What Three Famous Guitars Would You Want On Your Wall?
So I was stuck in traffic listening to my local sports talk radio (97.1 The Fan in Columbus, Ohio) when the afternoon drive-time guys did one of those “wacky” segments to give us listeners a ten-minute break from talking about Ohio State football. Cleanse the Buckeye palette, as it were.
Anyway, the producer guy asked the host “If you could own three guitars from any band or musician in history, what would they be?”
Now - not to sound snobby - but generally speaking, sports radio guys aren’t known for their comprehensive rock n roll knowledge. I remember one time Kirk Herbstreit admitting he had never heard of Pearl Jam. But whatever, that isn’t their job. I currently don’t know who the head football coach of Purdue or Northwestern is, so that’s basically the same thing.
Curious, I turned up the volume a bit and waited for the response.
The host said, “An electric guitar from the guy in Collective Soul, the double-neck guitar from the Bon Jovi video “Dead or Alive” and an acoustic guitar from Dave Matthews.
Of course I guffawed and said out loud in the car, “ANY guitars in the history of rock n roll and THOSE are the three you choose????”
Then I started thinking about what three guitars I would want hanging around to impress my friends. These are literally the first thoughts that jumped into my head.
It wasn’t too long before I realized my list was just as embarrassing as theirs.
Number one is obvious: Rick Nielsen’s checkerboard Explorer. I mean, that is a guitar that needs no introduction. In my circles anyway.
Number two was my backup plan: Dave Grohl is probably going to get the checkerboard axe. I would settle for the “Gonna Raise Hell” Explorer from Rick.
Number Three: After much deliberation, I chose a crack mirrored Paul Stanley Iceman Model Ibanez which slightly beat out an Ace Frehley sunburst Les Paul Custom.
Honorable Mention: The Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards’ Gibson Les Paul Junior. At least Biggie would be impressed. I should also mention I already own a guitar from Willie Phoenix, so I got that covered.
So yeah, I choose no guitar from Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend, Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon and so on and so forth. What is wrong with me?
Well, I might be a jackass but at least I am not a poseur. Now, let’s ask the question to JCE, Ricki C. and Jeremy Porter and see what they come up with. - Colin
THE THREE GUITARS I WOULD LIKE TO OWN – JCE
When Colin asked about the three guitars I would most like to own, my first thought was “uh-oh.” That’s because I don’t play guitar. I am not a musician. But no one has me beat in my level of devotion to rock n roll, so I do have favorite guitars. And I would like to own them. As a music fan, I immediately went to Joe Strummer (The Clash) and Paul Westerberg (The Replacements). But I decided that I want to own some guitars I believe are truly iconic. I chose the three that I already have mini replicas of.
1. Mike Ness’ Orange County 1976 Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop
I love Social Distortion, but really, I just love this guitar. It’s a Les Paul, it’s vintage, it’s awesome. It is my number one choice.
2. Eddie Van Halen’s Red Frankenstrat
Eddie was one of the very best. He built this guitar from parts hoping to achieve “a Fender vibrato and a Stratocaster body style.” Whatever. It looks amazing and it was Eddie’s in the 1970’s and 80’s when Van Halen was doing their best work.
3. Rick Nielsen’s Checkerboard Flying V
To be clear, I am not interested in the crazy 5-neck version. I just want a Nielsen Flying V. The internet says his prized guitar is a 1958 Gibson Korina Flying V. I don’t know if that one ever had the checkerboard design on it though. I gotta have the checkerboard.
RICKI C.’S TWO CENTS
1) Longtime Pencil Storm readers will have heard this one before, but I was 5 years old in 1957 when my 12-year old sister dialed in Buddy Holly & the Crickets’ “Peggy Sue” on our dad’s Oldsmobile car radio and I discovered the first rock & roll song I ever loved. And then Holly was on the Ed Sullivan Show and I fell totally in love with that Fender Stratocaster Buddy wielded.
2) Bruce Springsteen’s Telecaster, here being used as the Deadly Weapon it was in 1978, on “She’s The One.” (BTW, if I had to explain rock & roll to an alien from outer space or to a Republican legislator I would use Bruce and Miami Steve Van Zandt singing together from the 2:40-3:40 minute mark here.)
3) Tom Petty’s cream-colored Rickenbacker 12-string from 1985’s “The Waiting.” (Lead guitarist Mike Campbell also had more than his fair share of classic moments on his own Rickenbacker 12 throughout The Heartbreakers career.)
a personal note
Me in 1978 with my beloved Strat, bought in 1975 for $125. That was one Xmas week’s overtime pay ($4.50 times 30 hr. equals $135) from Service Merchandise, after my usual 40-hour shift. Guitar stolen from my apartment in 1979 by some unknown lowlife motherfucker I hate & curse to this day.
Honorable Mentions - The Rolling Stones Brian Jones’ teardrop guitar from the mid-60’s; Jimi Hendrix’s white Stratocaster from Woodstock; Pete Townshend’s Gibson SG’s from ‘69-’72; any of Jack White’s thrift-shop guitars from the heyday of The White Stripes. Take us home, Jeremy.
JEREMY PORTER, FROM THE ROAD
Hey Guys - I'm on some back-country deadhead property in northern Florida with little connection, time, or energy.….but here goes! Great stuff.
JCE! We're in DC and Baltimore next week! xx
1) Rick Nielsen Dream Police checkerboard Hamer Explorer. Fav Cheap Trick album and this guitar has been on my mind for about 45 years.
2) The Scorpions’ Matthias Jabs white Explorer with the black stripes. This guitar is ingrained into my brain from poring over issues of Circus and Hit Parader in the early ‘80s.
3) Lizzy Hale Signature Explorerbird - Not a legacy guitar, but super-cool, and the video alone has me sold.