Bare Knuckles in most of my ax's n help re-create a career and a new sound.....

[L.A.M.F.]

8)

TIM and CO......

Over the past few years I noticed the calls for my use as a a hired gun  has increased 10 fold.....BUT WHY?

 After a very successfull career in the 70-late 80's as a Frontman/lead guitarist came to an end as I watched my friends like Johnny Thunders, Willy Deville,The Gun Club, The Cramps and The Lords of The New Church either fall apart of die as  did my career.
 With the passing of my closest friend Johnny Thunder's having just reached it;s 21 year this past Monday I could not help but wonder why I was still around.
As I sat at Johnny's grave on a rainy Sunday last week the stress of being a musician finally got to me.
I was there singing a song we wrote together on my 1932 National Duolian ( ya can;t put your arms around a memory) I was approached by some fans who I THOUGHT were there to pay their respect till I noticed the hammer n chisel. bar-stewards were there to chip away a piece of his family head stone as they had chipped away at us as if we were some object and not real people.
This threw me into a rage causing me to hit the guy filming me with his camera and smashing his camera. :shock:
Forgetting that's part of the game and not realizing though vandilism was their intent it was JOHN who they to missed.

Still in my fit of rage I was lucky to not get arrested and I stormed off in the rain which hid my tears, only to end up suffereing a massive heart attack that night and now just being discharged from the hospital only to have to return THIS Monday for surgery due to Medicare rules.

Apparently the reality of IT BEING OVER OR AT LEAST COMING TO AN END was more than I could take and with a bad heart and 9 heart surgeries under my belt in the past 3 years I had MET the Widow Maker and survived.

While laying in the hospital a nurse who knew me from when we played clubs in New Jerssey and NYC saw me n came in to talk to me....
She was rather compassionate and understanding n saw the pain of a bluesman whose blues got  to heavy for me to carry  on much more.
She talked to me as I lay there with coumadin ( a heavy duty blood thinner) being pumped into my body in hopes of it loosening the clots in my coratid arteries,  and the arerties I thought were n perfect shape after open heart surgery last year.
The Doctor came in telling me the news of what happened and reminding me I had just beat the WIDOW MAKER.

How could this be I had a full quad by-pass last january and for the first time in years things were looking up.
With an offer to do a tribute album for WILLY DEVILLE who passed away last August with such NYC greats as
Tom Verlaine, Chris Stein , Ivan Kraul. Walter Lure, Patti Smith and Debbie Harry all into doing this album it seemed this has been  the project that just might allow me to make a comeback...
This time playing BLUES
Having perfected my slide playing over the past few years, working on an cut here n there as a hired gun I was gaining noteriety again but this time as a producer n hired gun vs a lead  guitarist/frontman I was known for.

I am sure you're wondering by now what is Gods name is this moron talking about?
Well  after the closing of CBGB:S and the Bowery being turned into a SOHO of sorts on the Bowery in NYC it seemed that those of us who helped change the NYC rock scene in the 70;s were actually being remembered and our songs were beginning to show up on records of the new bands.

Determined to show those who helped me achieve my minor success in the 70-80's that they had made a mistake of moving on and forgetting those of us who gave it all , some our lives in the name of ROCK N ROLL.
In the past 25 years I began to create a new sound of my own which proved good enough to get hired quite often as a hired gun or producer n the now n then Special Guest at a show or two.

At the tribuute for LES PAUL at the Irridium  MC by Jeff Beck I ran into Joe Perry who had I had worked with on his first solo album  and was asked if I would want to play on his new solo album.
Again at the closing of CGBG;s being asked for my autograph had awakened me to the fact that I had done something right and I WANTED BACK IN.

I knew though if I was gonna make it again.....
I needed something special.... my own signature sound.
No longer would the screams of my LES PAUL and LP JR be enough I needed to create my own sound that people would not say HEY YOU SOUNDS LIKE JOHNNY THUNDERS,or any of the bands I had played in.

This started by building a STRAT that sounded unlike any other Strat...
We started out with a ZEBRA WOOD BODY and EBONY NECK,  and  all the best harware possible to make this a Strat that people would remember.
I approached Tim through a friend living in the UK with a tape of how I wanted this ax to sound so we started out with a set of APACHE;s but not your standard Apache;s
I changed the magnets to a warmer Alnico 2 magnet, wanted them under wound and with some of Tim;s ideas this ax turned out to make my 57 strat sounds like a $99 Squire.
Next up was my LES PAUL FLORENTINE..starting out with Vintage Hot 2's I immediatley changed the magnets to ALNICO 2, wanted them un potted and calibrated but not quite as hot as 8.9 output but not as sublte as the
Peter Green;s
The results were fantastic....
We were on a roll so I asked Tim to make me a Mississippie Queen  for my LES PAUL BFG Silver Burst but again with my own mods we used again the ALNICO 2 magnets, potted them slightly underwound ,a change from 500V/500 T pots to a 300/300 and chaning the caps to .047 and the addition of a Varitone switch I had a LES PAUL BFG even LES himself would have been pto own....
I was slowly developing or re-developing my own signature sound....and it was working,
I was geting more n more offers to make cameo appearances on albums including a cut by the BLACK KEY's
( Girl on my mind")

We put a set of COUNTRY BOYS basically stock but a bit hotter than normal into a ROSEWOOD TELE and by lowering the value of the pots took away that TWANG n BRITENESS and replacedi t with this HAUNTED SOUND I had found by de-tuning 1/2 a step, using 12's instead of 10's DR Pure Blues Strings and threw away the pic and began to use my fingers as the LATE HUBERT SUMLIN did when he dropped his pic at Chess records 50 years ago while recording with Muddy Waters for awhile before THE WOLF let MUDDY know who HUBERT belonged to and literally beat his azzzzz....
 
I had run into Hubert at a Buddy Guy show back stage as he was working on a Tribute album for the one n only HOWLIN WOLF....
He too was inmpressed with the versatiltiy of my latest BARE KNUCKLE equipped arsenal and asked me to play on a couple cuts....WOW I was honored .
One of my hero;s wanted me to perform on an album of one of my biggest influences, but it was not to be as Hubert had to make a living so the recording was  being done as  time permitted between gigs for him and the songs were coming out so great I hope the record company takes the 12 tracks we did and finishes it with some one like Buddy Guy taking the lead and finishing off the final 5 tracks after Hubert untimey passig. At first this seemedas if it would not happen especially after Huberts passed on just recently until I was back stage at the Apollo for the
HOWLIN FOR  a month or so ago show and saw all the greats like KEITH RICHARDS, ERIC CLAPTON, JEFF BECK ,
BB KING< BUDDY GUY, DEREK TRUCKS< WARREN HAYNES and many more..... it was the first time in a LONG time I was star struck as I saw more of those who influenced me all in one place at the same time.
I was in BLUES HEAVEN.....or BLUES HELL

Those who showed up could not offer there time fast enough and though I may not be on the final 5 tracks I can assure you this will be on CD;DVD you'll want to own.
They recorded both video and audio at the APOLLO to make a DVD/CD and will use the tracks we did along with now 10 more song with these greats doing the work as I sat on the side amazed and in awe of the talent they posessed.

So next up was a 62 ES-335......
I had a set of 58  PAF;s but wanted them in my 58 original that someone had changed the pups years ago to DUNCAN;s in a BAD ATTEMPT to re-create JIMMY PAGES SOUND and had pretty much ruined this as a true early humbucker equipped ax and I got together all original parts  that were no longer in the guitar and used this set of coveted PAF's I came across in a CORT 335 copy I had picked up for $350.00 on EBAY from and unknowing seller.!!!!

Today that Lemon burst NORMALLY RELIC'D ax was back to as close to original that it would ever be and it rewarded me with tone from heaven !!!!!
I wondered who did these pups originally belong to and did there MOJO find its way into my hands for it seemed I was now playing stuff normaly I would not play.

I had wanted to put em into a  62 ES335, but once we had them dated by Gibson as true 58;s well they had to go into the 58 that was now filled with 57 classic;s....
Being original once again this ax has rewared me with some of the kindest compliments from some colleagues, the best coming from Warren Haynes asking to use it on a track he is doing for the Hubert album.

Soon the phone began to ring more n more n my time was becoming limited and the feeling of being back in the game was a high I'll not soon forget.
It was now time to tackle the 62 ES-35..... I wanted the BEST sound possible.... so once again Tim n I put our heads together and came up with a set of MULES that not only looked like the real deal but could fool the best of collectors and players.
We started with a set of MULES..... not sure how I wanted them to look I had the neck done with DBL relic whites and the bridge with reverse Zebra;s as the original pups were.
But before I would go with that look n sound I wanted to hear em as they came from the factory and had the relic'd nickle cover put on this set, Alnico 3 vs 4 magents and a bit hotter than what STOCK MULES were....
Why I had to change somethign a ittle bit I have no idea it was just intuition and the desire to NOT sound like anyone else.
This 50 year old beauty in black was about to be brought back to life and have a style all of it's own.....
Unwilling to pay $8 grand for a set of 62 PAF:S I knew TIM would make me a set that would not only work but possiblly be even better.
I came up with an original wiring harness for a 345 off ebay with caps, pots and a working varitone switch all in perfect condition.
I was concerned that the paper caps with oil would be dried out but they were FINE and having a .040 value it opened up a new work in tone compared to a 57 classic with that cr@ppy ceramic disc cap.

For those of you who have worked on a 335 I still do not understand how they could put a control cavity on the cheaper ES-333 yet make working on the more expensive 345 and 335's a challenge to put it mildly.....

After about two hours of fishing wires though the f-holes, replacing the nut with a new Bone one cut to fit the 12DR PURE BLUES strings I was using,  a Wilkinson roller bridge, since this ax came factory equipped with a bigsby and finally I had a use for that CUSTOM MADE PLAQUE I had been holding onto since 48th St. Guitars closed and I bought that there for a mere 5 bucks !!!!

As my buddy finished up by lubing the tuners n graphiting the roller bridge I was to busy plugging in my ORIGINAL 1957 Tweed Deluxe amp.....
Next I heard it being intonated through a Fender Frontman 15 R and it sounded good through an amp I would not pick up out of the garbage !!!!!!
I had a chubby awaiting to hear this 62 come back to life.... as my friend handed it to me and I quickly went into BOOM BOOM a John Leee Hooker then found my way to a Buddy Guy MISS IDA B and then of course Hendrix version of CASTLES IN THE SAND.....
My GOD the heavens had opened up and released a tone upon us both that GOD himself had to have a smile :lol:.

I know I could have put this down in three paragraphs but then would it have kept your attention?
Would it have shown you the dedication Tim and his men have in making the BEST pic ups available?????

So basically I had to do this as I did so you all could hear how I went from being KINMAN man to now all
BARE KNUCKLE:S
Some say YOU spent WHAT???
To them I say You spent what in a TELE and wonder why it sounds cheap>>????

Sure BARE KNUCKLES are not cheap.... but they are cheaper than buying a set of PAF:s and they CERTAINLY sound better than what 99% if LES PAUL players put into there ax;s either a 59er and a JB or maybe the go WILD n get a st of PRO BURST BUCKERS with 4 wires set up n do the Jimmy Page set up on em but if you ain't Jimmy Page n know what to do with those push pull pots why BOTHER?????

Plus there already is a Jimmy Page and he is gonna be pretty hard to try n sound better than he did so why not create your own signature sound n perfect it...'

TO me it is the highest compliment when someone tells me man I love your sound...it is so DARK and haunted how do ya do it.....
I just smile n say well I'll tell ya this... ya need a get a set of BARE KNUCKLE PUPS to start with and then you need to read about 20 books explaining what does what to your tone n then it really is HIT OR MISS.....

The way I see it at age 58+ thanks to TIM my phone is ringing again and this time I am not eating Peanut Butter N jelly n willing to play 4 sets for 100 bucks.

After a successfull career touring n ejoying all the percs that come with being a known ROCK N ROLLER in NYC what ever I am doing no one else sounds as I do for now ....
I am now getting to play with LOU REED, JOE PERRY and other well known musicians due to the fact that they know
I am gonna bring a tone to the song that no one else can or will.....
It is like I was re-born !!!

SO I would like to THANK TIM AND HIS BOYS IN THE SHOP for there never ending dedicaton to making the Customer happy.
When asked I do NOT disclsoe everything I do to get that HAUNTED style I have on my guitar but I can tell ya this FIRST THING YA NEED TO DO IS CALL TIM AT BARE KNUCKLES AND EXPLAIN TO HIM WHAT YA WANT.....be willing to spend a few bucks....but when was the last time BUDDY GUY said to you man your ax sounds UN-FREAKING BELIEVABLE?????

Now ya got the idea....... so thanks Tim, thanks everyone involved.......
You're pups have re-lit the fire that was my career and the best part is this time I do NOT need the money to live on so I don't care if people like what I am doing and can actually pick n choose whom I wanna play with.

ALL BECAUSE OF A COMPANY NAMED BARE KNUCKLES.....

WITH MOST SINCERE THANKS 8

LAMF
 8)

[Telerocker]

Hi and welcome! Wow, this reads like a filmscript. It's great you've found the spirit again (I have Mules and know what you're saying) and I wish you all the best on stage and in your further career.

[AndyR]

Mighty story, really enjoyed it :D

One thing though, not in any way to detract from the tribute you're paying to Tim & Co. As I was reading, it was crying out to me that none of this would've worked out if you didn't have the music in you in the first place... (I'm fairly certain that Tim and the guys would say the same thing :D).

Welcome (or is it welcome back?). Great read, keep on rocking  8)

[Kiichi]

Welcome back once more James. (I assume it is you^^)

Thanks for the read. You insprired me on many occasions but this one takes the cake (also the cake for the longest post on this forum ever).

I wish you all the best, you deserve it.
And thanks for all the past advice, I really did appreciate it a lot.

[L.A.M.F.]

Sorry if it seemed as if I was droneing on.
Yes it is I JAMES and I am glad I was able to give you some help before.

I guess I am just so dang excited that my career resurrected itself this time with even more respect and much less sweat !!

I had to make the post read as it did so the message hopefully would get to TIM.
I believe is showing thanks wwhen they are due.

I am enjoying the on again off again time...and with my health problems it makes it easier for me to make it to the planned appoinments I have.

It's beena rough 3 years beween losingmy dad, having open heart surgery and then losing my Mom.
SO now I truely know the blues and how much that emotion can effect what come out of your ax !!!

THOUGH I DID THE PLAYING A LOT OF THE THANKS DESERVE TO GO TO TIM AND COMPANY !!!

Well time for another bag of coumadin..... soon I will face my fate on the operating table and though worried I know should the worst happen.. I will be remembered though I'm sure no-oneis gonna re-name 2nd St for me as they did for Joey Ramone !!!! lol
I have always enjoyed this forum though felt as an iintruder being from NYC it seemed as if ome felt as if I did not belong so I left....

Well now I am determined to keep on RNROLLING and playing the blues.

I am may be getting old and tired but it seems the BEST BLUES come from those with the most blues and emotion inside em and right now I am filled with it....no pun intended.

Thanks and sorry for the loooooonggg initial post.....but it was a set up for the real sotory....
BARE KNUCKLES DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!

Cheers,
James

Below since most of you guys reside on THAT sideof the pond, here is a clipmade by a good friend who lives thern grew up in RUMFORD....
It apparently has about 25K hits and is getting great reviews.....

I hope you guys get it, that accent is still hard for me to get.... be a NEW YAWKER n all

It was postedon my forum where I moderate by his brother.... enjoy and tahnks for your kind words.

Here is a clip of my Brother with a song he put together. It is a clip that would mean more to someone from Southern England as it is about the town that he and I were both born in-namely Romford in Essex. It is to the north east of London- about 15 miles as the crow flies. The people there were/are Londoners who have moved out for a better life but are still close enough to work in London. In the 1950's and 1960's it expanded and became a commuter town and I grew up there. My parents were both originally from East London and what you would call c--kneys. He has also mentioned Hornchurch "airdrome" which was an RAF sector station in WW2.During the Battle of Britain, things got pretty hot for a while and both of my parents had vivid memories of those times. There are a lot of in-jokes that might not travel across the Atlantic but the thing is with him is that he is a natural actor. He has used a number of different characters. It has reached 6000 hits in 4 days or so. The previous version achieved 1200 in 2 years. All he did was to remix the audio and add a few little tweaks.

My brother is one of the nicest guys you could meet-he is very funny and an extremely versatile and talented musician ( he plays bass and guitar on this track -though in fairness the clever stuff is a guitarist called Mike Baker who is a superb player). He is also quite a well known photographer and has some high level clients. This is all an act and is intended to amuse. It'll be interesting to see what you guys make of it.
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYyxd...nwpp7PRlBbEXU=

[L.A.M.F.]

Mighty story, really enjoyed it :D

One thing though, not in any way to detract from the tribute you're paying to Tim & Co. As I was reading, it was crying out to me that none of this would've worked out if you didn't have the music in you in the first place... (I'm fairly certain that Tim and the guys would say the same thing :D).

Welcome (or is it welcome back?). Great read, keep on rocking  8)

Never looked at it that way, with my friend Johnny Thunders passing 21 years ago last week and Willy Deville;s coming up along with some personal tragedy I did have ahead full of THE BLUES>

What these pups did  was allow me to HEAR and manipulate the string to get new tones....new tones means new ideas.
We did a version of LONESOMETOWN... and THE NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE DONE.
By de-tuning 1/2 step and a fuzz pedaln  wah and slight tremelo with Bigsby I found that DARKNESS that was in my lyrics and in my head yet to hard to produce...until now.

After doing 17 albums total some mine and some others I kind of ran dry.... the problem was I did not want to get into that REAL DARK are of my life that HURT....
It is that hurt that makes a BLUES song.... now with the right tone and using ax;s I never used before or in the manner I am using em now with also after 40 + years dropping the pic and using my fingers, lowering my pups raising my action and going from 10;s to 12;s it;s like I got new ax;s and a new amp...if ther is a BETTER amp than a FENDER DELUXE REVERB !!!!

Thanks for reminding me.. it is still me, just talking through my guitar.
I just wanted TIM n the guys to know what an impact there pups had on my guitars n me...THANKS ANDY !!!!

Sorry for making it so long but it seems like this 57 yo man is 25 again except for my heart!!!!!
I have more new riffs n lyrics inmy head than I have for 20 years.

Cheers

LAMF

[AndyR]

:D