My parents got me a guitar when i was 15, after i cried all summer about it. I had heard Stevie ray’s cover of ‘Little wing”and i knew in my heart i had to learn to do what he was doing- talking, with his guitar. So as im practicing along with my guy Stevie, im noticing he’s doing something I can’t understand just by listening. He is dropping the pitch of every string all at once and im sure my left hand can’t do this. Later im clued in by instructional videos and in guitar magazines and finally the ability to do the cool thing in my favorite song is here!

I was hooked, my obsession with the whammy was born. Since im not a car guy, my dad was kind enough to spend garage time with me updating my squire in all concievble ways. The one thing i really wanted, however, was an Ibanez ZR- Trem. I wanted the ability to wiggle notes in and out of the phrase, but I couldn’t do this as much as id like without coming out of tune. The ZR trem was at the time the best locking bridge because it would compensate string tension as one played. Luckily i found this trem on a fire-orange flame S470, named her Fiona (Apple) and away i went! I made lots of mods over the years from active pickups to strap locks to wiring- but one thing i noticed is in the hot florida sun i would often lose the slick, chrome bar when i needed it.

So Pop and i cooked up the ‘Dad-Bar’.

It was essentially skate board grip tape, at first. The problem however, is the tape doesn’t adhere well to the super slick chrome. So i thought ‘I’ll just epoxy it’. This works great for a while, but then the tape loses its grip.

Dad passed a while ago but when i wanted to duplicate a bar my step dad suggested getting one manufactured- I didn’t know he meant “by us”! Now it honors two excellent human beings and fathers. You’ll see Dave around the shop most days unless he’s taking Mom across the country!

And, well, here we are!