Obsessed With Guitars

07/06/2024

Selling my Bumblebee clone, which means Eddie Van Halen won't be at Pensacon for a while, or at least until I make another one at some point!

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Eddie Van Halen (EVH) Custom Bumblebee Clone Guitar, Locke Neck, Buckle Strap at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

29/06/2022

Just finished this lefty 5150/78 Franky for a customer. It's not often I get to hold a guitar strung the other way, but there are plenty of lefties who play like that every day. Props to these players, because even half remembering Misirlou felt awkward as heck.

Seriously, check out amazing players like Dick Dale, Eric Gales, Albert King, and Elizabeth Cotten. Any I'm missing?




#5150

15/06/2022

It may not look like it, but this is an important part of building a 78 Franky. The headstock of Eddie's original guitar was sized in between a regular Strat headstock and a CBS. The difference is only about an 8th to a 16th of an inch from being as large as a CBS head. This is the head Lynn Elsworth carved back in the 70s.

This is a Squier Tele Deluxe neck that I stripped the finish from, then recarved the headstock using a template I made. Then I Danish oiled it. Danish oil offers superior protection to tung oil. This is the neck on the most recent 78 I built, which sold a couple weeks ago.

As an aside, yes, I'm aware it's not a birdseye maple neck. Birdseye is not something I use much because A. it's not often I find birdseye necks with the right specs because it's rarer and harder to carve than normal maple, so companies don't use it on normal guitars, and B. If I were to only build with birdseye necks, I'd either have to start carving my own necks, which would be expensive, or get 21 fret CBS head birdseye necks from Musikraft, Warmoth, or others and again, that would dramatically increase my prices. Not to mention that ordering a birdseye neck from one of those companies means about a 3 month wait. Also, on Eddie's guitar, only the shaft was birdseye. The fingerboard was plain maple.

15/06/2022

Just arrived from Precision Guitar Kits, and I'm highly impressed. My old Electra is probably going to become something other than a Buckethead clone, so I decided to order a Les Paul body and neck from precisionguitarkits.com. The fit and finish are outstanding! The frets are perfect and the neck fits tightly. I'll glue it in and get to painting soon.

Now, unlike Buckethead, I am not 7 feet tall with spider leg fingers, so this is not a 27 inch scale, oversized Les Paul. It's standard size. The specs are:
African mahogany neck and body
No chambering
Ebony fretboard with side markers only
60s thin neck profile
Plain maple top intended for painting
TOM bridge and stop tail bridge holes
Standard control scheme
PGK head that I plan on reshaping

15/03/2022

Costume is done, next is the guitar. Will be putting on that nice piece of ebony and... what's that on the couch? Why, it's graphite reinforcement rods to be installed into the neck!

11/03/2022

Removing a fingerboard sucks, but it's so satisfying when it finally pops off. Especially when there's a nice slab of ebony waiting to get glued in place. Next comes white paint, red killswitches, and other sundry mods.

05/03/2022

Installing a whammy pedal into a guitar. Yes, I will be installing a spring loaded arm connected to the potentiometer from an expression pedal. Gonna take a lot of carving.

22/02/2022

Slash Star Licks video found!

Ok, not really. But this was fun to make. I miss those Star Licks videos. used: https://www.f...

21/02/2022

Found this one on the PNJ! https://www.pnj.com/picture-gallery/news/2022/02/19/photos-pensacon-resumes-downtown-pensacola-saturday/6861041001/

21/02/2022

At Pensacon 2022, thanks to the CW for capturing this video with my 79 Franky build!

03/02/2022

Where my metal nerds who feel weird at concerts sometimes at?





https://youtu.be/WtXRGyI3eo8

I'm a huge metal fan and love going to concerts. My friends from church and I have gone to so many shows, Metallica, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath (w...

27/01/2022

New sketch!

After seeing my thousandth Fender Play ad, I decided it was time for a parody. I'm not saying that people who spend money on Fender Play shouldn't, nor that ...

20/01/2022

Another day getting work done fast, which means it's time for another video! This one is less guitar-related, and more about the YouTuber experience. More sketch comedy as I make it, and if I keep my ability to make these fast and get my daily work done first, I'll try to make this a weekly thing.
https://youtu.be/3iqLwTyMXH4

Thanks to all you viewers and commenters, yes, even the mean ones! Still, I think this is something every YouTuber would love to be able to do with those sel...

12/01/2022

I'm writing up a storm today in my day job and found myself with some extra time. Decided to make some sketch comedy! Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/oyCM5M3-keQ

Trying something new! I've always loved sketch comedy, but I don't really have time to get a crew together to film stuff, so I decided to just make it on my ...

27/11/2021

Yes, football is on, but commercial breaks are muted and the soundtrack is more interesting when it's self generated.

19/11/2021

Always wanted to build an Explorer.

Specs:
KNE northern ash Explorer body. I originally was going to do a Strat trem but decided on a Floyd once it arrived. I used the old style wood screws which are a pain and I'll never do again.
The neck is from a Squier Strat. Bought the neck because it was a good price and the seller said it had recently had a fret job. He wasn't kidding, the frets were perfect. I reshaped the headstock, routed it for a Floyd Rose nut, and inset the 1971 quarter in honor of EVH.
German Floyd R2 nut.
Vintage ESP tuners.
Floyd rose 1000 series baseplate, Special saddles, titanium saddle inserts, a push in arm, and a 42mm oversized brass block.
Bridge pickup is an EVH Frankenstein.
Neck pickup is a Gibson 496r that I gave an Alnico 8 magnet.
3 way switch.
2 volumes, 1 tone.
It's not in the picture, but I used a Van Halen "No Bozos" neck plate.
Eyelet hooks for strap buttons.

28/10/2021

Finally finished a pair of Frankies!

30/09/2021

I got to talk to a legend for my Youtube channel the other day. Norman Harris, owner of Norman's Rare Guitars! He's consulted on dozens of movies (including Back to the Future), and has sold guitars to George Harrison, Slash, Joe Bonamassa, Tom Petty, Jeff Daniels, Kiefer Sutherland, and so many more. I was honored to get to talk with him, I hope you enjoy it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liLVSioaMEY

Norman's Rare Guitars website: https://www.normansrareguitars.com/Norman's Rare Guitars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normansrareguitars/?hl=enMy spec...

10/05/2021

How do ya keep a Strat trem in tune when you wanna dive bomb? I talk about this in this video! I'm selling this Franky clone, too because I have too many guitars and I have a problem.

When you sneeze on your vibrato bar, your guitar goes out of tune. Annoying, huh? Well, it doesn't have to be that way! You can keep a Strat trem from becomi...

12/04/2021

Who needs capos? Just get a Transtrem! Check out this rare piece of gear in my latest video (guitar is for sale, too).
https://youtu.be/bTYq_B7vsIY

To cut right to the playing: https://youtu.be/bTYq_B7vsIY?t=933After much routing and hair pulling, I finally put a Steinberger Transtrem in Strat body. As a...

12/04/2021

Tomorrow, my first video in a while goes up on the Obsessed With Guitars YouTube channel. I'll be showing you this Transtrem equipped Van Halen Kramer-Berger I built! It's also going to be for sale on eBay!

30/03/2020

At the Porch Concerts in East Hill on Sunday! And of course, you can have your own porch concert with Custom Delivered Concerts!

30/03/2020

Custom Delivered Concerts - Live Music That Comes To YOU!!

Get live guitar music delivered to your front door with Custom Delivered Concerts!

If you're interested in booking your very own social distancing compliant Custom Delivered Concert, email me at [email protected]! I go over the different packages available and exactly how it works in the video below, or, of course, you can just email me.

Concerts may be getting canceled because of Covid-19, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy live music! Presenting CUSTOM DELIVERED CONCERTS!! I'll pull up i...

29/03/2020

Behringer's SF300 and MH300 are affordable versions of Boss's FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz and Heavy Metal HM-2

*Reuploaded video, which was screwed up!
This week, I review the Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz and HM300 Heavy Metal pedals! Are they worthwhile clones of the Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz and HM-2 Heavy Metal? Let's find out!











https://youtu.be/1yRc3LJuLbs

They may be made of plastic, they may be cheap, but they sound fantastic. If you've been saving up the bucks for a vintage Boss FZ-2 or HM-2, you might get w...

23/03/2020

Have YOUR video dramatically improved with a sarcastic British narration! My latest Fiverr gig allows you to live out your own Stanley Parable. Just send me a 2, 4, or 10 minute video through Fiverr and you'll have your own entertainingly narrated video for your amusement.
Fiverr gig: https://www.fiverr.com/s2/e77616e391

21/03/2020

Matamp custom made for Wishbone Ash... cranked to Full Volume!

Putting out feelers here, would anyone here be interested in guitar lessons via Skype or Zoom? For those who don't know me personally, I have a degree in music performance and am obsessed with all things guitar. If interested, send me a PM!

Here's a video I did a while back for an amp review that features some of my playing:
https://youtu.be/zU2Oy9pA4Q8

This 100 watt monster of an amp was made for Wishbone Ash on their 2005 tour. They have since gone back to their backline of mostly Fender amps, but for one ...

21/03/2020

Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing

You need Zoom. Your business, your church, your podcast needs Zoom. They've lifted their 40 minute cap for recording video meetings and Zoom is going to be how you can keep some semblance of normalcy.
https://zoom.us/

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

20/03/2020

The Armored Amplification Little Rascal is a low watt combo you should want.

The Armored Amplification Little Rascal is an amp you should want. My thanks to Blues Angel Music for letting me do a full review for Obsessed With Guitars!

Cut to playing: https://youtu.be/oUHS4M610hU?t=410 The Armored Amplification Little Rascal is a unique low watt boutique combo. While a lot of small amps try...

19/03/2020

Don't Let Coronavirus Stop You From Spreading Your Message. I'll Help!

I've recorded a short video talking about how I can help you spread your message, NOT the Coronavirus.
Watch: https://youtu.be/PmZpWdICWWE


-19

Email me quickly: [email protected] With businesses, schools, churches, concert venues, EVERYTHING shutting down because of Coronavirus, it's more impor...

19/03/2020

If you need help getting a message out, perhaps you're a church that's suspended services, your company needs to get a video to all employees, you're a band that wants to get songs to your fans, whatever it may be, I'd like to help. I'll grab my camera and mics and get it recorded. I've been self quarantining just like you, but proper practices for a recording can keep everyone safe and still give you the opportunity to provide content for your customers, employees, parishioners, or whoever. I'll set up a camera and mic in a location that's out of the way, even outdoors where there aren't any people for the sake of proper social distancing, the mic will have a screen that gets disinfected after each recording, and we never make any physical contact. You then get a video emailed to you for download. I can also help you create a commercial, or do a voice over for voicemail.

This whole situation sucks, but it will suck a little less as we find ways to support each other through this crisis. Yes, I charge for my services. Talking money feels weird and wrong right now, but it's the reality we all face. I'll charge half of what I normally do. We're all trying to figure out how business as usual can go on, including me. My business is recording people for podcasts and commercials, and I, like you, don't want my business to sit on the sidelines for months on end. I'll waive my normal travel fees and at this point, my hourly rate is negotiable. I'm here to help as much as possible and as my talents allow.