I propose this to be the next consideration for the company. I also propose that it be priced for the proleteriat to enjoy, in the same fashion as the KWS and the Corgan.

It is the proletariat who constitute the backbone of this 'fan-dome' and customer base.

Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Its about time he got more recognition. got any idea on how he has his guitars fitted out Doc? I always thought they were stock off the shelf jobs.

_________________
No no and no

Guy, there's a whole recent thread recapitulating a discussion we had about that some time earlier this year. It also includes a URL to his website and an interview with him in "Musician Magazine."

In short, the middle and bridge pickups are back to back like a humbucker, but slanted. He doesn't like the middle pickup interfering with his finger style.

Search for the posts and check out "The Last Waltz". He uses two different Strats both configured as above. Also refer to his set on the video at the last "Crossroads" concert

I expect the rest of the gand to pitch in on this one, so stand by.


Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Found the original discussion and clicked the link. Heres a excerpt from the link with what to expect from the signature guitar. Note he doesnt say its a humbucker just 2 singlecoils tied together. The close proximity of the magnets has to affect tone.

I've had this souped-up old Stratocaster quite a while. It has 'Number 254' on the back. You can tell it's old 'cause the neck's a little thick. Before I used it in Last Waltz I had it bronzed, like baby shoes. That gave it a very thick, sturdy sound. A Stratocaster has three pickups; I had the one in the middle moved to the back with the other and tied them together. They have a different sound when they're tied together, and I don't like having a pick-up in the middle, where you pick. I've got a Washburn whammy bar on that guitar.

_________________
No no and no

[quote="nikininja"]Found the original discussion and clicked the link. Heres a excerpt from the link with what to expect from the signature guitar.

If they do it to 'the nines', its going to be a Tribute instrument, and you know what that means in terms of cost. If they work with him on a from the ground up design' which would meet his specifications as if he were developing a guitar for himself, that would qualifiy as a 'signature series'
instrument. Remember also, Artist series guitars are production line. Signature Series are Custom Shop according to the products section.

Note that the JM is not a repro of his 'wreck' of a stage instrument, neither is the JV, the SRV, the polka dot Buddy Guy, or even his MIA for that matter. The EJ was designed from the ground up as was the new Corgan and the KWS. EJ's 'baby' is a '54 if my memory serves me from the posting on famous Strats. Even the new Gilmour is a close nod in the direction of the original Black Strat but not the whole cigar.

My guess is that the only guitar which finds itself to the stage out of the Custom Shop as 'original equipment' is the Clapton, and probably the 'Cray', the Dick Dale. With Jimi, I believe that all his guitars were stock. The mods were in the player.

We'll see if the company picks up on this in future.

I put on the forum for discussion because we had a long thread on this early in the year and I think it would make a nice looking sunburst instrument. I would bet on all black plastic, or maybe white pickup covers on all black, with a vintage sunburst finish and maple neck.

Of course, the one he used in Chicago may be a prototype, for all we know. Looked like a chocolate sunburst finish to me.

Over to you.

Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

I am still in a little confusion over Robbie's pickups. For several decades I learnedly told anyone I could buttonhole on the subject that he was running a humbucker at the bridge a year or two before anyone is generally credited with doing that.

Then earlier this year I was told on one of the two threads that we had on the subject that in fact that was just the middle pickup pushed back well towards the bridge one, but not actually wired like a humbucker and therefore not functioning like one. Now, Brad says that a real man admits when he's wrong, so I went around announcing I'd been wrong for 30 years (and thus a real man).

But now I read a direct quote from Robbie in the Soul of Tone book where he says that the two pickups together are a humbucker, after all. So is he being a little carefree with his terminology, or is he accurately describing what goes on under his pickguard?

Perhaps if Fender do a production issue of his Strat we may conclusively find out.

After all this I have now forgotten who is officially credited with first putting a humbucker at the bridge in a Strat in the '70s: someone will know.

By the way, interesting grain on the front of that recent modded Strat Robbie was seen playing. A player specification, or just what he happened to end up with?

Cheers - C

Luckily for me the only artist or signature guitar i'm considering is the knopfler. Bearing in mind the artist series being production line i dont think i'll bother, may as well just buy another red strat and put som tex specials in it. I'd save £400 too.
I really hope the Robertson guitar doesnt turn out the same way, a stock strat with a name on the headstock.

Anyway the missus put a prerequisite on my next purchase. 3 guitars and 2 amps have to go before i buy anything above a set of strings.

_________________
No no and no

I suppose if Robbie (or his tech?) knew the theory behind the humbucker, he could have found two single coil strat pickups that could be wired together to function as a humbucker. Fender changed the polarity of the Strat pickups over the years, so if he had an old one and a newer one, those would work. Short of that, a smart guy would know how to change the polarity of the pole pieces using a couple of stronger magnets (the Stew-Mac website shows how to do that).

As for the first guy to slap a Humbucker into a Strat ... I'm afraid we'll never know, because it could have been some nobody in central England or the States ... maybe some Chicago blues player in the late '50s.l

_________________
Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Sure.

Charles Babbage invented the "computer" - but his name's not on the patent...

I'm sure I've heard someone or other given "official" credit as the first person to put a humbucker at the bridge, mid-70s -ish, before it became all the rage in the '80s.

- C

robbie is a very good guitarist alway enjoyed his work wlth the band.

First off, your closing commentary gave me a great laugh. You are not alone in your plight, and such sentiments have been voiced by others in these pages. What do intend to part with for a credible Knopfler.

In that regard, theres been quite a bit of chat about the likelihood that his main axe during early Dire Straits was not a Fender. Interesting that a line in a recent song of his refers to a "cherry red Fender guitar".

You may be getting as close as ever from Fender, as your going get, unless you can dope out the specs from other sources, and build your own, an ability I have every reason to expect that you have.

Good morning!!

Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

But now I read a direct quote from Robbie in the Soul of Tone book where he says that the two pickups together are a humbucker, after all. So is he being a little carefree with his terminology, or is he accurately describing what goes on under his pickguard?


It's interesting that he gives two different interpretations of this circuitry. I would be greatly surprised if he did not know how his guitars were fitted out. If he didn't know the science himself, he would certainly have had his tech dope it out for him, and know, for sure, what was in the guitar.

Nothwithstanding, I am of the opinion that it would be a very unique guitar in the line, quite different in look and tone from the lot given that the pickups are slanted, which should be expected to emphasize the high end, which is pretty much what comes out of him when he plays.

Have a great day.

Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Oooo...don't have much to contribute, but that is one guitar I would definitely save up for Signature Series CS Robbie Robertson ...mmm Bronze

I'm still holding my breath on the Frank Zappa Stratocaster.

_________________
"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ

Some Signature issues provoke flurries of complaint that the player in question doesn't deserve the honor. To which the reply usually comes that it is to do with the economics of a return for the Corporation.

Amongst those not already so recognised it is hard to imagine someone who is more deserving than Robbie. For instance, he is the very embodiment of the idea of a player serving the song.

But the very self-effacement that frequently implies may be what prevents him from getting the reward of a Signature model. I wonder how many young kids today even know who he is, let alone would buy a replica of his guitar?

I'll bet he gets devoted service from the Custom Shop, though, which recongition might be its own kind of reward from the grown-up end of the Company.

Cheers - C