2000 Epiphone Black Beauty

All I can say is this guitar was purchased in flawlwess condition. It sits safely in the OHSC waiting for a special gig. It is one of the most stunning guitars I own.

Early 90's Epiphone '57 Les Paul Goldtop

Unbelievable find. Produced in Korea at the Samick factory. It has aged just beautifully. The once white bindings have yellowed to give the guitar a very vintage look. The sound is amazing and came stock with real Gibson '57 Humbuckers.

2007 Epiphone Les Paul Classic

Purchased specifically to match the sound of the cherry sunburst LP. It has been to every gig as a backup. GREAT guitar!

2005 Schecter Hellraiser

This guitar was purchased in late Summer 2005. It was one of the first runs of this very special model. I had to wait for it for 2-3 months. Just recently it has undergone some major adjustment and is like "butta" to play.

A review:

The Schecter C-1 Hellraiser is an electric guitar that delivers tones sure to please any metal player. The Hellraiser's mahogany body has an ultra-access cutaway that really lets you get all the way up the 3-piece mahogany neck. The rosewood fretboard on the C-1 guitar has 24 extra-jumbo frets and gothic cross inlays for a dark, sinister look. Active EMG 81TW and 89 pickups deliver crushing electric guitar tone. Now you have more options that ever by activating single-coil sound from the 81TW via a push/pull tone knob.

TonePros tune-o-matic bridge with string-thru-body design makes for stable tuning no matter how hard you play. Binding specifically chosen to complement the finish, Grover tuners, and black chrome hardware round out the Schecter C-1 Hellraiser's killer look. Black Cherry finish has a quilted maple top.

PRS Paul Allender Signature Model

This guitar is OMG beautiful. Plays like a dream. It was just recently acquired and will probably be used quite a bit live. Designed with Paul Allender of Cradle of Filth, it features a quilted maple veneer with a Custom Allender burst, Allender pickups and special bats in flight inlays (these are really cool).

The Bad Boyz of Rock!

Epiphone Joe Perry Boneyard Signature Model


Epiphone Slash Signature Model


Epiphone Zakk Wylde Signature Model

I have just recently aquired all three of these signatures editions. Hard to say which one is my favorite - probably the Slash with it's beautiful tobacco sunburst...

Epiphone Limited Edition G-400 Custom

This guitar is a replica of an Ibanez SG Custom that I owned back in 1983-1984. I just purchased this newer version recently, and would have to say it's the only guitar I would consider sexy. It absolutely exudes Rock n Roll.

A review:

Elegant and powerful, the classic three pickup SG lives on in new stunning detail even down to the "Les Paul" script at the end of the rosewood fingerboard. This Limited Edition G-400 Custom with Maestro tremolo features three powerful Alnico Classic Humbucking pickups like the original but Epiphone has added even more flexibility with individual bridge, middle and neck volume controls to allow infinite blending combinations. Add to that gold hardware and the vintage Maestro tremolo and you've got a rock and roll machine that looks as good as it sounds.

1970's Fender Stratocaster

This was a real beauty. I bought this Strat around 1982. The finish had cracked like an eggshell. I decided to strip the guitar which revealed a beautiful natural ash. I used tongue oil to give it that vintage glow, added a Floyd Rose trem. I sold this guitar around 1986-87 to a boyfriend of my sister's. I have been honestly thinking about trying to re-create this guitar as well. Fender has just begun manufacturing a '70s throwback line with maple necks and large headstocks. I will most likely have to replace all of the plastic, because these guitars only come in white. 3 knobs, 3 pg covers, a trem cap and pickguard (all black) will run around $30.

1990 Epiphone Les Paul Standard

The above guitar was purchased used from Sound Source in Rochester around 1996. It was manufactured in the Samick plant in Korea and has the standard early bolt on neck. Of all the Les Paul's I own, this guitar is the work horse. Never goes out of tune and the tone is amazing. The stock pickups were horrible and would feedback even at very low volumes. In 2007 I replaced the pickups with Seymour Duncans. The neck position has a Pearly Gates and the bridge is a George Lynch Screamin' Demon. All 4 pots were replaced and the entire guitar was re-wired. The cherry sunburst is absolutely beautiful. The action is low, and I use Elixer nanoweb 9's on it, mostly because of my finger. I play her at almost every gig.

Let's talk equipment...

I have been away for a long time...

I would like to start writing about my love of music and musical equipment that I have collected over the years. The blog will contain all kinds of pictures and info going back to the beginning of my life (whether you like it or not). Above is a guitar that was unfortunately stolen. I am in the process of recreating it slowly, and hopefully will have a replica of this very special guitar soon. The new one will never replace the original.

The aquamarine Fender Stratocaster was actually purchased by my daughter's cousin back in the late 80's. It came stock with three single coils and a solid white pickguard. Long story short, I purchased the guitar from him for my daughter. As she lost interest, I adopted it by default and replaced the middle and neck pickups with Lace Sensors. The bridge pickup was replaced with a vintage '57 Gibson Humbucker. I also replaced the plain white pickguard with a perloid. It had a beautiful tubular Strat sound and almost no 60 cycle hum. It was stolen late Summer of '07. I can only hope that someone is enjoying and taking good care of her.