WHACK JOB
Low Rider
As a baritone guitar, this DIY Franken-Bari can take your tone to places that a real Vox Teardrop guitar never will.
BY TERRY CARLETON
PHOTO BY MAY YAM
I’VE ALWAYS LOVED Vox guitars, no matter what country or decade they’re from. I’m sure it’s because their freaky body designs and easily identifiable sound hearken to the groovy, psychedelic ’60s. In fact, some of my favorite guitars in my collection are made by Vox. But it occurred to me recently that, even with all the different variations it has offered over the years — including solid-and hollowbody models, guitars with organ components or drum machines, and four-, six-, nine and 12-string variants — Vox never made a baritone model. So while cleaning recently, I unearthed some extra forgotten components. I dropped off a box of parts for my friend at Dinette to assemble for me, and behold: It’s the 2020 Teardrop Franken-Bari!