The Fender Jaguar

One of the most unique all time Fender Vintage Guitars is the Fender Jaguar. Some of its design roots can be attributed to the Fender Jazzmaster, but the Jaguar is a matchless instrument. It was released in the ‘60s as Fender’s top-of-the-line guitar. With a 24” maple neck and an aggressive-looking body, the Jaguar is one of Fender’s most stylish guitars to date.

Along with being stylish, this vintage guitar has some features that give it a unique sound, like its single-coil pickups. Like the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar features a floating tremolo arm system. Leo Fender designed this to be different from “synchronized tremolo” system of the Stratocaster. During tremolo use, the Jaguar’s bridge moves along with the strings. This conserves proper intonation and prevents the strings from binding. The 

Fender originally released the Jaguar in 1962. It was popular among surf guitarists throughout the ‘60s. Its ad campaign featured people on beaches in order to make it more appealing to the surf genre. One ad from 1965 shows a man actually riding a surf board while holding a Jaguar. The ad is captioned “You won’t part with yours either.” One ad also featured Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys. Despite this vigorous ad campaign, the guitar didn't do as well as its competitors in its early years, and was discontinued in 1975.

The vintage Jaguar’s popularity started to rise again in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. Tom Verlaine of Television is shown playing one on a 1978. The guitar’s unique sound and lack of mainstream popularity made it big among punk and indie rock artists. In the 1990s, the Jaguar became extremely popular again after being used by artists like Black Francis of The Pixies, John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.

Fender reissued the Jaguar in 1999 as part of its American Vintage Series. The reissue was an exact replica of the 1962 Jaguar. Since then, variations of the Jaguar have also been released, most of which have humbucker pickups, like the Fender Blacktop and the Jaguar HH. Fender also issued the Jaguar Bass, the Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar, and last year, the Kurt Cobain Signature Jaguar. Since the reissue, this vintage guitar has had a major comeback.

The Gibson S-1

In the 1970s the major American guitar companies were losing money due to sales of the competition, whose sales model was to produce quality instruments at drastically lower production costs. Gibson Guitars has proven over the years that they were always willing to change their approach to guitar creation from decade to decade. This is clearly illustrated throughout their history from the 1950s creation of the Flying V and Explorer, to the GibsonFirebird / Thunderbird line of the 1960s, to some interesting instruments in the 1970s that were created with factors new to Gibson such as bolt on necks and newer woods such as maple and alder.

One of these instruments was the 1975 Gibson S-1, which was an effort to create a single coil-pickup guitar that could sound like a Fender at times while also keeping the ability to create a humbucker Gibson sound by combining coils with a “chicken head” four position rotary switch. The Gibson S-1 was shaped like a Gibson Les Paul with a Gibson Flying V peg head.

The Gibson S-1 is often mistaken for the Gibson Marauder, which had on humbucker and one slanted single coil pick up. While the Gibson S-1 was endorsed by Ron Wood, the Marauder was endorsed by Paul Stanley of Kiss. Either one is an easy way to get in the door of Collecting Vintage Guitars, find one at a vintage guitar shop at around $800-$1000.

Famous Guitarists Caught Playing Guitars Other than their Usual Part 002

Jimmy Page was most often seen playing a late 1950’s Les Paul or a EDS-1275. But when Jeff Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Page chose to play a Vintage Fender Electric XII, the short lived 12-string contribution from Fender in the 1960’s. he is no stranger to Vintage Fender Guitars, having played Vintage Fender Telecasters in his Yardbird days.

Famous Guitarists Caught Playing Guitars Other than their Usual Part 001

Warren Haynes has long been a supporter of Vintage Gibson Guitars, favoring 1958 Les Paul’s, Dot Neck ES-335s and Non-Reverse Firebirds with p-90s when he is seeking single-coil punch. Halloween 2008 in Boston forced Haynes to put down his Gibson favorites and pick up  another model, in order to play an entire set of Pink Floyd tunes, Haynes had no choice but to recreate it the way it was originally played — on a Vintage Fender Stratocaster. 

GUITARS & CLIMATE CHANGE

Our shop, recently, received several (many) acoustic guitars with changed action and neck misalignment(s) even though owners made efforts to ensure their guitar is in a controlled climate, or in a case, or breathing open air (A/C) kept in house. Despite owner care and handling these guitars changed.

Some guitars we received had high action, under set necks, and dehydrated bodies while other guitars had signs of over set necks, fret buzz, and bloated bodies. These are symptoms of: CLIMATE CHANGE to a guitar.

Procedural, when a neck is under set with high string action the remedy is a neck reset followed by a full fret dressing. Conversely, the same procedure is the remedy for an overset neck.

We've changed our analysis when now we see these conditions. That is, prior to looking at mechanical dysfunctions we are now examining a guitar's hydration to see whether an instrument is over-hydrated or under-hydrated.

Read More Here: http://bit.ly/1cODQqW

For Information on Climate Control Please See HVAC Company MA

Top Ten Classic Rock Guitars

Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Fender SRV Stratocaster

10. Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Fender SRV Stratocaster

The Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster signature model was based on Vaughn’s favorite guitar, “Number One”, also called his “First Wife”. The SRV Stratocaster was in the works in the late ‘80’s with a planned release date in 1989. Stevie’s touring and recording schedule, however, delayed its release. Finally, in 1990, Stevie was presented with 3 prototypes, right before his Tonight Show performance. That night, his notable SRV stickers on the pickguard were missing, so the Tonight Show art staff got creative and applied temporary white Letraset stickers. Vaughn liked the script-style lettering so much that he suggested that the lettering be engraved into the pickguard – as it appears today. Vaughn died about 10 weeks after his Tonight Show appearance, and the SRV was put on hold until 1991. At that time, at the direction of Stevie’s brother Jimmi, plans for the Limited Edition were scrapped. Jimmi’s goal became making sure the SRV guitar was affordable so that “every kid that wanted one could afford one.”

9. Jerry Garcia’s Tiger

Where did Garcia’s rich, deep tones come from? From his appropriately named “Tiger”. Jerry’s custom-made guitar was named Tiger because of the inlay on the battery/preamp compartment. Tiger was built in the so-called Alembic “Hippie Sandwich” tradition described as several different layers of wood sandwiched together to create beautiful layers. Tiger’s top layer was cocobolo, followed by a stripe of Maple, then a layer of Vermillion and a Flame Maple core. The binding across the body and front of the guitar is brass, with a gorgeous inlay on the back side of the body. The neck, made of Western Maple, has a hardwood section of padauk inlayed in the back. The ebony fret-board is enhanced with a brass binding. One writer states that Tiger is “12 ½ pounds of muscle and beauty” — the power behind the sound that defined the Grateful Dead.

8. Bob Dylan’s 1964 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster

When Bob Dylan plugged in his 1964 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster at the Newport Folk Festival, he literally electrified rock history. But there was controversy surrounding his first live “plug-in”. Dylan was booed by his fans. The reason for the crowd’s hostile reaction was either that Dylan appeared to be “abandoning” the folk orthodoxy, or poor sound quality on the night of his performance – or a combination of the two. Either way, Dylan’s actions had huge implications for both rock and folk music. His ’64 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster was front and center in the event that shifted Dylan’s career.

But the famous guitar has stayed in the limelight. Dylan’s history-making Strat went missing for 47 years, and controversy over its whereabouts still simmers. In a Rolling Stone Music article, PBS Detectives are quoted as saying that the missing guitar has been found in the home of a New Jersey native, Dawn Peterson, and has been authenticated. The story goes that Peterson’s father was a private pilot who worked for Dylan’s manager in the mid ‘60’s. After a flight, Peterson claims to have found 3 guitars that were left on the plane, with 17 pages of hand-written lyrics in the cases. Peterson claimed that when he tried to return the guitars, no one got back to him. Dylan, on the other hand, claims to have the guitar. But experts make a strong case that the guitar in Dawn Peterson’s possession is the same Sunburst Fender Stratocaster that Dylan played at the festival in 1965. Vintage-instrument specialist Andy Babiuk was convinced after PBS asked him to compare it to close-up color photos from Newport. “The more I looked, the more they matched,” Babiuk says. “The rosewood fingerboard has distinct lighter strips. Wood grain is like a fingerprint. I’m 99.9 percent sure it’s the guitar – my credibility is on the line here.” PBS History Detectives also called in Dylan memorabilia collector Jeff Gold, who often helps auction houses authenticate items for sale. “A vast percentage of the stuff I get shown isn’t real,” he says. “By nature, I’m a defeatist. But this was obviously real.” The mystery surrounding this iconic, history-shaping guitar only adds to its mystic.

7. Jimi Hendrix’s Gibson Flying V

Along with his hand-painted Fender Stratocaster, Jimi also owned 3 Gibson Flying Vs. His first Flying V was the famous hand-painted psychedelic one that was designed especially for Jimmy in 1969. His performance at the Isle of Whyte Festival put this iconic model center stage. The routings and pick guard are left handed; all the hardware is gold. The vibrato is a typical flat mount base (no difference left or right). This was the first time Gibson inlayed a pearl logo on a Flying V. And perhaps in honor of Jimi’s native American (Cherokee) background (from his father’s side), Jimi requested the split diamond inlays be made to represent Indian arrow heads. The Kluson-built tuners are very unusual. They are Gibson Deluxe double line tuners with single line tulip buttons that were unusual for that period. At that time, through 1971, the perloid buttons had 2 strings.

6. Derek Trucks Gibson SG Standard

One of the most accomplished and respected guitarists working today, Derek Trucks’ “weapon of choice” is a Gibson SG Standard. A departure from the original 1961 SG, the hardware complement of Derek’s SG is quite unique. His Signature SG is also modified with a decorative Lyre vibrato cover with the vibrato mechanism itself removed and replaced by a stopbar tailpiece. Derek also customized the guitar with the early style “no wire” ABR-1 Tune-o-matic tailpiece, without a pickguard. His rise from child prodigy to one of the most talented guitar players of our time, has put him in the company of many top-notch musicians. Truck is currently the co-leader of the acclaimed new Tedeschi Trucks Band and longtime bandleader of The Derek Trucks Band. He also continues to play with the Allman Brothers Band and has performed with legends like Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton. Who ever he’s playing with, his “sublime tone and unique playing style—both of which benefit from liberal slide playing” are unparalleled. His Gibson SG is the guitar that makes it happen.

5. Eddie Van Halen’s Hand-Painted Frankenstrat

In 1979, Eddie’s original guitar was repainted red, with stripes left unpainted to reveal the original black and white underneath. Eddie changed the neck, removed part of the pick guard, and eventually installed a Floyd Rose vibrato unit. The guitar is known both as “Frankenstrat” and as the “Frankenstein”. Fender issued a replica of the guitar in relic form at a retail price in 2007. A “new” (non-relic) Frankenstrat was available through the Charvel company for significantly less, but it was eventually discontinued. This Fender/Charvel series was the first time Van Halen had consented to the commercial release of a guitar with his signature graphics on it. Allmusic described Eddie Van Halen as “Second to only Jimi Hendrix… undoubtedly one of the most influential, original, and talented rock guitarists of the 20th century”. His use of two-handed tapping, natural and artificial harmonics, vibrato, and tremolo picking, combined with his rhythmic sensibility and melodic approach, have influenced an entire generation of guitarists. The solo in “Eruption” was voted #2 on Guitar World magazine’s readers’ poll of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos. The trademark red Frankenstrat played a huge role in shaping the sound of this epic guitarist who ranked 8th in Rolling Stone’s 201l list of the Top 100 guitarists.

4. Eric Clapton’s Blackie

Jim Hendrix and Blind Faith band mate, Steve Winwood, greatly influenced Clapton’s choice of guitars. Impressed by their instruments, Eric Clapton switched from Gibson guitars to Vintage Fender Guitars. His first Stratocaster was nicknamed “Brownie” because of its sunburst brown finish. Brownie was used on his albums “Eric Clapton” and “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs”. In 1970, Clapton discovered the Sho-Bud guitar shop in Nashville, Tennessee. He bought six 1950’s Stratocasters for $200-$300 US dollars each. He gave one to George Harrison, Pete Townshend and Stevie Winwood, then took the best parts of the remaining three and assembled “Blackie”, his favorite Fender Stratocaster – affectionately named by Clapton for its black finish. Clapton played Blackie for many years, but finally retired his Fender favorite in 1985 due to problems with the neck. A 1990 TV commercial for Honda brought Blackie out of retirement at the specific request of the company. Clapton’s guitar solo on “Bad Love” was filmed for the commercial. Blackie was also brought out on stage for one number during the Royal Albert Hall shows in 1991.

3. George Harrison’s Rosewood TelecasterGeorge Harrison’s Rosewood Telecaster

“There are instruments, and there are legendary instruments which have become mythical in proportion.” Harrison’s Rosewood Telecaster is one of the later. Mythical! In 1969, the Beatles were at the end of their long and winding road together. Time had taken its toll on their creativity and relationships within the group. They had stopped performing concerts by then, and decided that as their parting collaboration, they could come together for the “Let it Be” album and film – followed by a final live performance on the rooftop of Apple’s London headquarters. During the filming and recording, Harrison received a new instrument custom-made for him by Fender. To generate market excitement over the new Fender design, a prototype of the Fender Rosewood Telecaster , a vintage fender telecaster, was presented to Harrison. The new solid body was made with a thin layer of maple, sandwiched between a solid rosewood top and back. Harrison’s guitar was flown to England in its own seat, accompanied by a courier and delivered to the Apple offices. The now famous guitar was used in the “Get Back” recording sessions and in the final rooftop performance. The day after their rooftop show, with cameras rolling in the Apple basement studio, the Fab Four performed and recorded “The Long and Winding Road” and “Let it Be”, with Harrison using his now legendary Rosewood Telecaster. Not long after, the band went their separate ways. In 1969, Harrison attended Delaney and Bonnie’s London show. Eric Clapton was on the bill. Following the performance, Clapton asked Harrison to join the group for shows through Great Britain and Denmark. The next day, Harrison joined the tour and as an unforgettable gesture of appreciation for the invitation, presented Delaney with his much-loved Rosewood Telecaster with these words, “This is what you did for me last night”.

2. Jimmy Page’s Gibson Double Neck

The epic double neck Gibson played by Led Zepplin’s Jimmy Page has been called “The Hammer of the Gods”. The sound of Page on the Double Neck for Stairway to Heaven is considered unequalled in rock history. One Zepplin fan is quoted as saying that while other artists have played this model, “It wasn’t until Jimmy picked up the double neck that it became the instrument that screamed “Rock God” and became an icon.” Another source names Jimmy Page’s Gibson EDS 1275 Double Neck as “the coolest guitar in rock”. It allowed Page to perform “Stairway to Heaven” without an awkward mid-song guitar change. Page would alternate from the bottom 6-string for the delicate finger picking in Stairway’s intro and verses and the spiraling guitar solo, to the 12-string for the song’s bridge and final chorus. Page also used his famous Gibson Double Neck for classics like “The Song Remains the Same” and “Rain Song”. The Jimmy Page Signature Double Neck, no longer in production, was a painstaking recreation of Jimmy’s original 1971 model with mahogany 6-and 12-string necks outfitted with rosewood fingerboards. A dark cherry finish, chrome hardware and strap locks, a period-correct 5-ply pick guard, 4 Page pickups and 2 volume and tone control knobs.

1. Jimi Hendrix’s Hand Painted Fender Stratocaster

Jimi Hendrix

Hard to believe that with only 4 years of mainstream exposure before his death, Jimi Hendrix is still widely considered “the greatest electric guitarist in music history”. His fame in the US skyrocketed after his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival using what we consider to be the #1 classic rock guitar of all time, his hand-painted Fender Stratocaster. At Monterey, Jimi smashed the guitar during his performance of “Wild Thing” and then did what he often did to his beloved guitars – he lit it on fire! Throughout his career, Hendrix used many guitars, but his guitar of choice was always the Fender Stratocaster.

The Foo Fighters and Their Four Signature Guitar

For an artist, it must be quite an honor to have your own Fender or Gibson signature guitar model. Most of the great guitar gods have had signature models created for them. JoePass, Tal Farlow, The Everly Brothers, Johnny Smith, Les Paul, Chet Atkins, The Ventures and Trini Lopez were among the first. In the 70’s and 80’s, it was George Benson, Paul Stanley and Bob Weir models by Ibanez.  In the 90’s, there were Eddie Van Halen models, along with a flock of other metal notables. The turn of the century brought a signature model for super players Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend and Jimmy Page. Even some greats no longer with us like Jimi Hendrix, Paul Kossof and Randy Rhodes received the honor of having their own signature models. One band with the unique distinction of having 4 signature models created for them is still very much alive and rocking.  In fact, in 2013 they’re still packing arenas and recording relevant music.  That band is the Foo Fighters.

The Foo Fighters have had four meaningful signature models developed in the past few years. First and foremost was a limited edition no longer available called the “inspired by Dave Grohl” Gibson DG-335.  In 2007, another classic was released. This one, created by the the artisans of the Gibson Custom Shop, was actually a re-release of the Vintage Gibson Guitar, the“Trini Lopez” signature model that was popular from 1964-71. Grohl has always been a fan of the Trini Lopez model, which is a hybrid between a solid body and a hollow body. The limited model was produced in a rare Pelham Blue color.

The DG-335 has the same classic Firebird-style headstock with six-on-a-side tuners. The body has stylish diamond f-holes. The inlays on the fretboard are acrylic split diamond. This unique feature was inspired by the original Trini Lopez model. The pickups are original Patent Applied for humbuckers, designed to deliver the amazing tones that Grohl has become famous for with the Foo Fighters.

Grohl is not the only Foo Fighter with a signature edition, Fender has recently released the Chris Shiflett Signature Telecaster Deluxe and the Nate Mendel P Bass. The Tele is based on Shiflett’s favorite vintage fender guitar, his 1972 Fender Telecaster Deluxe. It has an Arctic White Finish, a four-ply white pearl pickguard, two custom designed humbucker pickups, a custom stenciled case and Shiflett’s signature on the headstock.

The original Telecaster Deluxe was produced by Fender from 1972. It was designed to produce the thick sound of late 1960’s heavy rock created by humbucker pickups. To do this right, Fender hired Seth Lover in 1967. Formerly from Gibson. Seth was the inventor of the humbucker pickup. Lover created the Fender “WideRange” humbucker, which was featured on the Telecaster Deluxe, Custom and Thinline Models.

The Fender Nate Mendel Signature Bass is modeled after his 1971 Fender Precision Bass. It features a slightly road-worn candy apple finish, an extra slim neck, a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder Split Coil Pickup, a Leo Quan Badass II bridge and an extra neck plate with a hybrid “Fender/Foo Fighters” logo. Mendel has expressed his affection for his 71 P-Bass and the features that make it unique and Fender has gone to great lengths to duplicate the specifics.

Long time touring guitarist, Pat Smear, formerly of The Germs and Nirvana, has a signature model built for him by Hagstrom. The Pat Smear signature model is a double cutaway mahogany body, set neck, capped with a maple top. Each guitar is said to be built by the same standards as Pat’s guitars. The design is a custom hybrid of a 1970’s Hagstrom model “H-IIN-OT” and the modern day “F-200.”