My Dad and Me

Recently I was asked to participate in Disco Freq’s Effects Database builder’s interview. Lots of great pedal builders are included here and GtrWrks is happy to be among them. Like I always tell folks – there are many, many great effects (and everything else!) products to choose from these days. Interviews with many talented builders are included on Bart Provoost’s site and I encourage you to check them out.

At one point in my interview, I made a misstep in stating that “Every circuit, every pedal, every everything (save for some shipping duties, which my wife often helps with) is done by me.” The intent of this statement was to demonstrate that I build & test every pedal – 100%. And that is true. But what I should have pointed out is that my father, John W. Lynch, has been instrumental in/within GtrWrks all along. In the interview I talk about his teaching me, etc – but one of Dad’s significant contributions to GtrWrks is that he does the circuit board layout. 99% of the circuit boards are designed by him. He and I work on it together in the sense that I tell him what works, what doesn’t, etc., from a construction/manufacturing point of view. He sends me a layout, I proof it, build it and ask him to tweak it as needed. It’s certainly a collabrative effort, but it’s his vast experience and innate talent that deserves most of the credit.

To be able to arrange the flow of components as well as being mindful of the conservation of space, et al, is not only an educated consideration – it is certainly a talent.

I’ve written here before about family and the importance of history and respect. My respect and love for my Father goes far beyond that of his involvement with GtrWrks. Thanks Dad!

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With any artist, some gigs you’re going to be opening and others you’ll be closing the show – while you always want to be on top, both are great from a sideman’s standpoint.  So much fun to hang and work with other pickers – many of whom are gear junkies too.  Showing off gear and swapping stories @ soundcheck is a fun aspect of the gig for a gear hound like myself.

Earlier this summer my beloved ’66 Fender Bassman ‘died’ – seems as if the OT may have arched – it still ‘works’, but was weak and sounded horrible (notched wah anyone?).  Well, it’s now in the rather capable hands of Pete Cage.  Pete’s going to bring it back up to Tour Ready specs and he’ll be using Mercury iron on it.  I’ve a few other amps, but nothing ‘Fender‘ – ’til… Blessed I was to have David Qualls offer me one of his backline rigs to work with until Pete was finished with my Bassman.  David and his crew do a great sound/lights thing for touring acts – not to mention some of the best guitarists in the biz are among his friends.  Thanks David!**

My 60′s Classic Tele has undergone some massive changes over the past year – currently I’m using it with a half bridge and a Gibson Firebird (90′s RI, I think) pickup in the bridge position – Esquire style.  The 50′s Road Worn Tele that has been my mainstay for the past year continues to carry the bulk of the load – with various mini-humbucker types in the neck position and a DiMarzio Pre-B1 in the bridge.  This guitar really came to life after having it PLEK’d last year – but in and of itself, it’s an extremely resonant axe.  And although I’m really happy with these two – I’m thinking a Danocaster may be in my future.

My current signal chain is Guitar into a…  home-made wah > a really sweet Boss CS-2 (with a couple of small circuit modifications) > a 19 Sixty 3 > cheap, plastic Danelectro graphic EQ (great tool!) > Xotic RC Booster (modified for ‘super clean’ operation) > bV OD > Korg Pitchblack tuner > Malekko E600B Analog Delay(a generous gift from Josh Holley – Thanks!) > to amp…

Recently w/Ty:

**  David Qualls:
      Direct Enterprise Development
      Black Diamond Inc
      405-590-7231

www.tyenglandmusic.com
www.audiocage.com
www.mercurymagnetics.com
www.malekkoheavyindustry.com
www.danocaster.com

Lately, I’ve been chasing my tail all over the Half Acre of ‘you know where’… I am truly blessed to be so busy.  I’m no stranger to work – and I’m working hard to get pedals built – but there’s lots of new things that I’m excited about and want to share some.

I grew up on a cattle farm – my Grandfather (Ally Lee “Ted” Lynch) began raising registered Black Angus cattle in the early part of the last century.  My Father grew up punching cows from horseback (and daydreaming of rocket ships), and my brother and I grew up on the same place – working cattle, hauling hay, mending fence, etc.  ‘Farm work’ is never “done“, you just run out of daylight and/or energy and begin again tomorrow.

Way back when, our place was a hub of activity – and signs hand-painted by my Grandmother’s brother (Uncle Bud Greenhaw) were posted all around the area pointing the way for visiting cattle trucks.  Recently I decided to ‘go back’ – to go back and honor the work that we did – the work and life that my Grandfather began and left to us.  A picture of one of our signs was taken and will become the graphic for the next GtrWrks pedal.  A photograph of one of the signs can be seen below; the circuit for the new pedal is currently top secret – and, as I’m head over heels busy playing guitar for Mr Ty England, it may be a bit before these see the light of day – but see it they will. 

I hope all is well with each of you.  Tune those guitars – and play some music.

And a shot of Ty and I – in the heat this past 11 Jun 2011:

And lately he’s been doing so with the aid of his new 19 Sixty 3 Preamp.

I first became aware of Phil a few years ago via his record The Jimi Project.  I can’t remember now where I first heard of this disc, but I caught a sample of a track or something and it immediately shut me down – I could hardly believe the rich voicings, hiply reharmonized tunes and incredible range of texture/tonal shading. 

His singing will woo you & his playing will floor you – the sheer amount of music that comes out of his guitar (be it his electric rig or a simple dreadnaught) is overwhelming.  Listening to his recordings is one thing – but when you watch him lay down live what sounds like multi-tracked guitar… that’s when you understand that this guy is a serious monster.

The credits to this cat’s credit are something else, Baby – Please check out his Bio here - a rich & full (and full throttle!) history is what Phil brings to the table.  And a nicer dude may not exist.  I met Phil at a gig recently and was blown away by his kindness and open nature.

The track above, Gasoline, is a very recent track from Phil – here’s the gear rundown as given to me by the man himself:

• Black Mesa Guitars custom built TorsionLogic(TM) Signature model guitar (with Trev Wilkinson trem, Jason Lollar pickups and Curt Mangan strings) > GtrWrks 19 Sixty 3 > Line 6 DL4 > 1978 Marshall JMP Mk2 100w head > 1972 Hiwatt 4×12 spkr cab with Emincnce Red Coat and Celestion (circa 1980) G12-65 Spkrs > AKG 100 mic > DBX 163x OverEasy Compressor/Limiter > Roland VS880.

Phil’s current trio of Peter Pollack, PhD on Drums (ex Blue Man Group) and Dave Copenhaver on Bass (Leon Russell, JJ Cale, Jesse Ed Davis, etc) ably backed him on this recording.  I’ve seen this same trio live… telepathic.

Yorkie Custom Pedals:   http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/taakun81/21003728.html &  http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/taakun81/21136936.html

If any of you have other GtrWrks pedal DIY tutorials, please email them to me at sales@GtrWrks.com and I’ll post them for all to benefit from.