Phil Oslund's Guitar Collection

My collection of instruments include a variety of configurations for wide tonal characteristics,

On the acoustic side, I have two Ovation acoustic-electrics, a 6-string and a 12-string (pictued far below on green background). I bought my first Ovation in 1984 and have owned at least one since (and as many as three). Some people complain about the acoustic tone of the roundbacks, but it doesn't matter when you plug in. I agree with Adrian Legg that Ovation "got it right" when it comes to acoustic pickups and preamps.

My other 6-string acoustic-electric is a Washburn EA45S (far left). This was my first eBay guitar, and it was purchased with no regrets (you have to ask the right questions). Made with a cedar top and Koa back & sides, the sound is relatively mellow for a steel-string acoustic. This instrument produces richer bass and mid-range tones than the Ovation 6-string. The EA45S is my main "sittin' around" guitar.

For an acoustic-electric bass, I have a Guild B4CE (right). This is also an eBay guitar, It's been lovingly used for a good many years and is in excellent shape.

Not really a guitar, though the wife says it counts as one, the Chromatic Strumstick deserves a mention. Pictured at left next to the EA45s, this small instrument is basically the same as the top four strings of a guitar. The sound is somewhere between a mandolin and a banjo; in fact, it uses banjo strings. I have yet to use this in recording.

Blurring the line is the Yamaha SLG-100N "silent guitar" (far right). A nylon-stringed classical guitar without a soundbox, it utilizes a B-Band pickup with preamp and reverb to produce an amazingly accurate acoustic tone.

The electric guitars include a Gibson ES-135 semi-hollow body with '57 humbuckers, Clear and articulate whether clean or distorted, it is a pleasure to play.

One of the more unique instruments is the Parker Fly Deluxe hardtail (pictured at bottom), Having both magnetic and piezo pickups, it allows you to go from screaming solo to a quiet acoustic part with the twist of a knob. The other amazing thing is it only weighs about five pounds. That's because Ken Parker modernized an ancient instrument building method of using light tone woods incased in a hard exoskeleton; today, carbon fiber, then shellac.

I have two Carvin 6-string electrics, a BOLT & a SC90. The Bolt is basically a custom-built Fender Strat with an ebony fingerboard and a fixed bridge. The SC90 is a little more extravagant. I had mine built of Hawaiian Koa. The neck, bodysides and top are all made of this increasingly rare hardwood. I had ordered it with a separate top so that it could be "flamed", a finishing technique. To my suprise, when I received it, they had flamed not only the top, but the sides and back as well. The result is a truly stunning instrument.

From left to right: Carvin LB75P 5-string bass, Ovation 12-string, Ovation 6-string, Carvin SC90, Carvin Bolt and Gibson ES-135

My electric bass is a Carvin LP75P 5-string. This maple neck-through swamp ash body bass is fitted with a massive humbucking pickup at the bridge and a single coil in the neck position. The bridge contains piezo pickups for further tonal possibilities. Carvin uses graphite rods to reinforce all of their guitar necks for incredibly solid and easy to play instruments.

At left, is my '85 Gibson Explorer. Also aquired through eBay, this brought more to the party than described. The pickups turned out to be the DiMarzios listed in the image rather than stock Gibsons. I added Sperzel locking tuners and a bar for the trem. The painted original artwork pickguard covers the entire face of the guitar; the image doesn't do it justice. This has become a favorite.

All are played through either a Digitech, Yamaha or Line 6 digital sound processor directly to the mixer.

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Parker Fly Deluxe: Black guitars are so hard to photogragh

Music Production

All music creation is done using Hobbitt Hole Studios. As the name implies, it is small and semi-subterranean. Located in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, it more than meets our current needs. Digital recording is done via a Behringer mixer. Vocals are conditioned with an ART preamp and tube compressor.