Maton Luge

The unique design found on this Australian classical performance guitar was enough to turn my head when I first found it two weeks ago. The sleek head stock on this Maton is cool, but what really sold me was the neck joint. It's extremely unusual to see a classical guitar built this way. It must be structually strong enough; after all, it's already survived 43 years & traveled half way across the globe at least once now. I really like this guitar, but for some unknown reason I sold it too soon, & too cheap. Find more pictures HERE on Ebay for the transaction details.

Rock with me & Rock it Science this Saturday 6/2 at Benton Station in Sauk Rapids.  }:-D-

Plecostomus

The latest release from rogue builder Doomadelic Guitars in Coon Rapids. A lot of notoriety has come his way for his tasteful one-offs. Get the details on this unique hot rod from designer Steve Janke at: TheMapHead@Hotmail.com

Enger & Frank

This FRANKENSTEIN bass is a custom built beauty conceived, calculated and crafted by Derek Enger of Elk River. It began as a "no name" Fender that was purchased from Mainstreet Music in Elk River. It came with a twisted neck, low grade tarnished brass & chrome hardware, & natural grain finish. Purchased mainly for the body & EMG pick-ups. It had a good clear defined tone for recording, but definitely needed updating for optimum playability. Neck was replaced with a Mighty Mite, tuners updated to gold Schaller, & bridge swapped for a gold hipshot. This bass’s balls dropped, but not completely satisfied with the look, finish was coated in black with tortoise pickgaurd. The action is set high, for a beefy edge good for all slap, fingering & pick techniques. As a final piece to this bass, Derek would like to add a hipshot drop D tuner on the E string. Hmmm; I think I've got one laying around here somewhere... This is now a serious bass to be reckoned with. You can ask Derek all about this & his other axes this Saturday June 2nd at Benton Station, 303 North Benton Drive in Sauk Rapids He'll hanging out with the rest of the band.

FREAK of the WEEK !
Gary Kramer Kramertorium. Here's a hi-performance version of the classic V design with a JETSON'S twist. More info here: http://www.garykramerguitar.com/Kramertorium.html

Rock with me & the RISROX crew Saturday night at Main Street bar in Hopkins.

To Suhr, with love.

You know there's a good party going on when T.C. veteran entertainers Jonah & the Whales hit the stage at a local suburban pub here in town. Last Friday was no exception when lead player Scot Prudhomme layed down the solos at Robbinsdale's newly remodeled night club: "The Lodge". Scot says "the guitar does all the work", though I'm not convinced that's the whole story. He was playing a Suhr Pro Series S6 that plays like a dream and has the second best feeling neck he's ever played (next to his ’89 Strat). Most Suhrs have to be custom ordered but he found his config at a dealer in Florida and bought it sight unseen based on the reviews. He needed something with a Floyd Rose to cover the Whales gig, and wasn’t finding anything that tripped his trigger from Jackson, Ibanez or Ernie Ball. It is the only guitar he's purchased without playing it first, & it's been one of his best gear purchases.

Suhr is a high end custom builder doing mostly unique orders. They cut their own bodies, necks, pickguards and wind their own pickups. Unlike the Suhr Custom series, The Pro series has a set config which allows them to keep the price lower by producing in quantities but uses all of the same parts that the Custom line offers. This one is a Suhr Pro Series S6 in Honey Burst- Basswood body with 5A grade Flame Maple top. The pickups are the hot and juicy but clear SSH+ in the bridge and the classic and sweet sounding SSV in the neck with a Gotoh locking Tremolo. The neck is a very friendly even taper slim C shape. The thickness runs .800" at the first fret to .880" at the 13th fret. It is their most popular shape and John Suhr's personal favorite.

You should get out to a Whales gig & have Scot show you this impressive rock grinder.

Join me & the whole Rock it Science gang at the Basement in Prior Lake this Friday 5/11/2012 - That is if they get their liquor license reinstated by tomorrow...

The Versatile Librada CUSTOM

The Librada is a exquisitely beautiful acoustic/electric model that is meticulously designed & built for the gigging musician who wants one guitar that will give great acoustic guitar sounds, as well as great electric guitar sounds.
Very special thanks to Tim Reede of Tim Reede's Custom Guitars for this week's submission. The acoustic guitar circuit is completely separate from the electric guitar circuit, & there are two separate output jacks. The acoustic sound can be sent to an acoustic guitar amp or into a direct box to a PA system. The electromagnet pickup can be run to an electric guitar amp. You may use one or the other or both at the same time for a stereo effect. This is a great guitar to use with sampling pedals. You can sample an acoustic rhythm and play an electric lead over it. How cool is that?
Contact Tim for a consultation to find out just how he can help you.

Dual Guitar & Synth

When you're ready to get really creative, you may wish to try a guitar synthesizer like this PG-380. Matt Olson's vintage Casio is one of the earliest full functioning guitars that actually has a full on-board synth module. This one's for sale, & you can contact him direct at: brahmancomputer@gmail.com. I beleive he's looking in the $600 neighborhood. The core of this guitar itself was subcontracted from Ibanez to be the basis of this product line, & you'll find that it's a great guitar in it's own right. More pictures available at: https://picasaweb.google.com/108077002384960764916/CasioPG380?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOvLiaGGiK3NvwE&feat=directlink .

Parts-O-Caster

A friend of mine stopped over to jam a couple weeks ago, & without missing a beat I leaned over & snapped a couple shots of his back-up 6 string tele while it was resting on the stand. The Bender is a surprisingly sweet playing axe with bastardized tremelo, as indicated on the custom headstock decal. The neck feels meaty, with the big frets you wouldn't expect to find on a fender. This is one guitar you need to see & hear, the next time the Whatknots play in a burb near you. Dan Hanson, the regional sales rep for Fender will be happy to show you this & other guitars he uses on the show. Click HERE for their web page. They're practically the world's greatest cover band.

Rock with me tonight at Neisen's in Savage. It's gonna be a great NO COVER show.

Never Smile at a Crocodile

This isn't the first custom manufactured guitar strap I've gotten from Painted Creek Saddlery, but it's easily the coolest. Yes, it's real crocodile; no, it doesn't bite. This is the gear that can make a worthy musician into a rock star. Custom accessories that are tailored to your needs will put you in a class above the rest, & that's exactly what it takes to succeed in the entertainment business. If you don't stand out, you'll go un-noticed, thus un-remembered. Painted Creek creates many varieties of leather fantasy rocker stage gear to help transform you into the rock star that you truly are. Gauntlets, belts, hair accessories, jewelry, guitar straps, wireless pouches, chaps, & wrist bands are all standard fare, & business as usual for this hip twin cities custom leather designer. Hit the site at PaintedCreekSaddlery.com & take the first step to fulfilling your destiny & living your dream. In a big hurry? Contact them by phone at: 763 228-2986
Stand out - Make your personal style memorable. Be all that you can be.

Want to see this & other cool leather work from Painted Creek? Stop out to a show & see many of these various leather products used live on stage.

Root Beer - Ibanez RG570

The ever reliable Ibanez RG-570 is known to be one of the fastest & smoothest playing guitars around. With the world famous ultra slim Wizard neck at the forefront of desirable components on this axe, you can close your eyes & swear you were playing IBZ's flagship Jem. Anywho... I won't be using this guitar any longer in our current setting, so I launched it on Craigslist this week (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/msg/3021784666.html). Shoot me an offer at Duganrox@aol.com if you find yourself in need of a locking Floyd Rose equipped tone monger that sustains til next Tuesday & dive bombs like it's WWII. It's in great shape, as it's never left my house even once over the years. The finish is metal flake, & it's called Root Beer Sparkle.

Rock with me this Saturday Night (4/21) at GB Leighton's Pickle Park in Fridley

Mellow Yellow

I stopped into the Anoka Flea Market today & spotted a plethora of used guitars, banjos, & mandolins that made for a pleasant perusal. Patty from Earthway Music runs a musical exchange in South Haven, & was kind enough to show me this screaming yellow zonker. It's a neck through Les Paul copy import that's priced to sell, & plays surprisingly well. Check out the odd pick-up array of Humbucker, single coil, & soap bar. Hmmm... if you recognize this guitar you can use the comment section below to correctly identify it & claim your bragging rights. Watch for Patty's unique selection of stringed instruments at various trade fairs around the area, or contact her at 320 236-7852 to shop her axes. Here's the email contact as well: earthway@lakedalelink.net

AmpliTube - iRig

AmpliTube iRig is a combination of an easy-to-use instrument interface adapter and guitar and bass tone mobile software.
With AmpliTube iRig, you can plug your guitar into your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad and jam anywhere with world class guitar and bass tone right in the palm of your hand.
Plug the iRig interface into your mobile device, plug your instrument into the input jack, plug in your headphones, amp or powered speakers, & download 'AmpliTube FREE' version for iPhone or for iPad.
You’ll have at your fingertips the sound and control up to 4 recombinable simultaneous stompbox effects + amplifier + cabinet + microphone selection.
Add amps and effects as you need them. You can expand your rig with up to 11 stomps, 5 amps, 5 cabinets and 2 microphones in the AmpliTube iRig app custom shop.
Check it out on YouTube.

Les Paul Recording

A beautiful example of a vintage 1976 Les Paul recording, generously submitted by proud owner: Mark Rasper of Oshkosh WI. There was also a bass guitar version from this series available as well back in the day. This is Mark's second '76 Les Paul Recording that he's owned. He bought his first one new back in his gigging days, & decided to replace it a couple of years ago. Awesomely versatile & classic. This one has an added feature of being autographed by Les shortly before his departure....RIP. How cool is that?

Happy Easter

Seems like everybunny wants to get in the act.

Father of Loud

R.I.P. Jim Marshall.
So sad to post that today marks the passing of high power audio amplifier innovator Jim Marshall. ...always a gentleman.
You truly have gone to eleven now.
MarshallAmps.com/
Washington Post

Effector

Straight from the 1983 Sears wishbook catalog, here's their top of the line P.O.S. ; the Kay Effector. My semi-authetic looking Les Paul copy, complete with ultra cheesy on-board effects. Enjoy a step back through time with this link to the original catalog page. These crazy instruments received awful reviews, but collectors seem to love 'em. Check out what they're bringing on ebay these days. I'll take the first $200 cash someone hands me. While campy & cool, the questionable electronics on these rare guitars keep them from ever being reliable stage axes. Still fun to show off cuz they're so weird with all the knobs & switches for Fuzz, Wah, Trem, & Echo.

The Patriot

You'd have to be some kind of communist if you couldn't appreciate this fine highly recognizable WK sig Flag strat. These Wayne Kramer models are ultra light weight with super smooth frets. Cuffy Parks of Saint Paul shared this pic, & it's surely one fine axe that everyone would be proud to own. Seymour Duncan® ’59 humbucking middle pickup and a commemorative neck plate engraved with “This Tool Kills Hate" are both unique hallmarks of this guitar. Alder body, lacquer finish, maple C neck with large ’70s-style headstock, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard vintage-style frets, along with hard-tail string-through-body bridge, Fender/Schaller® vintage-style “F” tuners and chrome hardware make it an honorable edition to the collection. Heck, I'd buy it just for the Red white & blue paint job.

SRV Mojo

This nineties Stevie Ray Vaughan strat is just the ticket if you've got a hankerin' for playing some modern electric Texas style blues. Note the lefty trem in the bridge. I'm a strat man, so right away I'm thinking how this Fender will be mine some day soon. This one's parked in New Prague & it's from the impressive collection of working axes maintained by monster six string master Cary Havlicek. He's played with just about every band in the southern region, but now he's putting a very special new act together. I've met some of the guys from the forthcoming band & I can tell you that it's sure to be amazing. Watch for "Wreckless" performing at a club near you very soon.
}:-D-
Rock with me this Friday at the Blue Fox in Arden Hills & Saturday at Main Street bar in Hopkins.

J-Bone

Odds are pretty fair that you've seen these red Fenders on stage around town with twin cities fave glam band PopRocks. Jason Swanson pounds out low grooves on these work horses where ever the party is rocking. You can find a link to their cool website HERE. Find a show near you & have J-Bone show you his fine customs.

Doubting Thomas

Freak of the Week
A great example of a Harvey Thomas Maltese from the sixties. Made famous by Mott the Hoople. A special axe from a US company started by a special man. You'll see a few more of his guitars out on the 9:00 coast than you could ever find here in the mid west. Click HERE for a cool website that tributes Havey & his swanky 60's guitars.