Guitars And Watches.. Show Us Yours

[slugworth]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Keith Ferguson was my biggest influence. In my early playing years my focus was all over the place. Then I heard "Wait on Time", by The Fabulous Thunderbirds and it changed my life. The album cover had Keith sporting, what looked like a Telecaster Bass, but the headstock said Precision Bass. That got me investigating the early 50's slabs and have owned a few over the years. I've also had a handful Telecasters as well.

The semi hollow was a project I started in 1991. My goal was a light weight deluxe slab w/ binding. A friend made the body and I added a Warmoth neck. My dad made the 2 saddle chrome plated brass bridge and control plate. It turned out to be a very nice player but the original black finish didn't turn out great and I used the bass for some experimentation over the years. In 2014 I decided to give it an overhaul. Had it refinished in Inca Silver and added a TV Jones ThunderBlade. I decided to give the neck a deep V contour as well.
dP

The silver looks amazing-and really compliments the binding. Bonus points for that neck plate! I just think the F hole on a P/Tele body looks fab. Definitely something I'd like to buy/build in the future.

Yeah, Keith was the real deal ( for all the better and worse...). Great player who just played it the way he felt it..and it was always right. I grew up in Texas so the T Birds and Stevie Ray were a very common sight in the local clubs. ( So was Eric Johnson ). Tommy Shannon was great with SRV but Keith embodied the allure, danger, and tragedy of the blues in his playing. He could rip when he wanted...Extra Jimmies and Jumpin' Bad are still my play along tunes when I need to crank it up. So cool to meet another Keith fan.

In the pic is Blucille, the '56 I built with a Squire body, Cabronita neck ( Thinner w/ large frets ), and some custom electronics. I did a modern take on the Paisley with the Murakami Graphics. It's got some of that early Keith thump.

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Well, it's both actually. Last year to celebrate 3 decades as my main bass, I had it refinished [since it had been refinished 2 other times] to look exactly as I found it back in 1989.

I found the neckless body at an old music store in Cincy. It was covered in gray crinkle paint. The only original part was the control plate. Wasn't sure what it was but knew it was old. With the help of Fender historians, I was able to find out an amazing amount of info. Turns out it was made by Eddie Miller [standing next to Leo Fender], future Country Music Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee [he wrote "Please Release Me"], as an employee at Fender's wood shop. Took it home and applied paint remover, only to find a beautifully checked blonde finish. But a previous owner had added their own forearm and belly contours. Paint seeped into the bare wood so decided to have it repainted in a 2 color sunburst.

Lucky for me, I found the [baseball bat sized] neck & pickup cover the same year in Louisville. It maintains it's original finish. The bridge plate, with serial # 0678 dates to 1955, like the neck. My dad made the bridge saddles.

This bass has been played at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago to Beale Street in Memphis. Not sure how many of the over 3K gigs this bass was used, but it was the majority, has served me well, and continues to be my # 1 to this day. I'm very honored to own and play this classic for over 30 years.
dP

So much cool history on your build. I had to look up Eddie Miller and started listening to his tunes. I don't recall seeing him when I visited the Rock n roll museum in Nashville but really do admire his work, so cool he worked alongside Leo Fender. Your truly have some spectacular basses! All of them!

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by slugworth

The silver looks amazing-and really compliments the binding. Bonus points for that neck plate! I just think the F hole on a P/Tele body looks fab. Definitely something I'd like to buy/build in the future.

Yeah, Keith was the real deal ( for all the better and worse...). Great player who just played it the way he felt it..and it was always right. I grew up in Texas so the T Birds and Stevie Ray were a very common sight in the local clubs. ( So was Eric Johnson ). Tommy Shannon was great with SRV but Keith embodied the allure, danger, and tragedy of the blues in his playing. He could rip when he wanted...Extra Jimmies and Jumpin' Bad are still my play along tunes when I need to crank it up. So cool to meet another Keith fan.

In the pic is Blucille, the '56 I built with a Squire body, Cabronita neck ( Thinner w/ large frets ), and some custom electronics. I did a modern take on the Paisley with the Murakami Graphics. It's got some of that early Keith thump.

Thanks for the kind words. The binding is real cellulose and when my friend would heat it up to make the bends it would occasionally catch fire. And I've always been a fan of F holes & binding.

I can't tell you how many guitar shows or gigs I've been to where someone says something to me about Keith Ferguson. It's great to know how much of an impact he had on so many. To be he will always be the baddest. Love Tommy Shannon and of course Dusty Hill too.

My band opened for The Fabulous Thunderbirds but unfortunately it was after Keith had passed and Jimmy had left. Also had the honor to open for Eric Johnson. What an intense gig, every hot shot geetar player within 100 miles was in the audience. It was so cool to watch Eric at soundcheck, with his infamous 8' x 4' pedal board. But the most shocking was, after our set, we returned to our dressing room to find Eric standing in there in stage clothes w/ his sunburst Strat over his shoulder. He wanted to thank us for being part of the show. What a class act.

Blucille is AWESOME! Nothing more fun than creating your own builds.

Originally Posted by myporsche

So much cool history on your build. I had to look up Eddie Miller and started listening to his tunes. I don't recall seeing him when I visited the Rock n roll museum in Nashville but really do admire his work, so cool he worked alongside Leo Fender. Your truly have some spectacular basses! All of them!

Thanks again! Rumor has it Eddie Miller wrote "Please Release Me" while on bathroom breaks at Fender.

These basses, except for the relatively recent 2014 Cabronita, have been with me for decades. My dad made the custom bridges and control plates [except for the 51 Fender, he just made bridge saddles] and he reminds of Leo in that he could really build anything. These basses are tributes to My dad, Leo, & Keith.
dP

[johnnyjazz]

Love Johnny Adams on release me.

[slugworth]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

These basses, except for the relatively recent 2014 Cabronita, have been with me for decades. My dad made the custom bridges and control plates [except for the 51 Fender, he just made bridge saddles] and he reminds of Leo in that he could really build anything. These basses are tributes to My dad, Leo, & Keith.
dP

Wow! What a superb collection. And so very cool that your dad built parts for them...doesn't get any better than that!

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by johnnyjazz

Love Johnny Adams on release me.

Never heard that version. Thanks for the tip.

Originally Posted by slugworth

Wow! What a superb collection. And so very cool that your dad built parts for them...doesn't get any better than that!

Thanks so much. The reason I bought and customized the Cabronita was due to the fact I had one extra bridge laying around. Kinda the tail wagging the dog. Sure was scary drilling the holes thru the body though. Luckily it turned out great.
dP

[NorthernPike]

OK, I'll play -- since I can't play any gigs in this age of pandemic.
I've been looking at all of yours so I better show you mine. :^)
My main rig of the last 30 years:

[NorthernPike]

Me and my '72 P with '65 neck, and my 16610LV.
And a pic from behind. All natural wear, no fakery.

[Dilemma]

(See what I did there?)

Some, not all.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by NorthernPike

OK, I'll play -- since I can't play any gigs in this age of pandemic.
I've been looking at all of yours so I better show you mine. :^)
My main rig of the last 30 years:

That's a monster rig. Mine have gotten decidedly lighter over the years.

Originally Posted by Dilemma

(See what I did there?)

Some, not all.

All I see are amazing pics of some great guitars.
dP

[gnuyork]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

That Les Paul photo stopped me dead in my tracks!!! Definitely one of my idols.

I'm glad I got to see and meet this legend before he passed.

[slide13]

No watch and guitar shot handy, but here’s my rig. Played a bit in high school and just picked it up again a couple years back and have been enjoying getting back into it. Guitar is a Fender Custom Shop ‘61 WW10 Strat in fiesta red.

[NorthernPike]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

That's a monster rig. Mine have gotten decidedly lighter over the years.

I hear you!
That rig kills in any situation. It sounds so good that I must keep it, but this one has been seeing a lot more work lately.

It also kills!

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by slide13

No watch and guitar shot handy, but here’s my rig. Played a bit in high school and just picked it up again a couple years back and have been enjoying getting back into it. Guitar is a Fender Custom Shop ‘61 WW10 Strat in fiesta red.

That's quite the setup for "just picked it up again".

Originally Posted by NorthernPike

I hear you!
That rig kills in any situation. It sounds so good that I must keep it, but this one has been seeing a lot more work lately.

It also kills!

My back feels better already. What's the speaker configuration? Is that a Mesa head? Are you on TalkBass?
dP

[Panych]

Originally Posted by NorthernPike

Me and my '72 P with '65 neck, and my 16610LV.
And a pic from behind. All natural wear, no fakery.

Wow, very nice pj
Is it a stock pj configuration?

[gnuyork]

Originally Posted by slide13

No watch and guitar shot handy, but here’s my rig. Played a bit in high school and just picked it up again a couple years back and have been enjoying getting back into it. Guitar is a Fender Custom Shop ‘61 WW10 Strat in fiesta red.

My Strat is the Fiesta Red 1960 Custom Shop... I LOVE the pickups in these, but I could use a thicker neck profile. Not a deal breaker though.

Nice Two Rock. My friend just sold his Two Rock head and and a whole bunch of other stuff - Vox AC4s, AC15, Savage Mach 6, his Gibsons, including a 335 and a Kiefer Sutherland 336 Gold top - my favorite of his, I'm sort of pissed he sold it and didn't let me know (last week). He's gone crazy on Reverb. He's now just keeping one Vox AC4, Silverface Deluxe Reverb, new Princeton and just picked up the Tone King Imperial and playing a CS Strat and his homemade Teles and Strats.

[gnuyork]

Originally Posted by NorthernPike

OK, I'll play -- since I can't play any gigs in this age of pandemic.
I've been looking at all of yours so I better show you mine. :^)
My main rig of the last 30 years:

Is Bryston common for Bass amps? I've only heard them used in a Hi Fi setting, and they are built like tanks. Well regarded.

[NorthernPike]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

My back feels better already. What's the speaker configuration? Is that a Mesa head? Are you on TalkBass?
dP

Its not that hard on the back, even for an old guy like me. :^)
Its Bi-amped; JBLs in TL cabs, all built by me.
K120 and K140. I have another pair as well, but the other 15 is a D140F.

My new rig is deadly! Small but mighty! Mesa D800+ and Barefaced Super Compact.
Yep, I'm on TB.

[NorthernPike]

Originally Posted by Panych

Wow, very nice pj
Is it a stock pj configuration?

Thanks. My workhorse. They didn't make PJs back then. I added those; EMGs.

[NorthernPike]

Originally Posted by gnuyork

Is Bryston common for Bass amps? I've only heard them used in a Hi Fi setting, and they are built like tanks. Well regarded.

Not so much, I suppose. Its just a power amp. They can be found in many pro audio settings. The pre-amp is above it. Yamaha PB1. Bryston is the Rolls Royce of power amps.

[slide13]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

That's quite the setup for "just picked it up again".
dP

Thanks, the gear well exceeds my ability but I don’t have the space for a lot of gear so went quality over quantity.

Originally Posted by gnuyork

My Strat is the Fiesta Red 1960 Custom Shop... I LOVE the pickups in these, but I could use a thicker neck profile. Not a deal breaker though.

Nice Two Rock. My friend just sold his Two Rock head and and a whole bunch of other stuff - Vox AC4s, AC15, Savage Mach 6, his Gibsons, including a 335 and a Kiefer Sutherland 336 Gold top - my favorite of his, I'm sort of pissed he sold it and didn't let me know (last week). He's gone crazy on Reverb. He's now just keeping one Vox AC4, Silverface Deluxe Reverb, new Princeton and just picked up the Tone King Imperial and playing a CS Strat and his homemade Teles and Strats.

Love the pickups in mine too, just a great Strat sound! The TR is excellent! I also have a Carr Sportsman not shown which is a nice little Princeton size combo but the TR just has the sound I like so I plan on selling the Carr when I get around to it probably. I like to keep my gear fairly simple....nice, but simple.

[Panych]

Originally Posted by NorthernPike

Thanks. My workhorse. They didn't make PJs back then. I added those; EMGs.

Got it

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by NorthernPike

Its not that hard on the back, even for an old guy like me. :^)
Its Bi-amped; JBLs in TL cabs, all built by me.
K120 and K140. I have another pair as well, but the other 15 is a D140F.

My new rig is deadly! Small but mighty! Mesa D800+ and Barefaced Super Compact.
Yep, I'm on TB.

Lots of satisfaction creating the right rig for you.

I've got both a big and little rig, taking advantage of class D amps and Neo speakers.

If you see 2saddleslab on TB, say hello.
dP

[NorthernPike]

Hey Dan,

I'll say Hi to you over there on the dark side.

I actually have 8 amps in the house, so plenty of options to mix and match, but those two are getting most of the work. Or were, pre-pandemic.
My GB Shuttle 3.0 with a single 10 has been great for the small rooms and quieter gigs, duos, trios, etc. Also small but mighty!
Keep on rockin'!

[banditracing]

Bezel set to time my practice - finally decided to take some classical lessons. Bought the guitar when I was 11 and I'm finally using it for its intended purpose!

[FloridaSam]

I recently picked up my grail guitar.
2018 Gibson R0.
[url=https://ibb.co/713Yw5S]

[crazycarlitos]

Originally Posted by FloridaSam

I recently picked up my grail guitar.
2018 Gibson R0.

Congratulations! It’s freakin gorgeous!

Some beautiful guitars and set-ups here on the thread.

My main: 1996 Jackson SL2

[Sandlapper1960]

A little line of red to go with my Wine Red '04 Les Paul Standard !

[Shazbot302]

Couple of my favorites. Just picture a 114060 next to them.

[jpwv]

Which Heuer is this? Looks great!