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Q: what do these two 1969 #Gibson #SG Standards have in common? (Other than the fact that I own the one on the right and I don’t own the one on the left!) A: when I took the picture on the left at The #TwelfthFret #guitarshop in #Toronto back in...

Q: what do these two 1969 #Gibson #SG Standards have in common? (Other than the fact that I own the one on the right and I don’t own the one on the left!)

A: when I took the picture on the left at The #TwelfthFret #guitarshop in #Toronto back in August 2014, I posted it here and said just how much I wanted a late ‘60s #SGStandard, and was so tempted to buy this one. Even though it was beatup, the price was right (around $3500 or $4000 CAD if I remember correctly…about half the price if an all original example in excellent condition).

This post waaay back in August 2014 prompted our mutual friend and guitar mentor @puisheen of @mmguitarbar
to message me. He said something along the lines of “DeeBeeUs™, you handsome devil you*, if you want a 1969 SG, I’m in the middle of restoring one…and it is going to be awesome. AND I’ll sell it to you for significantly less than the one in your photo…”

And the rest, as they say, is (#guitar) history!

#guitars #gibsonguitars #vintageguitars #vintagegibsons #mmguitarbar #mikeandmikesguitarbar
#seattle #wa #guitarcollection #guitarphotography

*I may be paraphrasing slightly here… 😂

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Jun 08, 2016

1969 Gibson SG Standard.  Restored my Mike 1 of mmguitarbar.  If you want one of these affordable vintage restored beauties, drop him a line…I understand he’s working on the restoration of an even more stunning ‘65 SG Standard as we speak!

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Jan 31, 2015

BRAWL

mmguitarbar:

Check out another track from “The Boy Who Couldn’t Grow Up”, a play about Scottish Author JM Barrie and the struggle between adulthood and persistent, childish flights of fancy.

At this point in the play, Barrie and Pan face off in a last bid for James to leave distraction behind. What begins as an epic battle becomes a tender moment, as peril becomes play, and man and myth discover that they aren’t so different after all.

Bowed guitar is one of my favorite sounds, and I’m thrilled to have been able to use that instrument for this score. Like a battle cry and then a low wail, that sound strikes true.

Speaking as someone who has just spent the last three days banging his head (up against a wall…and not in the cool “heavy metal” sense either!) with Pro Tools and getting NOTHING worth listening to out of it…this sounds incredible!  Maybe Mike should look into being a full-time atmospheric music recording artist…??

(via mmguitarbar)

mmguitarbar mike and mike seattle original music score theatre the boy who couldn't grow up

Nov 13, 2014

mmguitarbar:

And another, albeit overly-clipped, version of “Buddy Holly”, taken from the same night. Audio quality may not be the best, but the fun of it comes through with ease. And note that I absolutely murderize that solo!

Video credit goes to the light-and-hoppy Mark Mohrlang

Here’s a rare opportunity to see BOTH Mikes in Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, and their musical project dubbed “WeezerQuest” - a tribute to the band on the 20th anniversary of their first album release.

The idea was to do a Weezer tribute using the exact same gear (guitars, pedals, amps, cabinets…you name it!), used by the band during that era.

I spent many weeks enjoying Mike’s Instagram and Tumblr posts as the band scoured the country and beyond for exact (or near exact) examples of actual Weezer-correct instruments and amplifiers etc.  When they could not find a part or an instrument they either fabricated a replica or appropriated and modified similar parts.  The attention to detail was epic, and proves once and for all that having too much time on one’s hands can actually be a good thing!  :D  

WeezerQuest culminated a a couple of weeks ago with a performance in Seattle.    (see video)

The best part, short of seeing it all come together live that is, was the name they choose for the group:  "My Name Is Jonas Brothers"  Sheer brilliance.

(also…I REALLY want that 60s Melody Maker SG!)

mmguitarbar mike other mike weezerquest weezer tribute buddy holly seattle fun guitars

Jun 02, 2014

See folks?  This is why it’s good to know people!  Especially qualified and talented guitar techs!

A short time ago the B string on my 1961 Les Paul Junior started buzzing like crazy.  Regardless of which fret I played…and even when the string was played open…the buzzing was just awful!  It sounded - no exaggeration - like a sitar!  All the way up the neck…

I checked the neck relief -  it was fine.  I checked the neck for straightness…no issues.  I raised the action.  No result.  The nut looked ok too.  And the fets were also good.  

So WTF was going on?  It was only the B string, and it was so bad I could no longer enjoy playing the guitar at all.

As a last resort (or more accurately…as a last resort before spending any money!) I asked my friend Mike (of Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar in Seattle, WA) for advice.

Mike immediately pointed me in a direction I had not considered:  the saddle.  See, I had replaced the stock “lightning bolt” compensated bridge with a newfangled one from Allparts compensated for a plain G (the stock bridge is compensated for a wound G).  I never, in a million years, would think a brand new bridge could be the source of the problem…so I didn’t even look at it!   

When Mike replied with “it’s gotta be your bridge” I took a closer look at it and found something fascinating.  Something, as a relative newcomer to wrap-around tailpieces, that I have never encountered before.  The winding around the ball end of the string was way longer on the offending string than on the other strings.  So long, in fact, that it rode most of the way up the wrap-around bridge…almost all the way to the saddle (see photo #5… compare the windings around the B to the high E and G…see what I mean?).  This was causing the string to make a couple of different contacts with the bridge/saddle….exactly what Mike said to look for!

So, what was the solution?  A new B string.  That’s it.  As soon I as I installed one, the sitar-like annoying buzz disappeared completely.  Thank you Mike!

Whenever I get technical “asks” above my capabilities (and most of them are!) I direct people to Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar for expert advice.   Mike is extremely knowledgeable…and never seems to mind sharing his knowledge.  He is good people, my friends.  If you have not already done so, please check out his Tumblr, and give him a follow.  Or better yet, visit his eBay store and buy a little something for yourself…or a loved one!

Thanks again, MIke! 

http://mmguitarbar.tumblr.com/

http://stores.ebay.com/mikeandmikesguitarbar

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Nov 03, 2013

So I have never really liked the action on my upside down lefty American Standard Strat.  But the saddles were almost as low as they could go…and and the neck had virtually no relief, but STILL the action was too high.  

And then I remembered something I read on the M&M Guitar Bar blog (if you don’t already follow them, I highly recommend you do…they are experts in the guitar field and have taught me a TON of stuff!) about shimming the neck pocket which tilts the neck back ever so slightly to improve the string height.   So I thought I would give it a try!

Long story short: it worked VERY well!  The action is now extremely low…I might even have to raise the saddles slightly!

Oh also: only AFTER I took of the neck did I remember that most, if not all Strats since the 70s have a little screw you can access through the neck plate which pushes up on the back of the neck - basically doing the same thing as a shim but with no need to remove the neck!  This was called the “Micro-Tilt” system and it was one of the last things Leo Fender designed before leaving the company.  I can never remember the name “Micro-Tilt” though.  I always call it the “Tilt-A-Whirl”…

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Jun 15, 2013

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