CONTENTS: Rock bands, instrument building and the tools thereof. AUTHOR: Jon Taylor is in Mercy Rule and builds guitars.Tumblr (3.0; @6l6gc)http://6l6gc.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9suh10wEa1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9suh10wEa1qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9suh10wEa1qafqfro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Lincoln Calling 2010:</p> <p>The Photo Atlas / Duffy’s Tavern</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/1247211095http://6l6gc.com/post/1247211095Mon, 04 Oct 2010 23:16:12 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9fttwGJyB1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9fttwGJyB1qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Jazz style bass made from Warmoth parts.  Flame maple cap on an ash body with a flame maple neck.  I told the client that this instrument is a “factory second” because of the two blemishes he had me install in it—master volume and stereo balance controls.</p> <p>Just a set up away from rocking.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/1202571838http://6l6gc.com/post/1202571838Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:33:52 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5s6lbn5hk1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> Mezcal Brothers<br/><br/> <img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5s6lbn5hk1qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5s6lbn5hk1qafqfro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>The 2010 Soapbox Riot started on the blazing asphalt at Seymour Smith Park and ended in the sweaty, loud confines of O’Leavers Pub Saturday.  Speed! CEO Gary Davis won the derby, beating last year’s champ, Jon Taylor, in a best of three final showdown.  </p> <p>That night, six Speed! Nebraska bands competed to see who could finish their set in exactly 30 minutes.  Techlepathy, Ideal Cleaners and Mercy Rule rounded out the top three.  </p>http://6l6gc.com/post/829908829http://6l6gc.com/post/829908829Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:26:08 -0500<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5ks0aKqiP1qafqfro1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://lazy-i.com/2010/07/column-279-lincoln-invasion-recap-benson-hostel-benefit-tonight-now-open-til-2-a-m/">Lazy I</a> covers Lincoln Invasion Dos.  It’s nice that Tim still likes MR.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/813117387http://6l6gc.com/post/813117387Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:26:34 -0500<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5ejtnVDP01qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> Masses<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5ejtnVDP01qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> Once a Pawn<br/><br/> <p>The second Lincoln Invasion blasted through Omaha on Saturday.  24 bands at six clubs along Maple Street.  </p>http://6l6gc.com/post/798305832http://6l6gc.com/post/798305832Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:44:49 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4r6vo1iA51qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4r6vo1iA51qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4r6vo1iA51qafqfro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4r6vo1iA51qafqfro6_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Derby car preparations are 99% complete.  I do my best paint jobs in the driveway.</p> <p>Instrument building progressing as well.  Although Gibson discontinued my favorite pickup, the P-100, Mr. Thornton demanded one for his project.  Got lucky and found a new one on Ebay.  </p>http://6l6gc.com/post/747830251http://6l6gc.com/post/747830251Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:10:41 -0500<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l44mrvOc8L1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l44mrvOc8L1qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> Photo by Kevin Jones<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l44mrvOc8L1qafqfro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Racing season is here.  I have a title to protect.  </p> <p>I’m running a new car and a new plan: Roll faster and bleed less. </p>http://6l6gc.com/post/705712197http://6l6gc.com/post/705712197Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:43:37 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2w40rMKSs1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><em>Everything</em> should be this color.</p> <p>Making progress on the Superjazz Bass project.  </p>http://6l6gc.com/post/625940304http://6l6gc.com/post/625940304Sun, 23 May 2010 15:38:51 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2um5sXBTT1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2um5sXBTT1qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>I think I missed this show.  Being on the road is the only excuse I can think of.</p> <p>Ron did two versions.  Circa 1995.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/623509466http://6l6gc.com/post/623509466Sat, 22 May 2010 20:16:26 -0500<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2h4saMgP01qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Anybody got a giant Q-Tip?</p> <p>Human ear model courtesy of the Lincoln Public Schools auction.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/601464600http://6l6gc.com/post/601464600Sat, 15 May 2010 13:31:22 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2aiiujCAE1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Heidi / 1990s</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/598083853http://6l6gc.com/post/598083853Fri, 14 May 2010 08:13:59 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2aiawvwGR1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Wrath of Heidi.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/595135222http://6l6gc.com/post/595135222Thu, 13 May 2010 07:37:20 -0500<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2agrfginU1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Heidi week continues.</p> <p>Heidi / Stebbs / Cedar Falls / 1990s</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/592443968http://6l6gc.com/post/592443968Wed, 12 May 2010 08:37:35 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2991noo3e1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I married Heidi 24 years ago today.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/589448096http://6l6gc.com/post/589448096Tue, 11 May 2010 07:22:35 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1z0en1pVA1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1z0en1pVA1qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1z0en1pVA1qafqfro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1z0en1pVA1qafqfro4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1z0en1pVA1qafqfro7_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1z0en1pVA1qafqfro8_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>“The Collected Works Of Fender” was the title of the 1976 edition of their catalog.  Although new products like the Starcaster and the 180 watt Super Twin amp were noteworthy, the fairy tale-themed art is really what stands out.  </p> <p>Stories such as Alice in Wonderland, Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and more are featured in eloborately detailed art—but with Fender products prominently displayed in the hands of the fabled characters.</p> <p>Better yet are the split pages that let you use the “Mate Your Fenders” guide on the back to see how the guitars and amps look together.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/575179465http://6l6gc.com/post/575179465Wed, 05 May 2010 22:35:00 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1pxmdwXIr1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1pxmdwXIr1qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1pxmdwXIr1qafqfro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>We reassembled Mr. Thornton’s Ebay-sourced <a href="http://www.peavey.com/support/searchmanuals/archived.cfm?page=R">Roadmaster</a> after a trip to the amp doctor for a checkup.  This early to mid-80’s head is a two channel, all tube 160 watt behemoth that features a top-mount fan to cool its six 6L6GC power tubes and six preamp tubes.  It also has three handles on top because it is kind of heavy.</p> <p>Along with the <a href="http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/list/cat/89/begin/1/CSSeries.cfm">CS power amps</a>, it is the best thing Peavey ever made.</p> <p>I’ve had my Roadmaster since the early-90s and would describe the sound pressure levels it attains as “nauseatingly glorious”.  Obviously, since it is a rare occurrence to have two plugged in at the same time, we chained them together and tried to analyze what we were doing to our ears.  </p> <p>What?</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/562156112http://6l6gc.com/post/562156112Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:06:28 -0500<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1lpf92O111qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1lpf92O111qafqfro2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1lpf92O111qafqfro3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1lpf92O111qafqfro4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1lpf92O111qafqfro5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1lpf92O111qafqfro6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>I think Mercy Rule spent more time designing and screening t-shirts than we did working on songs.  Prior to tours, the whole house would be covered in shirts waiting for ink to dry.  We usually did two-color fronts with one-color backs, so 100 shirts took <em>forever</em>.</p> <p>One of our best ideas was to screen a t-shirt/merch “menu board” so we didn’t have to use half a roll of duct tape every show to display all the goods.  </p> <p>The next best idea (finally) was to have other people screen shirts for us.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/556458807http://6l6gc.com/post/556458807Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:15:18 -0500<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l18m0iIsRv1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Fender was on the right track in 1972.  A one-pickup guitar and all-tube amp combo.  I made my own version of the Bronco out of a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12083813@N08/2683815944/">Musicmaster</a> back in the 80s.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/538638132http://6l6gc.com/post/538638132Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:31:30 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0w2zsgDGf1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0w2zsgDGf1qafqfro2_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0w2zsgDGf1qafqfro3_400.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>I always thought it was cool that after Leo Fender died in 1991, <a href="http://www.glguitars.com/about-GL/index2.asp">G&L Guitars</a> turned his office and workbench into a museum—leaving it untouched—right down to the bottle of mouthwash on a shelf.  </p> <p>For those of you unfamiliar with shop rules—you don’t mess with a guy’s bench—whether he’s dead or alive.  I love photos of people’s workspaces.  Here’s mine at the organ factory and at home.  The basement bench turns into a trainwreck daily because it serves as a repair station for guitars, hockey skates, toys, lamps, drums, bikes……</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/521822942http://6l6gc.com/post/521822942Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:13:00 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l09amsgzkM1qafqfro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Omni Arms / Duffy’s Tavern / Lincoln, NE / March 2010</p> <p>Digital overload with matching shirts and a robot dancer.</p>http://6l6gc.com/post/491344373http://6l6gc.com/post/491344373Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:49:40 -0500