Yes, that is the Steampunk Strat in the hands of Nathaniel Johnstone of Abney Park on stage at SteampoweredCon 2008.

Sigh.

I made her but I could not give her what she needed as I have not the musical talent.  I'm glad she found a good home and I expect we'll all be hearing great things from her in the future.

In fact, I understand she's already laid down some mad trackz on AP's newest album project.

See ya 'round Lady Strat!

[Thanks to Kathryn Hedges for the photo!]

I get a great deal of email these days, I try to answer it all but I'm afraid the day I will not be able to fast approaches. I am grateful for the pics of cool stuff and links to net Steampunkia, and I really do enjoy answering thoughtful questions about making stuff.

It was just such a question that put me on to the music of Michael Scott Parker .  The question I received was signed "Michael the girl" which caught my eye and caused me to click through to her website listed in the .sig . . .

 [Mark Melchior wrote me some time ago with some pictures of his wonderful cigar box guitars - apologies to Mark for the delay in publication! - Jake]

Mark writes:

Mark “Doc-o-rock” Melchior has been building guitars for some 20 odd years and decided on a return trip to Wisconsin to continue a history of Cigar Box Guitar building. After spending years building and repairing instruments in Hollywood California, he made the move to Hot Springs Arkansas where he still builds instruments of all kinds.