The Wurlitzer Organ - Sampler Mod

   The dust was the craziest I have ever seen, layers as thick as craft felt came up with the vacuum detailer. The Craigslist pictures were horrible and I am guessing this is why there were no takers. It could also be the fact that these old analog gems weigh several hundred pounds, and are awkward to move at best. I committed and hauled away my new grimy prize, an old Wurlitzer organ with a built-in Orbit II synthesizer as a bonus.
   These home entertainment centers were significant investments when they were new, and I worked on the assumption that it had to be serviceable and the workings completely accessible. Once the back and top of the cabinet had been removed, I found tall hex bolts that release the chassis and each level then pivots up like a car hood.
   Soon I was starring at a beautiful array of electronic glory, I would never be able to decode the tangle of multicolored wire harnesses. There are also massive, exposed capacitors on the amp head that scream, "instant death!" I stayed true to the mission, cleaned up the filth and got out of there ASAP. A couple keys were dead, but I was able to repair the broken actuators with toothpicks and super glue.

  
   Now to the meat of this mod, this particular model 4270 also had a built-in tape recorder. Unfortunately the heads were so fouled that it only made horrendous, scratchy blasts through the speakers. At the very least I needed to disconnect this unit to keep my kids from driving me nuts. As you may know, little boys love this sort of loud nuisance to rankle their parents.
   With all the layers opened up before me, I was further intrigued to see the internal sound ran through RCA inputs on the amplifier. My subconscious went to work and I soon came up with an interesting idea for a swap out. I was able to try several effects pedals patched in line to the amp. There were many options at this point, but I kept coming back to an old Boss SP-202 sampler laying around unused. I also noticed the tape deck had a similar foot print as the sampler, and there was room for a power supply to run off the internal outlet. With minimal work, I got the old Dr. Sample to fit and run cleanly into the amp.
   Now the kids' favorite part is to make loops and other goofy sounds with their Wurly. In a modern twist, the sound signal runs through the sampler, much in the same way as the original tape deck functioned. The exploratory cleaning also revealed a headphone jack on the underside of the keybed. This allows me to run a standard cable to my guitar rig for loads of additional hijinks. As unwieldy as these instruments are, they still deserve our attention and the respect of a proper home.

The Squire Jaguar - Bridge Hack

Custom Squire Jaguar

   Squire made this Frankenstein model in an attempt to look like it had been living on the wall of a smoke laden music store for decades. Fender later came out with their own Pawn Shop Series which had a similar aesthetic. It does look old, but the amalgamation of parts turned out to be a bummer. The Toronado bridge they chose looks interesting and dated, however it is impossible to set intonation.
   I had waffled over purchasing this Fiesta Red Jaguar for several years, there were a few other details that had kept me from pulling the trigger as well. Instead of waiting any longer and possibly missing out, I trusted my gut, and decided to take on the challenge and solve those handful of quirky problems myself.
   My longtime quest has been the search for a lightweight replacement for my Les Paul. It has been hard to replicate that heavy mahogany sound. Thanks to the searing tone of the Duncan designed humbucker set, I now have it.
   I already owned a custom Jagmaster from the same Vintage Modified series, and it had been my number one for the last five years. The Jagmaster fell short of my tone desires because of it's tremelo, and even with the trem blocked into a hardtail, it was thin on treble sustain. Since I adored everything else about my Jagmaster, I wanted to essentially create a clone, starting with this basic Jaguar and its solid body.
   In order to test the guitar's potential and expedite this project, I opted for a top-load StewMac bridge (I was not ready to drill through body ferrules, yet.) I properly located the placement of the new bridge and carefully shaved the original pickguard to fit.
   Another problem that I noted was the toggle switch location, I needed to move it to the lower horn which left a hole in the pickguard. I found a glossy black, automotive hole plug that did the job well enough. While the strings were off, I wanted to go ahead and simplify the electronics. I was not a fan of the huge, double stacked knobs sticking out and I did not need their individual controls. I admit that at this point in my playing, I just want the basics, which ironically is the antithesis of a loaded Fender Jaguar. I found a Semour Duncan schematic and wired one volume pot, and one tone pot to the three-way toggle switch. Perfect!
   Sometimes you have to make what you want in life, if your skills permit. I have watched the different iterations of Jags over the years and none of them have included all the items on my wishlist. I would not have had the nerve to mess with a more valuable model, but these Squire's are a great starting point for project guitars. With a few modifications and a good setup, they can be brought into the realm of their much more expensive cousins.

First Act - Guitar Fix

   After playing guitar for a couple decades, my interests have shifted towards setting up entry-level guitars to be better, playable instruments. Through much experimentation, I have come to believe that any cheap guitar can be made playable and more enjoyable.
   It is my love for stringed instruments that makes me look at these poor, orphaned guitars with puppy dog eyes. While a good friend was visiting last year, he mentioned that he desperately wanted a backpack guitar for the rest of his wilderness journey. That next day, we happened to be browsing a flea market when we spied an inexpensive child's guitar. It was the size he wanted, and I felt strong that we had a winner.

   The filthy little axe appeared to be an old First Act guitar. These are bottom of the barrel, beginner guitars sold at Kmart. Still optimistic, I scrubbed away all the dirty kid, paw prints and revealed a solid build with a decent neck. Before removing the rusted strings, I checked the action and was able to lower it considerably by shaving the bridge saddle. Miraculously, with little effort and a new set of extra light D'Addarios, this baby sang! Best souvenir ever, and total cost was $10 including the strings.
   One more bit of advice, if you are a guitar player, please learn to set up your own gear. It is incredibly easy and it will give you an intimate understanding of your guitar. Guitar set up is highly subjective, much like asking a stranger to taste your dinner and tell you whether you will like it. And once you get comfortable with the basics, any new issues will not necessarily mean an expensive trip to the shop.
   With all this said, a lot of my knowledge came form reading "Dan Erlewine's Guitar Player Repair Guide." This book covers everything that a luthier would need to know, while being simple enough for a novice to understand. It might even give you the confidence to try instruments that you would not have gambled on previously.

Epsilon Alpha Guitar Method

   What is the most comfortable, ergonomic way to fret chords and yet be able to play in any style? Why son it is the Epsilon Alpha Guitar Method. Okay, enough of the huckster introduction.

LESSON 1

   Guitar mastery is a skill set earned through hard work and consistent practice. After years of playing with others and teaching friends, I decided that I had something unique to offer beginner and intermediate students. I analyzed the myriad of lessons and books that I have acquired over the years, I was then able to reduce the content down to two essential chord forms. These are usually the first two chords learned by students and they take advantage of the hand's physiology and strength.
   As you may know by searching the web, there are countless gurus that offer their lessons, books, videos, etc. I am not going to sell you anything, except the idea that there is a more efficient way to learn. Sounds too good to be true, I know, but there is still a really, really hard part. You need to practice. The only other caveat to this method is the introduction of alternate finger positions for the E Major and A Major open chord forms. This subtle shift prepares the hand to be moved up and down the neck while using a pattern you have already memorized.
   The greatest benefit of this method is the ability to play all the chords you will need without learning the two dozen various open chords. This "dancing" between different chords usually creates the first significant barrier to the students ability to play fluidly.
   I have included this condensed method in these three PDF files. I would like to add that this is the way a lot of musicians play, I just reduced it down to the bare essentials. I am confident that with a little more work you can accelerate your progress and move well past the glacial pace of traditional lessons.



LESSON 2

LESSON 3

The Bruxist - End Of Days

   One of the reasons I prefer live recording is the intangible essence it captures, much like a candid photograph. My record collection spans six decades and as one skips around you can hear the equipment and technology that was available at that time. This recording is a couple years old now, and it is in a much less refined state than the version used in our current line-up. Something about this track cannot be duplicated, whether it is the tape-like warble of the intro verse, or the raw energy of that day. I finally decided to push it out into the universe to let it stand on its own.
   The song itself is pretty straight forward. I am pleading with the world to reconsider the self-fulfilling, self destructive path constructed by hyperdramatic media outlets.

The Bruxist - Vermiculite

   A story of an industrialist crime and the ruining of one of God's beautiful places, a plot so despicable that you will believe hell is necessary to house the patron souls of absolute greed. I had never heard of Libby, Montana before moving to the Northwest in 2005. This unbelievable tale of betrayal and knowingly poisoning an entire town is not new, but undoubtedly the worst.
   I wrote this song shortly after learning of the workers unwittingly transferring the toxic dust to their families and homes. The wonder mineral "vermiculite" from the Libby mine was tainted with asbestos. To make matters worse, the abundant material was used in their local landscaping, playgrounds and ball fields as well. The end material was shipped all over the US, and is still present to this day as attic insulation in older homes.
   This story does not end well, the men in charge of the mine, who were literally responsible for the painful, cancer deaths of entire families got off scot-free. The United States government has tried for decades to mitigate the damage, but at this point, it seems unlikely that Libby can ever be made whole again.

 

The Bruxist - Dusted

   This track was recorded live in September 2013. Initially it was thrown into the waste basket and just recently discovered by accident. Let's face it, at this point, free time is not going to just materialize and I am no longer conditioned for all-nighters. My heart is strong, but with kiddos runnin' 'round, time is limited. These one-shot takes will have to do, so I can move on and free up my soul for other endeavors.

   My two-year-old son provided the imagery for this video. His repetitive sequences of daily life echoed the content of the song's lyrics.
   With a little luck, "The Second EP" will be released one song at a time over the next few weeks.  Nothing fancy, pretty low tech, remember I am no friend of multitrack recording. Reductive to the most simple essence of song creation. The Bruxist grinds on.



Mega Baby Gate 2.0

   When researching ideas for a kiddo barricade, I came across some crazy configurations. I really try not to judge other parents or their style, but some of these play areas were way over the top. They seemed to loose touch with the idea of keeping their kids away from hazards and looked more like high security prisons. Once your corral is bigger than a standard bedroom, you may have lost focus. Of course, I had my own take on securing a play area and how to execute this on the cheap.

 

   The commercially available play yards can add up quick and I have a hard time modifying something that just cost me a couple hundred dollars brand new. My initial idea involved marrying a couple gates together while still retaining the ability to use their pressure fit installation. The mega gate 1.0 was constructed from (3) Evenflo baby gates that cost $10.00 apiece.

   This first version worked, but as my toddler grew stronger, I could tell this would not stand the test of time. I reinforced the first version with a top and bottom rail, then mounted it directly to the post and wall. This removed any remaining flex and made the gate rigid enough for an adult to sit on.
   The music room has already moved several times throughout the renovation and I was concerned that I would lose this precious space to the kids. I did not need to keep the kids in, as much as I needed to keep them away from fragile gear like amps, cables and guitars. The Mega Baby Gate 2.0 subdivided our open basement playroom and generated the necessary "Dad Space" for sessions.

The Law of Unintended Consequences

  Happenstance led me to the electric guitar. It started with a story from my father's youth glorifying a traveling music troupe he encountered while in high school. These students had passed through Indianapolis and played an enviable late night rendition of "In a Gadda Da Vida" on a church organ in the cathedral. I am sure there were a few adolescent details omitted from this story.
   Fortuitously, my father wrongly attributed the song to Jimi Hendrix. The real take away for me was the awe in my father's eyes as he relayed this tale. This was an unusual glimpse in to his past. I had only known him as a scientist, a desk jockey, a safety engineer, and a proper Catholic. Little did he know, how impressionable I really was.
   This would soon lead me down my own path of music exploration from the 1960's, evolving into a near obsession with Hendrix. I would not learn till many years later, that the song was actually written by Iron Butterfly. Who knows, maybe I would have become a bitchin' organist. Remember these were pre-internet times and music was not readily available in rural Kentucky. What I could find, was mail order cassette tapes.
   I soon became fascinated with the expressive play and creative sounds that Jimi Hendrix conjured from a simple, benign instrument. As any loyal teenage fan, I saved up and bought my first and only Fender Stratocaster. I never came close to those wild sounds in my headphones, but I managed to teach myself how to play.
   Years would pass and I experimented with keys and bass while rounding out my musical interests. It is hard to imagine how my life would have been altered without this defining moment. I know my father is skeptical about the ways he has influenced my development. We are seemingly polar opposites, but I like to believe there is much more in common. This memory is a powerful reminder of the law of unintended consequences, especially as I begin rearing my own two boys.

Little Timmy is the Man!

   Let's talk about Chinese made guitars for a minute. I have to say these inexpensive guitars coming from Epiphone and Squier are incredible. I have had my share of expensive guitars, and this new breed is highly competitive and as you can imagine, affordable.
   My Epi Les Paul is gorgeous. You cannot fake a proper set neck and highly figured maple top. Absolutely amazing craftsmanship. My second MIC is a Squier Vintage Modified Jagmaster. Granted it is not the high end looker like the LP, it is a workhorse and now my number one.

Custom Squier Vintage Modified Jagmaster

   I originally purchased the Jagmaster used for my wife to learn on. Knowing that if this plan fell through, I would not mind having this as a house guitar. The lessons ran out and my wife's legacy would be the name "Little Timmy."
   When I received the guitar, it was in pretty sad shape. The nut had been butchered with a box cutter, I assume some hack tried to lower the action. The tremolo bar was missing and I was altogether unimpressed. However, with dual humbuckers and a 24" neck, I was very interested in the potential.
   This guitar was not bought as a project, but it was time for a few custom upgrades. The white pickguard was the first to go, it just looked cheap. The tortoise pickguard comes stock on the sunburst model and I was able to order one from Fender. That was a pretty easy swap out, and that made the biggest visual impact.
   The tremolo was not a big loss and honestly just a novelty to me. I hardtailed the bridge with a wood block and adjusted the action accordingly. Squier released a hardtail version shortly after I modified this guitar. However, I prefer the the three-way switch shown here, versus the LP position. The wood block helps transfer string vibration and tone to the body.
   Now with new aesthetics in line, the tone was the last and most important domain. I had to replace the heavily damaged nut. I opted for a Graphtech nut that was pre-slotted and the proper width. I was nervous about doing this myself, but I took my time to remove the factory nut and the new one went in with little resistance. The nut has made a significant improvement in sustain and clarity. The factory fret job was coarse, so I beveled the fret ends and that made a huge difference in comfort.
   I felt it was worth sharing the minimal upgrades that turned this used axe in to a player's friend. Rock on Little Timmy!

Toddler Guitar

   There is a need for tiny acoustic guitars. I am talking about a toddler size, playable guitar. The closest thing in scale is a ukulele. I purchased a package deal that included a mandolin and a ukulele. Both items were pretty poor quality. I am not a guitar snob, I strictly judge instruments on their sound quality and ease of play.    
   After coming to the conclusion that the Ukulele was useless in its standard form, I decided it was time for a proper modification. I converted it into a four string "tiny" guitar. The best part is that my son recognizes a guitar sound, that is similar to my full size acoustic. He is twenty-one months old now and really enjoys strumming.

 

  This is an invasive, irreversible conversion. I will state again that this Ukulele was garbage as far as I was concerned. Any modification the reader chooses to do is their responsibility. I do not like that I even have to state that on this post. You screw it up, then you screwed it up. That would make for and interesting Judge Judy case.
   Anyways, here are the necessary mods, this is not a tutorial. I started with D'addario EJ15 Extra Light strings and modified the bridge to accept the ball ends. There is a significant increase in tension when moving from nylon to steel strings. The bridge started to pull away from the body, so I screwed and glued the bridge to the top. While the glue setup overnight, I shaved down the bridge saddle by 3/32" in order to lower the action.
   I finished off the guitar with strap buttons and an old strap that I cut short. It plays surprisingly well and sounds decent. As you could imagine, the projection is nill. Most importantly though, it gives my son the ability to share in an activity that his dad loves.