Now back to Mike Baytop... Before his stroke he could spin stories that would lead to other stories and, hey, you weren't gonna get a word in edgewise so...

...about 8 years ago or so we all contributed to a fund to buy NJ a new resonator... Actaully it is the one he's playin' in that clip that Neil put up...

Well, there is a great little reso maker out in Hagerstwon, Md called "Beard Guitars" and Paul Beard makes some of the finest resonator geetars made... He also spins his own cones and fir $225 will take yer old reson and put one of his "super" cones in it and make you a new nut and bridge and all that and when you get it back you go, "Wow, this thing never sounded so good"...

But nevermind that...

Now Mike Baytop used to be the finest dressed bluesman in the MidAtlantic and always had his beard trimmer short and,well, he was some impressive... About five years ago my wife, P-Vine< called Mike up 'cause she wanted to know how he kept his beard so trim 'cause she wnated to buy me what ever he was using for Christmas... So hse calls him and starts into her question but when she got to the word "beard", Mike interupted and started talkin' about "Beard Guitars"... Well, once Mike starts it's kinda hard to get his attention so the poor P-Vine had to listen to at least 10 minutes of Mike's "Beard Geetar" stories before she could get his attention...

Once she did, he prolly gave her another 20 minutes of "beard trimmer" stroies but at least she finally got 'nuff info to get me the beard "trimmer" for Christmas...

BTW, ya'll... please check out NJ and them little boxes next to yhim... Lotta them were done at the barbershop and I reckon if ya' hunted closely you'd find the ol' hillbilly in lot of them...

B~