wizard of odd

Unlike other early LaBoz models, this Bison was made at the Shinko Gakki factory and has the Laboz family name on the headstock.

Given today’s quality control, it’s now less of a risk for a guitarist to shop online, purchasing models they’ve never actually played. That, of course, wasn’t the case when this column’s guitar was made.

The other day, I was at one of my local brick-and-mortar guitar stores, and was having a ton of fun playing a few of the guitars and amps there. A customer had recently brought in an early 1960s Danelectro (the Jimmy Page model) and a cool Valco-made National Reso-Phonic. I had a blast putting these guitars through the motions with some vintage amps, and I have to say that the National’s short scale was really short! I always forget how strange short-scale guitars feel until I play one. It always makes me feel extra large! Ha!

Read MoreShow less

With such a flashy flame top, the Silvertone 1445 was built to catch the eyes of department store shoppers.

I don’t know what’s going on lately, but I’m breaking down all over and my shoulder is the latest to crumble. When I was a kid I would practice guitar in my bedroom near a radiator with an ungrounded amp plug and I’d get a zap right through my guitar and into my hands. Well, my shoulder pain is like that now, only without the cool story of rock ’n’ roll survival. I simply woke up one day like this. After a few weeks of discomfort, I figured I’d try out a new pillow, since mine are flattened like a wafer. I ventured out to the mall and, much to my sadness, saw the local Sears store shuttered, with weeds growing up from the sidewalks and concrete barriers blocking the large glass doors. I know I don’t get out much, but, man, was I sad to see the Sears store I’d known since childhood closed-up like that. My wife was laughing at me because apparently it had been closed for some time. But since I seem to exist on a separate timeline than most folks, it was all news to me.

Read MoreShow less

This 1965/’66 Univox UC 12-string, with its angular body, mechanical-looking bridge, and funky 2-piece pickguard, looks sprung from a space-age fever dream.

H. Noble’s Univox guitars were funky and forward-thinking, and they remain so today.

I never seem to get rid of anything, including clothes. I have Vans from the ’80s that my son swears are worth a “ton of money,” and I have t-shirts dating way back. Since I never embraced fads, most of my old clothes are retro cool—according to my daughter, at least. The other day she was going through some aged t-shirts of mine and managed to claim a whole pile as her own. I looked through the shirts she liked, and among them I saw a Univox shirt, which I had totally forgotten about, but I quickly recalled that angular logo. (Man, the Univox Super-Fuzz is still my favorite all-time fuzz pedal.)

Read MoreShow less