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Post subject: Hats off John5
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:56 pm
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My hats off to John 5 for working with Fender to create classy, great sounding Telecaster at an affordable price point.

As any guitar player knows, we all want guitars that sound great, look cool, play like a dream and will stay in tune. And as every guitar player on a budget knows, that takes money-something that most of us have little of when we get started playing the guitar.

I saw the video for the new John 5 Squire, and I got to say, "I'm impressed."

Like many players, my first guitar (a Peavey T-26) cost me every penny I earned, about $150. I cut my teeth on it. I learned every Police, Who, Beatles, Led Zep song I could get my hands on. And anything else I could learn on it. Then one day I traded up for an '84 MIJ '62 Tele Custom. Then it was an old beat up '87 Strat Plus, and finally a '01 EC Strat, each step moving up the ladder of better and better guitars. With the John 5 Gold Tele, you are already there.

For myself, I really want an Andy Summer Tele. Sadly, I'll never even get to touch one, let alone own one. Fortunately, I was able have one built for about 1/10 the cost. But wouldn't be nice if Fender made a factory model that didn't cost $10K?

Again, thanks John 5 for keeping that kid with a paper route in mind.


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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:07 pm
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I wouldn't buy a John 5 Tele, because I'd have to find a case that fits the weird headstock.

How come there isn't a Fender version of all the signature models? Like the Avril Lavigne one?
And why can't Americans get a Wilko?
And when will there be a Micawber? :)


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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:54 pm
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arth1 wrote:
I wouldn't buy a John 5 Tele, because I'd have to find a case that fits the weird headstock.

How come there isn't a Fender version of all the signature models? Like the Avril Lavigne one?
And why can't Americans get a Wilko?
And when will there be a Micawber? :)


The Squire John 5 has regular Tele headstock.

Anything special about these guitars? Good question about the signature models. It would be nice to have Custom Shop signature models come from the main factory floor. Perhaps that is something between the artist and Fender.

I know if I were famous and had a signature model, I would have American and non-American versions. My signature model would be the Tele in my profile picture. It's similar in appearence and sound to Andy Summers' guitar, but very different in other ways, most notably in the electronics.


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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:20 am
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arth1 wrote:
I wouldn't buy a John 5 Tele, because I'd have to find a case that fits the weird headstock.

How come there isn't a Fender version of all the signature models? Like the Avril Lavigne one?
And why can't Americans get a Wilko?
And when will there be a Micawber? :)



I just read that the Wilko Tele is only available in Europe, that really isn't good, as in the UK we can nearly all the USA artists that have signature copies here. Surely Wilko has fans around the world? Japan would be a good place for sales of that model too, as he has a pretty big fan base there I believe.

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― Joe Strummer


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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:21 am
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Steviecaster wrote:
Surely Wilko has fans around the world?

Absolutely.
My guess is that they want to prevent the more ignorant Americans buying it thinking it's Wilco, and then get upset with Fender because it isn't.


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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 9:17 am
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arth1 wrote:
Steviecaster wrote:
Surely Wilko has fans around the world?

Absolutely.
My guess is that they want to prevent the more ignorant Americans buying it thinking it's Wilco, and then get upset with Fender because it isn't.


I guess there are ignorant people world wide, I don't think it's confined lol! Agree though, it could be something in the name, although Fender only seem to have made a staggeringly low amount of these - 200 I've read!! I think all the UK guitar stores have all been plundered now. The signature I really wanted, but was too late getting the money raised for was the Joe Strummer one, I know to some it looks like c@£$, but it's purely based on the fact that The Clash are my all time favourite band, the Feelgood's are a close second though.

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“If I had five million pounds I'd start a radio station because something needs to be done. It would be nice to turn on the radio and hear something that didn't make you feel like smashing up the kitchen and strangling the cat.”
― Joe Strummer


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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 9:55 am
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Yep, ignorant Canadian here, or at least unaware.
I thought the "Wilko" you were talking about was "Wilco".
I have no idea who Wilko is.

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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:17 am
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Steviecaster wrote:
I guess there are ignorant people world wide, I don't think it's confined lol! Agree though, it could be something in the name, although Fender only seem to have made a staggeringly low amount of these - 200 I've read!! I think all the UK guitar stores have all been plundered now. The signature I really wanted, but was too late getting the money raised for was the Joe Strummer one, I know to some it looks like c@£$, but it's purely based on the fact that The Clash are my all time favourite band, the Feelgood's are a close second though.

I wish I could buy the Wilko one here in the US - Wilko Johnson is dying, so there may never be a repeat.

Joe Strummer (of Clash) and Steve Jones (of Sex Pistols) are two of my youth heroes, along with Bowie/Iggy. Even U2 before they sold their soul to mainstream. There was energy back then.


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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:37 am
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yodacaster wrote:
Yep, ignorant Canadian here, or at least unaware.
I thought the "Wilko" you were talking about was "Wilco".
I have no idea who Wilko is.


I don't blame you for not knowing to be fair, so no ignorance on your part really. Wilko Johnson was guitarist with Brit pub rock band Dr Feelgood back in the early to mid 70s. He had a unique style of playing being that he was left handed, and taught himself to play right. He never used a pick to play, always using mostly the G chord, he would bring down the fingers of his right hand down sharply across the strings, and then sharply back up with his thumb. The sound is not unlike someone playing lead and rhythm guitar at the same time.
Their sound, and onstage presence has been referred to as an influence on many UK punk bands that followed them within the next few years, here's some footage:


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“If I had five million pounds I'd start a radio station because something needs to be done. It would be nice to turn on the radio and hear something that didn't make you feel like smashing up the kitchen and strangling the cat.”
― Joe Strummer


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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:43 am
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That video is blocked in the US by request of Sony/EMI. Here's one that works:



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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:46 am
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arth1 wrote:
Steviecaster wrote:
I guess there are ignorant people world wide, I don't think it's confined lol! Agree though, it could be something in the name, although Fender only seem to have made a staggeringly low amount of these - 200 I've read!! I think all the UK guitar stores have all been plundered now. The signature I really wanted, but was too late getting the money raised for was the Joe Strummer one, I know to some it looks like c@£$, but it's purely based on the fact that The Clash are my all time favourite band, the Feelgood's are a close second though.

I wish I could buy the Wilko one here in the US - Wilko Johnson is dying, so there may never be a repeat.

Joe Strummer (of Clash) and Steve Jones (of Sex Pistols) are two of my youth heroes, along with Bowie/Iggy. Even U2 before they sold their soul to mainstream. There was energy back then.


Hopefully Fender will do a second run on this one, the Graham Coxon (Blur) got one, so I don't see why not. Fingers crossed you get the chance to buy one, either that, or eBay when one of them gets sold by someone who ships to the States. I'm off to see Norman Watt-Roy tomorrow night - the gig is 100 miles away, but it's worth it as Wilko does a few numbers with Norman, might get the chance to shake the great man's hand again, before the inevitable happens. :)

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“If I had five million pounds I'd start a radio station because something needs to be done. It would be nice to turn on the radio and hear something that didn't make you feel like smashing up the kitchen and strangling the cat.”
― Joe Strummer


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Post subject: Re: Hats off John5
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:47 am
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arth1 wrote:
That video is blocked in the US by request of Sony/EMI. Here's one that works:



That's a shame, probably because it's from an actual DVD release.

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“If I had five million pounds I'd start a radio station because something needs to be done. It would be nice to turn on the radio and hear something that didn't make you feel like smashing up the kitchen and strangling the cat.”
― Joe Strummer


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