unbelievable creation from Joe Driskill

[twitch]

This may be the most incredible thign I have seen. I may actually like the back better:



http://www.driskillguitars.com/wolf.htm

[VegasGreg]

Wow! That IS a stunner!

Front and back are terrific......that's just incredible looking.

[samdjr74]

I'll take two, maybe 3, actually I'd love to have any driskill!!!!!

[r9player]

LOL I wonder .. who put this out on the board ...
Been having a light discussion about these guitars ...
Personally I love it, I like it when Luthiers go all out for their trade and passion, try different things etc. (although I must wonder, doesn't PRS already have all the technology available to make a Wolf .. since they did a Dragon?)
Joe is definitely a fanatic who loves to push the enevelope come up with some new things.

However someone else counter pointed ... Driskill wait list now went from 6-8 Mo to ... 2-3 Years? Basic point a LOT of time was spent on these 3 guitars which wasn't spent on a lot of people waiting for their Driskill ...

Since I am not waiting on a Driskill ... haha I don't mind he spent all this time on these guitars, but for those of you who are waiting on one ... what do you people think?

[twitch]

Fair question, and my guitar was delayed because of this project, as well as a guitar he made for a quadriplegic, and other reasons as well.

how do I feel about it? That is part of the deal when you deal with a small man, or one man shop. Joe has his reasons for doing things that will alter the time frame for the peoplw who have guitar on order. These reasons can range from taking on a challenge, trying to do the impossible, not being able to say no, or simply making what they feel is the best business decision. if you you want to minimize any of that, you would need to order a guitar from someone else, like a PRS private stock. Even with that, I know of people who were told 6 months, and waited a year. Stuff happens.

The wait was tough, no lying about that. For me, anything short of a year would have made paying for it an issue. Spreading out payments helped. After it was paid for, I would have been happy not to wait anymore, but oh well.

After having the guitar for 5 months now, the wait was 300% worth it, and I would certainly order another one knowing it could be up to 2 years until I get it, and that may be the only way I could pay for another one anyway.

[MOJO]

so what do you think... will a driskill wait time go down now that these are are almost done??

i have tossed aroung the idea of a "blues" model but i have to admit the 2 to 2 1/2 year wait times i've been hearing about has made me consider other alternatives ( not a knock on joe at all..his guitars are incredible and he is a one man operation.. i 'd just go too nutz with anticipation waiting that long...

although what i'm considering is a pretty simple blues model.. no fancy swamp ash figure or staining ( special opaque finish) and regular dot inlays...??

[tedwoods]

This is utterly cool!

Any info on the bridge unit?I don't think I've seen something similar...

Ted

[r9player]

I believe that is Joe's custom Tail piece he came up with. Looks like he adjusted it to accept Piezo saddles.
Certain people who are totally tone crazed luthiers will create their own tail pieces ... like Driskill.. Zachary ..

[Yossi]

That is a masterpiece!

As far as the wait for a Driskill, (I am still waiting for mine a long time already) I would think that Joe's fame can only go up and up, especially after making a guitar like the Wolf. This can only increase the orders and keep increasing the wait.
But once you get one, look at what you'll have.
Good things are worth waiting for!

Yossi,

[Ericsson]

Ack. That is a monstrosity. I can't tell if the dog's front paws are broken? They seem to jut off in strange directions. And the cutesie paw-prints on the flowery fretboard? Is this an angry wolf or a friendly pet wolf? Can't say I care for the concept or the execution.

[5wayswitch]

wow thats insane good

[ChrisP]

:eek:

[rjlaero1]

I hate to criticize anybody who spent that much time doing custom inlay work....but to be honest, that "wolf" looks kinda goofy to me. The legs just don't look right and the whole thing seems weird and out of proportion.

Kudos to Joe Driskill and to all the stellar work that's he's done on his guitars, but I can't agree that's the best inlay work ever done on a guitar body.

[jgraham]

Joe's guitars are visually stunning and crafted flawlessly. And he seems like the coolest dude, based on his online persona. I can totally appreciate the amount of work that must have gone into this one. The Diablo guitars just aren't my thing though.

[dirk nixon]

Beautiful!

:dude

[908SSP]

It reminds me of the guitar drilled holes through so I could put Xmas lights in from the back. :D

[taboo]

Considering the time I waited for my Wolf to be completed I don't think it hindered anything that was going on. I won't go into details but it was much longer than 2 or 3 years. Much much longer.
The reason there is such a long wait time now is because Joe is backordered. I don't know the exact numbers but my understanding is that he is backordered more than 200 guitars. Any way you look at it 200+ guitars is gonna take a while to do. These aren't cookie cutter guitars. There are a million other guitars to buy if that's what you want. If you want a Driskill the sooner you get in line the better off you will be. These are not assembly-line production guitars.

In response to this:
Ack. That is a monstrosity. I can't tell if the dog's front paws are broken? They seem to jut off in strange directions. And the cutesie paw-prints on the flowery fretboard? Is this an angry wolf or a friendly pet wolf? Can't say I care for the concept or the execution.
And this:
I hate to criticize anybody who spent that much time doing custom inlay work....but to be honest, that "wolf" looks kinda goofy to me. The legs just don't look right and the whole thing seems weird and out of proportion.

My design wasn't meant to please either of you at all. It was meant to please me, Joe, and a friend of mine. I have kept a Wolf for the last 30 years. Not the same one of course. My last one died last year as this guitar was being completed. Anyway, my point is unless you have spent time with one you have no idea what they are about. If you knew anything about Wolves you would know that particular expression is more about let's get to know each other but treat me with respect. As far as proportion goes the Wolf is right on. He is flows with the guitar's body and all his body parts are right with each other. He also has hair. You have no idea how hard it is to make pearl look like hair. From the grain of the pearl having to flow just right to the hundreds of points Joe talked about. The points being the border and edges that actually look like hair. The remark about " cutesie paw-prints on the flowery fretboard" is not worth responding to. These guitars in person are 10 times more exciting than picture could ever communicate.
I think you will find at the end of the day there will be far more people that love these guitars and their design than those that don't. I know this guitar was built for me and I am the only person it has to satisfy. And it does that in spades.
To Joe Driskill, Thank you. You have built something that will last forever and means more to me than a million Dragons.
Oh an by the way they play and sound better than they look.

[rjlaero1]

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anyone else with my review of the wolf guitar. As long as you're the owner of the guitar & 100% happy, that's all that matters.

But I think the overall "gushing" over this guitar being a masterpiece and the greatest thing anybody has ever seen in terms of inlay work is somewhat over-reaching IMO. I don't think I'm out of line by expressing my opinion of how that inlay looks.

I personally don't think it looks as classy or life-like and real as it should. The trick to making people and animals look "right" is making them look life-like and real.

Have you ever seen an amateur drawing a dog, cat, or anything else? I'm sorry, but that Wolf comes off looking that way to me from the pictures I see.

Maybe some animals and objects are not done justice to with pearl and such like you said. You wanted a wolf and you got one. I'm glad your're happy and I'll keep my mouth shut, now.

[jack1man]

I had the rare opportunity to put my hands on one of these.
There are only three lucky people out there and they each have a good reason to be prode. The two to support an inspire the builder and the builder to have the imagination and motivation
to see the project through. I do not think that I have the patentants to wait 4 to 6 years to see a project this delicate
come together. Beautiful work Joe and my hats off to the investors!!:dude

[tms13pin]

RJ, I'm having trouble figuring out what you *do* like. Just
Les Pauls and Strats (and those builders who copy them) maybe
throw PRSs in there too, just to play it safe)?

You kinda jumped on the Gadows a couple weeks ago too. I
haven't been around here all that long, and I'm not looking to
push this thread into a "he likes, she likes" thread, but really. I
know .... everyone's entitled to her/his own opinion.

Me, I like the Wolf axe. I think it looks great and I really
appreciate all of the hard work that went into it. I know the
owner(s) are gonna be psyched to own them. I liked the PRS
dragon inlay axe too. Would I buy either of them even if I could
afford them? No. Too much bling for my tastes to play them,
and I would only buy them to play them, but I really enjoy
looking at them, and I'm glad the owners are happy with them.
If someone gave me one, I'm sure I wouldn't turn it down
though! :D

Personally, I get tired of looking at all of the boutique guitars
that just look like strats or teles or LPs. I'm sure they play and
sound great (and I *really* like strats), but, it's been done.
Sure, how they sound is ultimately what matters, but it's
nice to see some folks trying out some new things. I don't
always like them, but I really respect the effort put forth, and
don't feel like raining on the parade of those who are
enamoured with them.

--Tom

[taboo]

I remember the reaction the guitar world had to the first dragon. It was an accomplishment. It was not realistic at all. None of the dragons or most inlays are "realistic" or picture perfect. There has been "gushing" over this guitar because it is a major accomplishment. No one anywhere has ever inlayed such a severely curved surface. Everyone that was asked said it can't be done. They said it can't be done even with laser. I personally talked to a company that makes lasers specifically for cutting inlays and they said it can't be done. Well it has been done now. And Joe Driskill is the one that did it.

I agree you can express your opinion. I can also express mine. I think the Wolf looks right. His "hair" flows in all the right directions, his body parts are right with each other, the eyes are right. He flows with the guitar and looks like he could jump off the top of the guitar at any given moment. He is breathtaking. There is a theme running thoughout the guitar. The pawprints take you somewhere and for just a moment the Wolf stops in his tracks looks at you and turns up the volume.

I am pretty much done. I don't plan to post again so anyone that wants can flame away. I very seldom post anyway.

[r9player]

BTW Taboo grats on a really nice guitar! If I could own one .. or even just a Driskill I'd be all over it
:D

[rjlaero1]

Tom,

I don't think I "jumped" on the gadow thread as you stated. I don't think there's anything wrong with expressing opinions back and forth if it's done in the proper tone and intelligent manner. I wasn't the only one here who questioned the look of that wolf inlay and didn't agree with all the praise.

And I'm certainly not the only person on this board who thought Gadow's designs (workmanship aside) weren't particularly good or sexy-looking guitars. Go back and do a "search" for Gadow and see what I'm talking about.

Look back at my previous post as I complemented Joe Driskill for being a top-notch and well respected guitar maker. I was only commenting about the looks of that (1) wolf inlay.

I think there's some people on here who get mad when somebody else expresses opinons that the guitars they bought are not the best thing since sliced bread and impeccable works of art.

I can't fault anybody who buys a Driskill guitar. The guy is backed up 2 years and you can sell a used Driskill for almost what you pay for a new one just so you don't have to wait. That's a complement and an achievent for any guitar maker.

And for inlaywork done by hand, you can't get any better than Grit Laskin.

http://www.williamlaskin.com/gallery2.html

[MOJO]

in the back shot of the body this that lacewood he used?

[rjlaero1]

This is some of the most beautiful and life-like hand work I've ever seen. That's what I like.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/JPerryRocks/4956-11.jpg

[taboo]

Yes, the back is Lacewood, the neck is 3 piece flamed maple. The Lacewood is a thin veneer with a mahogany core. I didn't want to lose the tone property of the mahogany.


I missed this one earlier.


It reminds me of the guitar drilled holes through so I could put Xmas lights in from the back.


What a gracious thing to say.

[Mark C]

Hey, that's amazing workmanship and if the owner is happy, fantastic. Too fancy for my tastes - I still think PRS birds are fancy!;)

[908SSP]

Whatever I might think of it I would not have insulted it in front of the owner. I am sorry I was careless I assumed incorrectly that the owner was not on this list. For that I do apologize. Like anything else someone is going to like it and someone isn't. It isn't that I don't appreciate all the hard work and skill involved I do. I understand the need to decorate our property to make ones property more personal or unique. If it was given to me I would sell it.

[tms13pin]

RJ, you are correct, poor choice of words on my part, you
didn't "jump" on the Gadow. I just think you used poor
judgement in posting your opinions on the look of those
guitars in a thread where I was simply alerting folks
potentially interested in the instruments to a place I
saw some good prices on them. It would have been
better for you to post a thread in this forum (in that case
and in this one with the wolf) with a header like:
"Who else thinks Gadow guitars are ugly?" or "Who
thinks all this fuss about the Wolf guitar is too much?",
rather than raining on another's thread with negativity.

No, I'm no touchy-feely Mr. Positive, but I just think it's
poor taste to cast shadpws over things where they don't
need to be cast. Nuff said, I'm not out to make enemies
or to totally hijack the thread (although I suppose I've
already done so). And, you did acknowledge the hard
work put into the guitars.

Yes, I think the work on the axe you just posted is
excellent too. Great inlay job, and cool looking as well.
Again, one I wouldn't personally buy, but it's nice to
look at.

All you Driskill owners out there, congrats, you've got
some fine fine pieces. Taboo, do you know who is
getting the other two Wolves?

RJ -- my spalted Gadow arrived at the music store
yesterday. I was at work late and couldn't pick it up,
but plan to do so on my way home tonight. I'll post
some pics when I get a chance to take 'em. Feel free
to give your honest opinion. There, I've left the door
open! :)

--Tom

[realmpel]

Wow, I love the guitar. The wolf is glorious and I like the way his body contours with the shape of the guitar. Beautiful color choice for the guitar as well. Very elegant. Enjoy your new axe!

I can't wait to see the other wolves~

Kev

[kilgorekid]

Right on, Taboo, and congrats on a beautiful guitar! This one was made for you and who cares what anyone else thinks? That's the great thing about someone like Joe. He will build it for you and no one else. We are all different and that's what makes the world go round. Joe built mine in 2001 and it fits me like a glove. I'm thrilled you're thrilled because it is YOUR guitar. I think it's cool that you have wolves in real life. Your guitar is an expression of your being and I think you're pretty damn lucky to have this fine instrument just like you wanted it.

Enjoy that beautiful guitar howl like a wolf!!

Bill

[Riscchip]

I can't even begin to imagine the amount of skill required to put that together. Way to go Joe!

[jbright44]

Absolutely amazing. I would have loved to see the CNC cutting those inlay pockets. I bet it was incredible.

[edgarallanpoe]

How does it sound? How does all that inlay effect the tone?

[Yossi]

Originally posted by r9player
However someone else counter pointed ... Driskill wait list now went from 6-8 Mo to ... 2-3 Years?

I spoke to Joe and he said that a 2-3 year wait is exaggerated. He has a lot of guitars in the works and now that the Wolfs and the Parap. guitars are done, he anticipates things speeding up, not slowing down.


Yossi

[twitch]

Some people waited close to 2 years for a guitar. I waited 18 months for mine, and that was while he was doing the Wolves, plaus the quadriplegic guitar. Now I think he has a bigger back load because of these projects, but now that they are done, we will see what that means. I would think 2 years is the high end, but close estimate.

[taboo]

A couple of things.
First, the Wolf sounds amazing. It has growl (no pun intended) and still retains that creamy sound I love. It has sustain that just won't quit. The peizo is the best I have heard period. There are no dead spots on the neck anywhere. I presently own around 60 guitars and this one is the best. In tone, playability, versitility, appearance. It is the best. Joe was adament about the guitar's tone and playability being the first consideration. The neck is 3-piece flamed maple. the back is a thin veneer of Lacewood over mahogany, the top is quilted maple, the fingerboard is brazilian.

I have lived with a Wolf for the last 30 or so years. My last one died as this guitar was being completed. Wolves are not dogs and do not act like dogs. They are intelligent and have their own way of being. That's what I love about them. They are not aggressive or mean and do not attack unless they are not given any other choice. They are cautious and choose who they have a relationship with and how deep that relationship is.

This guitar was built because of my relationship with Wolves and guitars. It will eventually go to one of my grandchildren. No one has to be concerned about me giving it to anyone else so you don't have to worry about having to sell it. No one has to be concerned about Joe building any more because he won't. That should put some people's minds at ease.

I know who has the other 2 Wolves. Joe is keeping one of them. If the other owner cares to speak up that's his call.

One last comment on the picture of the inlay that appeared earlier in this thread from rjlaero1 of a face inlaid on an acoustic guitar's fretboard.
Flat surface inlay-not very challenging. The guy's nose is crooked-looks like an old boxer that has had his nose broken many times. His hair looks like spaghetti. The stippling used for shading will wear away in no time. I completely don't get the 2 pieces of spaghetti floating off his upper lip. His expression seems to say I have just been goosed.

Now before you go off think about how my comments effected you. I am just expressing my opinion. I am allowed to do that right? I have a right to do that don't I? Even with total disreguard to anyone else's feelings? I hope you can see there is a mature way of expressing yourself and I hope you can figure out which is which. I would also point out I didn't post anything about my Wolf. I responded to what other people have posted. Most of that has been great and thanks. I didn't post because this guitar was built for me and means something deeply personal to me. I am not some rich guy that has nothing better to do with his money. I work 6 days a week and play in a Christian band. We do not charge when we play because of why we do it. I'm not getting into that. I hope my comments are taken the way they are intended.





__________________
Try not to lie - there's less to remember.


Last edited by rjlaero1 on 05-03-2005 at 05:40 AM

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05-03-2005 05:30 AM

[flicker180]

amen.

i'm contacting Joe about building a Driskill with my preemie daughter's name across the fretboard. i trust joe to create a legacy that i can give to my kids and grandkids, etc. etc. this wolf guitar is priceless.

awesome.

dave

[JustPlay]

Taboo, could you post a couple of photos of your wolf Driskill? I love the way it looks, but the photos Joe took are a little dark. Thanks.

[rjlaero1]

Taboo,

We all have our opinions of what good art is and how things look. I don't think anybody was going out of their way to put down your guitar. It was just an open discussion about some people thinking that wolf was the greatest thing since sliced bread...... and some who thought it didn't look very good. It obviously means a lot to you and it appears to have a a lot of sentimental value as well. Your happy and so is Joe, and I guess that's all that matters.

It is indeed a whole lot harder to engrave and inlay on curved surfaces such as a guitar body, rather than a slightly radiused fingerboard.

But my point about all drawings, pictures, inlay work, or anything else, is the "life-like" qualites that make things look real and very natural. That's just where some people differ on the look of the end product considering the massive amout of time...and money...that was spent on that project.

[Leonc]

Joe...man, what an incredible piece of workmanship. That's one for the grand children's stories. Incredible! Congrats!

[hemlock]

The back of that guitar is absolutely amazing! looks like some kind of alien spine or something.

[JustPlay]

Taboo, what pups does the guitar have? Rio Grande Texas and BBQ?

[taboo]

The Pickups are Rio Grandes. I will have to have my wife help me post pics. We'll give it a try. Thanks guys.

[koamarlin]

The guitar itself and the stunning inlaywork show a terrific amout of craftsmanship as well as affection - almost adiction- to the guitar building profession. On the other hand the mere preparation of the wolf´s picture before starting to do the puzzle should have been more accurate, I am afraid.

[enharmonic]

Lots of people marvel at Driskills, and for good reason. I have to say that even with all of the beautiful tops and the gorgeous overall design, the thing that still blows my mind is the bridge. The Driskill bridge is an amazing thing. I still remember my visit to Joe's shop about 5 years ago now...where he showed me how he mills his bridge out of a solid hunk of brass...truly inspiring. :)

[koamarlin]

Which brings us to the old dicussion about brass and aluminum...:cool:
I was a brass-adicted myself for years ( coming from the 70ies brass replcement era) till Nik Huber convinced me to try the same wraparound bridge in aluminum: that opened a whole new demension for the same guitar!!!