August 5th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Volume 481, Tom Bukovac, “The Mind Of The Musician”

Chapters
00:00 - Peavey amp
02:15 - Bench video


Notes
Uncle Larry...aka "the hornswaggler"...delves into the ancient psychology that bounces around inside the mind of the average working musician.
He discusses the paranoia of work scheduling…and even sheds some light on the up and down rollercoaster of emotions that are always at play during the many seasons of the typical lifer musician’s career…all whilst putting some brand new D'Addario 013s on a 64 j-50

My dear Grandma used to always say "The Lord loves a good old Peavey amp"...

these old Mace 320T's are not easy to find...these were purportedly the ACTUAL models that the Lynyrd Skynyrd boys REALLY used in their heyday....six power tubes delivering 160 watts of bone crushing Mississippi Marshall tone.

this particular example is barely limping along and definitely needs some love, but even considering all that it STILL sounds damn good.

i would bet this amp has never even been serviced one time in these first 50 years of its life... but the thing still runs, and even the reverb and tremolo effects still work.

i have said this many times in the past and i will say it again...Hartley Peavey was DEFINITELY the Leo Fender of his day, making affordable "field replaceable" gear that the common man could fucking COUNT on every night, no matter what the gig or the conditions were like.

i would like to personally thank a Homeskooler named Christopher Kueffler for dragging this beast down from the snowy north.

I've been listening to these old Skynyrd records RELIGIOUSLY since i was a boy....i always wanted to mess with one of these amps just to see if there was any of "that Skynyrd magic" in them, even though i always suspected it was just their hands making those tones, and not that particular amp....

however, to my amazement, in just a brief amount of time messing around with one, i can already immediately tell that these amps REALLY ARE responsible for delivering a large part of that legendary tone.

on several old Skynyrd tracks, i always thought Gary was getting what i picture in my mind as a "straw" tone...
there's a fizziness to the distortion on a lot of his sounds that reminds me somehow of a distorted guitar sound coming through a straw...follow me on this friends.
there's like a reediness to the distortion that makes it unique.

this particular lead break on "saturday night special" is one many examples of that "straw tone" in my humble opinion.
i also would bet my bottom dollar that Gary was using the neck pickup of "Bernice" on this solo, with the treble on the amp cranked.
you can hear it if you listen REALLY close...it's a neck pickup, not the bridge

prove me wrong friends..

July 30th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Controlled Psychedlia”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing Doors - People Are Strange


Notes
Take a trip with Uncle Larry and his old buddy Leo “Lidor” Ellis

July 24th, 2025

Homeskoolin Volume 476, Tom Bukovac “From Pontiac To Kalamazoo”

Chapters
00:00 - Black Sabbath - Changes / Ozzy Osbourne & Beatles influence
02:21 - Tour bus on the road
06:27 - Picture this groove
09:25 - '67 GTO
12:42 - Paco from Argentina
14:51 - '61 Gibson J50
15:37 - Looking forward to show
16:12 - Friend Paco Gibson shootout
17:02 - R8
17:32 - Burst
20:18 - Neck pickup
25:25 - Conclusion


Notes
Uncle Larry checks in from the road ….this video covers a very wide everything from Nativity In Black to His/Her shifters

We start out with a small tribute to the Oz….
followed by a moment with Ronnie Mullins, the greatest bus driver in the history of show business

Then we have a new song and a check in from uncle Larry….here’s a link to the video of Kiwi working on my 67 GTO convertible for all you old car nerds
• 67 Pontiac GTO, Tip Top Rag Top!!!

and lastly we have my dear old friend Paco giving us a quick shootout between a new Gibson R8 and a real 1958 burst, Argentinian style

you can certainly hear and feel the difference in this video….but I have to say, actually being IN THE ROOM, the difference between these two instruments was “shocking” to say the least…and a good illustration of the contrast between two instruments with WIDELY varying price points.

Here is a link to my new instructional course friends
https://www.brettpapa.com/maximum-lar...

And here is a link to the new “Maximum Larry” t shirts and all other Homeskoolin swag
https://dvg-inc.shoplightspeed.com/to...

July 14th, 2025

Homeskoolin' Volume 475, Tom Bukovac, "Just South Of Hell"

Chapters
00:00 - Mamas Papas / Bon Jovi / Boston / Yes medley
00:24 - It's hot!
01:13 - Mick Ronson Wah
02:47 - '75 Guild G212 12-string / Guild F412
04:08 - Bent finger
04:30 - Uncle Larry's Garage Sale
05:27 - Jeff Senn
08:30 - GTO
09:19 - Friday night gig


Notes
Lord it's hot

I think its the first time in history that the humidity has actually exceeded 100 percent

The Guild is sold

Here is the link to the new t shirts!
https://dvg-inc.shoplightspeed.com/to...

Here is the link to my guitar course friends
https://www.brettpapa.com/maximum-lar...

July 10th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Road Update, “Sweet Tysons Virginia”

Chapters
00:00 - Plucking away in hotel Virginia
03:00 - Hello, friends! / Vince Gill update / New t-shirts coming
04:58 - '30s Gibson C1
06:08 - GTO
08:49 - Lesson: Cool chord - very pleasing C chord


Notes
Uncle Larry checks in from the road

just wait til you guys see this new Homeskoolin t shirt fast ball that is about to come across your plate…all you gotta do is swing your bat and it’s an instant home run friends

July 4th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Volume 470, Tom Bukovac, “1776”

Chapters
00:00 - Singing that Country
00:45 - Hey friends all the way to Zimbabwe
02:35 - VCB (Viewer Comment Bin)
03:17 - Ever so lightly holding the pick
05:54 - Blues Junior amps?
06:45 - Tweed 410 / Blues DeVille
07:30 - Boss GE-7 Equalizer / EQ after the drives
08:30 - Thanks
10:12 - All that matters - Right-hand pocket
12:06 - Joe Walsh playing and amps choice
14:12 - Side Fills
15:19 - Course
17:19 - Inner peace / Clarity of life
19:15 - '64 SJ-200
19:30 - Tuned-down Rickenbacker
22:00 - Don't blow your fuckin' fingers off


Notes
Uncle Larry gets heavy into some current day VCB

I was gonna call this episode “carnival of pain” but I changed it to “1776”…it’s a little more snappy and upbeat

Here’s the link to my new course that just came out a couple days ago
https://www.brettpapa.com/maximum-lar...

Pictured in the thumbnail photo …the amazing band from the last two weeks of recording over at Vince Gill’s studio

From left to right
Matt “Hazmatt” Rausch (engineer)
Jedd Hughes (guitar)
Fred Eltringham (drums)
Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass)
Yours Truly
John Jarvis (keys)
Jim “Moose” Brown (keys)
Boss Man
Paul Franklin (pedal steel)
Justin Niebank (engineer)

July 2nd, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Course Sign Up Details”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing / Course update


Notes
Uncle Larry explains a few details about the email sign up process for the Maximum Larry extreme guitar instructional course that drops in a couple hours

Here is the link where you can buy the course…8 hours of Uncle Larry mayhem
https://www.brettpapa.com/maximum-lar...

June 22nd, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Bonus Jam, “A Century Of Progress”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing on something special


Notes
If ever there was a true life example of the old saying “man, this old guitar has some songs in it” this is it my friends

I fell head over heels for this old chopped up mid 30’s Gibson C-1 Century Of Progress model right before I left town at a music store

It was too much money, so I made an offer while I was out on the road and they accepted…

my buddy picked it up for me so it was here at my house when I get home from this weekend of road gigs at 5am Sunday morning

In the first 10 minutes this little ditty appeared

Wow, what an inspiring little guitar

June 21st, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Road Update, “How To Pick Like An English Guy”

Chapters
00:00 - Groove playing
01:07 - Hey friends from a hotel room and update / Dwayne guitar
04:34 - Lesson: 4 note claw picking
05:53 - Chirping while finger-picking
07:20 - Sign up for Maximumlarry
08:18 - Meeting some Homeskoolers


Notes
Uncle Larry checks in from Augusta Georgia…a couple hours before soundcheck

PLEASE sign up your email for my instructional course
You will get a discount on your purchase!

Maximumlarry.com/course

Here’s a link to the Tal Wilkenfeld show on July 18th friends
https://www.3rdandlindsley.com/tm-eve...

Here’s a link for the June 27th Nick Govrik record release party with myself, Jedd and Guthrie
https://www.3rdandlindsley.com/tm-eve...

If you wanna check out the new Nick Govrik’s new album that i produced you can get it here friends
Some really good songs, made with a lot of love
https://www.nickgovrik.com/

June 20th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Volume 465, Tom Bukovac, “Livin After Midnight Ramblin’ Riders On The Storm”

Chapters
00:00 - Tom and Jedd
06:00 - Stories from the road (Ronnie Mullins)
07:00 - Acoustic strumming
09:51 - Greetings from Georgia
11:11 - Allman Brothers
12:09 - Throwing bass track down in 5 minutes
13:15 - Vince Gill shows
13:52 - Lesson: Cool lick [8 8 7 x x x] -> [8 6 8 x x x]
15:04 - Instagram
16:08 - Tal Wilkinfeld gig / Videoing at comic gigs
18:20 - Playing
19:43 - Over and out


Notes
Through the magic of “modern digital editing”, Uncle Larry creates a soft cozy quilt of Homeskoolin’ from some leftover fabric remnants that he had laying around …a coat of many colors

…AND he introduces you to the coolest thing that ever came out of West Virginia…and that my friends is a fella named Ronnie Mullins

If you guys are indeed getting some thrills out of these absolutely free videos where I NEVER ask you to “subscribe” or “smash that like button”, please feel free to donate a little something to the virtual Homeskoolin tip jar

My PayPal address is tombukovac@gmail.com
My Venmo is @Tom-Bukovac-1

You can also still buy nice soft extremely comfy Homeskoolin t shirts in many styles at this site friends
https://dvg-inc.shoplightspeed.com/me...

June 12th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Road Update…”Lamby’s Blues”

Chapters
00:00 - Update from the road


Notes
Just a quick note from the editor regarding the upcoming guitar instructional course that dear Uncle Larry has been slaving away over for the last two years roughly

Well guess what friends…we are set to launch in about a week

PLEASE register your email at

maximumlarry.com/course

to receive half off the initial price of the course

roughly 8 hours of extra strength Larry…with backing tracks, expensive camera angles and fancy tabs

Basically what I am saying is that you guys about to get an ASS FULL of Uncle Larry

May 26th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Volume 456, Tom Bukovac, “Days Of Wine And Neurosis”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing and singing / Shed and recording
09:27 - Apologizing to repair guys / Repair to guitars that ruins it
12:39 - Tall frets


Notes
Happy Memorial Day dear Homeskoolers…this video covers a topic that is constantly bubbling just beneath the surface at all times, but is rarely discussed…the great neurosis that paralyzes all guitar players

May 25th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ " A Somewhat Reluctant Garage Sale Of Sorts"

Chapters
00:00 - Climbing all over those chords
05:39 - Video comment, "...string squeaks"
06:20 - Uncle Larry's Garage Sale
07:56 - D28 acoustic guitar
10:37 - Strymon El Capistan


Notes
Email me at tombukovac@gmail.com if you would like either of these devices

6750 for the d28
240 for the strymon…I’ll even sign it for ya if ya want haha


PLEASE go to this site and share your email..if you do will get half off the course that i worked my fucking ASS off making, that comes out June 6 my friends

maximumlarry.com/course

May 25th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Volume 454, Tom Bukovac, “Road Hands”

Chapters
00:00 - Plucking away that old time
03:56 - Hi, friends! / Thanks
05:34 - Road hands
06:15 - Stalker Guy
07:16 - '38 Martin 00-18
09:19 - Satan's SG / Pat Murray put 2 carcasses 1963
10:33 - Lesson: Cool chord G13 [3 x 3 4 5 3] with claw technique
19:57 - Backroom playing acoustic video


Notes
you old veterans out there all know, when you get out on the road and just play play play all day ….your hands just get stronger and stronger.

It’s a cool feeling …”road hands” are a different kind of strength than “studio hands”…a few weeks in I start feeling like I could bust rocks with my left hand

Thanks for watching the progrum friends…im proud of this little community we have built



and if you want a good laugh today, just close your eyes and REALLY try to picture that asshole Gus trying to play this intro on his Cracker Barrel burst in his Chinese buffet blazer…with his 3.99 truck stop sunglasses and Steven Segall haircut hahaaaaa

I’ll give the boy credit, he actually did try for a brief minute to stop making videos about me, but as soon as he took my name out of the title his views tanked even worse than usual….even he was smart enough to figure that out

May 23rd, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Volume 453, Tom Bukovac, “Milwaukee Talkee”

Chapters
00:00 - Strumming away
01:20 - Hello from Milwaukee / Laverne & Shirley / Vince Gill update


Notes
Uncle Larry with another road update from the great state of Wisconsin

Apparently we are only at 3k people that have signed up on the mailing list at
maximumlarry.com/course

I am heartbroken….

I do and do for you guys, but only 3k of you have signed up ?

May 22nd, 2025

Homeskoolin’ …..”Goodbye Boss Man”

Chapters
00:00 - Sombre music
02:04 - Goodbye to Jimmy Irsay


Notes
I just wanted to say a few words about a dear friend who moved on yesterday

Jimmy Irsay

The boy had a heart of gold…and some blue and white too

May 12th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Volume 445, Tom Bukovac, “New Frontier”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing
01:57 - In tune D chord
02:14 - Hello, friends!
02:50 - '64 Epiphone Frontier
03:33 - '64 Gibson J
05:11 - Dean Cadillac
05:49 - Dean bridge
07:11 - Dean neck
08:50 - Nut and shimming and intonation


Notes
Uncle Larry learns ya some stuff about guitars

May 10th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Abandoned Kitchenette”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing
06:53 - Hotel rooms?


Notes
Uncle Larry with a road update from Reading PA with a broken bridge guitar

Love can build a bridge

This episode is dedicated to my dear old pal J.O….fellow lover of fast cars and freedom

May 9th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Volume 443, Tom Bukovac, “John Wilkes Barre”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing
02:50 - Wilkes Barre, PA / Early days in Rust Belt
04:20 - '48 Gibson Southern Jumbo
06:16 - Jedd Hughes / Vince Gill update
07:19 - '48 Gibson Southern Jumbo / Bad D string
08:55 - '85 Kramer Beretta with Floyd Rose "E" Series
11:33 - Setting up for the concert
11:55 - Wandre Roby guitar
14:38 - LiquiSlide


Notes
The first of many summer updates from the road…
that will inevitably depict a completely over the top blood soaked epic orgy of guitar purchases over the next couple months that can potentially be of some use to you fellow Homeskoolers…

April 25th, 2025

Homeskoolin’ Volume 429, Tom Bukovac, “No Singer Left Behind”

Chapters
00:00 - Acoustic playing
02:26 - Hi, friends! / Working
04:46 - Helping others make records
06:03 - Gibson J-200 / Recording mojo / Changed out bridge
08:05 - Nashville resources
09:11 - Donnie Iris - Ah Leah / Producer Mark Avsec
13:46 - Keith Whitley - Don't Close Your Eyes / Transcendentally out of tune / Garth Fundis
18:25 - Pro Tools
22:36 - Working on something truly unique / Freddy Mercury
24:55 - Pet Sematary (movie)
25:54 - Vince Gill / Jedd Hughes


Notes
Uncle Larry lays out the AGE OLD moral dilemma of that dark world where technology, creativity and music meet.