Brad...Jim Bryant....please read!
Re: Fender "Kingman" Elvis Clambake model

Maybe Fender and Elvis Presley Enterprises worked out some awesome mutually beneficial financial and cross-promotional deal, and I can understand the business aspect of that, but, from the perspective of a life-long Fender ethusiast, as well as a life long Elvis fan, and a still-performing singer/guitarist, it just misses the target.

Elvis used the guitar briefly, and really as no more than a prop, in one of his all-time LEAST respected movies, CLAMBAKE. When discussing the theatrical career of Elvis, CLAMBAKE hits pretty close to rock-bottom.
Even Wikipedia says "This was the last film for which Presley was able to demand and receive a $1,000,000 salary. The relative lackluster box office performance of this movie, combined with his desire to do more serious, less commercial films, meant that studios were no longer willing to guarantee him a seven figure paycheck for his performance." And "Clambake sold less than 200,000 copies, faring worse than its predecessor Double Trouble which had been his lowest-charting album so far."
And even to many die-hard Elvis fans, the movie simply sucked! And the songs were garbage.
And now Fender has put out a guitar celebrating the lowest point in Elvis' career! ???

However, having said that, the guitar itself is actually pretty cool. And I have a great idea for it...one that gives it the "cred" it really deserves! AND will help you sell them by the boxcar!

Paint it black and give it a gold anodized pickguard (and add a transducer under the bridge saddle please). Ring a bell yet? OK...go to YouTube and look up Johnny Cash's Television show from the 70's. What do you see Johnny Cash playing? What do you see Neil Diamond playing? I don't know the exact model those guitars were, but I DO know they were non-cutaway Fender acoustic guitars with the strat-style headstock in black with the gold pickguard! BINGO!

Now you have a guitar that was REALLY, ACTUALLY used by many performers who REALLY played guitar and have stellar reputations as true musicians and singer/songwriters! And you already have the guitar!! Just market it as a Johnny Cash, or a Neil Diamond...or just put it out as a black "Kingman" or whatever you want to call it and let us players make the connection ourselves!
Keep the natural finish "Clambake" one...but add the Buck Owens model! Again...another singer/songwiting legend that actually played the guitar!
I would buy one in a hearbeat, and I know a lot of other performers would too...especially the Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond tribute artists...of which there are hundreds! Although, if you DO decide to do this, I would expect one for free...afterall, it was my idea!
Check these out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It7107ELQvY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDmDwvZSlPw
http://youtu.be/zCgeWUKcumA

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/11289/lot/133/

Now THAT's credibility! A LOT more than Elvis holding one in a crappy movie! And please don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Elvis fan...and a huge Fender fan...I just don't see any added value to either here!

But Johnny Cash? Neil Diamond? Buck Owens? Ray Davies? Are you kidding me? Where do I sign up?

Fender...are you listening? You're right on top of a goldmine here...IF its marketed correctly! And it's a homerun...because you already have the guitar!! Just a few little tweaks...
The Fender Heritage Acoustic Guitar Series. (or "Fender American Heritage") See? I already have a campaign worked out!

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2006-2007 Fender Deluxe Player Strat Sunburst/Rosewood
1964 Gretsch Tennessean
1997 Guild D5
MIA Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Line6 Spider III 30w amp
Zoom A2
80's Boss Delay Pedal

Go with Johnny Cash, I believe Neil is spoken for

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I saw him playing that at his show in Anaheim last month. But I was in the "nose-bleed" section and couldn't tell exactly what it was. An Epi? Wow. Sounded great! (I'm sure his tech tweaked it a little).

Still, if Fender marketing can get permission to use vintage pictures of the various artists that used this style of acoustic guitar...dreadnaught-sized, no cutaway, strat-style neck and headstock...Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Buck Owens, Ray Davies, et al...and maybe just call it the "American Heritage Acoustic"...and offer it up in either natural or black...players would get the idea. Malibu or King or Kingman or whatever the various models were called...just incorporate the best features of each into one guitar.
Give it a pickup and a gold pickguard and watch it sell like crazy! OH..and inclued the model-specific, customized "feedback blocker"...(another idea I have).

_________________
2006-2007 Fender Deluxe Player Strat Sunburst/Rosewood
1964 Gretsch Tennessean
1997 Guild D5
MIA Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Line6 Spider III 30w amp
Zoom A2
80's Boss Delay Pedal

Jim Bryant? Wonder if any relation to "the" Jimmy B?

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Don't leave home without it!