Jon Rauhouse » Don Windham

Epiphone Emperor II Joe Pass

Toxic Web — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:26:28 +0000

Main Touring Guitar

Ok I finally have this guitar the way I want it. About 8 years ago I was looking for a guitar I could tour with and not worry about losing it, breaking it, but still liking it. I came across this 2001 Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass model. I picked it up and played it and loved the way it felt. Was OK about the pick-ups and didn’t really like some of the “bling” on it, ie: the pickguard, tail piece and the gold hardware. It was in my price range and is a true archtop so i got it.

The first thing I wanted to do was get new pickups but wasn’t sure where to go for that. So I went with changing that pickguard. That took me to Haymaker Guitars in Phoenix AZ where I got Don Windham to recreate the pickguard in just plain black. I began to be more comfortable with the gold hardware so I had him also put a plane tailpiece on it and went with old school knobs.

The final piece to the puzzle came when I started talking to Erick Coleman. A great guitar player and one of the repair gurus of Stewart MacDonald. He told me he was winding pick-ups and he could help me out. I figured he knows a lot more about pick-ups than I do so, let’s do it. The pick-ups are amazing and completed what I was looking for.

Thanks Erick and Donny for helping me out

Main touring guitar

Toxic Web — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:07:27 +0000

With the help of Don Windham and Erick Coleman, Jon has finally got his Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass – his main touring guitar since retiring his Slingerland from the road – just the way he wants it.

For a full run down of what’s what and pic of the guitar as it is now check out the Gear section of the site.

Straight-Six Blues

Toxic Web — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:38:18 +0000

Grant Robinson is on a “journey across the U.S. in a classic car, seeking out the American experience through music”.

He recently caught up with Jon in Phoenix and recorded a few videos where Jon talks about the current state of the music biz, plays a bit of slide (below) and has a look under the hood of said classic car – 1961 Ford Falcon.

Grant’s blog of his travels is Straight-Six Blues

Don Windham's Haymaker Guitars

Toxic Web — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:20:39 +0000

Jon says “everyone needs to check out” Don Windham’s Haymaker Guitars shop.

Yup to go with the great guitars Don makes – see the Haymaker Haynnifer in the gear section – he now buys, sells and repairs stringed instruments in his own shop. This is where Jon got “my newest favorite guitar from him: 1961 Harmony Hollywood archtop”.

So head along to:

Haymaker Guitars
2010 N. 7th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85006
602-327-2702
www.haymakerguitars.com

I was in the same Roberto-Venn class as Mr. Don and as well as being a top guitar maker he’s also a top bloke, so I’m with Jon – everyone needs to check it out now.

Haymaker – Haynnifer

Toxic Web — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:45:38 +0000

Jon’s new bit of guitar gear is up in the “Gear” section.

It’s a square neck acoustic made by Roberto-Venn guitar building instructor and all round top bloke Don Windham under his Haymaker brand. A pretty damn fine looking piece of kit with name of Jon’s good lady wife inlaid into the fretboard.

Click the image below for a bigger pic

Haymaker Haynnifer