Why on earth would they let someone like me loose on a perfectly nice Gibson SG? Don't they know I'm going to bust out the drill, the acetalyne torch and some steel and mess it all up? I'm talking about the customization of a guitar in aid of charity. Breast cancer research to be precise. I was asked if I would personalize an SG by Gibson as part of a guitar auction being held in May. Of course I said yes, and sure enough, a brand new natural finish SG arrives at my door.

So, I enlist the help of Doheny's multi-talented drummer, Colin LaRoque, as he has a nice machine shop at his house. Suddenly, it all turned extremely violent! I started making a branding iron, heating it up with the torch and branding the back of the guitar. The thing is on fire! Colin starts drilling into the body and bolting sheet steel and titanium pieces onto it. God knows how it's going to turn out, but it sure is a lot of fun doing it. It's something I always wanted to do - get a perfectly good guitar and hack it up into some industrial piece of art!

It's been a busy week or so for me - both bands are preparing for more shows, and I am, as always, involved not only in the playing of the shows, but also the logistics and the organization. So, I have been either at a rehearsal or in front of the computer answering emails and on the phone. Thank God it's the weekend again, as most people take the weekend off. I'll still be speaking to both management companies, but the usual week-long dramas seem to take two days off at the weekend. I'll be doing Camp Freddy Radio as usual on Saturday night.

I have been thinking about the equipment side of things recently. I built a Bradshaw rack for myself that uses a JCM900 and a Triple Rectifier in a switchable system incorporating rack mount FX units, some Boss pedals and a wireless system. It lives in a flightcase the size of a refrigerator. I am now faced with having to get on a plane with Doheny and play outside of L.A. and I find myself staring at this flightcase, asking myself, "Why?" Why did I have to go and build such a specific rig? Why did I have to fall in love with what this rig can do? Why didn't I just start playing through a 2x12 combo and a Boss pedal? Because now I have to figure out how to get it all on a plane!

The answer is, of course, that I love tone. And I refuse to compromise. So the price of that is that I have to go back to Bob (who is a genius, by the way) and have a second replica system built that is designed in three smaller cases with a different wiring loom that is built for travel. More money, more flightcases (as if I don't have enough already) and more tweaking on equipment. But it's worth it to me - I know that when I play, I get that 'hair standing up on my arms' feeling that tells me the guitar sounds good. Worth a lot more to me than convenience.

Not a lot to tell today. I hope you are still getting something out of reading my occasional rants and raves. I have to say that I have some pre-mixes of a few tracks from the Camp Freddy album in my car and I cannot wait to get that thing finished. It sounds so good just as it is. I know we will work some magic when we mix the songs and it's just going to sound amazing.

Ok, I'm outta here. As always, a pleasure to check in with Modern Guitars - keep up the good work guys. If anyone wants to know anything specific, just ask. Until then, the rambling continues...

Peace.

Billy