. I didn't even know that size existed!Fast forward to the evening and the entertainment and we were up against stiff competition. The competition was a gaggle of beautiful young starlets all of whom were not only very talented but had big followings and a string of awards to their names. We are a group of overweight guys with three people we knew in attendance (there were around 500 people there that night). We gave up any hope of winning even before we left, happy in the thought that we might be offered gigs in and around Sydney if we performed well. At the end of the entertainment we were sitting back, half cut and sloppy when they read our name out as the winner. None of us could believe it. We were stunned.
Since the win I've been pondering what to get. I've looked into having a custom made guitar built (we met Allan Tomkins of Tomkins guitars at the show, a cunning move on his behalf!), a custom amplifier or a Gretsch Black Penguin. I had to leave those ideas when I received my tax bill - no return this year
- but I still had a bit left for toys. Which brings us to today. I have just picked up a used Jerry Jones Dolphin Nose guitar. For those unfamiliar with Jerry's work, he made (he retired recently) Danelectro style guitars to an exceedingly high standard in Nashville. When I first picked it up out of the case I knew I was going to buy it, it was one of those
moments. It doesn't feel at all flimsy like so many Danelectro's do. Its actually very solid feeling. The neck is a very comfortable C shape, the radius is flat - I'm guessing 10-12". It sounds great, and the pickups do not squeal even with fuzz set to stun. It is set up perfectly, a real credit to the guy I got it from. Incidentally he only used it to record an album - this thing is as 'as new' as it gets. The tuning machines are quality Gotoh units, as is the bridge. It even came with a G&G hardcase, albeit one slightly down-market from the one supplied with G&L's. The only thing I'll be changing is the strap buttons - they're those god-awful vintage style ones that let go of your strap just when you least expect it. I have a few G&L ones lying around and fit them as soon as I finish typing this. I will also add a pickup selector in place of one of the volume knobs - it currently has a volume for each pickup and a tone which, inexplicably, only works on the bridge. I'll change this to a master volume/tone, tele style. These are very minor grievances. Such is the quality of this guitar that I will be taking it with me on our epic weekend of shows - we play from 10pm-3am Fri/Sat, as well as Sat and Sun afternoon. It'll be trial by fire for this baby!
Without further ado, some picutres!
Look Darwin - a RED lined case!!!!!
There's an adjustable truss rod too - not featured on many Dano's. Quality Gotoh bridge....
which is a string through, rather than a top-loader like most Dano's
Gibson style jack - again, it's a high quality unit that really grabs onto the plug/jack. Bakelite style knobs
Classic headstock, I love the decal. Strangely not many 'boutique' builders have nice decals. Notice how straight the strings are to their tuning post.
And it matches my amp to a T! They actually come from the same shop in Melbourne.
