"The more you tinker, the easier it becomes. You get used to remixing and improving your projects. You do research and get excited about what to try next. You get inspired by other people’s work. You might fall in love with an idea or get obsessed with finding the answer to a question. You’ll discover you don’t know all the answers."
― Ryan Jenkins
After a long wait, I finally received my replacement body from Warmoth to swap out the one that had become infested with borer beetles. For this one, I opted for korina wood instead of the original ash. Korina is known for its warm, resonant tones and slightly lighter weight compared to ash, which should give the guitar a distinct feel and sound. In terms of appearance, korina has a more subdued, earthy hue—it's not as bright or "lemony" as the ash, which had a striking yellowish tint. However, I've decided to keep the name Dirty Lemon Glow for the guitar. The new body may be different in wood and color, but the spirit of the instrument remains the same, and I think the name still fits its character perfectly.
While waiting for the body, I did consider switching to a different set of pickups, thinking it might be interesting to explore some new tonal possibilities. However, after weighing my options, I ultimately decided to stick with the original Seymour Duncan setup: the JB Jr. in the bridge, the Duckbucker in the middle, and the Little 59 in the neck — the loaded "Everything Axe" pickguard. In my opinion it's a killer combo for blues-rock. The JB Jr. offers that aggressive edge and clarity perfect for leads, while the Duckbucker brings a bright, chimey quality in the middle position that’s ideal for rhythm work. The Little 59 in the neck rounds it all out with warm, vintage-inspired tones that are just right for bluesy licks and soulful melodies.
Here it is next to a '54 Fender 2-tone vintage for color comparison ...
The original intent behind purchasing the Warmoth body was to replace a Fender 2-tone sunburst that had seen better days. I was hoping to find something that matched the iconic look of that classic finish. However, as you can see, even though the Warmoth body is stunning in its own right, it's pretty far off from what I was aiming for. Fender's 2-tone sunburst has that distinctive orange hue, which gives it that vintage look from the '50s and '60s. Thus, instead of a replacement body I decided to build an entirely new guitar.
All images © 2024 Mike McDowell