Good Grief I'm Covered in Guitars!

Hey, it's exactly what the title says-I love guitars. Mainly Fenders, but I also love odd-balls, not so famous, and some of the old Japanese makes. Most of my guitars of recent are Fenders, but I own a little mix of Electra's, Gibson's, a Peavey Wolfgang Custom Shop, and a couple of Bass guitars. Lately I've been shifting interest into the Carvin brand, a factory direct custom shop that's been around for about 50 years based out of San Diego, CA. If you don't know who they are be sure to check out their website-just add .com to the name and away you go!

Three of my lovely Strats in the colors of the Star Spangled Banner-Yes I'm a very patriotic and lover of this great Republic of ours-keep the Flag flying free and without restriction!

Why I collect Guitars and not Roosters or Frogs

My obsession started out as far as I can recall about 1980 or so when I bought a beautiful Electra MPC "Vulcan" guitar from the local guitar store at Auburn, Alabama while going to school there (War Eagle!!!). I really couldn't play that well, but I still had visions of being a rock star playing with Led Zepplin or Van Halen. And I absolutely loved the way my guitar not only, sounded, but looked and even felt in my arms. A work of art you could actually play! Sadly, when my financial circumstances deteriorated, I sold that guitar and a fantastic Peavey Deuce amp for a pittance. And so for many years I went without playing, and for many after that without a guitar. In circa 1982 I bought an Electra Strat-style guitar which I still own. I attempted to play this glittery gold guitar between the the flights to Europe and diaper changes but it was almost hopeless. When I was a single man again in the late 80's living in Wichita Falls TX (yes there is a fake falls there!) I bought what to this day is still my favorite guitar: A 1988 Fender Stratocaster American Standard 3-tone sunburst, maple neck, Oh Yeah!!! I think I went through a couple of amps before I found a used Peavey Triumph tube single 12" combo amp, a fabulous amp! This was a LOUD amp-I wish I still had it. Unfortunately I traded it in for something I don't even remember what! When you are married and beholden to someone else, them are the brakes I guess. Fast forward to circa 1995 and I found a lovely Fender "Hotrod Deluxe" amp at the local guitar store-I bought that amp and kept it for quite a while-I think I sold it after I bought a Fender Hotrod Deville 2 x 12 amp, but it's pretty foggy in my little brain!

When I left the Air Force for the Airlines, I started making more money, and thought that owning some cool and beautiful guitars would be a great way to diversify investing. So I started my path to guitar collector obsessive behavior! I started by looking for an Electra or 2 to make up for the one I gave away in college, and found a few that are basically mint-they even smell new! Then I looked for Eric Johnson guitars, Eddie Van Halen axes, and anything else I liked and would like to own. The smartest thing I did I believe-I went through a divorce in 2008, and if I hadn't bought these guitars when I did, the money spent to buy them would have vaporized thanks the the Alabama court system.

Check them out-they have the largest, ever changing selection. And they have great service and either cheap or free shipping!

Such a beautiful and well made guitar-I should have never let her go-one day I will find one just like her!

What a fool I was for letting this beauty go. This amp could not only rock, but be very loud!! Oh how I miss her!

Yes I still own her-and I'll fight to the death to keep her. She's my 1988 American Standard Stratocaster, 3-tone sumburst, maple neck. I replaced the pickups with the not-available Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickups-unbelievable clarity and tone. And then I replaced the pickguard with an pearloid guard that fits me better. I think she's a beautiful filly with one of the best 'burst' finishes I've ever seen. And she sounds so good!

This was a great 1 x 12" combo amp. Peavey makes some rocking - LOUD amps!

This is one of my most prized guitars-the Fender Artist Series Eric Johnson Stratocaster in translucent blonde-she is a great playing guitar. BTW, the wrinkling on the pickguard is the plastic covering-I never removed it!

This is a video of EJ on the G# tour way back when playing the gorgeous instrumental tune "Manhattan", off of his Venus Isle album that was released circa 1996. Incidentally, that's the famous Roscoe Beck on bass guitar.

An early 00's Gibson Goldtop "Classic" Les Paul of mine. Very sweet sounding guitar-they don't make this particular version in goldtop now.

This SG was built by Gibson in the 80's with the EMG pickups and the Cobalt Blue finish as part of the Showcase Series.

Well I built this one from custom ordered compnents from Warmoth, in in Pullyag, Washington (I think that's right). Anyway I always thought an electric guitar with a highly figured walnut top would be a beautiful sight to behold, so I had them make the neck and body (unfinished of course) and then I spent my days waiting around to fly in Anchorage (airline pilot reserve-a glamorous life. . . . . . NOT). So I slowly finished the guitar with polyurethane and tung oil and here's the result. It's a copy of the venerable Fender Telecaster Thinline, with the semi-hollow body and "F" sound hole. The neck is a sweet birdseye maple, and I made the acrylic pickguard myself.

I'm lucky and blessed enough to own some very fine guitars-one of the finest is this Gibson Alex Lifeson signature guitar-it has a Floyd Rose Trem and a Piezo output via it's own dedicated jack.

Alex is playing his signature Gibson in this video

I Think I Need More Space for More Guitars

So here's part of my little collection-I'm really a little tight on space as you can see. Anyone have a nice warehouse out west of Austin or barn on about 10 acres to sell me so I can build a stage? Then I can realize my dream of becoming the next Eric Johnson!

Stuff on Amazon for your Man Cave!

My most prized guitar-I can't believe I was able to find one of these back in 2004. Eric Johnson, the Austin Tone Ranger, was contacted by CF Martin for a signature acoustic guitar. The result is what you see here-only 90 were made! I have #70. It has the most beautiful spruce top I've ever seen on an acoustic guitar-you can't see the grain! And especially cool are the planet inlays onto the fretboard. The headstock has an abalone angel similar to what EJ had on the cover of his 1996 album, Venus Isle.

We have from left bottom: The Outlaw in smoke-burst, the Les Paul copy in cherry-burst flame maple, and on top the Vulcan in a bookmatched Ash top. How cool is that guitar?

Well looks like some guitar makers from the 70's have brought back the Electra guitar and have started with a new Omega version. Check out the video!

What a fabulous guitar-the "flame" pattern in the walnut is incredible-Carvin builds some VERY NICE guitars at a very reasonable price. . . . .

Mahogany body with a 5 stripe walnut/maple neck-gorgeous wood on this guitar.

I had this made by the Peavey Custom shop late 2003-early 2004. It's one of the last EVH (Eddie Van Halen) signature guitars made by Peavey-quilt top in blue with a curly maple neck/fretboard, and a coil tap-no tone control. Very nice playing and sounding guitar. The D-tuna drop for the Floyd Rose trem is great for Low E to D drop tuning songs.

I love this Blue Angels video to the song "Dreams" by Van Halen. I was flying T-38's for the Air Force when this song came out-I always wanted to go up and fly some aerobatics in the Talon while listening to this song! Eddie plays his signature guitar (at the time made by Musicman) for this tune.