Byron has been building guitars since 1965. This seven-string semi-hollow is one of the most recent.
He is not a beginner by any measure. He scratch-built on both sides of the Atlantic, spent years as a touring musician leaving instruments behind in the countries he played, and since retiring has built almost every kit he could get his hands on.
Today I am trying to recreate those great instruments, albeit each one built to my specs and custom electronics. The 7-string is meant to expand my musical mind and push it beyond its comfort zone.
The finish is stain and clear, twenty coats of it, over a red that goes deep rather than bright.
He also puts his own artwork on his instruments, and signs them with his own maker’s mark on the headstock.
I also put hand-painted or drawn artworks on the bodies or pickguards of my builds. You can buy the mundane. You have to build special.
That last line deserves to be on a workshop wall somewhere.
Beautiful work, Byron. Sixty years in and still pushing past the comfort zone.
What is the oldest build in your collection, and does it still get played?