Posted on 11/08/2018 2:09:35 PM PST by To-Whose-Benefit?
Jimmy Page's announcement of new signature Telecasters comes almost exactly 30 years since Fender released its very first signature models, although even then the idea of a signature or artist model was hardly a new one.
Way back in the 1920s, it was Gibson who jumped on the popularity of Nick Lucas, the first American to become a big star through guitar-and-vocal hits. Nick's bestsellers included "I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover" (1927) and "Tip-Toe Thru The Tulips With Me" (1929), and he also cut some fine guitar-centric stuff like "Pickin' The Guitar" and "Teasin' The Frets."
Gibson's Nick Lucas flattop first appeared in 1927. For a while I thought this might qualify as the first signature-model guitar—and then I saw in Steve Howe's fabulous collection a guitar called a Bambina, which dated from about 1870. It was a tiny classical-like instrument with a 13-inch scale, designed by Catharina Josepha Pratten (aka Madame Sidney Pratten) who was a well-known guitar teacher in London at that time. She signed labels, and her French guitar-maker stuck them inside the guitars that she sold on to her eager pupils. The first signature guitar, perhaps?
(Excerpt) Read more at reverb.com ...
I put a Schaller Floyd Rose on my Frankenstrat.
Hated it.
Our local music store has the EXACT arch-top Harmony guitar that Santa brought me when I was 11. It has much better action than my original, but other than that, it is the same guitar. I want it...for sentimental reasons...not to actually PLAY! LOL. :-)
Jay Tursers are funny...some, like yours, never stay in tune. Others, like the one my nephew restored ($30.00 in a junk store) is an awesome little instrument. Go Figure.
Others ARE awesome little instruments. YIKES.
In Before the Grammar nazis.
What didn’t you like about the Schaller?
Thanks, TWB!
If memory serves me, the 1st Zep album was a Tele through Orange amps.
Well, if you’re not in your 70s, just hang onto it, store it right, and let it appreciate.
“Huh? Isn’t Jimmy more of a Stratocaster guy?”
I believe I recall reading that his solo on Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual” was done on a Tele (it sounds like a Tele to me).
100%
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