Me And My Guitar: Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland 

And lastly, I don't want Jackson to build anything I want. Part of the fun of what I do is getting to experiment. A lot of guitarists don't understand me because I'm a visual artist first and I don't approach the guitar in the same way that traditional players do. I love love love this one more because of the flaws. It now has it's own identity and more than any guitar I've ever owned, this one gets the most compliments and interest from those who see it. It's sad to see such hatefulness here.

Hey folks. Wes B here. To answer your questions about my guitar looking like crap, well, the fact of the matter is that I am rough on my equipment. This is a touring guitar. I want there to be an obvious cover over the neck position because I like that it looks modified and one day may want to drop a PU back in. Some of the hardware is rusty, yes, but we clean it off every couple of days. That happens with the amount of water being thrown around on stage.

I also really enjoyed having the empty pot holes filled with a different material because it's a left handed guitar that I was proud to convert and I want the footprint of those cavities to remain visible like scars. I like used and modified looking guitars. And no James Coleman. I'm not kidding. Pristine guitars are not my thing. I like them to have character. Thanks for the kind words from some of you others. I'm a painter turned guitar player and tinkering is what I do.

"I don't know why people are so crazy..." -Wes Borland

Say what you will about Limp Bizkit, but Wes Borland is just an amazing guitarist.

Found this 8 years later. Wes seems like a cool dude and it’s neat he builds his guitars

Wes is a great guitarist. He routinely writes interesting riffs, and actually has a very distinct style, that alone is more than you can say for 90% of players.

I like that the sales rep for Jackson guitars doesn't know a left handed guitar when he's looking at one.

A true artist who loves to work... Writes music, plays incredibly, rebuilds guitars, does amazing costumes, has crazy stage moves, all to entertain us. Respect!

Wes never got the credit for being an amazing and innovative guitarist. Dudes a beast.

This is why I love Wes. This guy could literally get any guitar he wants and he plays a stripped left handed guitar with goddamn electrical tape on it.

It's refreshing to see a guitarist who has a unique approach, too many of us are far to concerned about tradition.

Everyones hating on this. And im just here admiring his ingenuity to convert the guitar. And also the fact that he wanted to put some time into the instrument instead of just buying another one. He wanted a project. Anyone know what kind of pick up is in it? Looks like a invader but im not sure.

I'll never forget the first time I heard Wes borland's guitar style....ever. a true artist alway's ahead of the curve.

Also: My glasses are made by Resurrection Eyewear from Korea

Wes, I’m so Glad you chose to come back to Limpbizkit You carved YOUR OWN path in heavy music And always kept the fanbase as Family We Appreciate it. LB always finds a bit of joy Amongst the gloom And that ain’t easy Bless D

Wes Borland: Well i got a factory reject guitar but i never complained and i made it work after a little TLC. I'm satisfied with it, it's mine. 😎 *becomes famous* Guitar fanboys: OMG i won't ever play a guitar unless *muhh tonewood* is made from exotic woods from the oogabooga trees of the exotic OkiDoki forest back when Hagrid was alive! Plus my guitar neck *needs* to be ebony latina pawg roasted almond wood from South Mordor or i won't get that bright warm (no-curtains, it affects muh tone) room-temperature tone! My strap was made from angels hair and my cables were designed by Optimus himself. Also my amp was forged by a Viking hammer and Thor wired the electricals plus my pedals were made from scrap exotic metal off the Titanic cabin! The more money i spend the better i am than others who don't. Get on my level, peasants! *also never left basement*

wes is such a great artist, one of my favorite guitar players ever.

There are so so much incredible and perfect guitar players on youtube's commentaries...

This is cool.. He's taken the time to make it how he wants it, that's Frickin cool

I love how he completely customized his guitar from top to bottom, you can really see the bond between the two, beautiful*

Mr Borland you are one of my favorite guitarist you rock!

Goes to show how little Jackson thought of Wes Borland. "Here Wes. Here's a throwaway guitar somebody didn't want, so it's either you or we burn it, because it's not worth our time and effort to build you a custom guitar from scratch."

Wes reminds me of the dude from “no country for Old men” and I like that.

i live next to a school called west moreland

I completely agree with that philosophy. I've built and or modified about all 20 of mine at this point

I am a big fan of you Wes. Searching for your other projects I discover this video. Now I find you're an engineer and a painter too. A genius artist is an understatement for you.

Wes you engineer your own solutions ,a rare quality thanks for the video , its encouraging to see people thinking and using their own electronics solutions again ! excellent !!

We need to protect this man at all costs. Wes is amazing

Wes throwing his faulty Jackson V to the Lollapalooza 2021 audience brought me here.

Thanks Wes and TotalGuitar

I completely agree with wanting a project over the finished article. I feel a bit like that with my bonsai trees or anythong that talkes time and effort. The journey and satisfaction you get maoing these things yourself is pure joy and i couldn't hwve it another way. I love you wes! Legend

Weird seeing him look, well, normal. Dude’s a hell of a guitar player.

Wes seems like a dude I could grab a coffee with and talk about guitar science without boring the other person haha

Wes you’re one of the greatest guitarist on this planet probably one of the greatest of all time!!! I’m 46 years old been following Limp Bizkit since 1999!! Time flies I still feel like I’m 22!! Thank you kindly for sharing!! Love to the entire band brother!!! You guys are the Best!! Cheers from Munster Indiana!!

I was born in 96, grew up a young kid listening to limp bizkit - my way. when I was 4 and 5 it was my favorite song. I’m 27 now and I appreciate you for everything you guys have done on my young impressionable mind. Rock on forever Wes!

Dude is an under rated living legend! The whole band is

this guitar has so much soul in it..

Dude, you are bad ass. A real professional who takes his craft very serious. Thank you!!!

This is sick. My favorite guitar he’s played is the super rare orange Ibanez RG7, but I appreciate taking what’s in front of you and making it work.

nice to see a dude real serious about his music. you can tell how into it he is, it's real rad.

Love the eyehole screw idea.. fkn hate standard straplocks for just the reason he explained..

Great video. TotalGuitar doesn't always have to be about showing off the coolest guitar. Thumbs up for showing a guitar player's love for his guitar. =]

Love Wes, very cool story, and insane result !!

awesome guitarist with great passion.

I love when guitarist decide to create/mod their own guitar, there’s a reason why the guitars of Eddie Van Halen, Brian May and Tom Morello became so iconic.

Big fan of you brother. Iconic sounds for the band. Awesome job. 😊

What way to go! I love you it. Give the guitar life and will sing to you.

MAD RESPECT!!! Wes Never forgets the struggles of being poor(guessing since he's from Jacksonville FL).......it's nice to see someone that realizes Money doesn't buy you happiness, Creativity and being YOURSELF does.

Anyone else find it weird when watching this video, you have to understand that he plays for limp bizkit? Its just a weird contrast looking at him and imagining fred durst as his vocalist.

I feel like me and wes would have a sick jam. What a great player. I have tons of bangs and scratches on my guitar. It comes with ACTUALLY playing it. Keep up the good work ! You're a very inspiring player.

I was going to say this is like what someone that has not made it would have to do... After reading your explanation, complete new respect and understanding. A true artist you are my friend... I love that guitar too, and all you put in it made it your work of art.

"I don't know why people are so crazy~" - Wes, 2013 1:12

jeff goldblum

Wes Borland...hell of an artist and guitarist...been following him for many many years

The soul of LB right there ! I am building a custom one off baritone right now . I love experimenting with my axes !

People dogging on Wes for his tinkering and the visible scars forget two names who tinkered and built their own ugly guitars that have their scars: Brian May, and Edward Van Halen.

Such an underrated guitarist.

Respect for getting your hands dirty Wes and making it your own, nice peice of engineering dude, gonna rewind and keep my eye out for this cool peice of kit 🤙👌🙏 all the best 🙂

So dope, someone returned that

It’s just sad how someone as big and famous as Wes Borland has to give explanations to the internet warriors

"The more involved I am with the building of a guitar, the more attached I am" This is so true! I modded an old Korean Strat copy that I picked up for $90 at a pawn shop. It's still not the best guitar in the world, but it's one of my favorites in my "collection" just because I worked on it. It's a red strat with a black pickguard and white knobs and hardware, I've never seen that color scheme before. People on here complain about Jackson giving him a returned, flawed King V but that isn't the point! Wes didn't have to take it, but he did to give himself a project because he loves guitars and (apparently) enjoys building and modding. I didn't need my strat, but I took it on as a project because I love guitars and I wanted to break into modding. :)

I dig it. I love guitars with obvious modifications that are clearly for playing. One of my favorite personal guitars is a mutt Jackson Kelly I pieced together from eBay parts and stuff I had lying around. Ended up re-routing the Floyd Rose cavity with a hand chisel to fit an old 80’s Kahler trem system, recessed kinda like the one on Jerry Cantrell’s G&L. This reminds me of that one.

Wes is such a great musician, I believe he proved he can re-arrange anything and make it work

His voice sounds like Ben stiller with a slight cold.

I personally liked his signature Yamaha. js. Very classy looking guitar

how can you not love this dude? he is so REAL TO ME.

Wes was pure genius. His compositions and atmospheric, style of guitar playing were incredible. He takes the listener on a musically journey through dynamics, moods, unconventional rhythms and overtones. They are always fun to listen too. Even his customs provoked a feeling… he and his band were pure genius!

I love Wes and i love his very unique approach to the instrument. His rhythm playing is so innovative and groovy. I actually really like LB's MUSIC. I just can't stand Fred Durst and his 6th grader notebook "lyrics." Sam, Wes and Jon should just have a band as 3 piece with Wes on vocals.

Very interesting to see a pro-level guitarist heavily modding a guitar (changing a lefty to a righty). Very unique video :-)

The guitar looks like a work in progress and I love it!

I always knew Wes was an amazing guitarist now I know he's a all around awesome guy!!!

Les is the coolest part of Limp Bizkit.

Gotta luv that guy =D

Gnarly guitar! I've been listening to you since Three Dollar Bill Yall, thank you for all the great music! 💜

I like that you didn't try to hide any mods you just had at it! it is really cool I dig it!

Wes is cool. I think people have a knee jerk reaction to him because they associate him with Fred Durst, which is understandable, but also somewhat unfair, because Wes isn't the insufferable douchebag that Durst is. Plus, Wes looks vaguely like Gavin Rossdale here. I'm also given to understand that Wes is a fan of the Jesus Lizard, which earns him extra points in my book.

That's what I call a guitar with personality

Love what he said at the end, I am exactly the same with my B.C.Rich, been my first electric guitar and had it over 12 years...Still love it and just did a complete hardware change and electronics.. Look after your instruments boys and girls and they will look after you.:)

Great video! He explains everything so well and is really knowledgeable. He should be a sales rep. Much smarter than most!

oh shit, I didn't know the floyd rose pins were supposed to be off center. I analysed the frequencies during a bend and saw that the notes didn't bend in unison with the other strings (notes detuned as the bend increased) so I tried to compensate by changing the bridge settings, but that just fucked up the intonation. so I figured that floyd roses just suck and never bought another one. I'm much happier with my Gretsch floating bridge. I've played some Jacksons with floating bridges that didn't have the detuning problem, but instead would never go back to the home position. My Gretsch works flawlessly and I like the tone I get from the hollow body even when playing with heavy distortion.

How do I make/get one of those pickup cavity covers? Serious question. Thanks :)

This is Awesome!!

Big fan, Wes. Met you and the band years ago in Detroit. Cool mods you made on that King V. Cheers mate.

he is supprisingly not an asshole

Damn you Mr. Borland for stealing the dreams of left-handed players!

As a player ths is by far the most interesting of the me and my guitar interviews.

One of the coolest and most talented guys in music…hoping your album Crystal Machete gets released on vinyl at some point…your song The Cliffs gives me the chills every time I hear it…such a brilliant track

He didn't talk bout the pickup I think it's an invader which I'm thinking bout getting

What pickups are those? Invaders?

What an awesome story, great guitar and cool guy. I’d love to have the talent, time and money to tinker around with stuff like that. Having your OWN guitar that you made they way you want it must be satisfying.

Wes... one of my favorite guitarists.. cool axe reminds me of Star Trek ..

kool i dig Frankenstein guitars

"year of our lord " ... I love this dude he's sharp

I can’t tell how many times I’ve watched this video. I love how Wes modifies his guitars and explaining what he did and why. Most people mod their guitars, either when they get them or during it’s life

Good to know. Thanks for the advice!

I want to see Wes and Buckethead playing together in their costumes

Limp Bizkit are fucking great man. I feel bad for people that don’t get where they’re coming from. I like them even more bc people hate them lol

Well done.

Amazing guitar!!