1272.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1272.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/27/831.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/27/s_831.jpg' border='0' width='96' height='48' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I present to you, the body pattern for the body of the Blue Angel guitar. I havnt decided how much of the sky I will cut away from the neck joint. That is why that area looks weird. <br />Now I can start on the bass.<br />Did you notice I said "1,000 shots to get 7 photos"?<br />Now you know why..<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/1273.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_1273.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I wanted to get the very best hardware for this project. I contacted some amazing people at<span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://hipshotproducts.com/"><span style="color: red;">HipShot</span></a>. They have been so kind to donate bridges and keys.<br />These keys are beautiful! Notice they are locking, but you can see the gears! Beautiful work of art themselves! <br />This bridge is a nice heavy chunk of metal! There is not a single machine mark anywhere! Not even on the bottom. <br />The strings go through the body on this bridge and the edges of the holes that the strings come out of are even rounded over. <br />I am completely honored to have <a href="http://hipshotproducts.com/"><strike><span style="color: red;">HipShot</span></strike></a>s help with this!<br />Look how pretty!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/13/2882.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/13/s_2882.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of pretty, check out the gold EMG-81 and gold EMG-85 that were donated by <a href="http://www.emgpickups.com/"><span style="color: red;">EMG</span></a>. <br /><a href="http://www.emgpickups.com/"><span style="color: red;">EMG</span> </a>has helped me with several projects. Not only are they great people, these pickups simply rock. <br />With <a href="http://www.hipshotproducts.com/"><span style="color: red;">HipShot </span></a>in New York,<span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://www.emgpickups.com/"><span style="color: red;">EMG</span></a> in California, and <a href="http://mdxguitars.com/"><span style="color: red;">me</span></a> actually making these guitars in Atlanta Georgia, these guitars truly are 100% American Made!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/13/3784.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/13/s_3784.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/19/1985.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/19/s_1985.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br /><br />If I don't have the wood laying around, I'll go see my buddy Richard here at <a href="http://www.rarewoodsandveneers.com/"><span style="color: red;">Carlton McLendon's</span></a> in Atlanta.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/19/1986.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/19/s_1986.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a><br /><br />He has everything and oh my God does it smell good in there!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/19/1987.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/19/s_1987.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/19/1989.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/19/s_1989.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a><br /><br />So here it is!! I present The Blues!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/19/1990.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/19/s_1990.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a><br /><br />12 inch wide, 8 quarter Honduras Mahogany. You can tell it's already glowing can't you? <br />That would be because every inch of this wood will be used. <br />The saw dust too, if I plan ahead.<br /><br />Two of the most beautiful MDX Guitars are about to jump out of it. The rest will be made into ink pens to benefit<br /><a href="http://missioncontinues.org/"><span style="color: red;">The Mission Continues</span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/19/2134.jpg"><img border="0" height="123px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/19/s_2134.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a><br />Every time I talk about what these people are doing, it makes my hair stand up.<br />Please visit their site. It will explain why I am so excited about the Blue Angel project.<br />I have not even touched the subject of what the future holds for these two guitars, have I? <br />When the time is right...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/25/2838.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/25/s_2838.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />VERY FIRST THING I did was route for the truss rods. I did both necks. It is much easier to get a perfect straight line on a larger, flatter surface.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/25/2839.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/25/s_2839.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the wood for the guitar neck. Notice the slot for the truss rod.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/25/2840.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/25/s_2840.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next cut is the face of the headstock.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/25/2841.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/25/s_2841.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Then the hole for the truss rod adjustment nut. Not bad for a hand drill huh?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/25/2842.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/25/s_2842.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Truss rod in.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/25/2843.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/25/s_2843.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Level the top and glue on the fingerboard. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/25/2844.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/25/s_2844.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Fingerboard glued on and the back of the headstock cut. <br />Ok, for other guitar makers or people wanting to try to make a guitar, I do things in a weird order. I know it's "not what you learned in school" or whatever. <br />With this project, it will get a lot more weird than usual but trust me... I will try to explain why as I go. Or, maybe not. If you have a question, just ask. This is MY system and it works for me. I've done this for a long time.<br /> Also, my system is very left handed.<br /> If you are left handed, you know what I mean.<br />Up to this point, the block of wood is square and so is the fingerboard. Both still perfectly square, just glued together.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/25/2845.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/25/s_2845.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Painted everything white before anything is cut out. I know it's weird, but I know what I'm doing (most of the time). <br />If you don't believe me, stick around. If you do believe me,<br />Stick around, you might learn something.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/26/4062.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/26/s_4062.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />While I am waiting for paint to dry, I figured it would be a good time to learn how to gold leaf..<br />These are Naval Aviation Wings that I will be putting on the guitar neck. This was my third try I think. I'll get it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/26/4063.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/26/s_4063.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was able to go see Miss Cindy at Binders Art Supply in Buckhead.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/26/4064.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/26/s_4064.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I mean, look at this place! There is something every few feet that can spark a new idea or new inspiration. I can spend hours in there just reading labels.<br />I am lucky enough to have Binders Art Supply donate art supplies for this project. <br />They have allowed me to take this to another level.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/26/4065.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/26/s_4065.jpg' border='0' width='225' height='60' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/26/4066.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/26/s_4066.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Art work is on the headstock and the fingerboard is taped off exactly where I want to cut.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/26/4067.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/26/s_4067.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Neck and most of the headstock cut out.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/26/4068.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/26/s_4068.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Doing the art up the fingerboard.<br />Yes, this is hard..<br />The back of the neck is still square. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/26/4069.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/26/s_4069.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Blue Angel guitar headstock with pretty HipShot keys!<br /><br /><br /><br />So, I had an issue with the collective perspective of the bass and guitar together. Each instrument was fine on it's on, but not next to each other, the jets looked like the were going to fly into each other.. I guess that's kinda what the Blue Angels look like they are doing some times but is not the effect I am going for here. <br />It took pages like this before I figured out where the problem was... <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/29/1455.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/29/s_1455.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have spent a lot of time getting my colors right. By that I mean the images being printed must be printed by different machines. <br />The colors from my machine don't EXACTLY match the poster printer colors at Staples. Also, the paper and amount of ink in the machine also play a part. They are close but when u put clear over it, the colors change. <br />Me and my friends at Staples <br />(mainly me) have learned a lot about this subject lately. Red on from a Canon isn't the exact same as a HP or whatever. <br />It would be ok if everything could be printed at the same time on the same machine, but that would be WAY too easy.<br />I am waiting on them to get in the same paper we used through out this whole project. I'm not taking any chances. While I'm waiting, I've taken the time to get good at gold leaf and bending these images around corners.<br />This was really hard, but so much fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/28/3570.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/28/s_3570.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/28/3572.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/28/s_3572.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/28/3573.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/28/s_3573.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/11/01/2621.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/01/s_2621.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br />The new prints are in and are stunning! All of the artwork is on the fingerboard..<br />Oh! The Naval Aviation Wings in gold leaf on the fingerboard.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/11/01/2622.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/01/s_2622.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/11/01/2623.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/01/s_2623.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br />While I'm waiting for all that to dry..<br />I'll show you the bass. I got a 4 string headless unit donated by Hipshot.<br />Here is a quick peek.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/11/01/3843.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/01/s_3843.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br />Now that the paint on the fingerboard is dry, I can fret it. <br />I fret my necks when it's still square. <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/11/06/1004.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/06/s_1004.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Now, cut the back of the neck.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/11/06/1005.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/06/s_1005.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Now, the fun part..<br />I shape my necks, archtops and contours with a hand grinder.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/11/06/1012.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/06/s_1012.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The body is cut out and routed for pickups. The control cavity, battery box need to be routed and 30 holes drilled then I can glue together and start the paint job.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/11/06/1013.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/11/06/s_1013.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I glued a copy of the photo down first before I cut the body. Weird order oven for me but it made cutting out a lot easier. <br />I've chewed that photo up pretty good by now..<br /><br />MDXGuitarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16447106373064534031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246784010324132245.post-46898687127338839812011-10-13T08:59:00.001-07:002011-10-19T07:23:58.884-07:00My first night with Cowboy Mouth<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/13/2652.jpg"><img border="0" height="210px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/13/s_2652.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281px" /></a></center><br />
In 2003, Cowboy Mouth was playing a show in Jackson Mississippi. I had made "Angel" for John Thomas Griffith a few years before so I drove to Jackson to say hello.<br />
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When I got there, the guitar tech at that time said to me “Hey Dwight, you want a gig?”<br />
He said they wanted to find someone for a few months. He said it would be easy..<br />
I said sure, their people called my people and next thing I know I am driving to New Orleans to hop on a bus with a bunch of cartoon characters I didn’t know, except for Griff.<br />
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The other crew guys showed up first, of course. Others show up later and everyone is being nice but then Fred walks up shaking his head and said “You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into..” turned and got on the bus.<br />
Feeling a little puzzled, I got on the bus and we started moving. <br />
Everyone had gone to bed so I was sitting in the front lounge of the bus talking to someone on the phone. "Finding Nemo" was on the tv. (and by the way, it stayed on the tv for a month).<br />
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“Yeah, everyone seems to be nice. So far so good.” As I said that, the driver starts hitting the brakes really hard. Keep in mind, this is my first long trip on a tour bus.<br />
Stuff starts sliding of the counter, drawers come open as we come to a very abrupt stop. I am still on the phone and said “ I haven't made a long trip on a tour bus before but I’m pretty sure this isn’t right.”<br />
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Will, the merch guy comes running past me and yanks the curtains open and we see giant flames burning and smoke all around us. Will turned around and screamed “We’re on fire!! Get your shoes!!” <br />
As the bus starts backing up, I say into the phone “hey, can I call you back?” and put my shoes on.<br />
James, the driver at the time had stopped right before we hit a 18 wheeler that had flipped over on its side and burst into flames. It had completely blocked a bridge, tires and fuel were exploding, it was a huge mess. James was also a sheriff deputy when we wasn’t driving the bus so he runs into the flaming pile of metal and rubber to check on the driver of that truck.<br />
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A few minutes later, James walks back with the other driver. The driver of the truck got thrown out when the truck flipped over but he was unharmed.<br />
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At this time I am standing in front of the bus with Paul Sanchez and we are just watching this truck burn.<br />
As we are standing there I looked over at Paul and said with a straight face “ So Paul, Do all of the Cowboy Mouth tours start off like this?”<br />
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He didn’t crack a smile or even look away from the burning truck. He just said <br />
“yeah, pretty much..”<br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/13/1742.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/13/s_1742.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
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- for more information please visit <a href="http://mdxguitars.com/">MDXGuitars.com</a>MDXGuitarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16447106373064534031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246784010324132245.post-31546397281218302762011-10-12T06:15:00.001-07:002011-10-19T07:25:38.989-07:00Well I'll be a Ham Sandwich! (The story of R.L. Burnside's MDX Guitar)<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/969.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_969.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
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In 1994, Dr. Joe Stevens approached me about organizing a music festival with the Howlin' Wolf Blues Society in my home town of West Point, Mississippi. He told me then that he highly recommended that I meet and create a custom guitar for the great blues legend R.L. Burnside, who would be headlining the event.<br />
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After months of planning, the day finally arrived for the event to take place. When I first met R.L. Burnside, I remember being backstage and seeing him there, sitting in a small fold-up metal chair with a big kind smile. He looked at me, only 24 years old at the time, and probably thought of me as some novice guitar-maker kid, although I had already gained seven years under my belt as an experienced and well sought after luthier.<br />
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I sat down with a list of questions in my mind to get an idea of what he would want out of a custom guitar, made especially for him. I asked him the normal questions that I always ask everyone when preparing the sketch in my head for what their guitar would look like at the end of all of the work. What shape of guitar do you prefer? His answer, "Something small." What kind of pickups? "Humbuckers." What is your favorite kind of finish? "Sunburst." These questions probably went on for about 15 minutes then the last question was "How many frets would you like 21, 22 or 24?" I am guessing he felt he had humored me long enough and with a chuckle he said "23."<br />
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The 23rd fret on this guitar was made as an example of the R.L. Burnside humor that I had come to learn from my short time spent with him.<br />
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A year went by and it was already time for the second annual Howlin' Wolf Blues Festival in West Point and I knew R.L. would be there to perform another show again. I went up to him backstage with a guitar case in hand. He may have even been sitting in that exact same fold-up metal chair. We made eye contact as I was walking toward him and with that big friendly smile he said "Whatcha got there?" I opened the case and handed this guitar to him. He looked a little shocked as he sat there looking at it in his hands and started playing it for the first time. He shook his head and said "Man, that's nice, real nice.."<br />
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R.L. showed the guitar to Lil Howlin' Wolf who was standing there at the time and he said "Well I'll be a ham sandwich!" We all chatted for a few minutes while R.L. picked on his new guitar then I had to go set up my MDX Custom Guitar display for the festival. The night went on and so did life.<br />
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In 2006, I was on tour with the band Cowboy Mouth as their guitar tech. I was standing outside of the House of Blues in New Orleans with our tour manager Bryan Barry who had also happened to be R.L's tour manager for years previously. He pointed to a large window display outside of the venue that houses a mural of sorts. A kind of a collage of folk art and blues images with photos of some of the modern greats of the genre. A photo of R.L. sits among them: "Hey Dwight, did you ever notice in that picture, that guitar R.L. is playing is one of yours?" I had been to this venue multiple times but had never looked up at the display. In a bit of a daze I flashed back to that night in West Point and said: "Well I'll be a ham sandwich." I asked him if he knew where the guitar was now. He said it had been taken from R.L.'s home and nobody had any idea to where it could be now.<br />
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Again, life moves forward and in 2011 I got an email from Keith Mallete at Hillgrass Bluebilly Records telling me he had found this very guitar on Ebay and purchased the guitar.<br />
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All of R.L.'s other guitars had been lost in a house fire some years ago and Keith felt it was necessary to preserve this one.<br />
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Now it sits proudly in The Delta Blues Museum.<br />
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"Well I'll be a ham sandwich…"<br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/10/12/970.jpg"><img border="0" height="87px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/10/12/s_970.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="100px" /></a></center><br />
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- For more info please visit:<br />
<a href="http://mdxguitars.com/">MDXGuitars.com</a>MDXGuitarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16447106373064534031noreply@blogger.com1