August 21st, 2026

Homeskoolin’ Volume 687, Tom Bukovac, “New York Tweed”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing: National New Yorker
03:13 - Hello, friends! / Fender Tweed Deluxe
04:00 - '40 National New Yorker ("Satan's Banjo")
04:54 - "The thickest high E string"
06:49 - Special thank you to Smacker Bats
08:32 - Robert Keeley - Tube Drive / Dead Ringer rubber bridge
09:21 - Bone chords / Marshall amps aren't selling
13:08 - Tommy Emanuel


Notes
Uncle Larry shows the class some really fun new items…and most importantly he sends out a huge thank you to sweet Brian Carter at Smacker Baseball Bats for sending the family a nice trio of personalized bats so Uncle Larry can crush some bombs outta the park

and class, you might want to take note.....if you ever get a chance to check out one of these old National New Yorker guitars you should DEFINITELY do it....but sadly, they only made that guitar with this exact design and layout for one year...1940.

With a little work and a few tasty upgrades these can become very dangerous weapons.

This is very much like the one Memphis Minnie played, except hers was sunburst and had a slightly different pickup.

People think the original pickup on these guitars is a humbucker when they look at it, and even more so when they hear it because it's so loud and ballsy....but it's not friends.

I have taken one apart and it's just a big loud raunchy single coil with a VERY unique design and a ridiculous gnarly tone with a metric SHIT LOAD of particularly nasty midrange cut....

it basically sounds like this through any decent rock and roll amp.

Uncle Larry thinks it's a damn shame that they only used this pickup for such a short time because they are so insanely cool and unique sounding...if they would have put this pickup on more guitars for a longer period of time, Uncle Larry believes that they would have become iconic in the annals of rock and roll history.

I have had them all friends...there is no other pickup that sounds quite like this.

July 17th, 2026

Homeskoolin’ Volume 669, Tom Bukovac, “The J-Zinger”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing: Acoustic
00:40 - High production lighting in the station command headquarters facility research kitchen / Rock 'n' Roll stuff vs Acoustic
04:28 - New gig
06:19 - Brett Papa and Dweezil Zappa / Mystery Pedal - Warm Audio
07:57 - Neil Giraldo (Pat Benatar guitarist)
09:06 - Zing pick (The J-Zinger)
12:37 - Dead Ringer
14:08 - Neil Giraldo - Pat Benatar - Tropico - Painted Desert
17:02 - '64 Gibson J-200
17:45 - Abbey Road studio and staying home


Notes
Uncle Larry tells the class about a cool new device that one of the class members made

He wants to call it the “J-Zinger” because his name is John.
He mounts a thick ass bass string along the edge of the pick that produces a really cool array of sounds depending on how you strike it or swipe it.

Just be nice and send this sweet guy 20 bucks and he will make you a cool pick and send it to ya in the mail. You can tell he puts his heart into this shit, that’s good enough for me.

It’s a good thing to do for everyone friends .

Here’s his email
johniam2020@aol.com

July 1st, 2026

Homeskoolin’ Volume 659, Tom Bukovac, “The Zinger”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing some 'dead strings'
00:46 - Dead Ringer rubber bridge
02:35 - Movie with kids / Movie: Mystic River
04:20 - Trifecta record
06:52 - '64 Gibson J-50
08:04 - Zinger or jinger guitar pick
10:48 - Jerry McPherson story
13:19 - Terrible injury to finger
16:28 - Rick Beato interview and cry fest
17:24 - Lesson: Coolest chord in the world (Fmadd9/Ab) [4 x 3 0 1 x]
19:00 - Trifecta / Vinyl albums and CD / :|


Notes
Uncle Larry cries at everything

Here’s a link to the new record friends
https://jeddhughes1.bandcamp.com/album/trifecta

June 14th, 2020

Homeskoolin’ Volume 41, Tom Bukovac, “Wall Of Sound”

Chapters
00:00 - Intro jam
03:02 - Hello, class!
04:47 - Duesenberg
06:24 - Viewer Comment Bin / Trustworthy
06:54 - Favorite chord change
08:12 - Pants?
09:10 - Internalized beat
10:16 - Band vs. Session guy (Ringer)
11:53 - Jeff Senn Guitar
13:56 - Intro jam lesson


Notes
A brief look at the music of the 50’s and a full body cavity search of the beloved Senn strat. PayPal tip jar: tombukovac@gmail.com