October 9th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 166, Tom Bukovac, “And Your Bird Is Too Bright”

Chapters
00:00 - Funky playing on the bass
04:06 - Hello, class! / Loop
04:42 - ZZ Top swag / Sessions
05:32 - Lesson: Loop chords and little tablature
06:41 - Overdubbing loop and hitting out of the park
11:00 - Insight thoughts during playing / Motif or theme
11:54 - Steve Hackett and certain tricks / decending 6ths
13:35 - Firebird guitars / Brightness 250k vs 500k pots


Notes
I took a brief hiatus from some heavy gambling to film this little odyssey…this one goes out to Ray Dietrich…who changed the world forever in October of 1962…exactly 60 years ago…wow

Big thanks to all those who watch regularly and steal all my licks and concepts…use them in good health my friends.

Today’s amplification provided by Benson Electronics from Portland Oregon…the model is a very limited run of 3x10 tweed Bandmaster clones they recently made called a “Benmaster”

somewhat inconsequential side note:
from 3:04 to 3:06 is a good illustration of the kind of musical "telepathy" that can only come from one person...(the subconscious break in the rhythm in EXACTLY the same spot on both instruments)...that kinda shit fascinates me.

Paypal tip jar is tombukovac@gmail.com
Venmo tip jar is @Tom-Bukovac-1

October 4th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus, “Electric Spanish Larry”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing the 335


Notes
Well guys, the late 62/ early 63 block marker 335 with unopened factory PAF’s that i ordered on approval showed up today.

I swear i could already tell from just the few scant photos i saw of it that it had somethin’ special, and dammit if i wasn’t dead right.

As usual, upon opening the shipping box and the case for the first time, thousands of infantessimal calculations and observations took place in my mind…and they were all giving me a real nice warm feeling.

Every old guitar tells you a story when you hold it in your hands for the first time.

I love the way this one explained its life to me…its obviously been very well cared for, but it also clearly has a slightly naughty side that is ready to throw down any time.

Absolutely PERFECT neck profile…all of those zillion little things you look for add up beautifully when you look closely at this one…the balance…the smell…the evenness of the wear…the sustain…the acoustic vibe…powerful pickups…everything is just right.

Special thank you to Charlie Gelber at OK Guitars in Kent CT for the smooth ride. Basically all he deals in are old 335’s…and he literally has them all.

September 30th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Uncle Larry's Spooky Fall Garage Sale”

Chapters
00:00 - Beautiful playing
04:11 - Hello, Homeskoolers! / Greetings / Folkway Music
05:18 - '64 Firebird III / Chopper bridge
06:00 - Tour / Football / Gear / '63 Gibson 335
08:11 - Garage Sale


Notes
Many ideas went through my head about what to name this video……

“Evidence Of Autumn” (maybe a little too inside)
“Desert Sand Man” (cuz i can never resist any Pre-CBS related pun.....)

but anyhoo, email me at tombukovac@gmail.com if you want any of this stuff. this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.....i have got WAY too much gear. Every few years I do a massive purge in an attempt to simplify my life...i'm sure some of you out there know the feeling and can relate.

PRS Cleveland one of a kind guitar...to my knowledge the only single pickup PRS ever made...constructed of super lightweight Korina, with an old Dimarzio Super Distortion humbucker $5000.00

1978 BC Rich Super Eagle, you already know how hard these original ones are to find
$6500.00

1964 Vox AC30 JMI grey panel factory top boost with original trannies and silver dogs...the classic AC30 sound in spades $3500.00

1962 Fender Brown Deluxe recovered and regrilled…original trannies and a high dollar brand new Celestion Gold speaker ....this thing sounds really really good
$2800.00

1960 Fender Duo Sonic in desert sand finish
$3000.00

1966 Fender Duo Sonic II in dakota red
$2000.00

1957 Supro Ozark with sandwich pickup
$900.00

1960’s Teisco TG-1 with built in amp
$750.00


IMPORTANT NOTES:
1) Buyer pays actual shipping
2) Sorry to all my beloved international Homeskoolers, but I'm only doing domestic U.S. shipping on these guitars

September 28th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Pedal Board Cam”

Chapters
00:00 - Footage: Pedalboard cam
04:30 - Guitar playing / Heart - Even It Up
10:12 - Ann Wilson greetings / Ann Wilson - Black Wing
17:00 - Ann Wilson - Greed
20:30 - Heart - Magic Man
26:45 - Tom solo / Heart - Crazy On You
33:25 - The Who - Rain On Me
39:15 - Band intro / Heart - Barracuda
44:30 - Heart - Straight On
50:10 - Led Zeppelin - Black Dog


Notes
Ann Wilson live, Sunday September 25th in Houston Texas….opening for Jeff Beck and The ZZ Tops…

In case you were ever wondering what pedal changes Larry makes on what songs, here ya go As my dear friend Joe Vitale once said watching me on a session….”Buko, it looks like you’re trying to put out a fire”

Hope you enjoy

September 28th, 2022

Homeskoolin Road Update “Texas Heat”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing without amp
00:45 - Hello, friends! / Tour update (Jeff Beck / ZZ Top)
01:30 - Back injury and gig
02:40 - David Grissom
02:55 - Jeff Beck / Noises (Eddie Van Halen)
03:55 - Fan shoutouts
04:42 - Footage: Stage tour
07:25 - Footage: Jeff Beck
08:23 - Chug challenge


Notes
Lord…picture old larry up on stage yesterday…blown lower back agony, pouring sweat in that special kind of Texas heat and strangling humidity…good times for sure.

Fun show though, we really got that 50 minute long hit it and quit it opening act thing down.

Thank you for your continued patronage of the humble Homeskoolin’ channel. Go wolverines, (a 17 point favorite by the way)

September 18th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “The Birdman”

Chapters
00:00 - Funky little loop play through


Notes
Uncle Larry tries to make contact with all the dead satellites and other junk that travels through space.

September 12th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 163, Tom Bukovac, “Charcuterie & Crudite Blues”

Chapters
00:00 - Raw pickin' and chuggin' intro
03:40 - Hello, class! / Being back home / Upcoming gigs and musicians
06:00 - Jim Irsay private plane and hotel
09:10 - Danny Nucci
10:00 - Buddy Guy encounter
12:08 - Harmony Silvertone Jupiter / h47 Stratotone guitar (1423)
15:00 - Lesson: Nastiest G Minor 6th chord (Bluesy Pentatonic)


Notes
A brief discussion on how once you fly private one time, you’re basically ruined for life. And….a look at how nasty a minor 6th can be.

September 6th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 162, Tom Bukovac, “You Guys In A Band??”

Chapters
00:00 - Beautiful playing
01:43 - Hello, lads and lasses / Back home / Thanks
02:29 - Acoustic guitar Martin D-28
03:00 - Maton acoustic guitar
04:45 - Amazing Dawgs, bandmates, and being in a band
08:40 - Gambling / Spam and YouTube filters
09:54 - Bonus footage


Notes
Television's own Uncle Larry, absolutely exuberant about finally being home and being reunited with his trusty old '38 bone…waxes rhapsodic about that one thing we have ALL thought about since we were little kids….what it's like to really be in a band.

(and now, shift to "first person")

Now that touring is finally calming down and fall is on the way (praise God) it's time to put some focus on some projects that i started on a while back, such as this little instrumental EP that dear Guthrie Trapp and myself are putting together…it's so much fun.....here’s a little snippet from one of the three tracks we already have "in the can"....gonna go back in soon and do some more.

Also, I couldn’t help but add in a few other crazy things at the end of this vid...a dumb meme that cracks me up... " I AM THE JUAN PERCENT"....oh and my alltime favorite thing that my sweet little boy Leo ever drew for his dear old dad….a totally random partial list he made at school one day of some of our favorite songs we like to jam in the car…precious keepsake.

"you got another thing comin"
"black sabbath"
"hot rod lincoln"
"iron man"
"rock and roll music"
"yellow submarine"
"starship trooper"
"hard day's nite"
"breakin' the law"
"don't stand so close to me"
"behind my camel" (instrumental by the police off zenyatta mondatta)
and one more i could never read

Thanks again for supporting the channel folks….i am doing everything legally allowed to show you guys whatever i can…absolutely free of charge of course. Why am i doing it? Because music has been really good to me in this life, and i feel like it’s the right thing to do to give it all back to a bunch of total strangers...

i hope you guys know how much i sincerely appreciate the little community we have built here …. ya’ know, except for a few kids in the back of the room that get a little too excited at times (like Brock Thomas....man what a tool) we got something very real going here….i for one do not take it for granted.

Rock on cats

September 4th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Dust Storm”

Chapters
00:00 - Soundcheck


Notes
As a wild rain and dust storm rolls in right before our gig tonite in Laughlin NV…you get a little slice of the usual backstage/soundcheck madness that accompanies the Amazing Dawgs gigs.

Dear Rob Olsen of Maton guitars was kind enough to furnish us with this lovely Maton Messiah acoustic guitar to use on this tour….definitely a step up from what we WERE doing….the pickup sounds wonderful.

More than anything, this captures the gigantic soul of our dear band photographer Criss Cain, who is kind enough to stand in for Ann and sing for her at soundchecks….one of the coolest, most genuine people i have ever known.

September 1st, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Pike’s Peak”

Chapters
00:00 - Deep melodic plucking
02:08 - Hello, class! / Seattle hello
02:44 - Coasta Mesa, CA show / Pat Benatar & Neil Geraldo (Timeless Guitars)
03:50 - BC Rich Eagle / Neil brings guitar out
04:39 - Puyallop, WA show
05:18 - Lesson: Chord voicing concept


Notes
Larry….he just woke up in a weird hotel…but thank The Lord he’s got his cheapo martin to plunk on….

August 29th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Monday Night Cool Lyrics Party”

Chapters
00:00 - Ian Hunter - Irene Wilde
04:38 - Hello, class! / Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Irene Wilde discussion
05:32 - Lesson: Mick Ronson licks
06:41 - Lesson: B-section
07:06 - Lesson: Bridge
07:55 - Lesson: Solo appreciation


Notes
A look at one of my alltime favorite tunes. “Irene Wilde” by Ian Hunter off the 1980 live album “Welcome To The Club” featuring the genius lyrics of Ian Hunter and the absolutely perfect guitar playing of Mick Ronson.

If this video gets pulled for copyright reasons i totally get it…my only intentions are to turn you Homeskoolers on to a cool old song they may not have heard. "When I was just sixteen - I stood waiting for a dream - At barker street bus station every night When I tried to get it on - she just looked at me with scorn - my courage Turned to fear and I took flight

For those looks they seemed to say You ain't nuthin' - go away You're just some face in some crowd so I walked home and I vowed I'm gonna be somebody - someday

Her name was irene wilde - oh such beauty for a child When she started dating boys - I nearly died For I could not barely stand seeing anyone hold her hand I though I had to crawl away and hide In my mother's Sunday room I composed so many tunes They were all the same - just a frame - for her name, and just to say I'm gonna be somebody - someday

Wild as your name I soon left that country town I been around, I've seen some fame, seen some ups and I seen some downs Smile through your shock as you hear your name out loud It's that face in the crowd - i didn't dig it - i'm much too proud...

When I was just sixteen I stood waiting for a dream A barker street bus station non affair At the time it seemed so sad, but it didn't turn out bad If she hadn't turned me down I'd still be there You know I think most folks agree, a little put-down makes them see They ain't no chain - they're just a link and that's why she made me think I'm gonna be somebody - be somebody - be somebody - someday"

August 26th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 161, Tom Bukovac, “Rainbow Blues”

Chapters
00:00 - Song playthrough
03:25 - Hello, class! / Uncle Larry
04:00 - VCB (Viewer Comment Bin) / Thanks
05:15 - James Honeyman Scott & episode
06:02 - "Good tone is heavy and hard to carry."  -Tom Bukovac (Amps)
06:24 - Stringing guitar
07:29 - What was your first pedal? DOD Flanger
08:01 - Chrissy Hines and James Honeyman Scott appreciation
08:25 - Any advice? Don't end up in jail or killing yourself, you're good
09:30 - Steve Hackett - The Battle of Epping Forest (echo)
12:05 - Pet peeves / Gruhn's Guitars / Original guitars (Beato & Rhett)


Notes
This one goes out to one of the baddest motherfuckers that ever roamed this earth….Joey D

RIP brother

and...the echo guitar that kicks in at :51 on this....come on man
https://youtu.be/S3V2Ctw3XNU

and....if i ever heard a pedal that can create the effect that happens at 3:16 of my pitiful video today when both guitars play the same thing. that would be cool

August 25th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “The Boys In The Back Room”

Chapters
00:00 - Locking strings...just don't


Notes
Hey kids…the whole “right way to put strings on a guitar” thing has been a hot topic of debate on the Homeskoolin’ channel.

I thought i would run it by the boys in the back room of the repair department of the most venerable, respected vintage guitar shop in North America…Gruhn Guitars in Nashville tn….here's what they said…thought you guys might find it interesting. starring....

1) Greg Voros
2) Tony Nagy
3) Lin Crowson

August 24th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Bridge Over Troubled Junior” (Music City Bridge Stud Finder)

Chapters
00:00 - Intro and basic install of new bridge
15:53 - Intonating the new bridge
22:39 - Demonstation of what the old original bridge sounded like for comparison


Notes
Ok guys, this video could conceivably be extremely boring to some "casual viewers", so it comes with a warning.

Unless you are interested in a 23 minute video of what a DRASTIC improvement swapping out the original bridge of an old 50s Les Paul Junior with a new Music City Bridge Stud Finder bridge makes, do NOT watch this.

This video is ONLY intended for the truly hardcore vintage guitar nerds out there…i repeat…DO NOT watch this unless you are a total vintage guitar nerd.

There are 3 segments…
1) intro and basic install of new bridge (0:00 to 15:52)
2) intonating the new bridge (15:53 to 22:38)
3) demonstation of what the old original bridge sounded like for comparison (22:39 to end)

if you want one of these check these bad boys out for yourself click here https://musiccitybridge.com

Thanks for watching guys

August 23rd, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 160, Tom Bukovac, “The Honey Man”

Chapters
00:00 - The Pretenders - Kid play through
01:20 - Hello / Analog Man
02:52 - Genesis and challenge
03:50 - MXR Dyna Comp / Foam turns to glue tip
05:45 - The Pretenders history and talk / Lesson: Chord
08:38 - Lesson: The Kid bridge lesson
10:12 - Lesson: The Kid solo lesson
13:00 - VCB
13:20 - Amp-like pedals / Modeling
15:56 - Epiphone Casino / Choppers and modifying guitars / Tremolo vs. Vibrato
19:00 - David Gilmour / Variation of out of tune makes it real
21:33 - Apple products
22:04 - Musical memory and ear training
24:39 - Hanging out with Ann Wilson


Notes
A brief look at some genius shit from 1980…and a gaze into the vast crevasse (i like to say it like kruh-vaaaaahhhhzzzz) that is the VCB

Paypal tip jar is tombukovac@gmail.com
Venmo tip jar is @Tom-Bukovac-1

August 22nd, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 159, Tom Bukovac, “Window Or Aisle?”

Chapters
00:00 - Pink Floyd - Mother play through (David Gilmour)
00:46 - Finally home / Thanks
02:19 - Listen to actual song / Compare
03:28 - Lick lesson
05:10 - VCB (Viewer Comment Bin)
05:40 - "One who dies with the most toys..."
06:49 - "Don't be sad" / Spider-Man
07:35 - Montage / Old gear
12:20 - Podcast - Tony Lucido, Paul Moak
12:59 - Epiphone Casino / Gibson SG / Les Paul Goldtops
16:45 - Old Rickenbackers and surgery / Bass cap (old Marshall)


Notes
Lord it’s good to be home…sweet Jesus.

Check out the Amazing Dawgs Tony and Paul on this podcast here if you're bored…pretty funny stuff

August 19th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Yet Another Sound Check Clip Of Us Playing Magic Man”

Chapters
00:00 - 2nd part of soundcheck


Notes
Paul gettin’ is Ornette Coleman on….sound checks are a great time to “experiment”

Ya’ know, i noticed lately theres a lot of new viewers coming on this channel….do you think they know i made those two albums a while back?? Can someone post links to those and ill pin the comment?

August 19th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Road Life Bonus

Chapters
00:00 - Room tour and road pictures


Notes
Casino gigs are not normally my idea of a good time….but just as a general life rule, when your hotel room has double doors, you know things are gonna be ok.

After a nightmarish 6 hour ride in a goddamned RV with no AC in the bunk area, and finally getting in to Tulsa at 4:30am last night, this fancy room was definitely a sight for sore eyes.

August 18th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Yet Another Soundcheck Bonus

Chapters
00:00 - Prairieband Casino in KS soundcheck


Notes
Mayetta Kansas casino gig…..

August 16th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Road Bonus “Guinness Stew”

Chapters
00:00 - Royal Mile Pub in Des Moines


Notes
Dear John Hickl from the Royal Mile pub in Des Moines….this place is awesome and the food is incredible….

Check it out on your next trip to the midwest friends.

Opening for ZZ tonite again…last time we did that the whole crowd just sat there the whole time with their arms crossed waiting for Billy to come on…i get that