What The Hell is Robert Russell Doing? (Artist Update from Early 2021)
I made a guitar, and took a bunch of guitar lessons...
Lessons:
The first 2 minutes are about taking a bunch of guitar lessons during the 2020 stay at home orders. I wanted to use the time as best as possible so I took a 3 month course featuring a mentor, ear training, and tons of exercises. It was pretty difficult for me, and was for sure the most focused practice I've ever done on guitar. ...Remember, I was just a sloppy player that just stayed on upright bass till a couple years ago when I made the decision to stop avoiding the guitar and get better at it.
The program was: Sonora Guitar Mastery Intensive
My Mentor was Amanda Monoco (She's Awesome)
https://amandamonaco.com/
For me, music lessons before that were drums in high school marching band and then 4 upright bass lessons from a cool blues/jazz player named Denny Croy... This was many years ago... and I'm sure he wants no credit for my ability. :)
...in light of that, I'm not telling you that the program is something you should do, because I have little frame of reference for what great lessons are. I can tell you this very intense amount of structured practice has helped my playing a lot, and being mostly self taught, it helped me understand the things I was already doing better. (Less of just shape playing)
Other Practice Examples:
The bit from the mister sandman song was a tutorial I found here on YouTube. (There's way harder versions available - but this fine for my clumsy hands)
• Tutorial: Mister Sandman - Fingerstyle Gui...
The Wish Upon A Star bit was from a YouTube tutorial as well
• When you wish upon a star
And Yeah, I built a guitar... Mostly...
I wanted a 335 style, but bigger, yet thinner like a telecaster, with Gretsch appeal and filter Tron pickups. The biggest difference is that I wanted more wood in the body than a usual semi hollow might have, because I really like the response from telecasters, but I feel like the 335 is the guitar that fits me best.
I made the body from maple and mahogany. I ordered a Gibson style neck and built the body to accommodate it. I made veneer for the headstock so the guitar had a unified theme.
The batwing f-holes, fast bats and the headstone truss cover are just my way of having fun with it because cute gothy stuff makes me happy.
The clear coat was just supposed to have a hint of gold to it, (To show the different color wood pieces well) but came back full on butterscotch... but I liked it instantly. Now it's "The Butterscotch Goth" (ha)
It came out great and for now its the main guitar I play.
The guitar had the neck set, as well as the electronics wired, and set up, by Randy from RWR guitars, and he had it finished with his painter. (Dunno his name) Like I said... I did not expect butterscotch... but it makes me happy and I would not change now if I could. :)
Then... I sulk about Disneyland not being open, but that is just my fun way of being sad and not bringing up much bigger things that may be stressing me or really anyone out lately. It's been a lot.
Anyway... I'm sure more folks will find a reasons to make cutting comments on this vid about things I love doing, but I'm thankful to pass 500 subscribers. You make the meaner comments hurt less. It's good to know that someone else understands me. (Ha)
Hope anyone that reads this is safe, well, and has hope.