Tim is a 43-year-old dude who has played guitar since he was 10. His dad played an old Epiphone acoustic – mostly blues and classic rock (Doors, Zeppelin, etc). At some point in his youth, he was forced to watch MTV (older sister – oh the humanity) and saw the video for ‘One’ by Metallica. It was over from that point forward. He writes his own music and plays plenty of covers. Although he has a wide range of musical tastes, his passion is Death, Thrash, Black, Sludge, and Doom Metal. Along with this, blues is a natural addition.
Tim’s guitars:
Martin 000X1 Acoustic
Taylor 214ce Acoustic electric
Yamaha cg100a Nylon String
Rogue Dobro
Ibanez tcy10 Talman Acoustic Electric
Lomic custom guitar based off a Robin Machete
Agile 8 string
Douglas 7 String
PRS SC245
Fender MIM Strat (1990s)
Ibanez RG-550 (1980s)
Electra Telecaster (1970s)
Hamer archtop double cut (1990s)
Home made Ibanez Iceman
Home made BC Rich Beast
BC Rich Warlock rebuild (in progress refinish)
Home made Fender Jazzmaster (in progress build)
The most interesting acquisition is the Lomic, built by a good friend and luthier in Illinois. I sent him a picture and he built it from scratch. It is stained with indigo dye. The other more interesting buys were the PRS, which was a gift to myself after I completed my PhD, the Electra telecaster, which was gifted to me by my mother in law who bought it in the 70s and never played it; the Fender MIM strat which was gifted to me by my wife when I turned 30, and the RG-550 which was another wife-gift this time for a wedding anniversary. I recently began building and refinishing guitars with constant Q&A from my luthier buddy.
What was my first guitar and do I still have it?
My first guitar was a 1970s Kay something-or-other with one giant single coil pickup. I remember the action feeling like you needed a vice to do anything. But I was also 10 years old. I don’t have it and don’t remember what I did with it, though I think I sold it. I had some off-brand strat-style candy apple red guitar after that, which honestly wasn’t much better. My first ‘real’ guitar was an Ibanez RG series from the 1990s. It was sparkly blue, and I loved it. One day I got a phone call, and I ran to the phone to get it (yeah, remember this was pre cell phones), tripping over the strap and ripping the headstock off of the thing. My dad glued the headstock back on, but it never functioned as well after that. I've gone through so many other guitars and regret selling or trading most of them.
What is your favorite guitar right now and why?
I don’t have a particular favorite overall – it’s more of a favorite per genre I’m playing. However, the Lomic is incredible, and it's hard to get much better than a custom guitar built exactly for you. I’m more interested in building these days vs. purchasing or purchasing crappy guitars to make them not so crappy.
What is your newest purchase/build?
I have two ongoing builds/refinishes, but my newest completed guitar is the BC Rich Beast-style guitar. It has a mahogany body which I grain filled with ebony grain filler and dyed it with a blood red dye. It's my black metal guitar. My most recent purchase without a build is the Warlock.
How often do you play?
I used to play a ton. I slacked off for several years after having a kid but am just starting to get back into it. Currently, I try to play for at least 10-15 minutes a day. I don’t have a ton of time as I’m very busy at work and with family commitments. I have a Mac Mini setup with an audio interface, logic pro, Amplitube 5, etc. for when I do play. I rarely play through an amp because the dog doesn’t want to hear much metal guitar.
What’s the music you are creating, and what’s the mission behind it?
I record several things under different names. Most are experimental type of things. I do some instrumental, guitar focused, music that is mostly post-metal style and also have a ‘band’ with a friend (it's just us two) where we record black-ish metal. Most of my recording is just an outlet. I have no particular mission other than having fun. Historically I have had many bands, mostly death metal or hardcore. I think my next project will be a sludge/doom thing, for which I may actually record an album if I can find the time to do the drums (my bottleneck).
