Hello My Fender friends!!!

Its been a while, but with my disibility, sometimes I can only read some posts, sometimes I dont get on for weeks. Long story short, 5 herniated disks in my back, 2 of which are in my neck, so the slightes thing can set me back and lay me up for a spell. And needless to say, my building has been slowed to a crawl, and with mounting medical builds, collecting is out of the question, so I do what I can.

My passion is building and painting. Painting is a bit rough these days, but Ive devised a way to where building, in spurts, is a lot easier pain wise. I wanted to post a few pics of some projects I have been doing, 2 are completed except for the decals on the headstocks, and the USA 50th Anniversary, which I am modding out with some very sweet Seymour Duncan humbuckers with coil tapping on both, I need to replace the 3 way switch...its bad. Other than that, I have a wine Red Strat that I am putting a David Gilmour EMG loaded pickguard in, birdseye Maple neck with Sperzel Locking Tuners..USA of course. The neck is on the relic right now cause I am waiting for a nut for my vintage neck for the relic. I have a pic of the body with just another pickguard on it..may be the EMG's...dont remember. Well, Heres my latest 3 projects, 2 playable, but 98% comolets and 1 half playable70% complete.

Expect to see a lot more custom builds in the future, along with an attempt at my own custom line. Ive got most of the details worked out and should have the first prototype out by the end of April. If there is something I can do productive while I am on disibility, then I have not let this beat me yet. My treatment, although its been 2 years, is finally ready to start getting underway. I made a promise that even thoough the hard days outweigh the good days, I will make the most of my good days, with my family first and my passion second. My health is in the hands of God and the doctors. As with everything in life, positive thoughts and actions will bring positive results. I am looking forward in advance to after my disks are fixed, when I can put 100% into my customising, but untill then, enjoy as I build and Modify a Strat Collection that many you will not see many other places...ENJOY........







1. Black N Chrome Fender Strat w/ Seymour Duncan JB SH4
2. Relic'd Strat professionally done, loaded with Seymour Duncans, JB SH4 in the neck and the SH6 in the bridge.
3. 50th Anniversary USA Fender Strat. I am swapping the pickups out for a Seymour Duncan Pearley Gates in the Bridge and a JB59 for the neck. It will also have coild tapping on both pickups.
4. I havent even started project number 4 yet...but its coming soon...2 weeks I should have it started!!!

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Music makes the world go round....so lets keep the world moving.

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude

Hi Farmer Man,I'm pretty well in the same boat you're in,I have arthritis and my hands especially my left-fretting hand -are affected.I also have severe back problems after having a spinal fusion and having long term chronic pain.AS with you my passion is guitars,with only my family more important.I used to do all my own work on guitars and did work on friends guitars and fixed mistakes made by inept techs but these days I have to depend on other techs as my hands and back are too bad. Keep on at it,Good Luck.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Hello FarmerMan!

Nice work on the Strats mate! I too love puttting together Partscasters and look forward to your future posts.

Good luck!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

Hope you're following Ceri's thread.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Hey Jodi

Long time no see mate. Sorry to hear your back is still giving you grief. Infact it sounds to be a lot worse than a bit of grief.

If you want nuts you only have to ask. I'd be happy to make whatever you need. What is it that your currently after, tinted bone to match a aged neck? Presumably your handy with a file so exact thickness is not too much of an issue. Do you need flat based or radiused? How about slotting? If you want it slotted I'll need the exact width, preferably in metric, but I will convert it if I have to.

Still think them treadplate pickguards look the dogs danglies.

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No no and no

Well THANKS so much my friend!!! I will see if I can get some correct measurments on it for you. I can even send you a tusq nut I have 2 of that dont fit, I think they are 1 11/16ths.

I have an appt with the pain clinic on the 8th of April to get my shots started. They have been postponed since November 29th, and none by me, so you can imagine my frustration. My pain meds arent even working as well, but I am not going to keep going up and up until Im a babbeling fool, just a few more weeks and hopefully some relief.

Thanks for the help, I will add to this post as builds go along.
Peace brotha,
-J

_________________
Music makes the world go round....so lets keep the world moving.

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude

Man, I for one can feel you pain. Its been 2 years for me, and hopefully with the shots coming up (my first actual treatment) I will feel some relief. The disks, possibly, could aslo be the cause of my Cluster Migranes. Ive had those under control since Jan of 06 and now theyve been back with a vengance, 1-3 times a day sometimes. I can only work in spurts now. Painting is VERY hard sometimes, especially if I have to prep it, so I buy ready to be painted guitars. My playing has suffered cause of nerve damage, practice everyday kinda helps, but I dont think I will be shredding anytime soon.

This is for sure a rough time, but if it keeps us happy, its all worth it. I wish you the best, maybe we can talk about our back issues on the side and compare notes. Ive found and told of different things cause of seeing different Dr,'s/ PM me if you need anything, health or guitar wise.

Peace,
-J

_________________
Music makes the world go round....so lets keep the world moving.

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude

I too have issues with my hands and days when even the simplest of functions is impossible. The best some of us can do is to play when we can and enjoy the time we have to play.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Stellar work Farmer! This is also a great opportunity for those of us in good health to take pause and realize how fortunate we are and how fragile health can be. An inspiring story of passion and perserverance! All the best from Mississppi!

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Nice looking guitars, keep up the good work.

To suffer and remain so positive is truly amszing and inspirational. I too suffer from nerve pain. Medication does the trick most of the time however I have had to make concessions in my playing style. This injury was incurred while studying classical guitar (over a 10 yr period) and it was the playing position needed for classical that ruined several discs in my neck.

After playing electric guitar for 20 years, at 35 I returned to university and received a music degree in classical guitar and music theory. I completely abandoned the electric guitar for classical as I became fed up with with the rock scene (band politics, bad attitudes, substance abuse etc.) and I was determined to work solo. These plans did not pan out. My 4 hr. a day practice schedule took its toll on my spine and that was the end of that. Luckily I finished the requirements for my degree before the serious pain started.

All's well that ends well I guess. For the last few years I have been gigging and really enjoying the band thing again. My wife and I opened our own music school and I only play classical long enough each day to teach a few students and the remaining students play rock stuff any way.

I would like to say thanks for sharing the details of your ordeal with us. Hang in there. Your attitude will help you through this.

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Tim

Thanks Tim,
I know I am not the only person out there suffering with disibility and pain everyday. Meds do work for me also, but they are becoming useless, so I am gonna have to up my dosage, but first will try the shots on the 8th first.

I just hopw my story inspires others to see tha you should never take what you have for granted, it can be taken away when you least expect it, and if that unfortunate time comes, yes, you do go through a depression, and other rough feelings, but its the will and strenght that show who we are and gives us that reason to go on. Mine is my Family first and if this is a way to help suppliment what I lost in disibility pay, then what better way, plus its training for when I am fixed and am released, I plan on, an should get on,( with my connections), and I dont mean to be a traitor but hey..I live in Nashville, get on at Gibson. God had a reason for all of this and I think his plan for me was to get my wife back home where she grew up and put me in a place where I can use my talents in the perfect town. Hell, my Son is even going to Vanderbilt for College!!! Cooincidense...I think not!!!!

Even If I can show one person that a didbility doesnt have to keep you down, then this blog and what I try to do is all worth it. You can let it beat you or you can take control and beat it and make some great guitars in the process.

Thanks to all my Fender Friends for all of your kind words, they do keep my spirits lifted when I read them. Being disabled sometimes makes you feel like you dont contribute much (although I am still called the House $@!&*!!!) So if anyone feels like they cant do something cause of something that has changed in their life, message me, I just had to make some adjustments in my working, and playing style and I am back in business, a bit slower than before, but I look at it as paying full atttention to detail!!!

_________________
Music makes the world go round....so lets keep the world moving.

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude

Thanks Tim,
I know I am not the only person out there suffering with disibility and pain everyday. Meds do work for me also, but they are becoming useless, so I am gonna have to up my dosage, but first will try the shots on the 8th first.

I just hopw my story inspires others to see tha you should never take what you have for granted, it can be taken away when you least expect it, and if that unfortunate time comes, yes, you do go through a depression, and other rough feelings, but its the will and strenght that show who we are and gives us that reason to go on. Mine is my Family first and if this is a way to help suppliment what I lost in disibility pay, then what better way, plus its training for when I am fixed and am released, I plan on, an should get on,( with my connections), and I dont mean to be a traitor but hey..I live in Nashville, get on at Gibson. God had a reason for all of this and I think his plan for me was to get my wife back home where she grew up and put me in a place where I can use my talents in the perfect town. Hell, my Son is even going to Vanderbilt for College!!! Cooincidense...I think not!!!!

Even If I can show one person that a didbility doesnt have to keep you down, then this blog and what I try to do is all worth it. You can let it beat you or you can take control and beat it and make some great guitars in the process.

Thanks to all my Fender Friends for all of your kind words, they do keep my spirits lifted when I read them. Being disabled sometimes makes you feel like you dont contribute much (although I am still called the House $@!&*!!!) So if anyone feels like they cant do something cause of something that has changed in their life, message me, I just had to make some adjustments in my working, and playing style and I am back in business, a bit slower than before, but I look at it as paying full atttention to detail!!!

_________________
Music makes the world go round....so lets keep the world moving.

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude

Well guys, as I mentioned, I found a way I could work more comfortablly, so I thought Id give it a try. My Dave G EMG's worked when I got em, but didnt when I was putting them into other guitars. So...using my superpowers (haha..yeah, right) I figured it had to be the battery lines cause they were spliced a few times. I had an old Single Hum EMG Copy, so I used that battery cable and problem solved!!!!

What I have now is one KILLER 2004 50th Anniversary USA Fender Strat with EMG's and it sounds better than any guitar I have, all 5 of them, and best of all...NO PAIN. Work is finished for the day, although I REALLY want to continue working on others, I know my limitations now and the better I can pace myself, the more i will be able to get out. Heres a few pics, I will add a few more later on, my kids took the camera to a party, so these are the only ones I got after putting it together and testing it out.

I am VERY pleased I was able to use this combo on this guitar, I dont know if I could get this sound with another wood combo. Hope everyone likes it....And remember, I still have 1 more here to build, just waiting on some parts.

Peace to all my Fender Rockers!!!!







As soon as I can sell 3 of the 4 of these guitars locally to some players that are interested in my work, I will have more Custom Projects to come. Sorry, I cant let out any of my secrets, but these are some ideas that you have NEVER seen on a Strat before, and soon Tele's.

Hope all is well with Everyone and again, thank everyone for all the kind words, they really do keep my spirits up to keep doing what I do as far as trying to keep my passion of Costomising Fenders. You guys are the best out there...Hope you like the pics!!!

-J

_________________
Music makes the world go round....so lets keep the world moving.

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude

Looking great. glad to hear you have found a way to do this without causing yourself too much agony.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.