George Lynch: Guitar Player - Activism, Guitars, and the 1980s



George Lynch is also tracking a new project with King's X bassist/ vocalist dUg Pinnick and Korn drummer Ray Luzier, as well as finishing up the second T&N record, the project with his former Dokken mates, Jeff Pilson and “Wild” Mick Brown. In his, uh, spare time Lynch is busy with Mr. Scary Guitars, an outlet where the 58-year-old guitarist’s gear-head penchant for tinkering and getting his hands dirty explodes into full-on guitar art. “Four years ago when I was in a wheelchair for a while with some back issues, I started painting to keep busy, and that just translated to guitars,” explains Lynch, who meticulously handcrafts each Mr. Scary guitar after close consultation with the purchaser. “ESP had a surplus of a certain model of mine, and at first I was just going to sign them—but then I started illustrating them, and before long I was using a router and a Dremel tool! The whole thing just evolved.”

How did you get started building guitars?

In the late ’70s, when I was teaching at Randy Rhoads’ mother’s music school, Musonia, I would put guitars together for my students to supplement my income. I wouldn’t say building, but just sort of buying bodies and necks from Charvel and Mighty Mite and kind of bolting things together and wiring them up and selling them real cheap—$350. They were beautiful, very playable guitars made of high-quality wood and with great necks on them.

Randy got the Ozzy gig, and I didn't, so I got the consolation prize, which was his old job [laughs]. It was funny, because the majority of Randy’s students were girls. Randy was a good-looking guy, and a lot of the students weren't really learning how to play, they were just there to see and hang out with him. When I showed up, half of them quit!

Full interview: http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/green-warrior-george-lynch-talks-activism-guitars-and-the-80s/150928

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