Photos

Seasick Steve Tribute

Posted by Blind Lemon Cello on April 13, 2017 at 6:47pm
5 years ago I was introduced to the world of CBG's & guitars by a gentleman who has turned out to be a dear friend and mentor. I immediately gravitated toward Seasick Steve as one of my favorite artist & was inspired by his homemade gear. His Three String Trance Wonder really stood out for me while watching a video of Dog House Boogie. I have spent the last 3 years looking for a candidate to build a tribute to Steve's 3 string.My research led me to discover that the guitar he used was a 60's Japanese GLH small body, solid arch top, with 6 in line tuners on the headstock. Needless to say trying to find one on eBay, Craig's List, etc., was almost impossible.Needing the key elements of a solid arch top body & in line 6 tuners neck I discovered the 60's Kent 551 Americana (or as mine is marked 350) is about as close as you can get to Steve's 3 string. Mine came from a pawnshop, so it has a good pedigree.The Harmony Stella tail piece, Teisco steel bridge, and DeArmond Goldfoil pickup are all easily sourced. I made a custom bone nut to add a little more edge Vs the plastic nut that came with the Kent.Tuned to GGB with 49w, 28w & 18p, the axe makes an awesome tone and can produce wonderful feedback that resonates and shakes the hollow body, while also being easily controlled. A tone that could only be produced by a hollow body guitar and a vintage DeArmond pickup. The pickup has a strong ohm reading of over 11K, and the intonation is dead on.Enclosed are photos of the build that I hope you will enjoy as much as I had fun building this tribute.Youtube of Steve telling the story of how he bought the guitar.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhwHSnDdTA4
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Tags: Seasick, Steve
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  • the anonymous pick April 25, 2017 at 2:09pm

    and it begins http://swampwitchguitars.weebly.com/bluescifers-workbench.html

    old plastic bass coming up  next  .. (waitin on adaptor  jack  )  

  • the anonymous pick April 23, 2017 at 10:46pm

    A tease http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/new-at-swamp-witch-guitars

  • Blind Lemon Cello April 15, 2017 at 11:04pm

    Thanks Turtlehead! I'll try to post a video soon, this thing sounds awesome!!

  • the anonymous pick April 14, 2017 at 8:52am

    ill be starting off with weird  60's - 70s Russian / Ukraine  stuff  ..

     even a  hella cool plastic  bass  .  ;-)

  • Jerry Jordan April 14, 2017 at 8:35am

    Yes Pick.,.,wanna see that page.,.,I remember well the days of Teisco.,,.I still have a box full of Bobkat bodies n parts.,.,

  • Blind Lemon Cello April 14, 2017 at 8:12am

    Thanks Jerry! Post pics if you build that Strat.

    Cool idea Mr. Pick, look forward to your updates. 

  • Jerry Jordan April 14, 2017 at 7:50am

    great job and fine attention to detail.,.,inspires me to build a Yngwie Strat.,.,

  • the anonymous pick April 14, 2017 at 1:30am

    I think you are gonna love the new  page addition to  my site coming soon .. 

    "Bluescifers  workbench  .- 

    ".. Where rare, obscure,  vintage guitars past their prime  , are re-birthed and modded  into  1 , 2 , or 3 stringer  blues   machines .

    In most cases , the original  scratchy  or non-working guts are bypassed  and / or piggybacked with new swamp witch guts and pickups  ,  but the originals are left there to retain the beat up vintage look and charm .

    If you  want that authentic blues  sound you  hear  in movies  where the  old sheriff’s dusty boot  hits the  desert ground as he exits his 70’s era banged up  dusty cop car while taking off  his mirrored shades to look around , as the sound of a distant harmonica , a hawk screech,  and rattlesnake rattle   fade in,  while a rogue tumble weed rolls by , …   then this  is  it .   along with the barn find , beat to hell and back  look. What  else would you expect from Swamp witch guitars ?   That sound and look  , is what we do .

    Have a look around Bluescifer’s bench and see what’s  available  for you "

    WILL PROBABLY BE UP AND RUNNING WITHIN THE WEEK . 

    STARTING WITH 3  RARE   ODDBALL   VINTAGE FOREIGN GUITS   ;-)  ILL KEEP  YA  POSTED  ;-)

  • Blind Lemon Cello April 13, 2017 at 10:57pm

    Thanks Mr. Pick!! Was a lot of fun doing the research & build.

  • the anonymous pick April 13, 2017 at 7:14pm

    good stuff . nice tribute . 

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