The version of the story I gave on the previous page was what Joe himself said about it on his own website message board. A Forum user here directed me to it. And the day I met him someone else asked him about it and he remarked archly that he had no further use for THAT guitar, or that company.

I don't at all claim it's the ultimate truth and Mike Eldred certainly says differently. Frankly, it would be rather a bizarre thing to do when Fender could have simply signed him up as an endorser and done lots of nice business for years. So I suspect Joe has his knickers in a twist slightly unnecessarily, or at most Fender did a guitar that looks rather like his but wasn't an exact identi-kit replica - which is within their rights, after all. Joe doesn't own the copyright on Gold Sparkle.

But I've never seen the model in question and I'd be fascinated if anyone can find a picture of it. If it turns out to have a saucy lady decal behind the bridge then suddenly Joe's annoyance would seem a lot more justified!

Cheers - C

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Interesting how the mystique disappears in the cold light of day, isn't it. I give these guys a wide berth at times like that. IMHO they're entitled to their private lives and I'm entitled to what I pay for when I purchase their services. When I walked into Manny's all those years ago to find Bo Diddley sitting in a chair smack dab facing the front door, I figured that he wasn't in hiding and intended to engage in conversation. Clapton waiting on a traffic jam.....just another ordinary citizen.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Dang, I though that miserable attempt at a joke slipped through unnoticed! I guess I hadn't had Mr Ceri in mind, who does have a tendency of spotting these sort of things! Well for that, as Andy would say, I award Ceri 50 points. And for ignoring Clapton, which is quite hard. Come on, man, he drove up in his Porsche to impress you! And what do you do? walk away? How cold-hearted!

Have a great weekend chaps.

-Nutter

Indeed! Don't think I was ever going to be the star-struck type, but any hint of it disappeared when in my late teens I worked backstage in a theater and encountered numerous famous faces. Very quickly discovered that being good at what they do in public doesn't mean people have anything interesting to say for themselves in private. Mustn't name names, but gosh I had some disappointing experiences...


Eric's safe enough. (Tabloid photographers aside) we tend to leave famous people alone over here. For years I used to see Clapton sitting alone in the public stands at cricket matches. He felt no need to be in a private box or the Members' Enclosure, and I never saw anyone pestering him for an autograph or any such.

So happens Kevin Spacey works round the corner from my wife's office and is often seen in the coffee shop near there: never seen him get hassled either. And there was a great bit in the Mick Jagger documentary "Being Mick" where Pete Townshend chides Mick for traveling round in a darkened windowed limo full of minders when Pete just rides into town on the train (they live in the same leafy suburb). A cheeky glint in Pete's eye is saying; "Get over yourself Mick..."

Cheers - C

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Man,here in Nashville you might turn the corner and see anyone,it seems all stars great and small are here at some point,but I leave them alone,some are nice and some aren't...but for little ole me leaving them alone,I'm sure there's hundreds more who won't...we even have a "fan fair" or whatever it's called in the summer for the multitudes to come and see,talk to,and get autographs from their idols.
Thanks for all the great pics!

Holy shinola, Ceri...I hadn't looked at this thread as I thought it was probably similiar to the one in the 'Custom Shop' area. Gear pron - - love it and thanks for sharing your great photos mate!

I'm wondering how much of this gear has been modified vs kept stock.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

That music genre has its own set of rules which I've never ceased to marvel at. I've always sensed that there exists a much more open, friendly, and mutual level of respect between artists and their audiences. I once enjoyed a lovely informal conversation early one morning with Jim Nabors. Encountered him in the coffee shop adjacent to my office building. We were both ordering breakfast. I knew he was in poor health and just politely inquired as to how he was getting along. He appeared quite appreciative of the thought, we had a pleasant chat and I bid him good health as I left. I don't get over involved in these people. None of them can do what I do any way. The thought is extremely sobering......and satisfying, as well. Kind of levels the playing field, that.

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"Another day in paradise!"

There goes Mike, borrowing my syntax!

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"Another day in paradise!"

Hey Ceri, is that "built for..." Strat the one he actually used or just one they gave to him? Only reason I ask is I saw the headstock pic (assume it's the same one) and your comment about it being Curly Birdseye and a Mark Kendrick build. I thought his was a Todd Krause (body) with a mostly flamey neck ( ? )

\
We need Stipe in on this one. There's been such a number of neck/body swappings on these LS Blackies since the prototype was built, I'm losing track as to which were sold, and which remain, and which was which in the aggregate.

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"Another day in paradise!"

I've got some incredible close-up shots of the Cream 2005 'Blackie' but not of the headstock hahaah. Although from a distance it looks flamed.

ZZ-Doc wrote..
Interesting how the mystique disappears in the cold light of day, isn't it. I give these guys a wide berth at times like that. IMHO they're entitled to their private lives and I'm entitled to what I pay for when I purchase their services. When I walked into Manny's all those years ago to find Bo Diddley sitting in a chair smack dab facing the front door, I figured that he wasn't in hiding and intended to engage in conversation. Clapton waiting on a traffic jam.....just another ordinary citizen.[/quote]

Yes it most certainly does...When I was in high school in Ledyard CT, My dad had a gas station in Gales Ferry on Rt-12 , every so often these two or three guy's would stop in for a few gallons of Petrol in this early 60's Mustang, it was beat up road worn and reliced beyond belief. They themselves matched perfectly, cowboy boots that probably saw the taming of the west, same with the cowboy hats, they made the grunge crowd look like a black tie affair.
Anyway as a typical 15 year old I asked my Dad sarcastically " Hey who are the creepy looking dudes ", of course I knew instantly that I had once again inserted " Foot in Mouth" as my Dad looked at me with that former Marine Corps expression and just said
" That's Dr. Hook "

For those of us a bit still wet behind the ears, Dr. Hook aka Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
Had a few hits " On the Cover of the Rolling Stone " " Sylvia's Mother " many were written by Shel Silverstein.

Sorry back to the Claptonmania...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

LOL Claptonmania, dig it !!

Bit seriously, does anybody have a picture of the "Gold Sparkle Stratocaster" that annoyed Joe so much, been looking an cant seem to find anything on that, Cheers !

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Dan...

Fender 1987 MIJ Stratocaster, Texas Special Loaded.
Fender 2007 MIA Jazz Deluxe.

Best I can do

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

The Custom Shops's guitar is on one of the threads in ME's Forum. He posted it and challenges us to draw any similarities between the two guitars. May even be the TBO thread. We got into it quite by accident, if memory serves me, and you could tell by Mike's style in writing that he had real serious issues w/JB's accusations. Remember, the buck stops with him in that operation.

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"Another day in paradise!"