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Seasick Steve Tribute

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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Comment by the anonymous pick on April 25, 2017 at 7:09am: and it begins http://swampwitchguitars.weebly.com/bluescifers-workbench.html

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

Comment by the anonymous pick on April 23, 2017 at 3:46pm: A tease http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/new-at-swamp-witch-guitars

Comment by Blind Lemon Cello on April 15, 2017 at 4:04pm: Thanks Turtlehead! I'll try to post a video soon, this thing sounds awesome!!

Comment by turtlehead on April 15, 2017 at 1:04pm: This is extremely cool and well done.

Comment by the anonymous pick on April 14, 2017 at 1:52am: ill be starting off with weird 60's - 70s Russian / Ukraine stuff ..

even a hella cool plastic bass . ;-)

Comment by Jerry Jordan on April 14, 2017 at 1:35am: Yes Pick.,.,wanna see that page.,.,I remember well the days of Teisco.,,.I still have a box full of Bobkat bodies n parts.,.,

Comment by Blind Lemon Cello on April 14, 2017 at 1:12am: Thanks Jerry! Post pics if you build that Strat.

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

Comment by Jerry Jordan on April 14, 2017 at 12:50am: great job and fine attention to detail.,.,inspires me to build a Yngwie Strat.,.,

Comment by the anonymous pick on April 13, 2017 at 6:30pm: 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 ;-)