I've noticed that Chuck Berry played a black Strat with white pickguard, maple neck and matching black headstock for the first time on his recent shows while surfing on YouTube. His main guitar was a Gibson ES-345.

I was unable to find a picture of Chuck playing his cherished ballad "Johnny Be Goode" with his Strat, but lucky to find a nice video of the Sao Paolo gig in 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE-xKqbwt9I

Any pics?

That sounded absolutely horrible. You'd think after 60 odd years he'd be able to tune a guitar by now

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No no and no

Wow,

Well to me it looked like ol Chuck had trouble with that strat punching at it like he was in the ring....

But then at the end of the track he gives it a kiss as if he had won the battle with an unkown competitor in a boxing ring...

lol...well done CHUCK BERRY.....you are awesome..

Great Post CHROMEFACE....Thanks,

Very enjoyable to watch a performance delivered by a master of music of the time...

Did you've some picture of Chuck playing a Strat?

I searched everywhere on the Internet but found nothing.

From what I've heard, working with Chuck is a real PITA! He's gotten even more arrogant as he's aged, but someone liked him enough to do this :

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saw Chuck about 12 months ago in Ireland. It was not good at all. He cant play guitar anymore.

It was nice to see a Rock'n Roll legend, but very sad to see that he is only a shadow of his former self.


Didnt think you could forget how to play guitar when its your livelyhood but it looks like thats what has happened.

He has his son playing guitar in his band now. His son is ok. not what id call awesome by any stretch though.

kinda wish i didnt see him as now instead of knowing him for his duckwalk and punchy licks, il know him as an old guy who cant play guitar but thinks he still can.

How many guitarist from the 1950's can play the same today as they did back then? Chuck probably changed to a strat because the gibson was too darn heavy. He's just making money now and not really concerned with his ability. If he's so bad, he should just start lip sync'ing the guitar...

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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Buddy Guy, BB King, Johny Lee Hooker before his passing.....

BB King doesn't play enough in a concert anymore either. A few licks per song at best. He is by far the best musical entertainer I've ever seen. I was at his concert last year in Detroit. It was disappointing watching him play because he hardly touched his guitar. Buddy Guy is 11 years younger at 73 and only plays guitar riffs and doing mostly vocals. Chuck and BB are 83 and 84.... None of those guys can play like they used to...

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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ok, maby they are not playing like they used to, with blazing lead lines and what not, but at the gig i saw, Chuck wasnt playing at all. My mum, who doesnt play guitar could have done a better job.

BB and Buddy, even if they are slower than they were, will still only play something if it sounds right and they can actually do it justice, well, IMO anyway.

Don't know about you guys, but I could type 70 wpm 10 years ago, 60+ wpm now, and when I'm 85, I'm guessing 30-40 wpm? The opportunity to see a legend, priceless! But I'm not going to hold my breath hoping that an octogenarian is going to be able to play anything like he did in the '50's. But he's still a Legend!

I can't wait to hear Slash when he is 80 because I might actually sound almost like him then!!!!

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2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

I think that was just sad,I couldn't watch it all,to see such an icon unable to tune his guitar and play his signature song with so many flubs and foolups is just pathetic.I was filled with pity for the man,to go from being the Grand Master of rock to a poor parody of his former self was just too hurtful for me to see.I'm not being facetious here but maybe he's in the early stages of geriatric dementia or Altzheimers Disease,being argumentive and forgetting familiar tasks are certainly signs of it.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I saw Johnny Winter play two years ago. Although not as old , he looks worse than all those guys you mentioned. He must be blessed or something because he still plays like he did back in the seveties. This guy could hardly even walk without assistance. Just goes to show that some paople are are luckier than others when it comes to aging. When I saw B.B. King a couple of years ago I was a little disappointed he spent more time talking in between songs than he did playing. I felt a bit cheated, but it doesn't really make me respect him less.
Maybe the morale of the story is to see these guys and appreciate them in their prime. Just be grateful we can stiil see them today even if they are not giving us ehat we remember.

bb king, may just hit a few notes, but more meaningful than 30 notes a sec, and not sounding good. like me......
i like buddy guy alot, i dont like his tone for some songs. imho.
john lee hooker remakes redhouse in jimmy hendrix tribute album.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

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