Summer NAMM 2017: New Hendrix, Harrison and Meldal-Johnsen models by Fender
Monterey Stratocaster, Rosewood Telecaster and a Road Worn Mustang
Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison and Justin Meldal-Johnsen signature models · Source: Fender
Fender has revealed new Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison and Justin Meldal-Johnsen signature models for 2017. Among the moments of rock history Fender is harking back to is the 50th anniversary of Jimi’s Monterey Pop performance during which he famously burned his Stratocaster live on stage.
Fender Jimi Hendrix Monterey Stratocaster
50 years ago, Jimi Hendrix captured the world by storm with his incredible performance at the Monterey Pop Festival when he finished the concert by burning his hand-painted Stratocaster.
This is the second time that Fender has made a Monterey Stratocaster, the last one being a Custom Shop affair, that was spoilt in my opinion, by a badly placed back stage pass affixed to the front of the guitar and a dodgy tasselled leather gig bag that was thrown into the deal!
For the 50th anniversary of this milestone in music history, Fender is making yet another limited edition of the Jimi Hendrix Monterey Stratocaster. Well, you can’t blame them for wanting to cash in on this one, as people will buy it.
Burn it with fire!
Three vintage-style single-coil Stratocaster pickups, a maple neck with a C-profile and a 7.25” Pau Ferro fretboard with 21 vintage-style frets and the Fender synchronised tremolo are designed to make you feel as if you were playing Jimi’s actual guitar – yes the one he set on fire, as he loved it so much…
Okay I’m a cynic. I do love Hendrix but I’m bored of the constant cash-ins by Fender (and Dunlop) and the Hendrix Estate. I also find it laughable that his sacrificial guitar is considered something that you would want to play. He burnt it and smashed the s**t out of it, then lobbed it into the audience, so it must have been a keeper! I suspect it is made in Mexico as it costs under a grand.
RRP GBP 809 due out August 15
I smell burning… · Source: Fender
Fender George Harrison Rosewood Telecaster
Fender has built the George Harrison Rosewood Telecaster in a limited edition of 1000 pieces worldwide. Since CITES regulations have kicked in and rosewood is now subject to trade restrictions as tight as moving plutonium into North Korea, this could be interesting.
Based on the original Telecaster built by guitar builder Roger Rossmeisl, this model remains faithful to George’s original rosewood guitar. The body is provided with cavities for weight reduction and better resonance. Other features include a rosewood neck with a 9.5 “radius rosewood fingerboard.
This time they have enough for 1000 guitars, last year they had enough for 300… Hmmm?
It isn’t exactly cheap, but then neither is plutonium…
RRP – GBP 2289 due out August 22
CITES? What’s that about then? · Source: Fender
Fender JMJ Road Worn Mustang Bass
Justin Meldal-Johnsen has already worked for a variety of top artists of all genres. In the studio and on the stage, Justin’s treasured ’67 Mustang Bass is the tool of choice. Fender has teamed up with him to build a four-string signature bass, modelled on his original vintage Daphne Blue instrument. This one has been given a ‘road worn’ look. Equipped with a custom split coil pickup, it’s pretty simple and hopefully effective as well. At 30″, the scale is a bit shorter, so it could be a nice instrument for many bassists needing a slightly more compact instrument.
RRP GBP 969 due out in October
Short scale, single pickup vintage Daphne Blue bass · Source: Fender
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2 responses to “Summer NAMM 2017: New Hendrix, Harrison and Meldal-Johnsen models by Fender”
Fender makes copies of the guitar George Harrison called ” The worst guitar he had ever played. Used 2 weeks in 1969. The least used Beatles guitar ogift them all. Then immidiately gives the guitar to Delany Bramlet. Delany Bramlet auction the guitar 2 years after Georges death and Olivia Harrison buys it. She then lets Fender produce the guitar in a form of earning money. George would have Doun in his grave. The guitar he least of all guitars wanted to Endorse gets endorsed. But Olivia has made similar strange things. George paid a pension to his older sister for 20 years and promised to Do it for the rest of her life. The month after Georges death Olivia stops the payments to Georges sister. Georges favourite guitar from 1957 untill his death was the Fender Stratocaster. So Fender made him the wrong guitar.
James Burton and Eric Clapton also received Fender Roosewood Telecasters. James Burton did not like his even though he was a Telecaster player ( George Harrison was not seen with a Telecaster for the rest of his career). What Clapton thought of the Roosewood Telecaster I dont know, But Eric Clapton has used Telecasters throughout his whole career. His main guitar from 1963 to the beginning of 1966, used heavily on albums and live shows in the seventies and eightees and used on every album since Then for a song or two.
Fender makes copies of the guitar George Harrison called ” The worst guitar he had ever played. Used 2 weeks in 1969. The least used Beatles guitar ogift them all. Then immidiately gives the guitar to Delany Bramlet. Delany Bramlet auction the guitar 2 years after Georges death and Olivia Harrison buys it. She then lets Fender produce the guitar in a form of earning money. George would have Doun in his grave. The guitar he least of all guitars wanted to Endorse gets endorsed. But Olivia has made similar strange things. George paid a pension to his older sister for 20 years and promised to Do it for the rest of her life. The month after Georges death Olivia stops the payments to Georges sister. Georges favourite guitar from 1957 untill his death was the Fender Stratocaster. So Fender made him the wrong guitar.
James Burton and Eric Clapton also received Fender Roosewood Telecasters. James Burton did not like his even though he was a Telecaster player ( George Harrison was not seen with a Telecaster for the rest of his career). What Clapton thought of the Roosewood Telecaster I dont know, But Eric Clapton has used Telecasters throughout his whole career. His main guitar from 1963 to the beginning of 1966, used heavily on albums and live shows in the seventies and eightees and used on every album since Then for a song or two.