Electricized

May 30

Fender Voyager 2012Maple,Ebony One of Fender’s prototype at NAMM 2012 this winter was the Fender Voyager. Designed by former Charvel master builder Josh Hurt, the Voyager has their pickups hidden below the pickguard, just like on the original Fender Marauder

Fender Voyager

2012
Maple,Ebony

One of Fender’s prototype at NAMM 2012 this winter was the Fender Voyager. Designed by former Charvel master builder Josh Hurt, the Voyager has their pickups hidden below the pickguard, just like on the original Fender Marauder

May 25

Fender Hellecasters Jerry Donahue 1997-1998Alder, Maple Fender has honored each of the three member of the Hellecasters band with a signature stratocaster Fender. Jerry Donahue is a Telecaster player, so he “telifyed’ his MIJ signature strat by requesting a metal plate under the bridge pickup. Overall this rarebird (450 made) is considered very well crafted guitar and simply sounds fantastic. Photo by Cliffsjam

Fender Hellecasters Jerry Donahue

1997-1998
Alder, Maple

Fender has honored each of the three member of the Hellecasters band with a signature stratocaster Fender. Jerry Donahue is a Telecaster player, so he “telifyed’ his MIJ signature strat by requesting a metal plate under the bridge pickup. Overall this rarebird (450 made) is considered very well crafted guitar and simply sounds fantastic.

Photo by Cliffsjam

May 23

Gibson CS Marc Bolan Les Paul 2011-2012Maple, Mahogany, Ebony Marc Bolan’s Les Paul was a FrankenPaul. It was built out of several LPs from different eras. Its whereabouts are unknown, but Gibson believed its last state to be a 50s Les Paul body with a 70s LP Custom neck. That’s on these specs that they built the Custom Shop Marc Bolan signature Les Paul. Of course, its a limited run of 100, on top of which another 350 VOS have been produced. The aged finish may be called ‘Bolan Chablis’, its not by licking the maple top that you’ll get a proper taste out of this axe. Photo by the Music Zoo

Gibson CS Marc Bolan Les Paul

2011-2012
Maple, Mahogany, Ebony

Marc Bolan’s Les Paul was a FrankenPaul. It was built out of several LPs from different eras. Its whereabouts are unknown, but Gibson believed its last state to be a 50s Les Paul body with a 70s LP Custom neck. That’s on these specs that they built the Custom Shop Marc Bolan signature Les Paul. Of course, its a limited run of 100, on top of which another 350 VOS have been produced.

The aged finish may be called ‘Bolan Chablis’, its not by licking the maple top that you’ll get a proper taste out of this axe.

Photo by the Music Zoo

May 21

Gibson Grabber 1973-1983Maple, Alder Released in the same time as the Gibson Ripper, the Gibson Grabber broke even more the EB series mold. The Grabber was Maple head to toe up until 1975, when the body got swapped with Alder. Same headstock as on the Flying V. A single pickup, modular, could be easily moved to a neck or bridge position. In parts due to the wood choice, Its tone is brighter than what you could expect from a Gibson humbucker. Hear it A limited edition re-run was produced in 2009.

Gibson Grabber

1973-1983
Maple, Alder

Released in the same time as the Gibson Ripper, the Gibson Grabber broke even more the EB series mold.

The Grabber was Maple head to toe up until 1975, when the body got swapped with Alder. Same headstock as on the Flying V.

A single pickup, modular, could be easily moved to a neck or bridge position. In parts due to the wood choice, Its tone is brighter than what you could expect from a Gibson humbucker. Hear it

A limited edition re-run was produced in 2009.

May 19

Gibson Ripper 1973-1983Maple, Alder, Ebony Gibson EB bass series was very popular, but getting old. They freshened up in 1973 with the release of two basses that would clash with the Gibson tradition: The Gibson Grabber and the Gibson Ripper. Instead of the Mahogany body, the Ripper was built with Maple (and alder in 1975), woods usually found on a Fender Production line. The bass was kept at low cost by keeping it cosmetically basic. In 2009, Gibson released a limited edition reissue called the Gibson Ripper II. Photo: BCR Music

Gibson Ripper

1973-1983
Maple, Alder, Ebony

Gibson EB bass series was very popular, but getting old. They freshened up in 1973 with the release of two basses that would clash with the Gibson tradition: The Gibson Grabber and the Gibson Ripper.

Instead of the Mahogany body, the Ripper was built with Maple (and alder in 1975), woods usually found on a Fender Production line. The bass was kept at low cost by keeping it cosmetically basic. In 2009, Gibson released a limited edition reissue called the Gibson Ripper II.

Photo: BCR Music

May 16

Danelectro model 4123 1963-1969Masonite, Poplar, Rosewood Also known as the Guitarlin, the Danelectro 4123 is remarkable not only by shape but by sound: Its extra long 31 frets neck adds a mandolin range.

Danelectro model 4123

1963-1969
Masonite, Poplar, Rosewood

Also known as the Guitarlin, the Danelectro 4123 is remarkable not only by shape but by sound: Its extra long 31 frets neck adds a mandolin range.

May 14

Silvertone 1423 Jupiter 1959-1962Maple, Rosewood Also known as the Harmony H-49, this is one of the Sears catalog guitars produced by Harmony. Two DeArmond pickups with a gorgeous tone, lightweight because of a semi-hollow body, it’s a very desirable guitar usually found under $1,000. Photo: Southside Guitars

Silvertone 1423 Jupiter

1959-1962
Maple, Rosewood

Also known as the Harmony H-49, this is one of the Sears catalog guitars produced by Harmony. Two DeArmond pickups with a gorgeous tone, lightweight because of a semi-hollow body, it’s a very desirable guitar usually found under $1,000. Photo: Southside Guitars

May 13

Gibson Byrdland 1955-PresentSpruce, Maple, Ebony The name Byrdland is a mashup of the names of Billy Bird and Hank Garland the two guitarists who participated in its design. They had requested a short scale archtop that would be less bulky than the traditional hollowbody, and this is basically what they got: A short-scale thinline L5CES. P90s, PAF pickups, venetian or florentine cutaway, the Gibson Byrdland went through several phases, but was always seen as a remarkable and prized instrument. Some of Gibson’s finest. Hear it Photo: Georgesmusic

Gibson Byrdland

1955-Present
Spruce, Maple, Ebony

The name Byrdland is a mashup of the names of Billy Bird and Hank Garland the two guitarists who participated in its design. They had requested a short scale archtop that would be less bulky than the traditional hollowbody, and this is basically what they got: A short-scale thinline L5CES.

P90s, PAF pickups, venetian or florentine cutaway, the Gibson Byrdland went through several phases, but was always seen as a remarkable and prized instrument. Some of Gibson’s finest. Hear it

Photo: Georgesmusic

May 10

Vox V262 Invader 1967-1968 The Invader came as a replacement of the Vox Bulldog, and just like its predecessor, it perspires Mosrite. Just like any other Vox of that time, it is stuffed with electronics. The Invader includes a E-tuner, a wah-wah effect, a percussion effect, treble, bass and distortion boosters. Very cool and rare axe. Photo by Sploshette

Vox V262 Invader

1967-1968

The Invader came as a replacement of the Vox Bulldog, and just like its predecessor, it perspires Mosrite. Just like any other Vox of that time, it is stuffed with electronics. The Invader includes a E-tuner, a wah-wah effect, a percussion effect, treble, bass and distortion boosters. Very cool and rare axe.

Photo by Sploshette

May 09

Bo Diddley 1928-2008 The Stones, the Beatles, the Who, Hendrix… You name it. Everyone has been influenced by the simple yet feverish rhythms of Bo Diddley. “The Originator”, as they called him, defined the genre and is unmistakably considered a cornerstone of blues rock. He was also famous for having female guitarists in his band.  His two main instruments were the cigar-box shaped Grestch Twang Machine and the Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird. Both were designed by Diddley himself, respectively in 1958 and 1959. Yes, Bo Diddley was a man, and a remarkable one.

Bo Diddley

1928-2008

The Stones, the Beatles, the Who, Hendrix… You name it. Everyone has been influenced by the simple yet feverish rhythms of Bo Diddley. “The Originator”, as they called him, defined the genre and is unmistakably considered a cornerstone of blues rock. He was also famous for having female guitarists in his band. 

His two main instruments were the cigar-box shaped Grestch Twang Machine and the Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird. Both were designed by Diddley himself, respectively in 1958 and 1959. Yes, Bo Diddley was a man, and a remarkable one.

May 07

Wandré Model BB 1958-1962Aluminum, Rosewood, Plastic The initials B.B. was the title of a Serge Gainsbourg song. It was also the name of one of  Wandré’s first electric guitars. In both cases, they refer to the same emblem of the sixties: Brigitte Bardot. Her sexy curves were certainly an inspiration for the body shape, on which Wandré experimented with all kinds of unusual finishes, like candle smoke. Long before Travis Bean, Wandré used aluminum for the neck, and plastic for the headstock. Just like Bardot, this guitar was very liberated for its time. More info and pictures at fetish guitars. Photo from Guitarz.

Wandré Model BB

1958-1962
Aluminum, Rosewood, Plastic

The initials B.B. was the title of a Serge Gainsbourg song. It was also the name of one of  Wandré’s first electric guitars. In both cases, they refer to the same emblem of the sixties: Brigitte Bardot.

Her sexy curves were certainly an inspiration for the body shape, on which Wandré experimented with all kinds of unusual finishes, like candle smoke. Long before Travis Bean, Wandré used aluminum for the neck, and plastic for the headstock. Just like Bardot, this guitar was very liberated for its time. More info and pictures at fetish guitars. Photo from Guitarz.

May 05

Washburn G-40V 1988Maple, Ebony Made in Japan as part of the G series, the G-40V uniqueness comes from its triple coil pickup. Push buttons allow to switch each coil on or off. If you’re interested in hearing how it sounds, one of these rare birds is currently for sale on ebay.

Washburn G-40V

1988
Maple, Ebony

Made in Japan as part of the G series, the G-40V uniqueness comes from its triple coil pickup. Push buttons allow to switch each coil on or off. If you’re interested in hearing how it sounds, one of these rare birds is currently for sale on ebay.

May 03

Rickenbacker Tom Petty Signature 1991-1993 (circa)Birdseye Maple, Rosewood Poor Tom Petty had many of his guitars stolen recently, but he still has a Rickenbacker signature model. Its official name is Model 660/12TP. No surprise with such release, Tom Petty has been a long time supporter of the brand. Although it was officially introduced during the 1991 NAMM Anaheim show, prototypes were hurling around as early as 1988. A total of 1000 TPs were made, the majority with a Fireglo finish (813), the rest in Jetglo (187). Neck through body, the TP is entirely made of Birdseye Maple, with the addition of a rosewood fretboard. It also features the traditional toaster pickups that Petty favored.

Rickenbacker Tom Petty Signature

1991-1993 (circa)
Birdseye Maple, Rosewood

Poor Tom Petty had many of his guitars stolen recently, but he still has a Rickenbacker signature model. Its official name is Model 660/12TP. No surprise with such release, Tom Petty has been a long time supporter of the brand. Although it was officially introduced during the 1991 NAMM Anaheim show, prototypes were hurling around as early as 1988. A total of 1000 TPs were made, the majority with a Fireglo finish (813), the rest in Jetglo (187).

Neck through body, the TP is entirely made of Birdseye Maple, with the addition of a rosewood fretboard. It also features the traditional toaster pickups that Petty favored.

May 02

Casio PG-380 1987- Early 1990sAlder, Maple, Ebony Before Casio came into play, Roland had no real competiton in the Midi guitar market. A total of five models were made by the japanese brand, all at the famous Fuji-Gen factory were Fender and Ibanez models were also produced. The Casio PG-380 established Casio’s superiority over Roland. Like all the other Casio models, the PG-380 is a superstrat stuffed with loads of electronics; so many in fact the designers had to give up the contoured ‘beer gut’ typical to the stratocaster body. Hear some bits

Casio PG-380

1987- Early 1990s
Alder, Maple, Ebony

Before Casio came into play, Roland had no real competiton in the Midi guitar market. A total of five models were made by the japanese brand, all at the famous Fuji-Gen factory were Fender and Ibanez models were also produced.

The Casio PG-380 established Casio’s superiority over Roland. Like all the other Casio models, the PG-380 is a superstrat stuffed with loads of electronics; so many in fact the designers had to give up the contoured ‘beer gut’ typical to the stratocaster body. Hear some bits

May 01

Fender Wallpaper Telecaster 1968-1969Alder, Maple Fender wanted to give the Telecaster a popularity boost among the then important Hippie community. To do so, Leo issued two Telecaster models with a psychedelic touch. One had a blue floral pattern, the other one a pink paisley. That cheap move didn’t convey enough flower power to pump up the sales and the production of the nicknamed ‘Wallpaper’ telecaster got stopped a year after its introduction. It took a rockabilly guitarist to immortalize the model — Well not any rockabilly guitarist, we’re talking about the Master of the Telecaster, James Burton. Since Burton brought the Pink Paisley to fame, several reissues of that telly have been produced in the last two decades. Hear Burton make it swing. If you can afford it, it’s for sale

Fender Wallpaper Telecaster

1968-1969
Alder, Maple

Fender wanted to give the Telecaster a popularity boost among the then important Hippie community. To do so, Leo issued two Telecaster models with a psychedelic touch. One had a blue floral pattern, the other one a pink paisley. That cheap move didn’t convey enough flower power to pump up the sales and the production of the nicknamed ‘Wallpaper’ telecaster got stopped a year after its introduction.

It took a rockabilly guitarist to immortalize the model — Well not any rockabilly guitarist, we’re talking about the Master of the Telecaster, James Burton. Since Burton brought the Pink Paisley to fame, several reissues of that telly have been produced in the last two decades. Hear Burton make it swing.

If you can afford it, it’s for sale