“…and you may ask yourself – well, how did I get here?“
I’ve messed around in, and been around bands – ever since I was a teenager in the 1970’s. Over the years, I’ve recorded and played live in various guises, and at various times along the way. Including as guitarist with the short-lived, “Nice Style Pose Band” inspired, “art school noise merchants”, “An Experiment in Inertia” – as bass player on that “BFG“, “comeback” single they seem to want to forget all about – and a ten-year stint holding down bass duties for London, “indie landfill songsters”, “Citizens of Pompeii“. After many different jobs, and a long career in Architecture and Graphic Design – I finally find I’ve got enough experience, resources and time on my hands, to try and get to grips with some of the instruments and technology I’ve grown to love over the years. There’s nothing quite like putting an instrument together yourself, to discover just what makes it sound the way it does.
My own workshop, two sheds and a sizeable kitchen table. A background in Fine Art and design, and a decade or so’s experience with various sorts of carpentry and wood finishes. Add to all that, a lifetime’s passion for music, an insatiable creative urge, and a straightforward DIY ethos forged in the days of Punk.
Things to do…
By the way – I should also probably mention – I’m not affiliated, in any way, to Fender, Gibson, Martin, or any other brand I mention on this site. People and companies I mention are referred to because I admire their products, or processes, or advice. I want to give credit where credit’s due. I don’t get paid for any of this. It’s a hobby gone mad. The projects I build aren’t, in any way, intended to deceive by means of forgery or other mis-representation. I do these things because I’m fascinated by the machinery of popular music. I want to learn what I can about the building of these wonderful things, which seem to come from a “Golden Age” of analogue. In doing so – I hope to find out just what makes them so special to own, and to play – and to preserve a little bit of “forgotten” knowledge.
LATEST BLOG POSTS
Progress with a couple of Jaguar necks… Toning a PauFerro fingerboard, and prepping a re-lacquered headstock, including hardware installation
Continuing the saga of the repair, re-fit and preparation of two Jaguar necks, for a couple of my project builds. Lacquer repairs, finishing, hardware installation, and fingerboard toning
1980’s, Premier “1026” Snare Drum. Some notes on adjusting the replacement gut snares, tensioning the heads, and on using a digital DrumDial
Notes on early attempts to “properly tune” or tension a drum. Setting up this renovated, 1980’s Premier “1026” snare drum for practice play, using a combination of “manual” procedures, with the additional help of a digital DrumDial
New Project – Late 1970’s Premier “Elite” Drum Kit (#2). Rebuild from parts – Assessing and prepping a set of spare shells
What to do with an apparently disparate collection of various, “orphan” premier drums shells. A second “Elite” kit built entirely from salvaged parts, perhaps?…
“The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar;
Frank Zappa
now that’s my idea of a good time.“
I’m a picker, not a player. I’m a DIY builder, not a luthier. I’m an enthusiast, not a professional.
But I’m always learning…
All content ©Ian Chisnall (IanC/Garageland) 2019-2022
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