Posting #AllMyAxes. 🎸 (Part 1)

Since the world is a bit strange right now, I decided I wanted to see more guitars on social media.  Maybe it’ll start a trend, maybe not. 

I like classic guitars, I like modern guitars, I like classy guitars, I like ugly guitars.  I like guitars.  I like playing them.  I like looking at them online.  I like looking at them on my wall.  I like looking at them in the store.  I like hearing them.  I like arguing about them on the internet.  I also like other assorted stringed instruments.

Maybe this will make the world a little brighter.  Maybe people will like these guitars.  Maybe people will argue about these guitars.  Maybe absolutely no one will notice.  Who knows?

Below the collage, here are the ones I have posted so far via Instagram with the #AllMyAxes hashtag, minus today’s.  The rest will be in the next post.  This is the bulk of my guitar collection.  The rest of the stuff in the house are my ukuleles and mandolin, the wife’s ukuleles, and the kids’ guitars and ukuleles.

There is a little bit written about each guitar if you click through to Instagram or follow me on Facebook.  I hope to blog more in-depth about each of them, or more than I have in the past anyway… reaching out to some manufacturers and designers, especially for the most interesting ones.

🎵🎶♩♪♫♬🎸♬♫♪♩🎶🎵

Epiphone Les Paul

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Epiphone Les Paul, made in Korea. Probably a 1997 according to the serial number dater search I found online. It's been dropped, and modified with cheesy knobs and a skull-shaped bottle opener. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #Epiphone #LesPaul

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 14, 2020 at 5:37pm PDT

Dewey Decibel FlipOut (Lit CIgarette)

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. DeweyDecibel FlipOut guitar. Lit Cigarette model/color. I forget what year, 2004-ish I think? I gigged with this one quite often. Pickups replaced with @gfs_guitarfetish Lil Killer Rails by the inimitable @ironhead_guitar_works. (Sorry that the string ends are not trimmed.) #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #DeweyDecibel #FlipOut

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 15, 2020 at 6:19pm PDT

Indy Custom FlyCaster by Indiana Custom Guitars

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Indy Custom FlyCaster by Indy Custom Guitars. I got #059 out of 100. Not sure of the year? I gigged with this a handful of times with Ernie and the Berts. I strive for the ridiculous. This one seems to make people lose their minds. It is comfortable to play and sounds so good I didn't even feel the need to swap pickups. I wanted to drop rails in it so bad. But, why? #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #IndyCustom #Flycaster

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 16, 2020 at 6:26pm PDT

Waterstone Voltaire by Mod Guitars

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Waterstone Voltaire by Mod Guitars. This was a posthumous gift from a dear friend and fellow bandmate who understood my penchant for odd guitars. Modded ever so slightly with purple tolex over the pickguard in honor of Erin "Ernie" Payne and his penchant for brightly colored amps. I need to get a clear plastic pickguard cut for over top of it. If I understand correctly, this Thunderbird/Firebird style was mainly a bass model by boutique builder Mod Guitars, but they did make a few guitars… and some of them are this green color which is nearly impossible to photograph correctly. My dad would have called it "Baby Shit Green." Fuzzy strap also from/in honor of Erin. This thing sounds and feels great and warms my heart to jam on. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #Waterstone #Voltaire #ModGuitars

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 17, 2020 at 4:08pm PDT

Glen Burton GB2009-RWB

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Glen Burton GB2009-RWB. American Flag themed USA map guitar. These were online while I had disposable income and here we are. They also inexplicably made a Confederate flag model even though this wasn't the shape of the Confederacy. I can hope these were inspired by the Gibson and Epiphone models. I would maybe someday sort of like to have it painted (or printed on) like an old school pastel map that the social studies teacher would pull down in front of the chalkboard. The flag is a bit over-the-top, but then again it has a certain charm. @ironhead_guitar_works did some serious work to the bridge/saddle (and other stuff?) to make this playable! It was sort of a turd out of the box, but at the price point I knew that going in. I have never gigged with this. I don't think, anyway? I mean, it's not terrible. It sounds OK. I should start another band. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #GlenBurton #GB2009 #RWB #GB2009RWB #USA

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 18, 2020 at 5:44pm PDT

Galveston B.B. Stone

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Galveston B.B. Stone. This started my obsession with weird guitars. Purchased in 2000 at the American Music Café in Murrysville, PA. Traded a Cimar by Ibanez Super-Strat style guitar for it that I hadn't had very long. I eventually tracked down & received correspondence from the creators. (I was even on their website for a minute!) Not sure on the model year? Jerker Antoni the designer, Orjan Jacobsson owner of Eagle Instruments in Sweden, and Dae Young Suk (a.k.a. B.B. Stone), salesman at UnSung. The guitar was built by UnSung in Inchon Korea, branded as Eagle in Sweeden, and exported at Galveston and even Brownsville (by Sam Ash) in the USA. From what I can gater there are 12 to 18 Eagle branded ones (with a different headstock altogether) and about that many Galveston ones. I have seen them online in a black/grey finish. I have never seen a Brownsville branded one. I gigged with this guitar a lot with AiXeLsyD and Gasoline Dion, and it shows. There are some dings, most notably in the body by the jack. Guitar shenanigans used to be my thing and sometimes there were casualties. Friend and frequent collaborator (co-conspirator?) Dave Warren @nothingbutstarsinside dropped some @gfs_guitarfetish humbuckers in it for for me a long time ago. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #Galveston #BBStone #UnSung #Eagle #Brownsville #SamAsh #EagleInstruments

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 19, 2020 at 1:49pm PDT

New York Pro Stargazer (by Galaxy Guitars USA)

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. This is a heavily modded New York Pro. I believe New York Pro is now branded Galaxy, but this may be a Galaxy New York Pro Star Gazer model. Not a whole lot can be found about them on the internet. There is no model name or serial number on the guitar. I picked this up for a super cheap price with more traditional hardware, a boring white pickguard, questionable pickups, and a twisted neck from a magical place in Bedford PA called Hoke-E-Geez. I loved that body and woodgrain. I dig the black hardware look and for some reason love leopard print or cheetah print or whatever this is. Hardware from GGS pit on by me. Lil' Killer bridge & middle pickups, & a lipstick neck pickup from @gfs_guitarfetish have been dropped in by the guitar guru @ironhead_guitar_works… he also twisted that truss rod into submission when I thought I was going to need a new neck. Pickguard from somewhere thanks to Google, and Tigerwood knobs from AllParts. (I remember Aaron questioning the choice of lipstick pickup at the bridge, but going with it despite his best judgement – to later be pleasantly surprised.) This thing plays beautifully. I have used it to record and I think to gig a few times. It is usually the electric I pick up first to jam at home. It feels so good, it sounds so great. I feel like it's all mine. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #NewYorkPro #StarGazer #Galaxy #GalaxyGuitars

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 20, 2020 at 4:51pm PDT

B.C. Rich Dagger

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. BC Rich Dagger. "Metal" headstock. Matte black. There are a ton of variations, glossy, other headstock, some have a Bigsby-style trem, I have even seen a red one online. No crazy pickup mods, I did add straplocks. I have no idea where the serial number is or how to date it, or if they had specific numbers for each of the model variations. There's no neck-plate as it's not bolt-on, and that's where all the stuff online says to find the serial number. I wanted a hollowbody because I hadn't had one yet. Izzy Stradlin and TimnArmstrong had to be on to something, right? I had thought about an Ibanez Artcore because I think I noticed that Rob from @AnnBeretta had one at a show once. I think @hornertommy had one too? When I saw this, it fit my fondness for weird guitars more than any other hollow body I have ever seen. Is it punk? Horrorpunk? Psychobilly? Metal? Sure. I always thought my first BC Rich would be one of those translucent green Warlocks from the late 90s. I still kind of want one of those… even though I do not shred and am generally not into axes setup for that. This thing has a beautifully smooth neck and just sounds full and warm. A good eye can catch a glimpse of the Chewbacca-inspired seat belt cover over the strap. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #BCRich #Dagger

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 21, 2020 at 2:14pm PDT

Fender Stratocaster (MIJ)

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. @Fender Stratocaster. The guitar dater project says it was made between 1984-1987 at the Fuji-jen factory in Japan. I thought it was early to mid 90s as that's when my parents got it for me. It was my second electric, to replace my first little weird Cruise student model. Obviously there are some mods. @nothingbutstarsinside dropped in a @dimarzioinc rail pickup for me, and I added the #StarWars knobs from Fernandes… and some stickers. (Just to make purists cringe.) I never use them tremolo so those locking screws up top are out. This guitar has fallen out of the case and down a flight of concrete stairs. It is a little chewed-up on the back of the body & headstock. It was once spattered in actual blood from a hangnail I had and it looked awesome. I played a lot of AiXeLsyD gigs & made a lot of recordings with this guitar. I may have gigged a few times with it or even recorded with it in Gasoline Dion? I forget. As much as I have gravitated to odd guitars, and was probably a fan of more Les Paul and SG players than Strat players, this guitar feels fantastic and is built SOLID. The humbucking rails cut that glassy twang, but it still sounds like a Fender. It feels better to me playability-wise than the Mexican made or USA Strats of the same era. You can't knock a classic too hard if it's got such mass appeal without becoming a curmudgeonly contrarion. It probably needs some love, but I don't want to polish off any of that punk rock mojo. (I do need some screws with flush heads so those silly knobs spin better!) #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #Fender #Stratocaster #MIJ #AiXeLsyD #FiendClub #Strat #CrimsonGhost #Misfits #DarthVader

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 22, 2020 at 3:36pm PDT

No-name LP copy w/ chalkboard paint

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Les Paul style copy of indeterminate origin. This used to be a more traditional looking Black Les Paul copy… maybe a kit guitar, probably one that people would incorrectly claim as a "lawsuit guitar." It didn't have a logo when I bought it. It's a physically heavy block of chaos and that's what drew me to it at Warehouse Music in Apollo PA. It was $60. @awelsh138 was there with me. I went home to get cash & went right back to get it. Ha ha. For a long time, it was my "Gotham Bat Paul." I had a vinyl logo cut to look like the Gibson logo that said "Gotham" and had a Batman logo sticker on the body. It was really in need of a re-fret and probably not worth it. For a while I wanted to draw a maze on a guitar, and I also wanted to try one with chalkboard paint. This way I can do both when the mood strikes. I don't know how @ironhead_guitar_works can handle the crap I take to him. I had him replace the neck after I repainted the body with the chalkboard paint. While he was at it, I had him drop in @gfs_guitarfetish P-90 pickups. I don't have anything else with P90's and we gotta have some diversity, right? Someday I may get the itch to drop one of those goofy quad rails in here or the Epiphone Les Paul. Nothing is sacred! I think the neck & all the black hardware were also all from #GuitarFetish. Oh yeah, you probably noticed those @drstrings Neon's too. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #ChalkboardPaint #drneonstrings #LesPaul #LP #LPCopy #maze #mazes #chalkart #P90

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 23, 2020 at 2:50pm PDT

No-name acrylic Strat-style with LED’s

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Stratocaster copy with no headstock logo. It came from @ebay, shipped from China. So, it's probably the same stuff that @AliExpress sells. I have always liked the green acrylic BC Rich Warlocks, and all the Acrylic guitars by Galveston… but when I saw them online with LED's in the body and the fret markers, I had to have one. Now I see them with Acrylic necks too and wonder if I should have waited? Ha ha. Is there a difference between Acrylic, Lucite, and Plexiglass? I have heard these called all of the above. This still has the stock pickups, they actually sound pretty good… but I may get bored and put rails or something crazy in it someday. It came with white knobs, and I replaced them with clear. If I can find a clear pickguard that is guaranteed to fit the same screw holes, thay may be fun too. I also sewed some LED lights into a strap to make one that matches because… well, I have no good reason. Again with the @drstrings Neon's too, this time all green. I have yet to gig with this. Maybe it's time to start another band after the current pandemic? #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #LED #Stratocaster #Strat #SStyle #LEDGuitar #AcrylicGuitar #Acrylic #Lucite #Plexiglass

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 24, 2020 at 5:12pm PDT

Cort SG-style Doubleneck

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Cort (@cort_guitars). No idea on official model name. Doubleneck SG copy, looks a bit like Jimmy Page's doubleneck SG. I got a good deal on this at a guitar show in Monaca a while back. Traded in my Ibanez acoustic 12-string as part of the deal. I still need to get a case that actually fits this. It's fun to play, not ridiculously heavy, and feels good in my hands. Doesn't sound all that bad either! The necks are set, not bolt-on. I don't see a serial number anywhere. I would appreciate it it anyone would let me know if they have any information on the official model name, or even a year or range based on the design or logo. I know it could have been manufactured in South Korea, China, or Indonesia. All my emails to Cort (and DM's on Instagram) have gone unanswered. This one hasn't seen a gig yet either. No mods. (Yet.) #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #Cort #Doubleneck #CortGuitars #SG #SGCopy #DoubleNeckGuitar

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 25, 2020 at 6:50pm PDT

Esteban Midnight Legacy

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Esteban Midnight Legacy. I think I made between 2000 and 2002? It as so cheap I couldn't pass it up. I am intrigued by the traditionally Fender Stratocaster style pickups/knobs/switches on the traditionally Gibson Les Paul shaped body. If you couldn't tell I like guitars that make purists cringe. I also liked the "E" (or "𝓔 ") shaped headstock. This is a cheap guitar in quality also. If I laid this at sea level, the action near the 12th fret would be about the same elevation as Mount Everest. It has a truss rod. It is so bad I may tinker. The black hardware feels painted, not actually black. It is a nice weight. The back of the neck is smooth. The fingerboard is "eh," and the pickups are like some cheap guitars. If I hang on to this, it's totally getting GFS Lil' Killer Rails. I do like the body, but surely someone else offers this. I also like telecaster with 2 humbuckers. Haven't gigged out with this yet, either. You're welcome. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #Esteban #MidnightLegacy #StratPaul #Lesocaster

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 26, 2020 at 12:27pm PDT

Bohemian Moonshine

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. @bohemianguitars Moonshine Model. 2x single coils. This was a present from my awesome wife @bcarroll_13 because she knows I like weird axes. This certainly looks like a snarling little fuzz machine. The only issue is that it was an "outlet guitar" (according to the manufacterer) and the frets need some work. They are sharp on the edges and uneven. The neck may be a bit warped too. I wrote to them asking about the issue, and inquiring about just purchasing a replacement neck… but after a "let me get back to you" I have heard nothing. All of their stock seems to be marked as sold out on their website, and now emails bounce back instead of simply going unanswered. I would live to plug this in and give it a real run, but the fret issues make simple chords in the first position unplayable. Someday, with help from the guitar whisperer, this will (hopefully) be a mean machine. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #BohemainGuitars #Moonshine #BohoGuitars #BohoNation #OilCanGuitar

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 27, 2020 at 3:10pm PDT

Six Flags Batman Logo Guitar

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. @sixflags @batman logo guitar! I sadly, did not win this at @sixflagsovertexas (the TX address and "Made in China" is printed on the back) or any other Six Flags location. I won it dirt cheap on @ebay. I could not pass it up. I mean… it's a guitar, it's the classic Batman logo, and it's me. Right? I have written to Six Flags to get some information, maybe in which factory it was produced or if it's a brand we know just without a headstock logo. No answers there. I didn't try @dccomics yet. I doubt they would know. It says this on the back; SIX FLAGS, INC. GRAND PRAIRIE, TX 75050 MADE IN CHINA BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. (s11) 11-04 Not sure if the s11 or 11-04 are model, serial, or date codes? This one needed some help, so of course I had @ironhead_guitar_works do the deed. He added the string tree (maybe the wrong name for the solid bar?) and a @seymourduncanpickups SH-6 pickup. Unfortunately the nut is super crooked, so it will never be perfect, but it is playable and I have gigged with it… usually whipping it out for the last song. Yes those are @drstrings neons (again). I should have this one on display all the time. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #SixFlags #Batman #DCComics #BatLogo #BatmanLogo #SeymourDuncan #SH6 #drneonstrings

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 28, 2020 at 7:19pm PDT

SX Country 6-String Banjo (from Rondo Music)

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. @rondo_music Rondo Music SX Country 6-String Banjo. You can call it a #guitjo or #banjitar if you will. It's got a @remopercussion head too. This was another gift from @bcarroll_13. She supports my weird guitar habit. I was interested in this because I had been digging Flogging Molly, The Devil Makes Three, and music in that vein… but I had no interest (yet) in learning the alternate fingering for a traditional 5-string banjo with that weird short string. With this, I have learned that I am utterly useless at fingerpicking. I will keep trying though. This thing is a lot of fun. Maybe I'll get a pick that wraps around my thumb and those weird metal clip on rings? Also, it will never not be funny to play the riff from "Crazy Train" on this. Another setup by @ironhead_guitar_works because that bridge goes wherever it wants and Aaron is a guitar ninja. Shaman? Samurai? Kaiju? One of these days, I need an Agile. Rondo makes great stuff. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #SX #SXCountry #6StringBanjo #Rondo #RondoMusic

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 29, 2020 at 4:21pm PDT

Fender Gemini IIE (G-IIE)

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. @fender Gemini IIE (or G-IIE) acoustic/electric. This was another gift from my parents when I was in jr. high or high school. I had taken a guitar class in school and this was a good practice-at-home guitar. The label inside said it was made in Korea. This guitar has been a staple/workhorse for many many years. It's my main "going to camp" guitar. I recorded (& wrote) some AiXeLsyD stuff on it. It has been my "that annoying guy with a guitar at the campfire/picnic/party" guitar. I learned to play and sing at the same time, to lead sing-alongs, and to entertain a crowd on this guitar at church camp from Rev. Jeff Welsh. I have it stringed with @ErnieBall Super Slinkys just to make purists cringe. I may switch to some bronze strings though? The pickups aren't the most fantastic, but it sounds great mic'd. It shows some wear on the fingerboard in the "cowboy chords" position. There are definitely scratches and cracks… but it's nowhere near as cool as Willie Nelson's Trigger (yet). This guitar feels like an extension of my hands because I have played it so much. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #Fender #GeminiIIE #GIIE #AcousticElectric #ErnieBall

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Apr 30, 2020 at 6:10pm PDT

Xaviere RTS 550D Rich Tonewood Series (from Guitar Fetish)

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Posting a guitar (or other stringed instrument) per day until I forget, work too long, or run out. Xaviere RTS 550D Rich Tonewood Series acoustic from @gfs_guitarfetish. This guitar is loud and bright. I love the look of this top that is not sanded smooth (except for the "pickguard" area and dyed black. It's got a great feel on the neck, and those tone markers are classy too. This is a really beautiful sounding dreadnought style axe for a crazy reasonable price. I even wrote to them after I received it to praise the quality and ask what kind of strings were on it. The answer? Olympia strings. They're bronze and they sound gorgeous. This axe hangs above the couch in the living room on an angled mount. When I feel the urge, it is right there ready to jam. #AiXeLsyD13 #AllMyAxes #Guitar #GuitarFetish #Xaviere #RTS550D #RichToneWoodSeries #OlympiaStrings

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on May 1, 2020 at 4:54pm PDT

 

OK.  Now post yours on your social media!  Tag me (@AiXeLsD13 on most everything).  Post them in the comments here.  Use #AllMyAxes or your own hashtag!

🎵🎶♩♪♫♬🎸♬♫♪♩🎶🎵

Want a bonus video of my daughter and me playing a short snippet-sized cover of the Ernie and the Berts classic “Everybody Poops?”  Of course you do!

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#EverybodyPoops honky-tonk style by Molly Carroll featuring Eric AiXeLsyD.

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on May 2, 2020 at 10:32am PDT

Some of our favorite #ElfOnTheShelf setups this year…

The kids were really into Jovie-Belle, their Elf on the Shelf, this year.  These are a few of my favorites. Post your favorites in the comments! (I have a bunch on Pinterest too… some appropriate, some not at all.)

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Jovie-Belle is building something. Not sure what! #ElfOnTheShelf #Marshmallow #ConstructionZone 🚧🎄🚧

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Nov 26, 2017 at 5:41pm PST

 

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Jovie-Belle is chillin' in the 'fridge tonight. The kids need to work to find her after touching our little #ElfOnTheShelf friend today. Plus, I told them the cold back at the North Pole helps elves heal. ❄☃❄

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Nov 27, 2017 at 7:44pm PST

 

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Jovie-Belle is still recovering, some #ElfOnTheShelf #Yoga should help get her back into action soon! 🎄🤶🎅☃🎁❄

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Nov 29, 2017 at 7:41pm PST

 

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Jovie-Belle is roasting a marshmallow on a tealight #campfire tonight. Safely in the china cabinet… #ElfOnTheShelf 🔥❄🎅🤶🎄🎁

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 1, 2017 at 6:24pm PST

 

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🎶Jove-Belle, Jovie-Belle, Jovie-Belle Rock…🎶🎸🎄 #ElfOnTheShelf

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 5, 2017 at 5:45pm PST

 

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Jovie-Belle is trying some #iceskating tonight! #ElfOnTheShelf ☃ I feel like I reuse the same spots, but there's only so many spots where they can see, won't touch, and the cat won't knock it over. 🤣

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 4, 2017 at 6:35pm PST

 

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Yulenanigans? #ElfOnTheShelf #JingleLeague assemble! 🐈

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 14, 2017 at 6:31pm PST

 

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Jovie-Belle and the #JingleLeague! #ElfOnTheShelf #DC #JusticeLeague #Batman #Batgirl #WonderWoman #Yulenanigans ❄🎁🎄🎅🦇⛄

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 14, 2017 at 6:38pm PST

 

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Can you tell that this #Marshmallow #BubbleBath was @bcarroll_13's idea & setup? You can find amazing #ElfOnTheShelf props digging through the kids toys, the kitchen, & the junk drawer. 🎄🛀

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 15, 2017 at 7:26pm PST

 

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Another @bcarroll_13 setup! Molly says that Jovie-Belle is watching @Netflix. #ElfOnTheShelf #Yulenanigans

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 17, 2017 at 11:29am PST

 

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Jovie-Belle must be a fan of @homedepot too! (Although, the hammer looks like it's from @harborfreight.) Our #ElfOnTheShelf Heard we had to miss a few #KidsWorkshops so she thought of her own #NailStringArt project. Hope the kids like it! (I hope they see the name on her apron & nails in her pocket!) #Yulenanigans #HomeDepot #HarborFreight #DIY #ArtsNCrafts #Christmas 🔨🎄❄

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 17, 2017 at 7:00pm PST

 

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If you followed our #ElfOnTheShelf adventures, these are the completed #NailStringArt #Christmas trees that Jovie-Belle left for the kids. Ian did his mostly by himself, I had to pull it tight a tiny bit. He was done before Molly! Photo (s) stolen from @bcarroll_13's Instagram. 🎄🔨

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 24, 2017 at 10:58am PST

 

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Gonna make 'em work to find their #ElfOnTheShelf tomorrow! Jovie-Belle is hitching a ride to the #NorthPole with #BobaFett, and leaving a present & a note. #StarWars #Yulenanigans #Christmas 🎄🎅🤶🎁❄⛄🦌👋

A post shared by Eric Carroll (@aixelsyd13) on Dec 23, 2017 at 7:54pm PST

 

We didn’t get crazy creative every night, but the kids really made a big deal about finding her every morning. Maybe next year we’ll get a second elf and have some more fun.

So, this is kind of neat…

My Batman logo guitar made it to #1 on a list of geeky guitars at Nerdist.  Not even the guys at the Guitarz blog could really dig up any info about these cheap-ass prize guitars, but all Batman fans know the power of such a sweet axe.

All the work was done by the humble Aaron Hutzel at Lawerence Music.  He works on all of my crap guitars and makes them sexy playable rock weapons.

It’s kind of cool, and I’m getting some hits to this old blog post.

Nerdist | Top 10 Geeky Guitars That We Must Own Now

@amy_geek Hey, thanks for putting me on that geeky guitar list! Dig the article!

— Eric Carroll (@AiXeLsyD13) December 26, 2014

@amy_geek This is the cat who did all the work: https://t.co/ngfYpoQGAE I had the ideas, but can't take credit.

— Eric Carroll (@AiXeLsyD13) December 27, 2014

@AiXeLsyD13 Gotcha! I'll update the post.

— Amy Ratcliffe (@amy_geek) December 27, 2014

21 Super Cool Nerdy Guitars | FUNKY PICKENS

Check it out! My Batman logo axe made the cut…

21 Super Cool Nerdy Guitars | FUNKY PICKENS.

 

If I ever buy another guitar…

I certainly don’t need another guitar.  I’m always looking at them though.  There are just so many different kinds out there, and I can appreciate almost all of them.  Some I actually sort of drool over, & eventually I end up with one.  I don’t think 13 Guitars in 2013 will ever become a reality.  I can always add cool guitars to my Pinterest board, right?

These are some that I’m always thinking about…

Epiphone USA Map Guitar

Like this…

The Epiphone USA Map Guitar – It has to be ridiculously cumbersome to play, but no more than my Galveston B.B. Stone.  The brown finish is neat, but I’d love it to look like an old-school pastel textbook map of the USA.  They pop up on ebay every once in a while, but none are ever priced low enough that I feel it’s a “must buy” because I’ll never see the same deal again.  There are other companies that make them too.  I’m not picky, I just like the shape & the idea.  It would certainly be a fun one on stage.

Fernandes Ravelle

Deluxe

The Fernandes Ravelle – I’d like any of them really, but the green Dave Kushner model is awesome.  I dig the green color, and the sweet pick guard with holes in it.  I love how it takes the classic Les Paul shape, and makes it a little Alien.  The curves are awesome.  I dig the sound too, on the Velvet Revolver albums & live show.  I’ve seen a few in action at shows around here, but I’ve only seen one for sale at Guitar Center in Robinson.  I almost dropped more money than I could afford on it… it was only around $500 which seemed reasonable.   Sadly, I made a sound financial decision that day.

Fretlight Guitar

Fretlight® Guitar – It seems like it would just be really fun to play with one.  I might even learn a scale other than the pentatonic with one.  I like the old school one with the knobs & switches.  I don’t know if I’d even gig out with it, unless you could program it to make a cool light show or spell out the name of your band or something tasteless & offensive on the fretboard.  Maybe even the word “POOP” because, well, that’s always funny.

Hallmark Guitars Wing-Bat

Hallmark Guitars Wing-Bat – Or the George Barris Batman guitar.  I’ll probably never have enough money to own this thing, but it sure is cool.  No Batmobile beats the 60’s Batmobile… and this thing looks like it was in the trunk all along.  If anyone has one that needs a good home, let me know.  I’ll play it & take care of it quite well.  I’d gig out with it too.  It’s a shame when these collector guitars hit a shelf somewhere never to be played again.

DIPinto Mach IV

DiPinto Mach IV – One of my favorite guitars playersplays one of these sweet-looking axes. It’s very eye-catching.  It’s almost like a Mosrite, but not quite.  Gel from The Eyeliners is one hell of a guitar player, & the reason I want one.  I’m generally not a fan of red guitars, but with this… I’d like a red one.

Annihilator

Annihilator copy by Oktober Guitars – I’m not nearly as cool as Doyle, but I’d love to play one… being a Misfits Fiend for all these years.  I’m not sure I’ll ever have $600 lying around for a guitar that I wouldn’t play all the time.

I do also want a bunch of other stuff that’s not so specific.   I’d love to have a hollowbody, something like an Ibanez Artstar/Artcore or Epiphone Flamekat.  I’d love a custom Millennium Falcon guitar.  I’d love one of Tom Bingham’s creations like the Record guitar or suitcase guitar.  I like weird stuff, like the Bigfoot Guitar or the Electric Ant Farm guitar.

I’d like a translucent guitar.  I did want one of those lime green BC Rich models that were out a while back.  They had them in Warlock, Bich or Mockingbird styles, but I’m not sure I could pull that off.  I’d also like a see-through Galveston (or any “off “brand) Les Paul or Telecaster.  A translucent guitar with LED’s in it would be incredibly fun.

I would like a Fender Toronado or Gibson Firebrand too.  Maybe any sort of double-neck or even a 6-string banjo.  I’m sure there are other guitars out there that I want that I just don’t know about.

Check out my Guitars Board on Pinterest for an ever-evolving list.

What’s on your wish-list?

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World (and Lunar) Domination – 2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

19,000 people fit into the new Barclays Center to see Jay-Z perform. This blog was viewed about 81,000 times in 2012. If it were a concert at the Barclays Center, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

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My guitars on AxVault.com ==:::

So, AxVault.com has featured my guitar collection.  How cool is that?  I’m honored & proud to have been selected to be a featured collection!  Of course, I dig anything that encourages me to buy more goofy guitars.

Check it out:

AxVault.com

• Yup. (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
• Everything Changes but Guitars? I disagree. (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
• Inspiration from Hoke-E-Geez (My new ‘New York Pro’ Strat copy) (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
• My Guitars… (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
• We need a detective with Batman-like skills. (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
• The Square Guitar | My Galveston B.B. Stone (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
• The Dewey Deceibel FlipOut Guitar (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
• Guitar Searchers – Leave some comments! ==::: (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)

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So, I’m gonna be a dad.

 

So, I’m gonna be a dad.  It’s crazy.  I’m the guy that plays in a punk band that sings songs about poop, gets his truck stuck in the mud, buys crazy guitars, and has Batman & Star Wars obsessions.  I barely have my own life together, and now my wife & I are going to be responsible for another one?  As crazy as it is, I think we’re ready.  It’s exciting.  We’ve been OK with the thought of having a kid for a while, it just never happened.  We’re glad it’s finally happening.  Some time in May, we should have a little boy or girl.  We go on Saturday for an ultrasound to get an exact date.

Someday, someone is going to call me “Dad” and my wife “Mom”.  The idea of it all is just incredible.  I’m sure I’ll be blogging about it all along the way.  Before I start, any fatherly or parenting advice?  Please leave some below!  (Not on Facebook to Twitter!)

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Yup.

 

 

So, I’ve been really bad at blogging lately.  It’s not that I don’t have anything to blog about, it’s mostly that I’m not finding much time to do it.  I did have someone recently contact me with a complaint thinking I’m some entity… not sure who they thought.  I wrote back to no avail.  I think it was a dud.  I may try again to get a response, maybe I’ll even post something.

Mainly, it’s because of a new job.  I’m not tied to a desk with a few spare minutes or even with lunch time at the desk.  Now, I’m on the road & in the field all day.  When I get home, I don’t seem to gravitate right to blogging or my news feed.

I never did finish my New York Pro guitar… well, I did route out the pickguard with a Dremel set that my mom gave me, and eventually got the neck plate off, but I had my guitar guy put it all back together.  If you need work done in the Pittsburgh area, let me know and I’ll send you to the right cat for repairs, setups, and even guitar insanity which is generally all I ever have for him (e.g. the Batman logo guitar went from goofy to absolutely playable in his hands).  It looks ridiculous, plays like a dream, and screams through the amplifier like you wouldn’t believe.  GFS pickups rule.

Also, I’ve been drooling over the Indy Custom FlyCaster for a while now, so I finally broke down & purchased one from Musician’s Heaven.  Enjoy some photos…

Also:  Join the debate of what I should (or shouldn’t) do to the FlyCaster as far as pickups go!

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So, I need help with my résumé.

I rarely ever blog about or post on social media about work.  My work life is work, and my personal life is personal.  I’ve never felt the need to discuss, vent about, or provide detail about my job.  I’m going to go ahead and break with that for this post.

Unfortunately, the time has come where I need to update my resume.  About a year and a half ago, the company that I was working for was sold, shut down, & liquidated.  A core group of people decided to try to move on & start a company in the same industry, and I was invited to be a part of it.  I was honored to be asked to participate, and glad to be gainfully employed.  Sadly, things didn’t pan out as planned, and the company is also in the process of shutting down.  Basically, I’m no worse off than I was a year ago.

At that time, I had an updated resume, and went on my first job interview in a long time.  I was offered employment elsewhere.  It may have worked, but the pay wasn’t where it needed to be for me to comfortably continue to pay rent and put food on the table.  I went with the group I knew & salary I needed.  I have no regrets, I’m just illustrating that I don’t have much job interview experience, but it has mostly all been positive.

Basically, I’ve been at the same job for 10 or so years.  In 2002, I started at an a/v integration company as the shipping guy.  That company was purchased in 2005 and I was hired by the new company, which closed in 2011.  Then on to the newest one where I was doing all slight variations of the same thing.  I liked my work, it was a nice mix of desk/paperwork & physical warehouse work sometimes, it was always different & challenging.  I have learned many rules, processes, & things about the equipment over the years.  I was able to adapt to many changes, and survived them all (up until now).

I need help with my resume.  I think I first updated this format in 2005, when it looked like I may have needed to search for other employment.  (Luckily, I was able to work temporarily for the new company, proved my merit, and was hired full time.)  In 2012 this format may be stale.  I’m not big on titles.  I call myself a “shipping guy” but I do much more than that.  I have more skills than a simple shipping guy needs.  I hate phrases like “team player”.  I am, but it sounds goofy.  Who reads that & doesn’t roll their eyes?  I’m generally not boastful (other than in jest), but this is one time when you need to be.  There’s a lot riding on a resume.  It gets your foot in the door.

I’m confident in my writing (thanks to this blog), but thrown into a resume it looks braggadocios, fragmented, & boring.  I love bullet points, but breaking things down into them, I feel like I lose cohesion.

I need this to grab someone’s attention, highlight what I can do & what I can offer, and get me a job.

I have a lot of skills in my utility belt.

What do I want to do?  I’m certainly qualified for shipping, warehousing, and inventory jobs… entry level or supervisory.  Sadly, entry level pay may no longer be acceptable.  I could certainly do something else though.  I’m a quick learner.  I’d love to get paid for this writing / blogging / insanity thing (I mean… show/album/food reviews, photos, humor, goofy letters? I can do a bunch of stuff there).  Unfortunately I don’t have a degree.  Can you get one in shipping?  Certainly 10 years experience in shipping I would have learned anything that I could in 2 or 4 years of school?  I do have some training in graphic design & commercial art, I have experience in drafting (by hand even… does anyone remember that?), some talents that have yet to get me paid like drawing mazes and photography, and I recently completed classes in Microsoft Project… so I could even fill a “Jr. Project Manager” type role where I can learn as I go.  I’m certainly adept with computers, know old school (& also useless) html coding, and can pick things up rather quickly with any kind of program.  I can promote things like my band, the blog, and Food Allergies like mad online.  I think I’d be a good PR person, I just lack formal training or experience.  Maybe it’s time for something different.

So, I need help with my resume.  What works, what doesn’t?  1 page?  2 pages?  If  so, how do I fit it all on one or to pages (I think it kicks into an atrocious 3 now)?  What do I need to express?  Do I need a cheesy cover letter?  Do letters of recommendation help?  References right on the resume, or “provided by request”?  3 Personal/3 professional?  3 total?  Cover letter?  No cover letter?  Cover paragraph?

I’m laying it all out here and asking for your help.  Take a look at this resume and tell me what you think?

• My stale boring resume.

Click to check it out at Google Docs…

Please excuse the format, it needs a new look… something anyway, and Google Docs may have messed with it a bit.  Other than that though… I ask you to be honest, brutal, constructive, and hopefully helpful.

Also… know anyone that’s hiring?  Are you hiring?  Point me in the right direction here.  I’m confident in my in-person interviews, and with anyone that already knows me or has worked with me.

Thanks in advance for your help.  I need to start hitting up InDeed, PA Career Link, etc. with my resume.  I know I have a lot of friends, family & readers that can help me out here.  It would be crazy to not use all of the resources at my disposal, right?

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