Top Hats

the Wine Red Les Paul Standard hasn't seen much action since the last Get Your Death On show over 2 years ago other than me strumming it here and there, but I finally decided to replace the missing Tone and Volume knobs.  I have no idea where/when each one left the guitar, but I do know that with the indicators that were put on these late 80's "preissues", accidentally having the side of your hand come across one of these spikes that is unprotected by a knob sucks.  

Turns out that Gibson doesn't sell the proper Amber 24+ year aged color so its going to have to be a NOS or other brand search.  I figured I'd try the ones called vintage Gold instead of the vintage amber, but these are completely different and the numbers look to just be screen printed on versus the originals that are in mold.......Any ideas?  All Parts?  Anybody have a lead on a dude with a basement full of old guitar knobs?

50-53 Cases Needed

Myles just scored this sweet sweet Panhead but it needs a case swap as it has a salvage title.

So, he's looking for some fucked cases, preferably 50-53, that have clean numbers.  He will then do some witchcraft.  Again, they don't have to be in runnable order, just have clean numbers.  Hit me up if you've got what we're looking for.

And, if you're thirsty and looking to have some good times, hear some great music, and ready to enjoy life in Brooklyn, check out his great spot, Lady J's on Grand Street in Williamsburg.

going through some things

in the infamous words of Master P himself.....I'm Going Through Some Things....

we got to work on the new Sportster project last night for a while.  The fun part.  Figured that I might as well tackle the wiring mess before doing anything else aesthetic.  Aes-backwards.  woah, I like that.

these bikes are the funnest

tank off, stock harness exposed and look at those handlebar switches!

Down to what is necessary:
Headlight Power, Ground, Coil wires.  4 wires from the battery up the backbone.

Garbage so far.

Result.

Bars will be narrowed about an inch on each side and the levers and master cylinder will probably be replaced during the winter.  For now though, they will get the old cut down, smooth out, thinning process.  Look at the first pic and the last one, its amazing how much better the bars look without all the stock switches on there.

Going to go with an automotive style key switch so there will be no separate momentary button.  Just key and headlight on/off.  Baby steps.

Chop Cult Feature on the Shovelhead

Head over to Chop Cult to check out a great feature they posted about the shovel.  Thank you to everyone whose hands, minds, and conversations have touched this bike. (and will continue to!)

Great pictures taken by Bill Bryant while we were on the Gypsy Run 6(66).

When I started the whole build, I wasn't sure what direction to go in.  It began by going in a very tight, narrow, low with high pegs sort of feel.  Honestly similar in feel to a combination of my old sportster, Chris's panhead, Kim's Panhead and his sportster.  (if that makes sense).  Let's be honest, I never planned to have FORWARD CONTROLS, yikes!  Then Chris found these tins at the swap and I had to have them.  From there, it was honestly wanting to build a bike that looked like a David Mann painting from the 80's issues of Easyriders magazines.  It was not to be period correct or be super hip...I mean come on, its a cone shovel, its a late 70's motor that came in a swing arm frame, with the shittiest version of Harley's 4 speed trannies, but I wanted to have a bike that reflected what people did with these bikes throughout the 80's.   It wasn't supposed to be a 60's period bike.  I'm pretty happy with what wound up "building itself".  I just need a mullet now.

Yarmulke

time has flown.

Miles.  Little Dude.  Sweet hat.  Almost 11 months.

although he is still young, seems like he may have my nose starting to show...