Tom Noll is at it again painting one of the all-time great guitar playing legends!

Last night I received this email from Tom:

Time to put on your thinking caps to help name another painting.

This one…..1/3rd of “That Little Ol’ Band from Texas”.

Rev Billy G _______, the Sketch by Tom Noll

On the easel right now is the recently named Texas State Musician…ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.

I’ve captured him at the first annual LaGrange Fest from October 22nd, 2011 in Bee Cave, TX. In the painting, Billy is probably laying down some cool pinch harmonic solo that he does so well. The photo reference I’ve used is courtesy of Rick Kern http://www.rickkern.net/ from Austin, TX. Thanks Rick!

Once again, I want to enlist the help of fans to name this creation. Right out of the box, my friend (the GuitarDaddy) coined the first half of the title…now I’m asking you to finish it.

To suggest a name for this painting, complete this title: “Rev Billy G. …….. …. …..”

The person who nails this for me will get a free print when the painting is done!

You can follow the progress of the painting on my site here as I update it… http://www.creativeboneartworks.com/paintingsRevBillyG.htm

I’m working on the painting now, and am aiming for a late February completion.

The original painting is again 40″ x 28″, which transfers nicely to a 27″ x 19″ print, so I’m going to keep with the same introductory price I’ve been offering of $222, with $8 to ship within the US, $12.50 for international. Its easy to order! Just contact me via email at Tom@TomNoll.com to secure your low number print. I’ll then email you an invoice and you will be directed to a secure Paypal site that accepts all major credit and debit cards. You DO NOT need a Paypal account. You are going to love this print!!

Getting Started with Rev Billy G !

NOW…TO SWEETEN THE POT!!!!
Everybody that pre-orders a print from me during this naming contest will have their name submitted for a drawing to win my personal copy of a glossy photo of Muddy Waters and Billy Gibbons from way back (shown in the plastic sleeve in the photo next to me).

This is a limited edition print of a classic 8×10 Black&White which comes with a pre-printed signature of both artists.

This offer will end 1 week after the name is announced.

This B&W photo is a great reminder of Billy’s blues roots, and will look great displayed alongside your Rev Billy G. print!

I look forward to all the great names that I know are coming my way… go cat go!!

Thanks…Tom

Now, on to the contest…

SO HOW DOES THE CONTEST WORK?
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO ENTER THIS CONTEST IS LEAVE A COMMENT TO THIS POST WITH YOUR SUGGESTION FOR A NAME OF THE BILLY GIBBONS PAINTING!
TOM WILL SELECT THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE PAINTING FROM THE COMMENT ENTRIES AND THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A FREE PRINT OF THE ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING!

BE SURE TO BOOKMARK THIS PAGE AND CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR CONTEST UPDATES!

UPDATE: FEB 6, 2012: Less than 24 hours – over 50+ name suggestions!

UPDATE: Feb 8, 2012: Follow the progress of the painting on Tom’s site… http://www.creativeboneartworks.com/paintingsRevBillyG.htm

CLICK HERE TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENT!

He was only 58 years old.

He had an amazing talent and influenced for so many players.

Including me.

Here is one of my favorite Gary Moore videos:

Seymour Duncan's Secret Room

The Secret Room is a website where players will have access to a vast repository of tips, tricks, and techniques — the kind of “secrets” that some musicians jealously protect. But before being admitted to this password-protected site, visitors must contribute one of their own tone secrets — the kind of hard-won musical wisdom that is almost too good to share.

Once players submit a secret, they get access to all the other exclusive secrets. They can also comment on the secrets and rate them. And just to keep things lively, the highest rated secret between now and March 1^st, 2012 will receive a Godin Summit CT, a lovely and versatile carved-top solidbody electric guitar that sells for around $1,000. The second and third place prize winners will receive a set of Seymour Duncan pickups of their choice.

Click the link below to submit your tone secret and to discover a world of the best kept secrets:

Take me to “The Secret Room”…

Seymour Duncan Pickguards

Install any combination of pickups in minutes thanks to the Liberator which is installed in the Triple Rails, Classic and Bring Your Own Pickups Pickguard and will allow you to change your pickups in minutes using only a screwdriver.

The Antiquity Pickguard features an artfully aged look with true vintage tone and each is personally signed by Seymour W. Duncan.

Watch this video for more information:

This afternoon, I received the following email from Tom…

Nephesh - Roy Buchanan, Painted by Tom Noll, Named by David Buchanan

The Roy Buchanan painting… what an experience! Thanks to all of you for the great inspiration you provided along the way which helped the painting foster its ethereal feel.

I’ve got to admit that a few months back, Roy Buchanan was just a name which I associated with a man who was often referenced as a giant influence to many other guitar slingers that I loved, but I’d never explored to find out about him as to why he was so revered. Now, after this brief exposure, I hear why, and I have deep respect for who he was, what he stood for, and what he’s meant to music and to those who have followed.

This contest opened my eyes with the outpouring of emotion and creativity from fans as they expressed what my painting of Roy meant to them. Along the way came a suggestion that is a title of a 1973 song of Roy’s… “Nephesh“, (neh’-fesh) which in Hebrew means soul, or life. This title had a nice connection for me, and it was a singular submission by a person who went on to offer the comment… “and it’s always been one of mine, and my sister Jenny’s favorite songs of dad’s”.

I’m humbled to have my painting of Roy Buchanan named by his son, David J. Buchanan.

As the days of the contest rolled by, David gave us additional little glimpses of his father that enhanced what I was doing, what I was feeling, and shedding some light on what otherwise would have never been known.

Congrats and Thanks David!!! Your complimentary print will be on its way, and I’m sure you will give it a place of honor.

I’ve currently got the painting in the works, making reproductions this week, and will be shipping prints this Monday, February 6th to those who have pre-ordered them. For all others that would like to celebrate Roy Buchanan’s memory with “Nephesh” and would like to own early editions, please email me at Tom@TomNoll.com and I’ll hook you up via a paypal invoice (you don’t need a paypal account). Now that we’ve appropriately named the painting, I am honoring the introductory offer of $222 for prints for another week until February 12th.

Thanks…Tom
—————–

GuitarDaddy adds… As Tom mentioned, along the way David shared many stories with us about his life as a young boy and growing up with a father that so many guitarists and musicians idolized. David shared with me that his Dad gave him a 1969 Telecaster (David was born in 1969)… but David never wanted to be compared to his father, so he just slid the guitar under his bed.

As the years passed, David grew to find his passion in poetry.

Today, his work is published on his web site: www.PoetryBuchanan.com. David also maintains a website on MySpace where he also writes a blog. Check it out at: www.MySpace.com/buchanan69.

A few days ago, David shared some personal things with me and graciously granted me permission to reprint them here on the TheGuitarBuzz.

Presented here is a rare glimpse of a private family photo and a poem that David wrote in 2005 about his father… and his guitar.

I found David’s work to be heartfelt, emotional and very thought provoking.

Roy Buchanan, in a Rare Family Photo (Courtesy David Buchanan)

His Guitar

All through childhood I heard his guitar
Little did I know he was a star
But man was he so bizarre
Very distant, very far
With manic-depression he was on par
His only release was his guitar
There must have been an unseen scar
Hidden behind that smoky cigar
One night with lawmen he did spar
One final act in a police car
Sweet Dreams to you now you’re truly a star
Strumming Nancy in some heavenly bar
Yet I can still hear him playing
His guitar

– 11-24-10 wwww

Copyright © 2005 David Buchanan

Thank you so much David, for sharing your poetry with us!

Joe Bonamassa Live at The Beacon Theatre

Awarded by Billboard Magazine as the #1 Blues Artist of 2010, watch blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa perform Live at The Beacon Theatre with special guest appearances by Paul Rodgers, John Hiatt and Beth Hart.

His 2011 release Dust Bowl debuted at #1, the 3rd consecutive album by Bonamassa to debut #1 on Billboards Blues Albums, and #37 on Billboard’s Top 200, making it his highest-selling and chart-ranking U.S. debut to date.

The DVD and Blu-Ray will be available on March 26, 2012.

I’m sure you do too.

One magazine I look forward to receiving is “Fretboard Journal“. It’s not your traditional axe-stuff… there’s no tab, no CD or DVD reviews, no stomp-box wiring layouts, very minimal advertising and rarely anything that would appeal to a metal-head or cover band.

Yet, I look forward to receiving it…(and I thank my in-laws for the holiday gift-subscription!)

Recently, Fretboard Journal published the ultimate guitar player’s “Bucket-List”. What’s a “Bucket List?” Well, without seeing the movie… it’s that list of things you absolutely have to do before you kick the bucket… The list includes ninety-nine things that the staff of the Fretboard Journal thought every guitarist should do before they die.

I will re-publish 10 of the items (below) and link to the FULL LIST HERE.

1. Play a real ’59 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
2. Join an online guitar forum.
3. Get into an argument with someone on an online guitar forum.
4. Get invited upstairs at Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee to see the good stuff.
5. Fire a drummer.
6. Take a factory tour at C.F. Martin & Co in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
7. Have at least two quotes from This is Spinal Tap committed to memory.
8. Attend Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival.
9. Host a house concert.
10. Play “Eight Miles High” on a Rickenbacker 12-string

 
So… How many of these have you done? And what do you think is missing from the full list?

I’m not sure how I kept from blabbing this the day it arrived, but somehow I kept it all to myself.  No more! Take a gander at my new Gigliotti GFB Tobacco-Burst Firebird!

My Gigliotti Firebird

I know what you are saying… what’s a Gigliotti?

Gigliotti guitars are some of the finest custom guitars in the world. Great craftsmanship, great tone, and each one is an individual work of art and a thing of beauty.

Gigliotti guitars feature a unique and patent-pending Gigliotti Voicing System and unique metal plate top insert. This system allows the tops to resonate like a fine acoustic guitar, giving a rich and luscious tone with or without an amp.

The first time I saw a Gigliotti Guitar was back in 2008 at my first Joe Bonamassa concert.

Joe switches out guitars every couple of songs at his concerts and when his tech handed him his tele-shaped Gigliotti, a lot of heads turned. When the stage lights hit these, they look like they are on fire!

I remember sitting there with my buddy Michael Somma and I looked over at him and said: “I have to have one of those!”

The truth is, I purchased a tele-style Gigliotti a few months ago from Wes at Rebel Guitars. I LOVED the look and feel of the guitar but the more I played it, I realized I could not get the tone I wanted from a single-pickup Tele.  So a few months later, Wes got this Firebird version in his inventory and he was gracious to allow me to exchange…or shall we say, UPGRADE! The Firebird has 3 Humbuckers and the tonal variations are endless. Wes is a great honest guy to deal with and he sells a lot of custom guitars. If you are in the market for something unique, check out the inventory at Rebel Guitars.

So I have had the Firebird for about 2 months and have decided to make it my main guitar (for now!).  Seriously, I love the look of it so much, I think I will replace the Les Paul “logo graphic” on TheGuitarBuzz site with this guitar.

What do you think?