Eskil
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This post is more on a personal note – but there is sort of a motivational message here... I hope you can enjoy this post and get reminded of the old saying; If you want something in life bad enough - go and get it! Make it happen!
This - is me and my Evil Axe - a guitar I decided to build myself - simply because it didn't exist and I wanted to own one.
The Making of an Evil Axe (Watch the Video)
[video=youtube;c9WLY6sk6r8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9WLY6sk6r8[/video]
The guitar build was first started in 2007, but delayed several times due to....life. In 2011, the new body was cut after the first one had cracked due to non-dry wood (ugh). Inlay grooves were routed VERY carefully by hand so that the mirror inlay pieces would be flush with the body surface.
Lots and LOTS of sanding and touchups went into the body before it could be primed and painted. The headstock has skull-shaped machine head tuners, and for hardware I also used matching chrome skulls. The pickups are black EMG 81/85s. The Evil Axe has been modified with the 18 volt mod to give your amp that extra kick in the nuts...
About the design
Ever since I my early teens, I was fascinated with rock or metal bands with a great sound, catchy songs, and an attitude. One of the bands that caught my interest early on was the notorious, but very underrated band W.A.S.P.
If you were a kid or teenager in the 80's, and you saw or heard W.A.S.P. for the first time - you were blown away. They were one of the first bands to become both become commercially successful (given frequent MTV-airtime) - while at the same time getting away with releasing their famous F-word hit single AND putting on an outrageous stage show while on tour. They were actually also one of the first metal bands to be banned from showing up in several countries, lol. No one had seen something so shocking since Kiss in the early 70's.
So anyway, Blackie Lawless was (and still is) the brainchild behind W.A.S.P. He not only is a great and much underrated songwriter - but he has probably the greatest voice in the history of heavy metal.
But Blackie's voice wasn't the only incredibly unique thing he had. He also had an insanely awesome looking bass guitar - which can be seen in the videos for Wild Child and Blind in Texas. I had never seen anything like it, and quickly found out that this was a custom piece made for Blackie - and I would NEVER be able to buy one. Not just that, I didn't want a bass guitar. I just wanted a regular guitar that closely resembled his.
Some specs for the guitar geeks:
- Norwegian birch wood solid body
- Bolt on, BC Rich Warlock neck w/Widow headstock
- Mirror inlays cut by Jeff at Kamn Guitars
- EMG 81/86 pickups
- Plastikote automotive paint and laquer, Color of Evil (Black #1001)
- Ernie Ball Power Slinky 11-48 strings
This - is me and my Evil Axe - a guitar I decided to build myself - simply because it didn't exist and I wanted to own one.
The Making of an Evil Axe (Watch the Video)
[video=youtube;c9WLY6sk6r8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9WLY6sk6r8[/video]
The guitar build was first started in 2007, but delayed several times due to....life. In 2011, the new body was cut after the first one had cracked due to non-dry wood (ugh). Inlay grooves were routed VERY carefully by hand so that the mirror inlay pieces would be flush with the body surface.
Lots and LOTS of sanding and touchups went into the body before it could be primed and painted. The headstock has skull-shaped machine head tuners, and for hardware I also used matching chrome skulls. The pickups are black EMG 81/85s. The Evil Axe has been modified with the 18 volt mod to give your amp that extra kick in the nuts...
About the design
Ever since I my early teens, I was fascinated with rock or metal bands with a great sound, catchy songs, and an attitude. One of the bands that caught my interest early on was the notorious, but very underrated band W.A.S.P.
If you were a kid or teenager in the 80's, and you saw or heard W.A.S.P. for the first time - you were blown away. They were one of the first bands to become both become commercially successful (given frequent MTV-airtime) - while at the same time getting away with releasing their famous F-word hit single AND putting on an outrageous stage show while on tour. They were actually also one of the first metal bands to be banned from showing up in several countries, lol. No one had seen something so shocking since Kiss in the early 70's.
So anyway, Blackie Lawless was (and still is) the brainchild behind W.A.S.P. He not only is a great and much underrated songwriter - but he has probably the greatest voice in the history of heavy metal.
But Blackie's voice wasn't the only incredibly unique thing he had. He also had an insanely awesome looking bass guitar - which can be seen in the videos for Wild Child and Blind in Texas. I had never seen anything like it, and quickly found out that this was a custom piece made for Blackie - and I would NEVER be able to buy one. Not just that, I didn't want a bass guitar. I just wanted a regular guitar that closely resembled his.
Some specs for the guitar geeks:
- Norwegian birch wood solid body
- Bolt on, BC Rich Warlock neck w/Widow headstock
- Mirror inlays cut by Jeff at Kamn Guitars
- EMG 81/86 pickups
- Plastikote automotive paint and laquer, Color of Evil (Black #1001)
- Ernie Ball Power Slinky 11-48 strings
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), who bought all the woods and parts. We made a deal that he pays the stuff and I'll get some building practice - I'm just a beginner, who made one guitar which was playable and quite ok... well ok enough for my friend to demand I make him one too (and he's a musician). 
