Part of a regular Adorama Learning Center series, Sara Landeau’s ‘InSound’ explores the best in audio gear, how-to’s and interviews with other musicians. Read previous installments here.
Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead’s Rickenbacker 4004LK Bass Guitar, “TheRickenbastard.” This piece is half instrument, half medieval work of art. A carved relief of oak leaves adorn the sides, along with gold hardware, three Rickenbacker humbuckers, and white checked binding.To get his tone, boost the treble and mids and play at the loudest volume the room can take. No pedals necessary.
John Lennons’ 1965 Epiphone E230TD Casino Hollowbody Guitar. You can spot him using this guitar for the impromptu rooftop concert as well as The Beatles’ Shea Stadium performance in 1966. Here the original sunburst had been sanded down to natural finish and the pick-guard removed.
“The Shaggs” Eastwood Avalon AV-2T guitars. This band is famous for a few reasons: their outsider lo-fi 60‘s garage musician status, being one of Frank Zappa and Kurt Cobain’s self-proclaimed favorite bands, and for the unique Eastwood AvalonAV-2T guitars this trio of gals played.
Prince’s Cloud Schecter Guitar. First seen in the early 80‘s movie “Purple Rain,” the Cloud Guitar series has been a staple in Prince’s collection. Maple, brass nuts, gold-plated, and on closer inspection, Love Symbol inlays as fret markers. These were custom ordered exclusively for only his own use.
Bootsy Collins’ Space Bass. The Parliament-Funkadelic bassist, and previously part of James Brown’s line-up, played several versions of the star-shaped custom-made bass guitars during the 70’s. Later he contributed to a line of glittery basses including the “Bootzilla” by Traben and the Warwick Rockbass Artis Line signature Bootsy version.
Poison Ivy Rosarsch’s Orange 1958 Gretsch 6120 Hollowbody. While going through a vintage tube amp, dripping with tape echo sound, this double cutaway, hollow maplebody with a Bigsby tremolo tailpiece completes the retro fuzzed up rockabilly Cramps sound.
Willie Nelson’s Martin N-20 Nylon-String Classical Guitar a.k.a. “Trigger.” Since 1969, this legendary guitar has been played at well over 10,000 shows, recordings, and jam sessions. When asked why he chose the name, he said “Roy Rogers had a horse named Trigger. I figured, this is my horse!”
Elizabeth Cotten’s Sears and Roebuck 1904 Acoustic Guitar a.k.a “Stella.” (Cost at the time: $3.75). A self-taught left-handed guitarist, and creator of the alternating bass style known as “Cotten picking,” Elizabeth Cotten liked to play this right handed-guitar upside down. Twenty five years after retiring as a guitarist, Folkways Records picked her up in the early 1960’s where she went on to inspire a generation of folk revival artists to cover her songs – Doc Watson, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez,and Taj Mahal, just to name a few.
DEVO’s Bob 1 Mothersbaugh’s La Baye 2×4 Red Eastwood Guitar with Bigsby,1967. As you can see, this is basically a 2×4 board bolted to a guitar neck. The threeway pickup select placement has been said to resemble a rifle trigger, but I’m not sure this guitar is intimidating in that sense. Everything about this guitar says “Devo” – angular, assertive, choppy, silly. Have you ever tried to play one of these sitting down?You can’t.
Albert King’s 1958 Gibson Flying V a.k.a. “Lucy.” Known as one of the “Three Kings of Blues Guitar (along with B.B. King and Freddie King),” Albert’s best-known works with Lucy are on dozens of Stax session mega-hits. There were a few “Lucys” in his career apparently, the first reportedly stolen, the second underwent severe damage in a tornado. His last Lucy stuck with him until his death in 1992.
St. Vincent’s Ernie Ball Music Man Signature Model. Designed by Annie Clark of St.Vincent in 2015, this unique mod guitar has three mini-humbuckers, a five way custom pick-up selector, a tremolo bridge with vintage bent steel saddles, and a bright blue finish hand-mixed by Annie herself. The guitar is light, practical for touring and long shows. When asked about the squared off thin waist, she said “There’s room for a breast. Or two.”
