To say that we’re devastated doesn’t come close to expressing the loss we’re all feeling. For ourselves, for his family and for all of the people who knew him.
Of all the people I’ve known, Cleto was one of the kindest and most genuine. He made you feel like family and I’m so thankful that he became part of ours, along with Lori, Jesse, Cruz, Cletes and Sylvia. I’ve never seen a family unit that was so close, so loving and so supportive of each other. You just wanted to be around it and soak up as much as you could.
The people around Cleto tell you everything you need to know about him and throughout this unimaginably difficult time, I got to see just how large that circle of people is and how deep it goes with the kindest, most incredible people you could hope for, all because they love Cleto. Jimmy G, Jimmy K, Jenny, Jane, Molly, Jill K, Jill S, Deb, Rick, Jeff, Ivy, Micki, Cecelia, Zehra, Steven, Ben and on and on. If you have two of these people in your life, you are beyond lucky. Cleto had all of them because he deserved all of them.
Even though the last few months and especially weeks were almost unbearably difficult, I’m also thankful to have had a little bit more time to hang and even a few laughs. Your sense of humor persevered until the very end.
I’m going to miss the random “Hey, want to grab brunch? Pick you up in 3!” the “Hey pal! Let’s hang!” solving the world’s problems while talking about the news and someone cutting onions while listening to Jason Isbell.
Everything about this seems so unfair because you had so much more life to live and because your family and friends had so much more to live with you. Whether it was 5, 10, 30 or 50 years, each of us feels like we didn’t get enough time with you but we all feel so incredibly grateful and lucky for all that we had.
Love ya, pal
I’m so grateful to have been able to witness the evolution and birth of this album, with this incredible artist and team. This is what happens when everyone is in the flow and riding the same wave and the result is something really special!
Thank you to @leahmmason@theandrewbrett and @jswindt for trusting me to be a small part of this project and huge congratulations!!!
#newmusic #hexed #mixedbyericjracy
‘Doom Surfer’
Another one 6 months in the making, this is a build for my business partner, Robert.
Who would build a Strat with skulls all over it, an Eddie Van Halen bridge, Eddie Van Halen profile neck and lipstick pickups? Robert would! I can only assume he will be playing doom surf rock, or inventing it.
Body: Alder / Nitro over fabric
Neck: Maple / Oil & wax back, poly headstock
Fretboard: Maple with heavily rolled edges
Radius: 9.5”
Frets: Medium jumbo
Neck shape: EVH (ish)
Hardware: Gotoh EVH510T
Pickups: @seymourduncanpickups SLS
Fabric design: @adehoidar
#customguitar #stratocaster #fabrictopguitars #fender #guitarporn #customguitarbuild #guitarart
‘Magnolia’
6 months in the making, this guitar turned out to be everything I had hoped for and more.
From developing a technique to wrap fabric over and around the curves of a Strat without relying on binding or paint to hide the edges, to hand shaping the neck and oil buffing the fretboard day after day, everything about this build was time consuming but the result is well worth it!
It looks exactly how I imagined it in my head and it sounds even better. Whether it’s attention to detail, luck or both, it’s the most acoustically “lively” Strat I’ve ever heard.
Body: Alder / Nitro over fabric
Neck: Roasted maple / Oil & wax
Fretboard: Dark rosewood, with heavily rolled edges
Radius: 9.5”
Frets: Medium jumbo
Neck shape: Soft progressive V
Hardware: Vintage style Fender / Wilkinson
Pickups: @seymourduncanpickups SLS
Fabric design: @utart_home
#customguitar #stratocaster #fabrictopguitars #fender #guitarporn #customguitarbuild #guitarart
‘Magnolia’
6 months in the making, this guitar turned out to be everything I had hoped for and more.
Body: Alder / Nitro over fabric
Neck: Roasted maple / Oil & wax
Fretboard: Dark rosewood, with heavily rolled edges
Radius: 9.5”
Frets: Medium jumbo
Neck shape: Soft V
Hardware: Vintage style Fender / Wilkinson
Pickups: @seymourduncanpickups SLS
Fabric design: @utart_home
#customguitar #stratocaster #fabrictopguitars #fender #guitarporn #customguitarbuild #guitarart
‘Honeydew & Hennessy’
@leahmmason ’s debut EP is out!
Getting to work on music I love, with genuine and talented people is the greatest reward and something that I’ll never stop being thankful for. When everyone involved is working together, out of love for and belief in the music, there’s truly nothing like it.
Thank you to Leah and the whole team for trusting me to be a small part of it!
#newmusic #newcountry #mixedbyericjracy
I genuinely love everything Leah is doing and am beyond grateful for all the incredible songs I’ve had the opportunity to be part of but this might be my favorite so far. They managed to create and capture some magic with this one.
“Me or my hometown” - Leah Marie Mason
Written by: @leahmmason@jasonreeves@nellyjoymusic
Produced by: @jasonreeves
Mixed by: @ericjracy
Mastered by: @adamayan_master
#newmusic #newcountry #mixedbyericjracy
The modern half of the vintage / modern Telecaster duo.
Modern locking tuners, Gotoh 6 saddle bridge, Twisted Tele pickups, modern neck and finish and body contours (heel, cutaway and belly). #telecaster #fender #customguitars #fabrictopguitars #guitarporn #custombuiltguitars
As the modern half of the Telecaster duo, this guitar is built with all the modern upgrades and updates. With a contoured body (belly, heel and cutaway), modern electronics and hardware as well as modern finish and neck, it’s the other end of the spectrum as the Yellow Tele while still very much being a Telecaster.
“Red & Blue Floral Modern”
Body: Alder with belly, heel and cutaway contours
Finish: Fabric / Acrylic lacquer
Neck: Maple / Satin poly
Fretboard: Pau Ferro (dyed)
Radius: 12”
Frets: Narrow tall
Neck shape: C
Hardware: Modern chrome Fender locking tuners and Gotoh 6 saddle bridge
Pickups: Twisted Tele
The fabric is designed by the talented @amyjacobusflorals
#customguitar #telecaster #studioporn #fabrictopguitars #guitarporn #customguitarbuild #fender
