It's an interesting way of going about things, and sure creates some amazing results. And I think it's that kind of philosophy that does it, the idea that it should be a challenge to make that particular kind of music, enforcing all these restrictions only to force himself to be more creative within a limited means. Yet he gets some of the most amazing tones you're likely to hear anywhare. All pretty rubbish guitars, not especially well made or designed, with bowed necks and crap tuners that can barely stay in tune for one song. He uses an old, mid 50s Montgomery Airline, an old, clapped out Kay hollowbody, a Harmony Rocket, and a Crestwood Astral mostly. One of my favourite musicians, Jack White, adopts this philosophy when playing with The White Stripes. So perhaps what he's saying about it being a ***** of a thing, shouldn't really be taken so literally.
A lot of folks love guitars that are a bit dodgy and difficult to play' date=' part of the charm of them I guess.