Hey Howdy Hey: A real Live Wire

Sending out a big Hey Howdy Hey of thanks to Jules and Marilyn Burgert.

They moved to Lincoln three years ago. Jules had been an engraver for over ten years before losing the feeling in some of his fingers and thumbs. One day while watching an infomercial - I think that is what it's called anyways - it was talking about a kit you could by to learn to build guitars. Jules was hesitant about buying it, but his wife Marilyn kept on him about giving it a try, so it was she who inspired him to get it.

Jules was no stranger to guitars, having been playing them since he was nine years old. For many years, he followed the folk music circuit. He also played the violin and banjo and competed often in fiddler's competitions. So, he decided to order the kit and he built a few of the kit guitars before he decided to start building his own from scratch. Jules now builds many different types of guitars, but he prefers mostly to build Electric and Dobro. He says it takes him about two weeks to build a guitar, on average.

When I first me Jules and Marilyn, I was working at the school this last winter and I had gone to dump the garbage out back and saw a van trying to get into a driveway, but was stuck in the snow. So, I ran over to push them out.

I don't remember if I got their name at that time, but I met Jules again recently when I had stopped out at John Beckman's shop one evening while he had one of his jam sessions going on. That is where I officially met Jules. He built a few guitars for John and boy did they sound good. Plus, as most folks know, John is one heck of a great guitar player.

Anyway, after I left, John was talking to Jules about some of the things I do for the local kids and, low and behold, one day recently while I was working at the store, Jules came in and presented me with this guitar he made. He called it a Frankenstein guitar. It was made from many different guitars and he told me the neck of the guitar came off an old guitar of John Beckman's. I was very honored to receive this great gift and knowing part of the guitar came from an old guitar of John's was icing on the cake.

I am not the only one who has received one of Jules' great gifts. He had also donated one to the Fireman's Ball and through the years of building them, he has donated them to kids and to churches. He said he would rather have a kid playing a guitar than video games. He said God gave him a talent he did not know he had, and he wanted to share it with others.

So, if you see a guitar out there with the name "Live Wire", it's one of his.

Jules and Marilyn, thanks for all you do and God Bless.