He's been using a Hohner for about 5 years and before that a cheap nylon string. He's into finger picking and alt/country, so for a 19th birthday, should be good. Not sold on that 91, but really appreciate the input.
Guitars, basses and other noisemakers
- Thread starter mjp
- Start date
mjp
Founding member
G.E. Smith seems like a nice enough guy, but I'll never be able to get over his coked-up mugging and horrible "rock faces" on Saturday Night Live.
I know some people call that "the guitar that killed folk," but obviously it was Dylan's Stratocaster that did that. But the joke's on them, because folk refused to die.
The mind boggles at who could carve up a 1953 Telecaster the way that thing is carved up. But I guess if it's your guitar you can do whatever the hell you want to it.
I know some people call that "the guitar that killed folk," but obviously it was Dylan's Stratocaster that did that. But the joke's on them, because folk refused to die.
The mind boggles at who could carve up a 1953 Telecaster the way that thing is carved up. But I guess if it's your guitar you can do whatever the hell you want to it.
It's April '63, if that makes a difference. As to the carved up body, I never liked single cutaways much, but I take your point on why it's a bit of a shame, but it's also a player's guitar, modified to be played in that "northwest corner." In any case, that axe sounds like no other Tele I've ever heard. Most of them are twangy and thin and that one spits sulphuric acid.
As for his coked-up mugging and horrible "rock faces" on Saturday Night Live, I always disliked G.E. Smith for that, but I've gotten over it because he really is a fine guitarist and a genuinely good dude by all accounts.
It's also worth mentioning (to me, at least), that Dylan used a Strat at Newport '65, but used a Tele on the '66 UK tour where the shit really hit the fan. What does that mean? Nothing. I like presenting worthless bits of info for the sake of being a contrarian.
As for his coked-up mugging and horrible "rock faces" on Saturday Night Live, I always disliked G.E. Smith for that, but I've gotten over it because he really is a fine guitarist and a genuinely good dude by all accounts.
It's also worth mentioning (to me, at least), that Dylan used a Strat at Newport '65, but used a Tele on the '66 UK tour where the shit really hit the fan. What does that mean? Nothing. I like presenting worthless bits of info for the sake of being a contrarian.
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mjp
Founding member
It does make a difference. I still don't think I'd carve up a '63, but I suppose it's less of a sin.
But now that I think of it, when I was a teenager I did carve up a '69 Strat, so maybe it's not so crazy. Though it was only 9 or 10 years old at the time.
so true! that's all that comes to mind when i see him or hear that name.
PhillyDave
“The essential doesn't change.” Beckett
interesting. The first electric guitar. http://www.openculture.com/2016/04/behold-the-first-electric-guitar-the-1931-frying-pan.html
PhillyDave
“The essential doesn't change.” Beckett
Guitars. My friend Bri works building guitars and fixing vintage equipment at his good friend Chris DiPinto's shop here in Philly in the neighborhood Fishtown. Now I guess this is just me promoting their work but the guitars, service and other equipment are really fucking cool and they do an amazing job. A few famous have his guitars too- Bowie did, Earl Slick does, Jack White, Rick Nielson, Conan O'B, Jimmy Vivino from Conan.... Oh and my friend makes mics out of old rotary phones. I guess calling rotary phones old is redundant. Anyhow, whadda ya think? http://www.dipintoguitars.com/
mjp
Founding member
And now I just heard, in an interview with Bernie Marsden, that the headstock was broken off that "Peter Green" Les Paul during a car accident when Gary Moore owned it. That may be old news, but I'd never heard it.
Just FYI if you don't know (or care) about guitars, a headstock repair on a typical late 50s Junior, for instance, takes about 50+% off the value off the guitar, and on a newer guitar makes them just about worthless.
Roger Glover played a Gibson Firebird bass for a short time. He tells the story of being on stage and all of sudden the headstock was on the floor. He doesn't even remember how it happened, but he thinks he may have bumped it against a mic stand or something.
http://www.thehighwaystar.com/interviews/glover/rg19910400.html
http://www.thehighwaystar.com/interviews/glover/rg19910400.html
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mjp
Founding member
Thunderbird. The guitar was the Firebird.
Friend of mine played a Thunderbird for years in a hardcore punk band...I though the things were indestructible. Maybe the early ones had an engineering flaw. That happened at Gibson sometimes. They let their customers do product development and QA by breaking things.
Friend of mine played a Thunderbird for years in a hardcore punk band...I though the things were indestructible. Maybe the early ones had an engineering flaw. That happened at Gibson sometimes. They let their customers do product development and QA by breaking things.
Skygazer
And in the end...
It was known, hasn't devalued it in any way, so it would seem. But you're paying for the magic and glamour of the thing, helps a lot if it still plays well though - post traumas:
Joe Bonamassa already the owner of a few late 50's Gibson Les Paul Standards, but he got to play "Greeny" at a concert in London, sounded fine, not a fan of the song but lovely to see it being played:
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/s...-LP-for-sale-at-Music-Ground&highlight=greeny
Early on in this thread I posted a link about the Peter Green burst from the Les Paul Forum, it is a very good read if the mods at LPF haven't deleted it yet. Joe B. who is a member there (JBLPlayer is his name) posts in the thread about the Greeny burst. He played it but didn't love it. Many of us at LPF had the chance to play it when Phil from Maverick guitars bought it off of Gary Moore in 2003 (which was another mess involving sellers remorse and other shenanigans). He would bring it to vintage guitar shows and let anybody play it.
Joe B. turned the guitar down at $250k and I know first-hand that Kirk paid in the low six-figure range.
It wasn't just the headstock that snapped, the entire neck was cracked through. Unfortunately, it looks like one of the subsequent owners in the UK replaced some of the original parts including the PAFs and pickup rings before it was sold to Kirk.
On a side note: a guy I know in N.Y. who has become semi-famous for selling Sunburst 50's Les Pauls is in close contact with Kirk Hammett and James Hettfield as a Burst procurer and has sold them other Bursts in the past, I was at the NY guy's house one day about five years ago and he showed me an exceptional '59 Burst flame top with Bigsby, it was $350k at the time and Kirk had turned it down because his wife wouldn't let him spend that much on a guitar.
mjp
Founding member
Goes to show that you can't believe anything you read.
Wait, then I can't believe you...
;)
I do believe you though. I thought 2 million for that guitar was insane, and while I realize that Kirk Hammett may well be insane, that would be a bit much even for him.
That makes even "low six figures" a little insane...
mjp
Founding member
Well, on the bright side, now I can say I've seen that. Not like I could un-see it, but still.