NYNGD: New Year's New Guitar Days! NYNGD #2020-6

Thanks for the kind words and comments on yesterday’s NYNGD #2020-5!

OK, let’s have some fun. Today’s guitar is the brainchild of fellow Knucklehead Tollie. I bought it from Bryan when he listed it for sale earlier this year.

It’s an Albert Lee BFR with an amazing Pinkburst Quilt finish. But Tollie took it up about 16 notches when he removed the white pearliod SSS pickguard and replaced it with a clear pickguard to show off the amazing top. But he didn’t stop there — he also routed the bridge position to add a humbucker and convert to a HSS format. But he didn’t stop there — then he replaced the neck single coil with a Sustainiac pickup. The Sustainiac then required a switch to activate the sustainer and switch modes, so Tollie added a second 5-way blade switch — position 4 turns on the sustainer and position 2 switches it to harmonic/feedback mode. Of course, if you’re crazy enough to do all this, you should probably pick some wacky pickup colors, too.

What’s interesting about this guitar is that the clear pickguard exposes all the guts — wires, Sustainiac circuit board, knobs, switches, routes… they’re all on display. I considered (but as usual didn’t have time to do it) taking a high-res photo of the left side of the top, flipping that, and printing a high-res color print on glossy photo stock and then gluing that on the underside of the pickguard. I think it would transform the guitar and give it a rear-loaded look (without the big electronics cavity on view). What do you think? Should I try it? Should I switch pickup colors while I’m at it (remembering that the Sustainiac is only offered in white and black)? I am up for suggestions here — in the comments below!

This guitar is interesting because sonically it’s a little bit dark. I wonder if a capacitor and/or tone knob would brighten it up a little. Also up for thoughts on this, too. It’s not BAD, but a little bassier than I would like.

Anyway, there’s a fun and gorgeous guitar for your viewing pleasure!

I’ll be back tomorrow-ish with another NYNGD: New Year’s New Guitar Day! Thanks for looking everyone!

Past Days:
#2020-1 | #2020-2 | #2020-3 | #2020-4 | #2020-5 | #2020-6
#2019-1 | #2019-2 | #2019-3 | #2019-4 | #2019-5 | #2019-6 | #2019-7 | #2019-8 | #2019-9 | #2019-10 | #2019-11 | #2019-12 | #2019-13 | #2018-14 | #2018-15 | #2018-18 | #2018-19
#2018-1 | #2018-2 | #2018-3 | #2018-4 | #2018-5 | #2018-6 | #2018-7 | #2018-8 | #2018-9 | #2018-10 | #2018-11 | #2018-12 | #2018-13 | #2018-14 | #2018-15 | #2018-16 | #2018-17
#2017-1 | #2017-2 | #2017-3 | #2017-4 | #2017-5 | #2017-6 | #2017-7 | #2017-8 | #2017-9 | #2017-10 | #2017-11 | #2017-12 | #2017-13 | #2017-14 | #2017-15 | #2017-16 | #2017-17
#2016-1 | #2016-2 | #2016-3 | #2016-4 | #2016-5 | #2016-6 | #2016-7 | #2016-8 | #2016-9 | #2016-10 | #2016-11 | #2016-12 | #2016-13 | #2016-14 | #2016-15 | #2016-16 | #2016-17
#2015-1 | #2015-2 | #2015-3 | #2015-4 | #2015-5 | #2015-6 | #2015-7 | #2015-8 | #2015-9 | #2015-10 | #2015-11 | #2015-12 | #2015-13 | #2015-14 | #2015-15 | #2015-16 | #2015-17
#2014-1 | #2014-2 | #2014-3 | #2014-4 | #2014-5 | #2014-6 | #2014-7 | #2014-8 | #2014-9 | #2014-10
#2013-1 | #2013-2 | #2013-3 | #2013-4 | #2013-5 | #2013-6
#2012-1 | #2012-2 | #2012-3 | #2012-4 | #2012-5 | #2012-6 | #2012-7

(The back story in case you’re new to my NYNGD: For the past couple of years I’ve done a fun thing that most of you I think enjoyed, and I thought I would do it again this year. Every year, I am a slacker about keeping my Guitar Gallery up to date… So, as a fun holiday thing, let’s launch a guitar in the Guitar Gallery each day leading up to New Years Eve! In the past I’ve received PM’s about my collection and whether I play all of these guitars. 🙂 The same question came up during my NYNGD posts a few years ago and my answer was pretty detailed and well thought-out, so please check it out here!)

(Also, in case anybody gets any funny ideas — these guitars are not at my house. They are all in my very secure and alarmed studio facility. I usually only have two guitars floating around the house…)