Category — Fender Guitars

Stereogum has a very interesting post up today, which essentially is a link to a bootleg of a Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks performance at The Siren Festival from July 19th.

This is interesting because not only is a pretty official website posting a bootleg, but during the performance the band played a new song, not yet released titled “Astral Facial”.

Also of note is the picture above from the post, where it appears that Stephen Malkmus is playing a Japanese Fender Stratocaster, the kind I am always looking for because of the smaller neck radius.

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Gibson.com has a great, brand-new interview with Buzz Osborne of The Melvins up at their site. In this interview Buzz Osborne discusses, among other things, the recording of The Melvins new album “Nude With Boots” and his thoughts on music in general.

One thing I thought was very interesting about the interview is that he mentions using Fender guitars in places on the new album. Buzz Osborne is usually associated with Les Paul Customs, as many Melvins fans know. Excerpt…

“I used my ’69 Les Paul on the whole album supported by a Silvertone, Telecaster, and an early ’90s reissue Mustang.”

You can check out the full interview here.

Well, continuing in the tradition of the late spring season, here is another new album being discussed. This time it’s the famous/infamous Courtney Love…The widow of Kurt Cobain, ex-Hole lead singer and current solo artist.

Love’s last album, as most people know, (or don’t I guess) “America’s Sweetheart” was a total bomb. The album was released in 2004 and to date has sold 86,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Now Courtney Love is speaking about her upcoming album via her MySpace blog. She is once again working with Custard Records owner and famed producer/songwriter Linda Perry.

“Don’t assume you know any songs on this album,” she continues. “Some may sound somewhat familiar or even have the same titles and arrangements. A few are just precious diamonds I wouldn’t touch, but there’s TONS of NEW ones which you haven’t a clue about.”

“I think we made a beautiful, vibey, magical record,” Perry told Billboard in late 2006. “Courtney Love’s name should be right next to Bob Dylan when they say best lyricist of all time.”

Well, I don’t know about that…Bob Dylan? Really? The reason I’m posting about Courtney Love here is simple, it’s because she’s a lot of people’s favorite guitarist (sarcasm). She actually did have her own guitar that she took part in designing, it was part of Fender’s lower budget Squier series models and it was called The Venus. While I can’t comment on the playability of the guitar, I think its cool that she designed a more affordable model.

As far as Courtney Love’s music and my opinion of it, I actually thought Hole’s first album ‘Pretty on The Inside” was a good record and even Live Through This, everything after that point im not all that familiar with. We’ll see what happens with this new album I guess.

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Highly influential shoegaze band My Bloody Valentine have reunited. While initially their only dates included euro dates and summer European festivals, such as the massive Roskilde Festival in Denmark, the band has now announced US headlining tour dates.

Pitchforkmedia are as usual, really psyched that a cool but really overrated band such as MBV (as hipsters refer to them I guess), is reuniting and touring…

“Well my little gazers of shoe, it’s finally happening. My Bloody Valentine have revealed that they will pack up all the Jaguars and Jazzmasters and all the folks who have to constantly re-tune those Jaguars and Jazzmasters for an extended visit to the United States of America (and Toronto)– one that will include the previously freaked-out-about and recently-expanded ATP New York, along with seven additional dates.”

I might actually go to one of the shows in Santa Monica, if the ticket prices aren’t too ridiculous. A lot of people thought they’d never see My Bloody Valentine reunite ever, but everyone likes money I guess…

06-20 London, England - The Roundhouse
06-21 London, England - The Roundhouse
06-22 London, England - The Roundhouse
06-23 London, England - The Roundhouse
06-24 London, England - The Roundhouse
06-28 Manchester, England - Apollo
06-29 Manchester, England - Apollo
07-02 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowland
07-03 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowland
07-03-06 Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde Festival
07-09 Paris, France - Zenith
07-17-20 Benicàssim, Spain - Festival Internacional de Benicàssim
07-25 Naeba, Japan - Fuji Rock Festival
08-08 Oslo, Norway - Øya Festival
09-05 Isle of Wight, England - Bestival
09-19-21 Monticello, NY - Kutshers Country Club (ATP New York)
09-22 New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom
09-23 New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom
09-25 Toronto, Ontario - Ricoh
09-27 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
09-30 San Francisco, CA - The Concourse
10-01 Santa Monica, CA - Santa Monica Civic Center
10-02 Santa Monica, CA - Santa Monica Civic Center

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This is one of the coolest basses I’ve seen in a while. I’m not exactly sure how many of these were ever manufactured, but its a completely clear, (made of Lucite) 1970’s Fender MusicMaster bass. I found out about this after reading a post at guitarz.blogspot.com, which features a link to the eBay auction of the guitar.

I’d personally love to get this, (or one like it) myself, as I love the Bronco Bass that I have. This bass and the Bronco basses are 3/4 scale and very easy to play. These are especially great for someone who is mainly a guitar player but needs a bass to record with or workout parts. The fact that this one is made of Lucite and clear makes it all the more unique.

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So…I still haven’t gotten a Telecaster yet, BUT…I am still searching and considering different options. As I stated in my last post, I am looking for a Japanese made Fender Telecaster (or MIJ), because of the smaller neck radius, craftsmanship and the $600 price tag. The $1200+ American price tag (for basically the same guitar), is a little much.

I’ve looked online, at new guitars, on eBay (my usual guitar browsing place) for used Tele’s. I however, do not want to buy a guitar without having played it first. Obviously playability is one of, if not, the most important part of a guitar. The problem is, a lot of local guitar shops around Los Angeles are so ridiculously overpriced.

I think my best option is probably to try and find the model that I want, play it locally and then shop around online for the same model. Although this is hard as well, since every guitar, even the same models play differently. Just have to figure out something I guess…when I do, I’ll post here.

No not the British slang for Television. Telecaster. Yea I’ve been considering buying a Telecaster. I’m not exactly sure why I have been interested in buying one recently but I have. I think after seeing various pictures of them and famous players with them in hand, its got me interested.

Most guitarist’s playing indie-rock or “alternative” music don’t normally play them. You usually see guys like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty playing Fender Telecasters and alternative rockers playing Fender Jaguars, Strats and Gibson Les Pauls or SG’s. It’s not that I’m trying to “break the mold” or anything, I just really like the look, feel and playability of Telecasters.

I have decided that I’m going to start shopping around for one, definitely used.  I much prefer Japanese-made Fender guitars because of their smaller radius necks (7.25 vs. the regular American 9.25).  They do produce vintage reissue in America with the small neck radius but they go for over $1000 and are hard to find used. Most Japanese Fenders from the early 90’s sell for around $600 or so.

When/if I do end up following through with this post and buying one, I of course will post pics here. Until then, I’ll just stare at the picture I posted above.

Been busy lately. The Monotonix - “Body Language” EP review will be up tomorrow as promised.

Today would’ve been Kurt Cobain’s 41st birthday…hard to believe. I remember being in 5th grade, in 1992 and hearing/seeing Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video on MTV and being totally effected by it. I got the Nevermind album shortly thereafter, and still love it to this day. I think a lot of people remember when they first heard that song, as well as when they heard about his death as well. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana was what basically got me wanting to play guitar in general so I wanted to post here about it.

Also, I haven’t had a chance yet to go back and play that 70’s Stratocaster at Guitar Centers Vintage room, but I will definitely get around to it sometime this week. I also want to play some vintage Jaguars and Les Pauls just for fun. I can’t afford all of them so I might as well…

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So I’ve been playing the Mustang a lot recently and it sounds and feels great. I’m really glad I decided to get the guitar for my girlfriend, she’s also played it and loves it. Clean-tone is killer as is the distorted tone. So I’m still thinking about getting that 1970’s Fender Stratocaster I saw at Guitar Center Hollywood, in the vintage room, but I’m still riding the fence…$1600 is a lot of money to spend. I think I might go back and play it for a while and then determine whether or not to buy it. I haven’t even heard it amplified yet.

I’m trying to look up stuff about 1970’s Strats just to learn more, if anyone can offer any knowledge (regarding best year, general facts/info, etc…) please comment.