Fender

MainFender’s CustomShop began life in thelate-1980s as a smallworkspace with aHegner saw and somehand tools. Today, thehandcrafting ethosis still upheld, but ona much larger scale

Magazine Above, right Queen of toneThe Fender Custom A flame-maple Custom Shop Shop is not just a place Telecaster neck hits pickup specialist, where great guitars are made the buffing wheel; Master Builder and – it’s where your dream measuring polepiece 50-plus year Fender guitar is made. height veteran Abigail Since 1987, the Fender Custom Shop Ybarra shows off has been its own “Dream Factory”, crafting Below her work guitars that are to playing what Ferraris are to driving. The superbly skilled craftsmen A Custom Deluxe in Fender’s Corona, California facility are Stratocaster in renowned worldwide for guitars that range Candy Red finish, from the fine to the fantastic. from the 2012 The Fender Custom Shop draws on the Custom Collection knowledge of Fender’s finest craftsmen as well as the input of numerous guitar legends: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, James Burton, Robert Cray, David Gilmour and Pete Townshend are just a few of the guitarists who have instruments built here. “You can have your guitar built at the same factory where Eric Clapton’s guitar is built, by the same people,” says Mike Eldred, Custom Shop Director of Marketing. “Nobody else does what we do.” A guitar just like the stars’ can be yours. Or you can also have one built to your own unique specifications. And the ultimate of the ultimate? Having a Fender Custom Shop guitar hand-made by one of Fender’s Master Builders. The Master Builders Fender’s Master Builders have become famous in their own right. A visit to the www.fendercustomshop.com website reveals a healthy, ongoing dialogue with their customers: there are testimonials, a series of Master Builder tips, in-depth video demos and the latest Custom Collection guitars, all showcased with the enthusiasm that has forged the team’s reputation among guitar aficionados. The Master Builders have household name fans, too. John Mayer, John 5 of Rob Zombie, Chris Allen of Neon Trees and Keith Richards are just some of the stars who the Custom Shop has created guitars for. Read on for insight into the process from Custom Shop head, Mike Eldred… ➽ 52 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

Custom Shop Above, left Master Builder Paul Waller in action; a collection of exotic Strat necks await the next stage; a Relic Stratocaster bridge is hand-assembled

Magazine Talking ShopCloning Hendrix’s Strat, creating guitars with keyboard necks and prototyping new Fender gear is all in a day’s work for the Fender Custom Shop teamIt’s 5.30a.m. in the Fender Custom Shop. “I started in Jeff Beck’s 1954 Esquire was Scottsdale, Arizona, and the Fender neck department. I made recreated as the Limited Edition Mike Eldred is already a bunch of changes, changed the Jeff Beck Tribute Esquire in 2006; on his way to work. As Master Builder Dennis Galuszka Director of Marketing at whole finishing process. And at work on an Eric Clapton Blackie Fender’s famous Custom they kept promoting me. I Tribute Stratocaster Shop, Eldred is inevitably a busy became the manager of the man. “It’s always been busy!” he shop, then Director of Sales and laughs. “Today, I go in, I meet early Marketing, then Custom Shop with all the Master Builders. Later in Director of Marketing.” the morning, a bunch of dealers are The Custom Shop is famously coming to talk about ordering guitars entrusted to build the replicas of for their stores. This afternoon? iconic guitars played by legends I’m looking at some Custom Shop such as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix prototypes and some hardware and Stevie Ray Vaughan. It can also things we’re working on – that’s build any Fender you want – its always interesting. Tomorrow, we’re talking about 2013 projects.” Master Builders regularly With all this, does create instruments to Mike Eldred ever get order based on specs that time to actually pick up a range from the timeless guitar and play? “Oh, of to the otherworldly. This course! Every day.” creation of custom orders Eldred loves guitars. He for individual customers started building his own has become the biggest guitars at 18. He became part of the business. a customer of Grover “That’s why we say: Jackson’s Charvel When You’re Ready,” company and then says Eldred. ➽ became Jackson’s first full-time employee. He Left then went to Yamaha, before being asked to join Most of the Custom Shop’s Master Builders54 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012 worked on the Eric Clapton Blackie Tribute Stratocaster

Custom Shop Number One fan: Master Builder John Cruz prototyped Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Number One” Stratocaster by handCustom ShopAging OptionsHow old do you want it?N.O.S. (New Old Stock)A new guitar built with replicas of vintage partsCloset Classic AgingImagine the look of a ’50s or ’60s classicFender that’s been left in its case under abed for a decade. Kinda “musty” looking, butplays like newRelic AgingBody “dings”, finish flaws and scrapes. Thiswill make your new Custom Shop guitar looklike a road-worn, beaten-up, working guitarHeavy Relic AgingThe ultimate for those who want theirnew guitar to feel flawless, and look like anantique – but it will still play like new. Clever Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 55

MagazineRightThe guitar’s chambersare filled with paraffin oil,hydrophobic dye, foodcoloring, distilled waterand biocideStrange CustomsMike Eldred has overseen some amazing one-offdesigns, including this tour de force from CustomShop Uber Builder, Scott Buehl, who designed andbuilt the outlandish instrument you see on thisspread. Eldred: “The most difficult guitar I’ve everexperienced at the Custom Shop was a Stratocasterwith liquid and oil-filled chambers. It was adesign contest guitar, where the winner couldget whatever they wanted. The whole guitar wasmade of steel and aluminum plating, and took sixto eight months. It’s nicknamed the “Splatocaster”– see www.fendercustomshop.com to see video ofus building it. It’s amazing. I still look at the videoand think, man, that was crazy.” ➽56 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012



Magazine ➽ Over the years, Eldred and his team Above left, above have become used to building the most boundary-pushing instruments. “Dennis Master Builder Yuriy Galuszka did a guitar for the band Fall Shishkov deep in Out Boy. It was a double-neck, but the concentration; an second neck was a keyboard. So the body example of Yuri’s was made of wood, but this keyboard then stunning inlay work had to be bolted onto the body of the ‘bass’ neck. It was a fantastic achievement. But Left, below we all looked back when it was done and said – that’s just nuts! That may be the most Jason Smith, son of extreme one we’ve done.” company Hall Of Famer Dan Smith, and Master The “Tribute” instruments – the Shop’s Builder with an SRV 100 per cent-authentic replicas of various “Lenny” Strat; an rock stars’ historically significant guitars – eyecatching Bass VI is another facet for which the Custom in Metallic Green Shop has become famed. Left “The first time we really took it to the ‘clone’ stage, raised the bar, was Mike Eldred created the Hendrix white Stratocaster – the this “clone” of the one he played at (1969’s) Woodstock Jimi Hendrix festival. I’m a big Hendrix fan so I Woodstock said: can I build this one myself? It was Stratocaster really rewarding for me. I went out to Seattle where Paul Allen (Microsoft’s co-founder, who bought the Woodstock Strat at auction) has the original one, and I looked at it closely. “When I told them we had to take it apart to see what it was ➽58 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

SRV “Lenny” StratFender knocked it outof the park with thisdetailed recreation ofYankee legend MickeyMantle’s autograph onthe Stevie Ray Vaughan“Lenny” Stratocaster

Magazine Right, below Master Builder Paul Waller recreates bassist Dennis Dunaway’s “Billion Dollar” Jazz Bass. The bass player for the original Alice Cooper band lent his bass to the Fender Custom Shop for detailed accuracy in the build➽ really like, they hesitated! We filmed it that the guitar neck had been refinished Above and rightall, weighed the body, weighed the neck… but the original dirt was left under the newit’s a very detailed process. That stuff is finish. So we had to replicate that. When Neck templates for areally interesting. When we were taking it gets like that, it gets weird.” storied list of Fenderthe neck plate off, someone asked: ‘So what Custom Shop Tributeis that green stuff?’ And I say, ‘Sweat. Jimi Ultimately, Eldred and the team just models, rare vintagesHendrix’s sweat’. Stuff like that is amazing. love making instruments. The main focus and signature artists;But when we did Eric Clapton’s Blackie, is all about us ordinary guitar players who painstaking handworkwhen we did Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Lenny, want extraordinary guitars. “We just love goes into everyit’s all the same.” guitars. There’s guys out there who get Fender Custom Shop their guitar, sit back and play and go, that’s instrumentX-ray Specs the one. I don’t! Sometimes my job is hard, because every time I see a new Custom“We X-ray the guitars’ bodies. We do Shop guitar I think, oh, I want that one too.everything on these Tributes. It’s like beinga forensic scientist. When Master Builder “We’ve just been looking at new speciesTodd Krause did the Blackie prototype, it of wood to make bodies, and me and thehad dirt underneath the fingerboard finish. Master Builders were sitting looking at thisSo what happened there? We figured out wood. And we all got excited. I can’t wait to make a guitar out of this stuff.”60 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

What is this? Scan this with the QR reader on your smart device to open a video of the Custom Shop designing the amazing Splatocaster, and to explore the Custom Shop websiteSpread The LoveAll of Fender’s brands benefit from the Custom Shop’s R&DF ender’s Custom Shop was a Custom Shop guitar five years is not only where your dream ago. The Select Series has a Custom guitar can be built, it also Shop ‘vibe’ to it, certainly. You’ll seeacts as an extension of Fender’s R&D Squier guitars now with lipstickforce. Only the most talented workers pickups and matching headstockare asked to join the Custom Shop, colors – the only way you could onceand it’s a new ideas factory as well as get that was from the Custom Shop.a place where the past comes to life. Mike Eldred: “Something a lot “We focus on things like that moreof players don’t realize about the so than ever before. There is a realCustom Shop is our main aim is to synergy between the Custom Shoppush design ‘down’, if you like, all the and Squier. We kick ideas aroundway to Squier. So, if you look at an all the time, with the idea that someAmerican Deluxe Stratocaster, that features of Custom Shop guitars will end up on Squier at some point.” Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 61

Magazine 9 1420topThe 4 ThOinnTghseToRoTaadke 1 Home has all your guitars and gear in it. Why venture out? If you feel you must, 15 though, wherever you and your guitar are going, here’s what we recommend you take with you… ILLUSTRATION: Dave Hopkins20 Spare strings 17 Capo   14 Slide 11 HeadbandMake sure you always have a Oh humble capo, where art A little bit of slide playing goes a More so than any otherset in your backpack, wherever thou? A trusty must-have for long way to wowing an audience. accessory or item of clothingyou and your guitar end up. instant transposition when Just put your guitar in open-G or you could possibly conceiveYou aren’t going to impress the you find yourself working with open-D tuning and scrape away of, a headband will impartladies with a trampy looking different singers, it’s also a for instant Delta-blues cool. a dangerous, edgy, Markguitar, so look after it, and it’ll fantastic aid to composition   Knopfler-esque guitar-hero vibelook after you. when you’re struggling for to everyone you meet out there inspiration. And it fits in your 13 Roadie on the road. A ridiculous top hat19 Beard pocket, too. will also work.   If you can’t afford one of these,What self-respecting tortured try asking a well-meaning friend 10 Guitar multi-toolindie-rock guitar player would 16 Plush hardcase if he (or even better, she) willbe seen without one? Earn carry your guitar case into the When you hit the road, be surebonus points for styling it on Protects your beloved axe in venue. Instant kudos. to invest in a guitar-specifican American Civil War-era transit. Collects loose change multi-tool with screwdrivers, fretsoldier, and accessorizing with a when you’re busking. Doubles 12 Ebow files, Allen keys, a string winder,checked shirt. as a suitcase on the road. and so on. Then you can relax  Whether you’re playing an safe in the knowledge you’re 15 Clip-on mic-stand acoustic or an electric, the packing a Swiss Army Knife-load18 Contact card drink holder magnetic sustain and violin-like of solutions for just about any dynamic range of the EBow adds problem live playing can throwIt’s not exactly rock ’n’ roll, but Possibly just as important as up to a timeless effect. It’s also at you – from a broken string toinvest a few dollars in a set of your guitar, this accessory is not a dead-cert way to impress the a loose jack socket. Just neverbusiness cards, hand ’em out merely useful – it shows you do non-guitar-savvy members of ever lend it out. Ever.when you play, and the gigs and this for a living. Playing live that the audience, who’ll think you arecall ups to deputize will follow. is – not just drinking… a magic man with magic fingers.62 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

10 The Countdown 16 20 13 3 6 17 2 19 11 12 9 Portable tuner 6 Foldaway stand 3 Laptop Clip-on tuners like Fender’s FT-004 Just buy one of these – they’re You’ll need something to record yourmay be cute, but they’re far from gimmicks. inexpensive, and more importantly they ideas on, practice with, email your tracksVisible under stage lights and near-as- guarantee that you’ll never have to witness with… on second thoughts, perhaps just staydamn-it accurate, one of these little fellas the sickening sight of your guitar plummeting at home. It’s much easier.could be the difference between a winning headstock-first onto the stage. Ouch.    performance and a discordant disaster. honey and lemon 2 iPhone & iPad apps Fender Mustang Mini 5 Dissolve this in hot water and sip it With its ever-expanding wealth of 8 This bijou, portable, battery-powered instead of grabbing another coffee while handy music-making apps, the iPhone is likeseven-watt amp may not be as toneful as you wait around to go onstage – it’s Mother a portable guitar tech, tutor and bandmatea Fender Twin, but it packs a surprising Nature’s very own remedy for sore-voiced rolled into one. See page 29 for a list of ouramount of grunt. Plus it’s far less hassle to singers. A must-have for those days when favorite guitar-playing apps.carry to an open-mic or impromptu jam than your singing voice sounds huskier than Gaffer tapeits tonesome counterpart. Macy Gray chewing a wasp. 1  Songbook   Grolsch (in glass bottles) 7 Stick a simple songbook with chords 4 Ask any roadie: you always needin your guitar case for those impromptu 3am Don’t recycle your beer bottles! Those gaffer tape.campfire singalongs, and you’ll at least know red rubber washers you find on the capthat you were playing the right version of mechanisms of Grolsch lager bottles areEm7 when the other residents chase you the best designed, most reliable, least-hassleoff the site. We particularly recommend guitar-strap locking system yet devised.The Beatles Complete… And each one comes with a free drink. Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 63

Magazine64 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

50thFenderJaguarAnniversary Fender Jaguar Launched in 1962, the Fender Jaguar has ridden waves of surf popularity and grunge appeal. And in 2012, it’s more alluring than ever… L eo Fender was a primarily a pedal-steel player and also a perfectionist. And even though his classic 1950s then-famous swing and jazz bandleader, designs of the Telecaster and Stratocaster became and his enthusiasm for White’s idea staples of early rock ’n’ roll, Leo always believed he could improve on changed Leo’s mind. Mr Fender promptly them, and reach more musicians. went to work, and the Fender Jaguar Even with two smash-hit guitars in the Tele and Strat, Fender’s R&D division went into development. kept trying to hone the perfect guitar. In 1958, Fender launched the Jazzmaster – Celebrating its 50th anniversary in aimed at jazz players, of course – and in 1962, the Jaguar. It was against this early 2012, the Jaguar was designed as the ’60s backdrop when Fender’s Forrest White went to Leo with the idea for the ultimate Fender six-string: “One of the instrument’s forward-thinking design. White thought the company should finest solidbody electric guitars that has produce a new guitar that could give two completely different tones with the flick ever been offered to the public,” cooed of a switch. But as White later recounted: “Leo didn’t play guitar, he couldn’t even the original brochure. “The new Jaguar tune a guitar, so he didn’t think this was important.” So Leo Fender – engineer is unhesitatingly recommended to those extraordinaire, but not a guitar player – originally rejected White’s idea. desiring complete instrument versatility.” Luckily for White, and all Fender The body shape was similar to that fans, a musician named Alvino Rey came into Fender’s Fullerton factory and of the Jazzmaster, as was the vibrato Forrest pitched the idea to him. Rey was tailpiece, while it also offered slimline single-coil pickups and White’s vision of numerous slide switches for different tones. Then, as now, the Jaguar looked like something out of Futurama, and was different in many ways: with 22 frets spanning a 24-inch scale length, rather than the usual Fender 25.5-inch, it was designed for easy playability. The shorter scale meant brighter tone, andAbove: the chrome-laden body was designedFirst ever Fender Jaguar ad to look sharp. Some of the sumptuousshoot with Jaguar E-Type car;an early Jaguar in the factory custom colors available were Shell Pink, Shoreline Gold, Fiesta Red, Lake ➽ Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 65

Magazine ➽ Placid Blue and Inca Silver. And clad “One of the finest electric in its custom-color finery, the Jaguar was guitars that has ever been the flashiest Fender on the block. offered to the public” Surf’s Up The 1963 Fender brochure Despite its eyecatching looks and sonic versatility, Fender arguably misjudged Left to right: the Jaguar guitar’s initial market. At first, it didn’t appeal to players looking for The Surfaris Wipe a guitar even more advanced than the Out album sleeve; the Stratocaster: the first fans of the Jaguar 1964-1965 Fender were players of the early ’60s surf scene, brochure; 1960’s Date and bands such as The Surfaris, The Records company Chantays, The Trashmen and The Beach 7” single sleeve Boys all toted Jaguar guitars at various times. The cutting sound of the Jaguar’s© SGuetntsyeItmBaoguleesv(a1r),d/RCeoxrfbeias,tuGreetsty(1I),maMgeegsa(n5)Finley (1) high-pass filter — commonly known as the ‘strangle’ switch — was perfect for surf, as was the vibrato design which could produce an appropriately wave-like shimmer. Listen to the intro of The Beach Boys’ now classic Surfin’ Safari and you’ll hear the Fender Jaguar. But as the ’60s progressed, the surf craze ebbed away. The Jaguar was, perhaps oddly, never widely favored by rock and blues players (although Jimi Hendrix did own and play a ’63 Jaguar which was given to him by The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones) and its early popularity started to wane. Fender gave the Jaguar cosmetic makeovers throughout the ’60s – such as a bound neck, maple fingerboard with black binding and even pearloid block inlays – but its initial sales struggled to match those of the iconic Telecaster and the firmly established Stratocaster. So although it was a quality instrument, some found the Jaguar to be just too quirky, and Fender removed it from its catalogue in 1975, after 13 years of production. Grunge Rebirth In many ways, the temporary break in Fender production of the Jaguar actually helped its rebirth. As a discontinued model, it was often only found languishing in pawn shops and second- hand guitar stores in the ’80s and early ’90s, and it was cheaply priced. Fender Japan began building Jaguar guitars again in the mid-’80s, but in the USA it66 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

Fender Jaguar GR AHBALMURCOXONT HTSEOT EXAVIICREBECOVHUEENRNTN E T HSUORNSITCOYNOMUOTOHR Eremained unavailable to buy as a new and Steven Adler leading to an earlymodel until the late 1990s. incarnation of Guns N’ Roses. So when a new generation of indie For Cobain, though, the LA Recyclerrockers in the ’80s and ’90s went looking was just a good source of a cheapfor a guitar, they started to gravitate but quality guitar. Kurt’s Jaguar hadtowards the Jaguar, Jazzmaster and already been heavily modified whenMustang models. New noiseniks such as Cobain bought it, being retrofitted withSonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, Dinosaur humbucking pickups and having tapeJr.’s J Mascis and Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain covering the on/off and phase switches.probably could not afford a lavish new It was beaten, bruised and non-standardStratocaster, and neither would they — and therefore perfectly in keeping withwant one — the Stratocaster was then- Cobain’s pawn-shop aesthetic.associated with the sophisticated bluessoloing of Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and While Cobain’s heavily modded JaguarJeff Beck. But the new breed still wanted has eventually led to his posthumousFender quality, which made the Jaguar signature model (see pages 42-49), evenand Jazzmaster so appealing. a few years after Nevermind you still couldn’t buy a new Fender Jaguar. It was Kurt Cobain, in particular, whodid much to revive the popularity of the Fender Japan had reissued theJaguar, and his 1965 sunburst Jaguar was instrument in the 1980s, but not manyhis main guitar during the Nevermind era. were even exported, and it was 1999 before Fender USA resumed production. Kurt had bought his Jaguar second- So grunge fans who were initiallyhand from a seller in the LA Recycler inspired to seek out Jaguar guitarsnewspaper around August 1991. because of Cobain and the new breed ofAlthough that would’ve been enough to grunge guitarists were still having to findgain it some notoriety, that classifieds them second-hand… yet now the price ofpaper has played an interesting cameo these rarities was rising.in rock ’n’ roll beyond Cobain’s purchase— Mick Mars joined Mötley Crüe after Fender USA’s reissuing of the Jaguarplacing an ad answered by drummer in 1999 was part of its American VintageTommy Lee, James Hetfield answered Series. The build was as close to a vintagean ad placed by Lars Ulrich, ultimately ’62 as possible, though with some minorleading to the birth of Metallica, and Duff changes. Importantly, the AmericanMcKagan replied to an ad placed by Slash Vintage Series Jaguar guitars looked the part, originally coming in a range of ➽ Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 67

Magazine What is this? Scan this with the QR code reader on your smart device to go to the 50th Anniversary Fender Jaguar website➽ vivid custom colors such as Candy purchase of his clean comeback? A song.” Despite his wishes, unfortunatelyApple Red, Sherwood Green, Ice Blue vintage 1962 Fiesta Red Fender Jaguar. the track remains unreleased.Metallic and Ocean Turquoise. “I bought that at a guitar store on Billy Corgan used an early ’70s Jag inAlt-rock Icon Sunset [Boulevard, Los Angeles], in Smashing Pumpkins, and another ’90s 1997,” Frusciante told Guitarist magazine. fan of the Jaguar was Placebo’s BrianAnd so, as the sparkling new millennium “I didn’t have a guitar and then I got Molko, who has three. “They’re all olderdawned, the Fender Jaguar was very some money and that was my Christmas than me. That’s very important. The Jagsmuch back in vogue with the coolest of present to myself.” are all women, and they all have names:the new breed of guitar players. ‘Bitch’, ‘Goddess’ and ‘Tattoo’.” Frusciante’s Fender Jaguar can be Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John heard on the band’s hugely successful Placebo’s hit single Pure Morning is aFrusciante mostly had a torrid ’90s. Californication and By The Way albums. prime example of Molko’s Fender JaguarHe suffered serious drug addiction and The band even recorded a 15-minute in action, though the song’s non-standardlost all of his guitars in a house fire. demo track called Strumming In D On J: tuning (F Bb Eb G# C C, low to high) is theBut when he was back on track and “The title literally means strumming in stuff of expert players. Graham Coxonrejoined the Chili Peppers, he decided to the key of D on the Jaguar. I hope that has an early ’60s sunburst Fender Jaguar,reward himself. Frusciante’s first guitar we put it out, as it’s a really good funky used extensively on Blur’s 1994 Parklife68 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

Fender Jaguar “I think the Jag is beautiful. 50thAnniversaryI love the body shape and the Fender Jaguarchrome. It’s my perfect guitar” Fender’s 50th Anniversary Jaguar Johnny Marr model maintains the classic 1962 vibe, with a few tweaks. You still TheNoCrelanHboegrarnie s get the classic 24-inch scale length and the “classic” contouring. ButBTohbeBSeUrRrFyAhRiIlSl the 50th Anniversary Jaguar also packs some technological updates. The new one-degree neck-angle pocket improves pitch; the newly repositioned tremolo plate increases bridge break angle and sustain; and the specially designed hot Jaguar single-coil neck and bridge pickups deliver fatter tone. The 50th Anniversary Jaguar is a looker, too. The three-ply pickguard is Mint Green-Black-Mint Green, and you have a choice of classic vintage Fender finishes – Lake Placid Blue, Candy Apple Red and striking Burgundy Mist Metallic, which authentically evokes the original Jaguar guitar’s Burgundy Mist finish option. Half a century later, the numerous versions of the Fender Jaguar come with enough options to satisfy any player, and should rejuvenate the popularity of one of the Fender brand’s unsung classic electric guitars.tour. Coxon’s Jaguar can be seen in the The Jaguar In 2012 a later member of Electronic, The The,video for Blur’s Bang and his solo single Modest Mouse and The Cribs (as well asBittersweet Bundle Of Misery. The Jaguar nevertheless remains one numerous collaborations), Johnny Marr of Fender’s most stylish, versatile and knows guitar. He owns over 100, of all Coldplay’s Jonny Buckland is another attractive guitars. It’s had 50 years of makes, but the Jaguar is the first modelcurrent fan of the Jaguar. He mainly highs and some lows, maybe, but Forrest he’s designed and put his name to.relies on Fender Thinline Telecaster White and Leo Fender’s original ideasguitars, but Buckland wrote and played hold true. The Jaguar is a unique guitar Johnny Marr says: “I was attracted toColdplay’s breakthrough hits Shiver and and for some, it’s the ultimate “outsider” the Jag by the way it sounded – this big,Yellow on his sunburst reissue Jaguar. Fender electric. clear, ringing sound – it sounds like I’m supposed to sound. Aesthetically, I think So how did we get to now? From surf For the purist, the new 50th the Jag is beautiful. I love the body shapeto grunge, from indie to alt-rock, to Anniversary Fender Jaguar (see boxout) and chrome – the early ’60s idea offunk and arena-rock, and despite being packs original ’60s features and stunning space-age design. It’s my perfect guitar.”discontinued for a time, the Jaguar has finishes. And another new chapterplayed a major part in guitar history – has opened with the Fender Johnny It may have taken 50 years,yet it’s been a misunderstood beast for Marr Jaguar (see pages 70-71). As the but the Fender Jaguar guitar’s timemuch of its life. musical mastermind of The Smiths and has finally come. Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 69

MagazineJohnny Marr{MY GUITAR}The Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar Signature Model retains the best of the old while adding a player’s-eye-view dash of design flair. Here, in the Brit guitar legend’s own words, is Johnny’s thinking behind the mods he made… PHOTOGRAPHY: Carl Lyttle 1 Building bridges 5 5 The skinny “The Jag trem, which I use a lot, is “The neck on my Jag is modeled afterwithout doubt the best vibrato system on any 2 4 an unusual 1965 example. It has a fuller, lessFender guitar, but the floating bridge can take 6 skinny feel than usual Jag necks and is morea pounding with constant use. We resolved the 3 resonant. It makes a real difference to theproblem by designing special bushings that overall tone of the guitar.”keep the bridge posts in position and stable.It’s made a huge difference to the guitar.” 6 Body talk “I wanted to make the body more 2 Keeping it clean comfortable and copied the rear scoop in the “I wanted to keep things simple but back from my 1963 Lake Placid Blue Jag.give the player a lot of choice with a wide The chamfer on the front was copied from arange of tones. We’ve given the player 10 mid-’50s Stratocaster, so it really sits on yourdistinct clean tone settings to choose from… body perfectly.”The fourth-position humbucking effect hasmade a big difference, and the tone switches 77 Vintage voicetake it a step further.” “The pickups on my Jag are copied from vintage ’62 pickups – I decided to change 3 Color corrected things from the original Jag design and had the “I always loved white-on-white Fender pickups wound so that the polarity is the sameguitars: white ’guards on Olympic White on both instead of opposed. This definitelybodies. The burnt orange of the ‘Metallic KO’ gives the pickups a more focused sound.”color is taken from a faded-out ’66 Jag. It startedout life as a Candy Apple Red but has faded to 8 Daily debatethis fantastic copper shade that I love.” “The Cribs are real experts. They were 8 really good sounding boards, constantly asking4 Proud father me what we were going to do about this, that “For someone who’s grown up from a 1 and the other, from the case to the headstock…little boy thinking the guitar is the greatest There was a daily discussion – these amazingobject in the world bar none, it’s a very special arguments about things like, No way did theyfeeling to have designed your own model.” do that lighter Seafoam Green in ’96!”70 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

Signature AmpsJohnny Marr,Manchester, UK,7 October 2011:the proud fatherwith his newborn What’s this? Scan this with the QR code reader on your smart device to open a video interview with Johnny about his Signature Jaguar

Hood vibrations Smokin’ toneThe guitar, also known as the Arizona jewelry artist Kit“Bonecaster” and “The Billy”, Carson created the guitar’sis plated with metal from the unique appointments, whichhood of a 1987 Ford LTD include this vintage tobacco tinPush skullThis pickup selectormatches the skullmotif of the volumeand tone controls

Boneward bound One-offsThe distinctive “bone” Star guitarbinding was hand-carved by Kit Carson The Fleming/Carson Esquire was crafted by Master Builder Chris Fleming and is owned by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top 1 Custom Shop One-offsFender’s Custom Shop can create guitars beyond your wildest imaginings – so feast your eyes on some unique designs from the Fender archives THIS ISSUE: THE fleming/CARSON esquire Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 73

Magazine SignTaotnuere Eric Clapton was the first player to be honored with a signature Fender guitar. Now he’s the first guitarist to put his own name to a series ofTFender amps.Here’s the full story… PHOTOGRAPHY: George Chin he EC Series of signature amplifiers is a first, for both Eric Clapton and Fender. The legendary guitarist has never before put his name on a series of amps and, perhaps surprisingly, the EC Series also represents Fender brand’s first signature amps by any player. It’s a landmark collaboration, but an apt one too – Clapton and Fender go back a long way. His use of Fender Stratocaster models is well-known, also culminating in another first with 1988’s Fender Eric Clapton Signature Model Stratocaster. Clapton’s use ➽ 74 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

SignFeSnaditgeur’nsrnaeewtAuECrmSeerpAiessmps offers three distinct variations on classic ’50s designs favored by Eric over the years

Magazine The EC Series Twinolux updates the chime of a ’57 Twin by adding vintage-voiced tremolo and a power attenuator ➽ of various Fender amplifiers has also played a major part in his stellar recording history. EC’s preference for Fender amps really began to gel in the early 1970s. Just as he started to rely on his Brownie and Blackie Fender Stratocaster guitars, Clapton started pairing them with classic Fender backline. The combination produced an early high watermark on Derek And The Dominos’ classic 1970 album, Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs. The album’s late producer Tom Dowd told Guitar World magazine: “Clapton and Duane Allman were set up in the studio facing each other, looking one another in the eyes and playing live through small Fender amps — a Princeton and a Champ. “These guys weren’t wearing earphones,” Dowd recalled. “They were just playing softly through those little Fender [amps]. If they talked while they were recording, you would have heard it over the amplifier. It’s funny, too, because when I did Cream, Eric was playing through double stacks of Marshalls and it literally hurt to be in the room with those guys. When Eric showed up for Layla, he had a Champ under one arm and a Princeton under the other and that was it. He and Duane used those amps, switching back and forth.” Clapton’s love affair with Fender amplifiers arguably started here, and continued through the 1970s to projects in recent years. The sound of ’70s Clapton classics such as Layla and Motherless Children, as well as more modern cuts such as Run Back To Your Side, have all depended on the marriage of Fender Stratocaster and 1950s-style tweed amps. When Cream reformed for their landmark shows of 2005, Clapton was seen coaxing his fabled tones from his ’57 tweed Twin reissue – his own vintage ’57 tweed amps and their 2000 reissue versions then formed the bedrock of his live and recording tone. ➽76 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

Signature Amps Left to right Classic Clapton albums; 1970’s Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, 1989’s Journeyman, and 1974’s 461 Ocean Boulevard.The lovingly recreated wornnitrocellulose finish on Fender’s2006 Tribute Series replicas of EC’sBlackie Stratocaster. The originalBlackie sold at auction in 2004for $959,500, to benefit Clapton’sCrossroads Center in AntiguaClapton And FenderSix decades of sonic collaborationE ric Clapton’s love of Fenders Stratocaster Chronicles. “Then I was Blackie became his main live dates back to the 1960s, in Nashville at a store called Sho-Bud, and studio squeeze from 1973 to when he used Telecaster as I recall, and they had a whole rack 1985, appearing at 1985’s Live Aidand Jazzmaster models with The of old ’50s Stratocaster guitars in in the process. Neck wear meantYardbirds. He played other makes in the back, going second-hand. They Blackie was mostly retired soonthe later 1960s, but by 1970’s Layla were so out of fashion you could pick after, but she became the templateAnd Other Assorted Love Songs, up a perfectly genuine Strat for two for Fender’s first artist instrument,Clapton had switched to a 1956 hundred or three hundred dollars the Eric Clapton Signature Modeltobacco-sunburst Stratocaster, —­­ even less! So I bought all of them. Stratocaster. This had Fender Goldnicknamed “Brownie”. He later I gave one to Steve Winwood, one Lace Sensor pickups and a boostedamalgamated three mid-’50s to George Harrison, and one to Pete tone circuit offering humbuckingStrat guitars into his favorite guitar, Townshend, and kept a few for myself. pickup-like tone when needed. Inthe famous “Blackie”. I liked the idea of a black body, but the 1991, it was offered with a plain “My first Strat was Brownie, black one I had was in bad condition, Blackie-like finish: the Customand I played it for years and years, a so I took apart the ones I kept and Shop has evolved its variouswonderful guitar,” Eric recalled in his assembled different pieces to make Signatures over the years,foreword to Tom Wheeler’s book, The Blackie, which is a hybrid, a mongrel.” according to Eric’s specifications. Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 77

Magazine1. 2. Left to right 3. The rigorous attention- to-detail extends evenThe EC Series to the amps’ badges; hand-wiring the range’sFender’s first-ever signature amp output-tube biasrange marries the old with the new tremolo circuit; a view inside the Twinolux’sThe amps in the new EC Series pack handcrafted chassisplenty of history into their fetching tweedenclosures. Handmade in the USA,the three new tube amps not only bearClapton’s name, but also his own distinctivedesign touches, resulting in voices as fulland authentic as the guitarist’s own. The amps are based on classic Fendertweed tube models of the 1950s — the’57 Twin, ’57 Deluxe and the ’57 Champ.Clapton has returned to these lodestones oftone for specific sounds at various pointsthroughout his six-decade career. Clapton specified that each modelshould incorporate a ’50s-era outputtube-bias tremolo circuit, which producesa more throbbing pulse than later Fendertremolo circuits, and a switchable powerattenuator, which reduces speaker output. 1 Fender EC Twinolux 2 Fender EC Tremolux 3 Fender EC Vibro-Champ The big daddy of the range is The 12-watt Fender EC Tremolux is Clapton is a fan of the original based on a ’57 Fender Twin: the the mid-sized combo in the series. Fender Champ, having used theclassic twin-speaker guitar amp famed for Based on a ’57 Deluxe, but with twists, the classic ’50s amp for countless recordings.its chiming, clean tone. Unlike the EC Vibro Tremolux adds separate high- and low-gain Unlike the original design, the Fender ECChamp and EC Tremolux, the EC Twinolux’s inputs and fixed bias to increase “headroom” Vibro-Champ has the EC Series’ vintageoutput can be dropped further by disabling (clean volume before distortion). The EC tremolo built in, and it can be switched onone of the amp’s pair of speakers. These are Tremolux employs a Celestion Heritage and off with an optional footswitch. Thea special 12-inch Weber By Eminence design, G12-65 speaker, for its high-gain handling: power attenuator is another new feature,ensuring classic Twin tone with superb this can be bypassed in favor of an external and the Vibro-Champ also houses andynamics and sensitivity. 8-ohm cabinet. 8-inch Weber signature speaker.78 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

What’s this? Badge of qualityScan this with the QR All EC Series ampsreader on your smart are handmade indevice to open a video the USA. Built withof the legendary Buddy a finger-joined solidGuy testing the EC pine enclosure, eachSeries amps… authentically evokes Fender’s original The EC range is a 1950s’ golden era confluence of Clapton’s with lacquered tweed expertise, classic Fender covering, vintage-style designs, and state-of-the- brown/gold grille art modern build quality cloth and a leather strap handle. And in the most outwardly visible personal touch, each amp bears an “EC Series” badge at front lower right, and Clapton’s signature on the control panel. Each amp also includes a deluxe fitted cover Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 79

1 The Excelsior offers warm retro tone via its guitar, microphone and accordion inputsPawn againRetro radio meets Cold War cool with two new combos from the Pawn Shop Special range PHOTOGRAPHY: Philip SowelsBack in the austere days generally housed most of theof 1950s Britain, when rock ’n’ roll parts needed for conversion into abegan to cross over the Atlantic, makeshift guitar amp. All it requiredyoung cash-strapped guitarists was the enthusiasm, a bit ofsearching for the sounds they heard know-how and, of course, a radio.over the airwaves would frequentlyconvert the old tube radios they Rafts of inventive teenage playersencountered the music on in the first used this method, including theplace into amps for their guitars. 13-year-old Jeff Beck who, back in 1957, was using a radio as a guitar It wasn’t actually too difficult amp – two years before joining his– conveniently enough, radios first band, the Deltones.

The Greta has a handy Pawn Shop Ampsbuilt-in input for an mp3player, so you can use it 2as a stereo and play alongto your tunes throughthe amp’s four-inchSpecial Design speaker “13-year-old Jeff Beck used a radio as a guitar amp, two years before joining his first band…”1 The Pawn Shop 2 The Pawn Excelsior Shop GretaSix decades on, Fender has launched optimized circuitry. Built-in tremolo Fender’s other Pawn Shop star is thetwo new tube amps in the Pawn Shop adds pulse; there’s a bright/dark Greta. Place this little beaut on the familySpecial range that nod affectionately switch, and a 1/4-inch internal speaker breakfast table and the chances are dad willto the ’50s radio-as-guitar amp trend: disconnect enables the amp to drive attempt to tune into the morning news – sowe’ll start with the 13-watt Excelsior. an external speaker cab. From clean to convincing is its retro radio vibe. Weighing raw and raucous, the Excelsior packs in at a bijou two watts, with a four-inch Sporting brown textured vinyl the tones to match its retro appeal. Special Design speaker, the Greta featurescovering, a stylish ‘E’ grille design and bright red wooden front and back panels,a rather fetching cross-swords badge with a gold-finished metal top and sides.on the front panel, the Excelsior exudesCold War cool. A 12AX7 preamp tube and 12AT7 output tube power the Greta, with volume and tone The amp’s simplicity belies a controls producing low-volume clean andpowerful feature set. There’s authentic crunchy overdriven sounds (an old-schoolgrunt from two 12AX7 preamp tubes VU meter displays “clean” to “overload”).and two 6V6 output tubes powering asingle 15-inch Special Design speaker There’s also the option to plug in an mp3– and there’s no danger of unwanted player, so the Greta doubles as a stereo ordetuned-station hiss either. playalong practice tool. All that remains is for you to tune in to this pair’s Pawn Shop Fender has equipped the Excelsior tones – you’re sure to uncover awith novel “guitar”, “microphone” brand-new retro vibe to your playing.and “accordion” inputs, each with Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 81

Magazine CuttotniengFender’s new Machete amps offer high-gain sound sculpting, with a dash of go-faster automobile style PHOTOGRAPHY: Philip SowelsWhen it comes to Blade Runner styling, there’s a distinct late-’60s, early-’70s vibe There’s serious tone-shaping potential here: to the Machete, the new the Machete’s robust enclosure houses a 50-watt dual-channel combo from Fender. 12-inch Celestion speaker pumping out Dominating the amp’s black vinyl covering 50 watts of rich and pummeling response, is a dramatic gray stripe – complete with with a midrange notch control (see boxout), steering wheel-grip characteristics and and useful push-pull pots for bright boost white piping – which conjures images of and gain boost on the rhythm channel. souped-up roadsters, vintage NASCAR and every road movie you’ve ever seen rolled Further options at the end of the into one. The look is completed by chrome signal chain include adjustable speaker Telecaster knobs, a black silver strand grille damping for fine-tuning performance, XLR cloth, and all-new corners and hardware. output with switchable speaker muting It turns out this souped-up auto theme and cabinet emulation: great options for is entirely fitting. The Machete is a guitarists who understand the vital role high-performance combo aiming for the a speaker’s detail plays in defining tone. finely tuned ears of discerning guitarists A four-button footswitch and cover are and amp connoisseurs. It included, ensuring the Machete is ready also boasts a dedicated to hit the stage from day one. high-gain channel as well as an extremely clear Catering to players clean channel that can be who need a turbocharged pushed into aggressive sound they can adapt to rhythm territory: while their needs and experiment the addition of onboard with, the Machete is a digital reverb adds formidable addition to any shimmer and depth. amp arsenal. And its looks will doubtless attract some intrigued glances from the audience, too.Turbocharged ToneThe Machete offers cutting-edge sound shapingA ny guitarist who loves amp’s sound to cut through What’s this? The Machete’s high-gain to dabble in heavier the band’s mix while retaining channel is an exciting rhythm styles will love bite and snarl: the Machete’s Scan this with the departure for Fender, and thethe Machete’s ability to shape pioneering damping and tune QR code reader on amp’s various push-pull potsthe EQ and “response” of its controls do precisely that, your smart device and new “tune” control offerspower amp and speakers. Rock providing a range of British and to go to the Fender rhythm EQ options aplenty;and metal rhythm players rely American tonal flavors. Zap the Machete website for The effects loop helps playerson being able to fine-tune the QR code to the right to hear a demo of the amp’s maximize tone from pedalsmidrange frequencies of their these features in action. special features82 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

Fender Machete

Magazine Above “The basses are the second wave of the The Blacktop Precision Blacktop series, and Bass and Jazz Bass have we wanted to take it swapped pickups with further… the vibe each other, and both is – these go to 11!” have the ability to deliver high-output tone on tap84 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

BlaFcekntodperBJaasgseusarFFender’s Blacktop Precision Bass and Jazz Bass add a fresh twist to two classics… of modern and classic. Just like their Blacktop guitar brethren (Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, and the also-new Telecaster Baritone), the Blacktop basses are built in Mexico for an impressive build quality at a good price. Aficionados would rarely confuse them with a USA-built Fender, but then these models aren’t designed to appeal to bassists who want a faithful recreation of ’50s and ’60s classics. Justin Norvell, Fender’s Vice President of Marketing, says: “The idea of this whole series is to be an entry point for Fender guitars and basses. They’re simple, if you like, and aimed at youngerender’s Precision BASS and Jazz people who play aggressive music.Bass are undoubtedly the most famous “We have a lot of history ofelectric basses ever. The P Bass, in humbucking instruments, with thingsconstant production since 1951, has been like the Fender Tele Deluxe that are reallya bass staple since the first days of rock popular, so we just wanted to do more’n’ roll. The Jazz Bass, which debuted in with humbucking pickups. The basses1960, added brighter tones, a curvier are the second wave of the Blacktopdesign and more sophisticated appeal. series, and we just wanted to take itThe original designs were so impressive further. They’re modern. The vibe is –that little has needed to change beyond these go to 11!cosmetics for years – until now. “So, you have the P Bass that has twoThe new Fender Blacktop Precision pickups, and a Jazz Bass that has twoBass and Blacktop Jazz Bass look, to humbucking pickups. But we wantedthe casual observer, just like their to make these instruments even moreforebears. But a closer look at the pickup different. So you have the humbuckingconfigurations show them to be very J-pickups on the P Bass, and the doubledifferent. Unlike original P Bass and P-pickups on the J Bass.”J Bass, these Blacktops pack a more Counterintuitive? Norvell says not.aggressive tone that mixes the best “It comes from what people have ➽ Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 85

Blacktop “[The new Blacktop Precision Bass]Telecaster is possibly the most powerful bassBaritone Fender has ever offered”Is it a guitar? Is it a bass? ➽done in the past. Guys like session like a Jazz Bass, but comes loaded withKind of… It’s a Baritone player Reggie Hamilton and Blink-182’s dual split-coil Precision pickups. Specs Mark Hoppus have been messing around are pretty much the same as the P Bass,A longside the Blacktop Precision with P Bass and Jazz Bass models for including three-ply black-white-black Bass and Jazz Bass, Fender has many years. They flip pickups around, pickguard, open-gear tuners and chrome also just launched the Blacktop customize their Fenders, and they hardware. It’s again available in Black orTelecaster Baritone. A baritone guitar is sound great. So we took a littlesomething of a halfway house between inspiration from these players.” White Chrome Pearl. Norvell describesa traditional six-string guitar and a bass. the Blacktop Jazz as “supercharged”.The Blacktop Telecaster Baritone has Basses High The experimentation with the pickupsa Telecaster body, but with a guitarist- for the Blacktop Bass took a while, butfriendly 27-inch scale. And tuned B-to-B Neither model messes with the they’ve emerged with a different tone(low to high), it will encourage players to fundamental outline of these than before.invent new chords and new sounds. two legendary designs. But there “It definitely results in a higher “It’s an aggressive guitar,” says are some very “now” twists. The output than you might expect. But inNorvell.“It’s great for rock but also good Blacktop Precision has a modern modern rock and metal, that’s whatfor country, with a single humbucking ‘C’-shape neck profile, alder body and bass players want. We had to balancepickup and two single-coils.” a gloss urethane neck. The feature out the sound and make it still sound In the past, baritone guitars have been that will cause a “second-take” is like a great Fender bass, but theused by everyone from Aerosmith to that this P Bass has J Bass pickups Blacktops certainly have that ‘+1’ sound. and knobs. Separate volume “It’s a cool mix. You still feel like Johnny Marr, Cream to The Cure, controls and one master tone you’re playing a P Bass, but then you The Beatles to Placebo. And control your sound. Norvell says: start rolling in the second volume knob it’s an idea that has come back “This is possibly the most and dial in the bridge J Bass pickup into vogue once again. powerful bass Fender has and it’s great. It even gives the player “On Foo Fighters’ Wasting ever offered.” some of the J Bass ‘cutting’ sound. Light, Pat Smear played “You could play both of these There are none of the basses’ pickups flat-out, and baritone on nearly every track. fancy sunburst finishes that that would be a lot of tone. But You get an octave space may appeal to older players: the idea is to experiment with the Blacktop P Bass comes one pickup sound against the between bass and guitar in Black or a new color, other. When you do that, you sometimes, and the way to fix White Chrome Pearl. can really get a lot of that is with a baritone,” says tonal variations.” Norvell.“Baritone guitars The Blacktop Jazz Bass are a great studio/recording flips the idea. It looks just instrument, even if they’re not the focal point of the band.”86 Fender Magazine ||| SPRING & SUMMER 2012

P Bass and J Bass PlayersThe roll call of Precision Bass and Jazz Bass and players is second to nonePrecision Bass players Jazz Bass playersRoger Waters, pictured (Pink Floyd) Guy Berryman (Coldplay)Colin Greenwood (Radiohead) Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)Adam Clayton (U2) Mark Hoppus (Blink-182)Eric Avery (Jane’s Addiction) Geddy Lee (Rush, solo)Mike Dirnt (Green Day) Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report, solo)Nikolai Fraiture (The Strokes) Marcus Miller (Miles Davis, solo)Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) Reggie HamiltonGary Jarman (The Cribs) (Queen Latifah, Mariah Cary)Duff McKagan Michael Rhodes(Guns N’ Roses, (Taylor Swift, Brooks & Dunn)Velvet Revolver) Victor Bailey (Weather Report)Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) James Johnston (Biffy Clyro)Sting (Police, solo) Juán Calleros (Mana)Pete Wentz(Fall Out Boy, Black Cards)Matt Freeman(Rancid, Devils Brigade)Tony Franklin (The Firm,Kenny Wayne Shepherd)Daniel Tichenor(Cage The Elephant) C O LRI NA GDRI OEHEENAWDO O D NF OAOT EFMI GEHNTDEERLS G e dR UdyS HL e e

Elvis Presley cradles his exotic Fender Kingman Wildwood VI model acoustic, in this promotional shot from 1967 “They played it like that in the shanties and juke joints andnobody paid it no mind ’til I goosed it up” Elvis Presley

Elvis KingmanFit for The KingThe futuristic Fender Kingman acoustic Elvis sported in his mid-’60s moviesis an iconic instrument, synonymous with The King in his prime. Now Fender has reissued this legendary model, and we unearth its story…Ask anyone to sum tight-knit group of friends dubbed the The Kingman was a dreadnought model up Elvis Presley’s “Memphis Mafia” would hurl themselves with back and sides constructed using talents and it’s unlikely into wholesome outdoor pursuits, such as veneer from exotically dyed beechwood, that guitar playing will horse riding. On strict studio orders, the known as the “Wildwood” finish. The range come top of the list. King was earnestly trying to get in shape also featured a Wildwood veneer on the But when it came to for the start of filming in April 1967 on his face of the headstock that matched the body,steamrolling rhythm accompaniment, his 25th movie, Clambake. with bound rosewood fretboards and blockguitarist “Scotty” Moore said Elvis had inlays. The 1967 range of Kingman guitarsan uncanny sense of rhythm and timing. The Fender Kingman was used by boasted six optional colors, each denoted byJohnny Cash was equally complimentary, Presley in the movie, and became a the Roman numerals I-VI. Presley’s model,classing Presley as one of the greatest defining image. It also featured heavily in which sported blue/green back and sides,rhythm players he had ever seen. Certainly, the promotional photos for this and his was the Fender Wildwood VI.by the time of the famed 1968 “comeback” previous film, Double Trouble, released as hetelevision special Elvis, he was exhibiting began shooting for Clambake. Signature Modelsome nifty touches on the guitar. The guitar incorporated some of the Fifty years on from the introduction of Presley obviously had access to features established years earlier with the Kingman, and 35 years since Presley’swhichever guitar caught his eye. But one electric guitars, such as a bolt-on maple untimely death, Fender has launched theyear before the Elvis TV special, in April neck with a headstock modeled after that of Elvis Kingman signature model. Features1967, he was introduced to a distinctive a Stratocaster. It also had a bolted and glued include Presley’s signature on the front ofacoustic that echoed the visual ethos of the bridge with six adjustable steel saddles the Wildwood-style headstock; an ivoroidera – the Fender Kingman. for proper intonation. These electric-style neck and body binding; a maple neck; and features were revolutionary: they ushered a 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with block Elvis had just bought a 163-acre ranch in the acoustic guitar firmly into the ’60s, position inlays and bone nut.Mississippi called Circle G, near Graceland, imbuing it with a contemporary,where he, his future wife Priscilla and his almost futuristic aesthetic. The new Kingman also features a solid spruce top with scalloped X-bracing and Left to right: a laminated Wildwood-style back and sides. It’s an instrument ready and able to Sporting futuristic produce the characteristic resonant tone electric design synonymous with Presley’s playing. flourishes, the Kingman was an Back in June 1956, Presley was asked early frontrunner of how he developed his distinctive guitar the Fender brand’s style. His response was typically forthright, fledgling acoustic range and like the man himself, had a rhythm all of its own: “They played it like that in the shanties and juke joints and nobody paid it no mind ’til I goosed it up,” he said. “I got it from them. Down in Tupelo, Mississippi, I used to hear old Arthur Crudup bang his box the way I do now, and I said if I ever got to the place I could feel all old Arthur felt, I’d be a music man like nobody ever saw.” Fender Magazine ||| Fender.com 89