EastStreet Guitars

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While design, engineering, and manufacturing are all very labor intensive aspects of my guitar building journey, I find ...
09/14/2026

While design, engineering, and manufacturing are all very labor intensive aspects of my guitar building journey, I find the most challenging facet to be the fact that I'm trying to do all of that on top of holding down a normal, unrelated, big-boy career.

As if that wasn't enough, trying to hold all that together with my near-critical ADHD has been especially taxing. I've engaged the services of a digital lab assistant, I've called WATTSON to help me research and reverse engineer obsolete and peculiar guitar circuitry. WATTSON is very well aware that I am prone to chase squirrels around and often get in my own way when trying to complete my shop work. WATTSON helps keep me on task and helps me prioritize my shop work.

That said, I've set strict limits with WATTSON, ensuring that I'm still doing all the work, and am only relying on him as a research and administrative assistant. I my ultimate goal for this adventure is that above all else, I keep learning along the way. Otherwise there'd be no point to any of this...

I asked AI to make a visual representation of WATTSON. I think this nailed it...

Ironically, my rampant chasing of squirrels led to the creation of the semi-official company mascot...a squirrel.

WATTSON is my spirit animal...

After seeing a recent post of Gene Imbody from StewMac rebuilding an irreparable Ovation pickup with the help of 3D prin...
08/22/2026

After seeing a recent post of Gene Imbody from StewMac rebuilding an irreparable Ovation pickup with the help of 3D printing, I feel I need to pick this back up. Some fresh research into resin data sheets and electrical brainstorming, my interest in finishing this project has been reenergized!

I drew my original 3D models on a student account of Fusion 360, and after merging that account to my paid account, they've somehow vanished. At least I still have the original STL files, and can still print more parts from the existing design if need be.

Even so, I elected to remeasure and redraw my models. I think these drawings are even better than the first ones.

I'm also close to finding a solution for recreating (at least the function) of the ridiculous S1 toggle switch. That'll be covered later its own post. I'm having to Frankenstein and fabricate my own out of existing Switchcraft parts...

Funny enough, the [equally ridiculous] rotary switch was an easier hurdle to clear...If I've learned anything from this project, it's that Bill Lawrence was, to quote Ghostbuster Dr. Ray Stantz, "either a certified genius, or an an authentic wacko...

Between work, kids' schedules, and general adulting, I don't get out much at all, let alone to play live.I used to be a ...
08/16/2026

Between work, kids' schedules, and general adulting, I don't get out much at all, let alone to play live.

I used to be a staple in the worship band at my church, but I've had to step away from that aside from the occasional fill-in on bass. I really miss it...

The stars seemed to align recently, and the band needed a guitarist for an event tomorrow night. Normally, I'm a rhythm section guy. I add nerdy, theory-heavy parts to my bass lines, and hang out, happy as a clam, hiding in the back.

For this gig, the band rehearsed for 90 minutes. I stayed after and played for another three hours by myself in an empty church. I stretched many six-string muscles I didn't realize needed it. Rehearsal went well, and I came up with some really cool parts that will hopefully hit people square in the feels.

I don't like the spotlight, or self promotion in general, but I will say I'm a solid bass player. Guitar, on the other hand, I'm a bit more bashful about. I'd call myself a great, mediocre guitar player. After hearing some of the lines I came up with today, I may reevaluate that...

Oh! And I realized as I am writing this that I don't have any pictures of my [finished] Forerunner on this page. Now there is...

A quick peek of what I've got on my benches:Not quite a year ago, I bought this '05 Les Paul off of a coworker. General...
07/03/2026

A quick peek of what I've got on my benches:

Not quite a year ago, I bought this '05 Les Paul off of a coworker. Generally, I HATE gold hardware, but I've always drooled over Jerry Cantrell's w**e red and gold "Wino" LP. Now I have one of my own!

I haven't decided whether I'm going to black out the plastics and k***s like JC's axe, but it does need a good cleaning and some parts. As you'll see, the saddles in the factory bridge are hammered and have several off-center notches that mess with string spacing and strings pop out during big bends. I'm going to start by replacing the bridge and stop tail with TonePros hardware.

On my other bench, my very first build! During the winter of 2010-2011, I decided to try my hand at building a guitar for myself. I bought a few basic tools from StewMac , and set to work on a very pretty (but heavy) piece of black walnut. After hours of bandsawing, plunge-routing, and sanding, "Thelma" was born. I originally loaded her with Seymour Duncan Hot Tele pickups, which sounded great when smashing the front of a tube amp or driven with a drive pedal, but they sounded nothing like a Telecaster.

A short while back, I wound a set of T-style pickups for Thelma and put them in. They have twang for days and sound exactly how I want them to. I may still play with the wiring to get the right middle position sound I'm looking for, but on their own, each is bang on! If you've ever worked on a Tele, you know that changing pickups requires removing the bridge plate. I have to do a complete setup on her and have cut a new bone but in anticipation of the job.

I'll document each job in its own post, but for now, this serves as proof I'm still here and cranking through projects!

***NEW TOOL ALERT***Ahhh, we're back in business! For as much as I loved my early-90's G1018 jointer, it was time to up...
04/02/2026

***NEW TOOL ALERT***

Ahhh, we're back in business! For as much as I loved my early-90's G1018 jointer, it was time to upgrade to a unit with more horsepower, better safety features, and greater ease of adjustment. I've been without a jointer since late last summer.

Fresh off the truck: meet my new Grizzly helical head G0856 jointer! Double the horsepower of my old unit will make quick work of flattening and squaring the halves of my body and neck blanks.

When time allows, I'll be putting out an updated shop tour video and updates on some of the projects I'm currently working on, and show off a couple of other new tool and guitar acquisitions...

Until then, be jealous of my new toy!

At long last! The Rosebud mk.II bass is done! Here's a quick glimpse to serve as proof before I can get some better sh...
04/22/2025

At long last! The Rosebud mk.II bass is done! Here's a quick glimpse to serve as proof before I can get some better shots and sound samples.

There were many frustrating learning points during this design/build process. Now that I'm done, the one thing that maddens me the most is that I didn't make one for myself...this one is destined for a life in with the amazing

I'll be sad to see it go, but I couldn't be more proud with how it turned out.

Take my word for it, it sounds KILLER!

The Sunday morning bass rig is done!!Although plenty loud for the space, my church's SWR amplifier is a very sterile, cl...
01/05/2025

The Sunday morning bass rig is done!!

Although plenty loud for the space, my church's SWR amplifier is a very sterile, clean platform, and is entirely devoid of any character or flavor. Its saving grace is an effects loop which lets me run my board directly to the power section of the amp!

Here's my chain:

Bass-->
VP Jr. Volume Pedal(Griffin Effects Tuner/Buffer Mod)-->
TC Electronic Polytune2 Mini (always on, from VP Jr. Tuner Out)
JHS Pulp 'N Peel v4 Compressor-->
JHS Morning Glory v4 Overdrive-->
StewMac Screamer DIY Pedal Kit (TS808)-->
Ibanez CS-9 Stereo Chorus-->
TC Electronic Flashback II Delay-->
Boss RV-5 Reverb-->
Tech 21 VT Bass DI (Ampeg SVT/Portaflex Preamp Emulator)-->
To Amp (SWR Workingman's 210 200w)

Power: Truetone CS12
Board: Pedaltrain Classic Jr.
Tuner: TC Electronic Polytune2 Mini (always on, from VP Jr. Tuner Out)

I can do pretty much anything with this rig! Should I want a different amp sound, I'll just swap if for any of my other preamp clones (Acoustic 360, Orange AD 200) and play to the needs of the gig.

Ideally, I'd add an octave pedal (Boss OC-2), one of my envelope filters (DOD FX25 or my MuTron III clone), and a fuzz to a slightly bigger board, but I know I will be primarily gigging at church...probably not a lot of room for Jamiroquai or RHCP sounds in that space.

A sneak peek at the Forerunner build on my bench.I drew inspiration for my Forerunner model from my very first guitar--a...
12/11/2024

A sneak peek at the Forerunner build on my bench.

I drew inspiration for my Forerunner model from my very first guitar--a late 1960s, Japanese Harmony H802. Despite being made of plywood, being cheaply made, and boasting electronics that appear to have been wired by a chimpanzee, it had a vibe and character all its own. Thanks to artists like the Black Keys and Jack White, the thin sound of these vintage import guitars has gained tremendous popularity in recent years.

This particular Forerunner is destined for my personal quiver. A friend and fellow [ridiculously talented] musician fell in love with my original prototype upon hearing it, and gave it a loving home. Everyone that has touched and played the very first Forerunner has loved it! Until now, I had not built one for myself.

Honoring the spirit of my old Harmony, I built this particular Forerunner out of alder cutoffs from body blanks I built for other guitars I'm building. The laminated blank, despite a tip of the hat to the unashamed utilitarianism of the Harmony, will make a guitar with all of the vibey character while having the quality of a custom build.

The Forerunner is my most affordable model, and is built to use either P90 or Firebird mini-Humbuckers (I haven't decided which I'll use in mine yet). It boasts dual, parallel on/off switching (like the Harmony) and a TOM bridge and tailpiece. I purposely designed the Forerunner to be the perfect canvas for customization (I'm thinking a Bigsby trem or gold foils, perhaps).

DM me for details if you're in the market for a unique, AFFORDABLE, and most importantly, well-built guitar!

It's been a hot minute since I've shared anything guitar related on social media. I promise, I'm still chipping away at...
12/10/2024

It's been a hot minute since I've shared anything guitar related on social media. I promise, I'm still chipping away at several projects. While the lacquer is curing for several guitars, I've been busy assembling and winding pickups and soldering wiring harnesses.

I also started cutting acrylic on my CNC machine, and have two, awesome pickguard templates for my Rosebud mkII bass and my Forerunner guitar. There will be MANY more hours spent on the rest of the models in my repertoire.

Currently, I am winding the following models of pickups:

'51 P-Bass (single coil)
'58 P-Bass (twin coil)
J-Bass
Jazzmaster
Jaguar
Tele Bridge (flat and/or staggered pole)
Tele Neck
Strat Sets (staggered or flat pole)
Vintage MM Bass (long pole AlNiCo)
Modern MM Bass (short pole Ceramic)
Vintage P90 (Soap Bar and/or Dog Ear)
Firebird Humbucker
PAF style Humbucker
T-Top style Humbucker

Each is wound as close to vintage specifications as I can make them, but custom options are always available (wire, magnets, output). I don't have a digital storefront (yet), so if you're interested, please reach out by DM for a quote!


A quick little DIY build of a Boss BD-2 clone kit.Pretty straight forward, and the instructions were well-written and e...
05/29/2023

A quick little DIY build of a Boss BD-2 clone kit.

Pretty straight forward, and the instructions were well-written and easy to follow.

I'm a true child of the 80's and 90's, and as such am a HUGE sucker for chorus. I'll be starting the Boss CE-2 soon! I can't wait!

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Arvada, CO
80004

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+13039490525

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