Guitar Thumbs

No I don't have one... I would like to.  So drop me a line if you have one for sale, we can talk trade or money...email me @ Ballurio

Steinberger GM4T, 1989, double bound maple cutaway body with 24 fret composite neck, phenolic fret board, active electronics (EMGs) with TransTrem Vibrato.  As I understand it the M Series was designed by Steinberger, Mike Rutherford of Genesis and guitar maker Roger Giffin.  The Steinbergers are really, I believe, some of the best guitars built, particularly some of the older ones.  They are versatile, have excellent intonation and retain their tuning even after a dive bomb!  Coffee is my second Steinberger after Blue and is much more feisty as well as being one of my studio pack.  I have used her in the studio a lot, and provides the lead and rhythm voices on quite a number of song on my album spider dance, most notably the songs, rimshot, blues lament, spider dance, lullaby, greenhouse blues, and wendy's song.  

Steinberger GM7T, 1995, sculpted maple cutaway body with 24 fret composite neck, phenolic fret board, active electronics (EMGs) with TransTrem Vibrato.   Blue was my first Steinberger and really made me a believer.  Blue is an amazing guitar, that can sound like a screaming meanie on a hot summer night to a beautiful song bird on a calm balmy autumn evening.  Blue is one of my studio pack and is used quite often on a number of tracks.  On my album spider dance Blue was used on the tracks, hammered, blues lament, spider dance, greenhouse blues, and carbon based.

This custom made Steinberger was made for those times when passive electronics and wood are the answer.  As I'm a lover of the double ball string system on the Steinbergers, and more often time then not find myself using only the bridge pickup, this lady fits the bill.  Honey has a quilted maple top on a beautiful Honduras mahogany (old wood!!!) body, with a 24 fret composite neck and phenolic fret board.

"Anise"

Steinberger S Standard, poplar body with a bolt-on composite neck and a 24 fret phenolic fret board with active electronics.  As I understand this is the only Steinberger guitar built with a head stock.  In speaking with Ed Roman, he told me that these where originally called "Scepters",  It would appear they are quite rare, I've only seen two others for sale, one on Ebay and one at Ed's web site.  Anise... screams!  This guitar was built for metal, it is that plain and simple.  If this thing was a weapon it would be a Klingon Batlik.  I've used her in the studio a few time and really like her... her neck is really quite fantastic and extremely fast... faster then me... she has been used on a couple of track on my album spider dance most noticeably hammered and wendy's song.

Washburn EC36, This is one of the Japanese Superstrats called the "Stephens Extended Cutaway", This 1988 model has a total of 36 frets with a single humbucker pickup and a Floyd Rose.  This guitar is a beauty... through-body neck with absolutely magnificent fret work.  This is really a rare guitar and I really love how it plays and sounds.  I'm currently playing Ruby quite a bit, and doing some studio work with her, she is one of my studio pack.  Any of you out there who have any of these guitars for sale drop me a line, lets talk...

Washburn EC29, This is like the EC36 except that it has a total of 29 frets with a humbucker and single coil supported by a Floyd Rose.  This guitar, just like Ruby is a beautiful guitar.  As with her big sister... through-body neck with absolutely magnificent fret work.  I've seen a number of these for sale, however not that often,  I really love how it plays and sounds and with the single coil, is a tad more flexible.  Magnum has contributed to a number of track on my last album spider dance, in particular the tracks spider dance and  cadillac mountain.

"Deepblue"

Washburn BT-10, one of Washburn Maverick Series, mahogany body, maple neck with 22 fret rosewood board and a Floyd Rose.  Deepblue is a great guitar with rich mahogany warm tones and a kick to play.  I've used Deepblue in the studio on a couple of occasions and she has both great tonal qualities for rhythm and lead.  She has been used on a number of rhythm tracks on my album spider dance most notably on wendy's song.

Rickenbacker 650D Dakota, one of Rickenbacker's 650 Series, walnut body through body 24 fret maple neck.  Dakota is a great guitar, really enjoyable to play, light and really good looking.  The use of walnut with the maple neck really constructs a rich full body tone that is really consistent.  I really wish that Rickenbacker would develop a line of guitars like Dakota with a stabilized Wilkinson tremolo... think that would really cool.  I've used Dakota in the studio quite a number of times and on my last album spider dance she even got a track named after her "dakota flats"... I don't think there are any flats in the song, it's just a title.

Rickenbacker 220 Hamburg, double cutaway maple body with bolt on 24 fret neck sporting 2 humbuckers.  I've modified this guitar a bit however by adding a Washburn Wonder Bar Vibrato.  I only have one problem with this guitar however is that it is so heavy that after playing her for a couple hours my shoulder lists to one side.  Ricky has a really nice consistent tone that Was used  for a rhythm track on my CD spider dance specifically the track dakota flats.

Brian May Signature Guitar.  I purchased this guitar in 1994 as Brian May has influence me musical, in particular his playing in the early days of Queen.  His guitar orchestrations and unique use of tone has I believe, influenced guitar playing quite a bit, and my playing in a number of ways.  What can I say about this guitar, it is simply a masterpiece... Having never had the opportunity to personally see Brian's guitar, I have read that this version is as close as you can get, that being said, Brian has done what a lot of us have only wish, and that is to build a true piece of art the way we want and bond with it... becoming an extension of our own voice.  A truly unique and perhaps one of the best electric guitars ever built. 

Cort Artisan A6 Bass Series, with a double cutaway select maple body, through-body wenge/maple laminated neck.  Two MightyMite soapbar pickups with active electronics.   This is a really nice bass and I've used her on most all the tracks on my album spider dance.  Yeller has great bottom and top tonal characteristics with the ability to deliver consistently in the studio.   This is a big instrument and when I'm doing bass in the studio, it really takes a bit getting used to her.

Custom guitar called a Zippenbacker, with a maple body, quilted maple top and bolt on maple neck.  I purchased Zed online based on looks... She looks good and has a really nice neck, however I'm needing to do some work on her.  I recently put a Washburn Wonder Bar Vibrato on her, and this has help her to some degree, next is the electronics.  I hope that after the electronics I can move on to the body neck join not a very professional job, but I think it can be fixed.

MVP Series.  Back in 1975 Michael Vincent Pedulla was making acoustics and some electrics, eventually moving on to his know famous Basses...I don't think they make guitars anymore.  These guitars are a bit rare, well built and heavy (slab body).  Playing a Pedulla MVP is a bit like a Les Paul but a bit brighter in sound, supported by active electronics.  

Kapa Continental built locally in Hyattsville, MD, in 1966, by Kope Veneman.  Cus is a really big guitar, with a bit of age and a really nice neck.  She has a good raunchy retro sound.  I have not gotten into the studio with her yet. 

This is a custom Cort, by the individual whom designed some of the guitars that Prince played in the late 80's early 90's.  It is an attractive guitar, has nice tone and is fun to play.  My lady purchased this for my Birthday a couple of years ago...  I remember coming home and she was laid out on the bed with a card and some candy!  Nice gift!!!!  Used on the song dakota flats on the CD spider dance

Hohner's "The Jack" guitar has a double cutaway maple body, a through body neck, with a Steinberger vibrato and passive EMG's both humbuckers and a single coil.  Just recently acquired this guitar and have not had much time with her, however, with a bit of customization it has some potential, all in all an interesting guitar.

Bozo, made by Bozo Padunavic from Yugoslavia and considered one of the top 25 luthiers in the world .  I have been told he is in his 70 living in Florida and still making guitars.  I purchased this acoustic in London in 1979 at a music shop in Soho.  When I sat down to play it, I knew instantly I had to have it!  Really can't remember what I paid for her, but I do remember that It was more cash than I had at the time, and as I remember the exchange rate was quite high... It took quite a bit of talking to walk away with it...  The tonal spectrum of this guitar is rather impressive its bottom is rich and full and the top rings with sustain, all of which is rather even and well integrated.   I have plans to do an album that is completely based in acoustic instruments in the future.

Well this is a long story, however I'll save it for another time.   I was visiting a friend in India, and we went to the old section of New Delhi... does that make it Old Delhi?  Well we found this really cool music shop and I proceeded to buy this beautiful old instrument call a Veena, which is one of the most ancient stringed instruments of India.  Well basically the airline destroyed it attempting to get it back to the U.S.  So I asked my bud to bring one back with him the next time he was able to get to the U.S., however he was unable to find a Veena like the one that had been destroyed. 

I hope to get in the studio in the not to distant future to record a completely acoustic CD, have some really cool ideas for this lady!!!