Thanks Bro,
If there is one thing that isnt broken on me is my spirit!!!! I look at this as as blessing in a way to sharpen my skills for when the Dr's release me to go back to work in whatever capacity. Now, although I WISH I lived in California again (I have several relatives and moves there in the 80's to give it 'my shot"") I do have the lovely pleasure of living in Beautiful Tennessee and am hoping that all of this can and will land me a job at Gibson on some capacity. I will never go back to my previous job, to physical and to much risk to reinjure my back, so I talked to the DR and building guitars should be fine for my health.

As far as my inventions...anyone remember that contraption EVH used on the Frakenstein to flip it up when he went off on his tapping/hammer on mind blowing solo? Well, I used that as a basis to come up with something I can work with whils sitting down. Its fully height agjustable, padded, I can lift one end higher than the other....and it fits over my lap like a TV tray. I came up with the design and my Bro in law helped build it, just as he is helping me build an indoor paint booth in the garage, we built one outside that works so well, I can actually paint again.

I dont know if I will ever be healed enough to ever play a full show, be in a band again, but as long as I am involved in music in someway, even if I can get a few people playing my guitars on stage, then it will almost like a piece of me is up there on stage.

Dont lat life get you down, life throws some pretty tough things at you, and how we handle then defines us as a person. Many people say that those in the big arena bands and other stars get stuck up and forget their true friends on the way up, but youve got to respect the fact that they took the tough times and found ways to overcome them....some learned from that, others just turned into jackasses....and you know who you are...HAHA..just kiddin, I still think your cool in my book!!!!!!

Bottom line is, you go around this ride once, do what you love and love what you do, it doesnt have to be your carreer, or job, but find that balance of happiness in your life and you will find that everything else will fall into place.

Didnt mean to get all deep on you, but a lot of paople take a lot for granted, which I did and then 1 day I find that i cant run in the park with my kids, I cant take walks on the beach with my wife, I cant play full shows with my band and had to quit. Enjoy everything you have and NEVER take it for granted, death is not always the end, their are worse things believe it or not. Find that one thing, for me its music and building guitars, in your life that makes YOU happy and when your happy and can have a clear head, it will show make some of those more tough days just a bit better.

I am gonna see if I can find some other pics of other guitars I have built and painted over the last few years, a few since Ive been on disibility.

Thanks again to everyone that replies to my threads. It does give me inspiration to keep going, its one thing when your family says it, they have seen me do 100 of them, but when you guys compliment me, real players that I respect (if your playing Fender...ya cant be that bad..HAHA) well, that really means a lot to me, and dont be afraid to critisise, I can take it. Im not perfect...YET....so if you have any advice, I am all ears, just not much back...HAHA.

Best to you all my friends!!!!

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

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude

We have a lot in common. I have 6 crushed discs in my back and I do artwork and oil paintings to help me pass some time along with playing the guitar. Its not easy to sit for too long so I don`t stick around banging away at the keyboard to rack up posts. You have to divide the day up so you don`t do anything for too long to increase the pain your in. Hang in there, your not alone.

_________________

good luck Farmerman. From what I've been seeing lately Gibson needs some help in the paint shop. Don't know if they're looking , but they should be.

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

Man, I can actually say I can somewhat feel your pain. I learned that lesson about sitting for long peoiods of time the hard way. I did a guitar, my first build since moving to Tennessee, and I did it with no pain. Well, 3 months later I am doing 2 builds worth of projects, in one sittting. What I didnt think of at the time was on the first one, the parts trickled in, so I worked it piece by piece. This time I had all the parts, so when the bodies came in, I went nuts, even taking breaks. Ive devised a way to work more comfortable, still breaking, but no bending!!!

My Bro in Law hooked me up with a pint rig that lets me paint with out any pain or physical work except hanging the guitar up. I have an airbrush board set up so I can sit straight up with a pilllow support, taking breaks. I am in NO hurry, I am doing this for me to share my work with the world..or whoever will or want to play them....HAHA.

I admire you for still working at your passion and like me not letting your injury control your life. Healthcare moves like a snail sometimes, but we make our oun therapy, heck, Cranking the guitar to 10 for 15 minutes an jamming Hells bells calmes me down more than if I took 2 of my anxiety pills!!!

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

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude

Thats for sure from what Ive seen!! I mean dont get me wrong, Gibson has some of the most beautiful bursts and flamed tops I have seen, some better than Ive seen on top end PRS guitars, but the one thisg they have never ventured into is some good custom painting runs. Theres a few, and they have several artist models, but a few runs of some good Custom Paintings would be agreat boost, I mean look how long it took for them to offer a model with a Floyd Rose on one model!!!

I do have the advantage of having a VERY good friend that had been in the Nashville music scene is all aspects for 17 years and has 6 friends at all levels that work at Gibson, one in the Custom Shop that I have met once briefly, but am going to be meeting again in a month at Jimmy (my friend) house cause he is doing some recordidng for him and guess what I am bringing...a few of my Custom Fenders. I call it smart self marketing, but it should be funny walking in with a guitar in 1 hand and a cane in the other!!! But who knows, it could lead to some side work in the summer when I can start painting again. Keep you posted on what happpens!!!

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

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude

Alright...I am now on my third nut, I know that sounds kinda perverted...sorry, but I have this KILLER Warmoth neck, totally vintage looking, but had been a nightmare from the start. The decal went on PERFECT, looks time era correct, wear on the back...then it starts. The bushings for the tuners were to big and wouldnt fit, then the tusq nut I ordered was to big. Easy fix, order the right one, I wrote them, the sent me another one....of the exact same size!!!!

Well, hopefully, third time is a charm, I ordered the right size (from another company) and I hope its the right size. I fixed the Tuner problem bu usind the smooth side of a drill bit and some sand paper...and now, to quote my favorite Jim Carey lines it fits " LIKE A GLOVE!!!!"

It should come in today or tomorrow. If it fits, the neck goes on the Relic;s guitar and the birdseye neck on it now goes to the Wine Red Guitar project I have going on that I just need pickups for...or not. I have several loaded piackguards w/ Seymour Duncans, but I am thinking about maybe some Texas Specials in the neck and middle and a lil JB59 in the bridge and adding coil splitting to it so you can have the option on spitting it.

I also have another idea...but I cant tell you yet cause its in the works for the next round of builds, Fender hasnt dont it yet, so it will be a first on a Fender Guitar.

Good Day to All!!!

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

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/strat_jammin_dude