Homeskoolin’ Volume 285, Tom Bukovac “The Top 5 Most Asked Homeskoolin’ Questions” 

'No upgrade you can make or purchase in your life will fix the black hole that has always plagued you since you were a child" So profound and so true!! That just tickled me.

You crack me up every time with the, “Then I’d be happy”.

As an older guy, I’ve realized there is many times more value in the wanting than the possessing. That black hole doesn’t eat at me so much. I’ve simplified life a bit. And what I value isn’t an object held in my hands.

So, once again you proved a good point, the pickups don't make near as much difference as does the person playing the guitar, they all sounded great.

"the burning black hole that has always plagued you since you were a child"

I’ve enjoyed this flood of videos, always enjoy new Uncle Larry videos. Man thanks for sharing you’re an awesome dude.

Makes my day when you post a video Thanks man

thank you for being you and doing this

Thanks Tom B - always enjoy the channel Rock on

Hard to say witch one sounds best...all sound like uncle Larry...saying that I believe all guitars have their oun voices that should be honored. THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU DO.

Hey Tom, that was great fun to watch. Thank you for setting up the comparison between old and new. I found all the old guitars sounding more balanced and smoother than the new ones. Then again we would probably be happy with the new ones anyway as they're good guitars in their own right.

Your signature Dusenburg sounds great like old Gretch and Les Paul had a baby.

Nobody I’d rather watch playing them great guitars . Think I’ve accidentally just spent all day watching uncle Larry play . Awesome😊

I’m a new subscriber just discovering this amazing talent. Tom , thank you for sharing your genius! I am 64 and You have inspired me to continue my guitar playing journey. Best Regards, Tim H.

It’s hard to beat that old skool gear . Old skoolin it with Uncle Larry✌🏻🎸

Hello Sir. Great video, thank you. Love the Burst LP. Really liked the original SG tone bridge, sounded very similar to the fender esquire. Cheers. I did really like them all just the Burst the most.

These latest thumbnails are absolutely hilarious. You're the best Tom!

Hey Uncle Larry, Your channel brings me peace. You’re like the guitar yielding, beer drinking Mr. Roger’s. The awesome uncle that always makes visiting the family on the holidays worth while and fun. Not to mention the guitar playing and lessons which I’m not sure I’m fully getting, but feel like somehow I’m soaking all this up through osmosis. Thank You for being You! Much Love! Oh yeah for the VCB, (Greatest of all time?) NFL Quarterback, Running back, and Wide Reciever?

Uncle Larry, on the topic of "then I'd be happy" and the "black hole": another one along those same lines I've come to recognize as I get older is "it's just . . . ". As in, "it's just this promotion, once I get that, everything will fall into place", " it's just this breakup, once I get over that . . . ", "it's just this relationship, once we fix that . . . ", it's just this or it's just that. At the end of the day, maybe it's just us. It's the human condition. Much love brother, as always, thanks for the videos and sharing the wisdom.

Yes Tom! I have learned if I am dependent on my outside circumstances for my happiness and serenity, I will not be. I must look with in. I must be open minded, accepting change, seeking, and have a gregarious, positive attitude. You have said all these things over Homeskoolin class. Thanks bro!

Easy to hear the subtle differences in those pickups, and I can see how your selection for a song can change the vibe of the song. Which sounds best dry, which is best if you're using delay or chorus, darker or brighter. Good stuff man

I love your face when you bend that note on the les paul and can’t even start to hide your opinion. To me the bridge pickups of the SG’s were pretty close, but the neck pickup in the old one was soooo much more pleasing to my ears.

Old beats new on all guitars you demo'd. That was insightful. Thanks.

Great video. Over my TV, I heard less difference between the Duesenburg and the Burst. The Esquire and the vintage SG sounded more alive and dynamic than the 2 with newer pickups. But man, you make 'em all sound good Tom.

Thanks again Uncle Larry...

The Session Man has the most pleasing tone to just listen to out of this bunch. Very balanced and pleasant timbre. That first tele is a winner too. Has a bell tone to it and sounds like it would sit nicely in a mix and leave room for other instruments/tracks.

The first 4 questions made total sense to me. That last one kind of surprised me. I already knew this, but all the guitars sounded amazing. It's not the guitar or the pickups, it's the hands combined with the brain of the player that makes such amazing tone. No matter what Tom plays, he's always going to sound like Tom playing. This was such a good video. I'm the same way, I never change pickups or electronics, unless something like a pot or switch goes south. Thanks Tom. If I had to pick just one guitar, it'd be the Session Man from Duezy. To me it's the most versatile guitar in this group. I love the way it looks as well. If I had to pick just one based on the tone, I couldn't. I loved them all from that standpoint.

Love the video Tom. Great time to be a bedroom musician, we have things I never dreamed of when I was 12 years old in 1966 Playing my sisters Stella with rusty strings until my fingers started bleeding and took $1.97 to Woolworth and got a set of Black Diamond strings! I was Happy!!!!

lol @ thumbnail. Uncle Larry getting down with the algorithm. Go get em my dude. I'll keep clickin.

Sound wisdom right there, Larry. It's true. Authentic happiness only comes from an internal state not anything external...

Each guitar was stellar....no doubt about that. I think any one of us would be "happy" to have any of those guitars in the stable. But, I thought the Duesenberg had a very unique personality - it seemed like more of its own thing than a representation of something else. Maybe that's just my ears, but it was cool getting a taste of each guitar in quick succession. So many gear demos run so long on RU-vid and go down so many rabbit holes that it was nice just to hear a down-and-dirty sampling with no fuss or muss. Great video Uncle Lar...and much appreciated.

Cheers from Canada Tom!

I'm always too busy loving the one I'm with when it comes to guitar tone. Cheers Tom!

classic episode mate !!... If a band sounded average with that 2006 SG & the second Tele on stage we wouldn't be blaming the guitars !!

My takeaway is that it’s the player more than the gear - Thanks for reminding me to focus on what’s important.

Hey Tom, we need Uncle Larry coffee mugs.

I've been here lurking since the lockdown started all this, and I've watched and heard Uncle Larry play just about every kind of guitar and amp imaginable. It's the player, peeps. Not the gear. Universally. Find a guitar, and amp, and maybe a couple of pedals that make your pants get tight when you play them, and do that. Play them. Love ya Buk. Never change.

Right on, Tom for the VCB deep dive- and for your last episode where you spilled on those love issues. When you least expect it . .

Hey Larry, longtime listener, first time caller. Your comment “No purchase or upgrade in your life is ever going to fix the burning black hole that’s always plagued you since you were a child.” struck me as hilarious and profound! I almost fell out of my chair laughing! I had to stop and rewind ( showing my age) that part several times! Once I got past the humor, it struck me how emotionally profound that statement was. Thanks for making me stop and think for a moment. I appreciate the Homeskoolin’ videos for sage advice on licks, techniques, guitars, amps, effects, music, and sometimes just life itself. Honestly, you’re probably not aware of all of the nuggets of wisdom that you’ve shared with us the viewers, or how your tips/advice/suggestions have helped people in their lives. I can attest that the Homeskoolin’ I have received has been helpful and enjoyable. Keep the lessons coming! Cheers!

Thanks Tom, enjoyed that.

Listening to vintage vs new guitars gives me the same feeling as looking at analog photographs vs digital ones. Something more “real” in the vintage stuff. The 58 LP really sounds like a record, such a familiar tone.

I’m a nobody just playing anytime I can, regardless of the gear. Gear is fun don’t get me wrong, but playing whatever you have is way more important. Thanks Larry!

Great morning to you all Homeskoolers!!!

I for sure am inclined, for your future lessons!

Fantastic playing!

Dearest Uncle...... I watched a Genesis vid from 1973 and there's a double neck Rickenbacker. WOWSERS. Lot's of love from your long lost brother, and Daisy the spaniel.❤🐶

Lol...😂 you're killing me with these thumbnails

Tom, it's interesting that most of the questions you get asked are about gear, especially given that you're the Session Man and so much of the Homeskoolin' vibe has been about how to approach playing and to play to the song and about melody and emotion. But I guess we all get sucked into the irresistible allure of shiny objects! (Gear can certainly inspire us, though.) Anyway Tom, just wanna say that your Homeskoolin' videos have always reminded me of my days in graduate school when I would sit down for my weekly meeting with my mentor (professor). It's great just sitting down and shooting the shit with someone "who's been there before" and "it ain't their first rodeo." Thanks!

Uncle Larry makes all his guitars sound good!

I couldn't explain what makes this show so addictive. I've been watching it since 2020 and it's still my favorite. I think Uncle Larry has the great ability to make viewers feel like they're in the room with him hanging out. Ola Englund's show is like that, but I like this one more for some reason.

The thumbnails keep getting better :)

The old stuff still excels even when recorded on an iPhone and delivered via RU-vid. The biggest different to my ears was the SG. The Teles were different too but a big difference between models to compare. Whether the difference and vibe matters is a personal thing. Thanks for the demo.

I bought a newer SG (2013) fhat sounded amazing acoustically, but just so so plugged in. Kept the pickups, and just swapped out pots and caps for 50s spec. Amazing difference. Totally opened it up.

The best guitar, pickups and amps are the ones that make you sit down and play them every time you walk by them in the house. Whether that’s a 58 burst into a 60’s Princeton, a 61 Strat into a Marshall or a squier bullet Tele into a peavey bandit… if it makes you want to play it and gives you the sounds you want then that’s the best one. Whatever makes you enjoy you playing and learning is what’s best and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

I'll be 72 on March 28. As I get older I've found that the most value is not in possessing something, it's what you do with what you have. I used to go to a Saturday morning old time country jam about 50 miles away, after playing a gig the night before. Nobody knew me, and I took an old Martin Sigma 00 prototype made in PA. For 2 hours I sat around with some really nice people just playing 3 chords and the truth songs. Talking about nothing important, giving/taking zingers, laughing at ourselves. How the kids were doing type stuff. I'd dredge up some old John Prine nobody ever heard, or Ray Willie Hubbard, and completely blow the lyrics, and everyone would laugh. But it was the people, made my heart feel good. Right here, now, Uncle Larry's smiling face. Out on the street he wouldn't know me from a bag of beans. But right here, for 14:28, we're all friends. That's cool, special, and it makes my heart feel good. Thanks so much to Tommy, for making this happen!! Peace, love, happiness. 8) --gary

Burst, SG with Lollars, Esquire. Although I have a funny feeling if I was in the room, I might change my mind about the SG. Thanks man, you make my day, daily.

Hey Tom, really cool vid, that Princeton made them all sound good but the 58' Burst is the standout winner to me.

I agree with Denmar335, the guitar won't make you happy unless you don't have one, but playing one will make you happy no matter how many you own. As far as the sound of the pickups I think they all sounded great. My favorite guitar paired with your Princeton is the gold top. Fat, rich, Lush ...raw and with character. I love Lawler p90's but your vintage SG has something else, something almost vocal about it. It was a pretty interesting episode. I love watching you play.

Tom, they all sound great in your hands. The Duesenberg, Burst, and '61 SG Special did stand out to me, though. I think we all play better, more creative stuff when we're digging the sound of our instrument.

I laughed out loud when you said… “Then I’d be Happy” (pause, look directly at the camera) 😆

Love the mouth open thumbnail. Must click... Must click...

Damn Uncle Larry! Didn’t know you were hip to the chess world! Amazing. Lots of love

Great thumnail work!

Awesome honest answers, I can never decide either… probably my old ears

Thanks for taking the time to do those comparisons. Eye opening! Ear opening?

YES! You pointed at something in the thumbnail! 🎉 Now, Grass hopper, you must leave the temple..

Love that Jim Brown photograph in the background!

The purchase I love most is my bidet toilet seat. Can’t live without it.

Hi Tom, I love the sound of the “Session Man”, it sounds vintage with a hi-fi tonality. Definitly your SG Special is a Rock n Roll tone monster because of its clear low mids and its punchy highs a total keeper. I had to watch this video a second time to round up the rest and in doing that I find the the burst to be a classic sounding Les Paul I hear essence of Duane in that one. Now to my ears the Special with the Lollars wasn’t to special next to the ‘61. The Tele has that take it to the gig and play your rhythm ass out thing. The Esquire, well… it has that best bacon cheese burger deluxe (with a shake) thing going on through that Princeton.

Thanks Tom! Great way to start the day!

Awesome graphics in the thumbnail! I can see the channel is going upmarket 😂

Hey, Tommy. Thank you for all the great videos. I've been with you since day one and the fun garage days. Two questions. 1st, my great skinny lip orange coffee mug was broken, and I would like to know if you would offer another run, please. 2nd, please talk about how great and your option of the intro of the bend and song writing of Bob Seger and The Siver Bullet Band is. Thank you for all you do and always being true.

You and your channel is the best thing that is ever happened to RU-vid! BTW, all the guitars sounded great.

This weekend I did a deep dive back into some of your old vids. I went back to the garage…an by far #75 was my favorite. That funk loop you played was crazy! For those of you reading this, find episode #75 an check that out!

Tom, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' or 'We Are the World'? I have a feeling this is a rhetorical question. Thanks for doing the show!

Man it’s the player! It all sounds awesome

Uncle Larry, I was going down a rabbit hole and saw you playing acoustic guitar on stage with Roseanne Cash and Kris Kristofferson on one of my favorite songs ever. Just another day at the office? So cool to see you holding it down with the acoustic. I can only imagine how many amazing performances you've been a part of in the studio and on the stage.

They've all got their own special harmonics but they all sound great. Love that newer SG 🤘🏼

"Then I'd be happy.." Great timing dude!!! The 'black hole' can be mostly avoided by helping others - like giving advice for free on the Internet to hordes of hungry fans...

Hey Tom, I've been learning and listening to a lot of Vince Gill lately, and I know you played on his album "These Days", did you by chance play the solo on This memory of you, that song has such a feel and the understated solo reminds me of your playing. Perfectly played whether it was you or whomever, such a beautiful song....Thanks Tom, you are the Best!!!

Hey Tom, great episode! Doucenberg really sounded flawless! The Burst ummmm I'm thinking its perfect. So I have a soft spot for and that Esquire - is as good as it gets, for me! However that Princeton B/F is really the star, I know it's about pickups that Amp made all of them guitars sound spot on! The S Gs were ok

Tom, this thumbnail era is so fucking awesome.

You've done it.. you topped the "face in palm" thumbnail 😂

At the 2:40 minute mark, that was a great insight on Tom's part...that nothing here on earth can ever make us truly happy and satisfied...only Jesus Christ can do that...we all instinctivly recognize that and try to fill that hole many different ways.

Man that Tele bites .... great crunch!

Hey, Tom. In every instance to me it sounded like the vintage guitars were a little more alive and snarly. Like they might kick your ass after you’ve shared a few drinks with them, but then be sweet about it when you roll things back the next day. Thought the Ron Ellis Tele sounded killer though, and I love Lollars. You’re the realest, Tom. We all love ya.

My ears like the '61 SG (The Road Warrior) neck pickup the best, super creamy and with plenty of thick bite to it. The '54 Esquire pickup has much better balance and bark (to my ears at least), I definitely favor both of these but of course your 'Burst is super duper. Thanks for another great video Uncle Larry, I look forward to your D-45 happiness...you crack me up brother! Thanks as always, peace to you and yours.

Jeebus that 61 SG is off the charts. Also your playing is wonderful regardless of the guitar

For new pickups I'm a little biased because before anyone knew who Jason and Stephine Lollar are I was friends with them on Vashon. Second choice and the pickups that were recommend to me by Chris Bond are Lindy Fralin. Question is, to get deeper, over, under or stock wound. As far as the ones you chose to demo for this video. They all sound good because of your abilities and finesse properly showing them off. To answer the question, to me, if you have the abilities and finesse low output passive is the best way to accentuate real talent. Further, Chris always added that a 10' high quality cord (I like George L's) directly into the point to point amp (short as possible signal chain) is the way to obtain true pure tone. The rest being up to your fingers on the board.

wow Larry ALL of those pickups actually make you sound pretty decent!

I love that you don't change pickups.

All the vintage pickups sound like they're ready to go out and party and the new ones want to stay home with the lights low and the shades drawn.

The Esquire was crisp...SG's smooth...Les Paul blissful..Basically anything in your hands is primarily the same tone...Loved the rapid fire shootout...lol

Thanks for the perspective, Uncle Larry, always helps me get to the heart and soul of guitar instead of gear. That being said, which tube screamer will make me sound like SRV? 😂

I'm not even a humbucker or Les Paul guy, but ...the neck pickup on that Les Paul...wow! Clear ánd sweet!

Great episode! Believe it or not I liked the Doozy the best!

the burst LP and the dark burst tele!...sound great!

Coolest guy on the planet! Man i agree with what the other guy said, its like hanging out with an old buddy. I just wanna sit and drink beer and jam out with you.

Hot topics with uncle larry.. Love it. I think those pickups sounded a little different obviously, but they all sounded pretty good.. I think ppl just want some kinda easy answer.. Like, "Ahhh if I only had this; I would be better.." (and then I'd be happy..)

If Tom was to start giving lessons, I would drive to Nashville to get a couple hours. While I am a very well-reformed electric guitar player, only playing acoustic anymore (still like an electric though), I appreciate Uncle Larry's creativity/musicality and respect his experience. It would be so worth it. Just got to know when to sign up :)