A very special #MacroMonday throwback to 2018 when @terry_foster asked me to help him out with some photographs for an article he was writing to be published in the @fretboardjournal’s inaugural Electric issue.
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The incredible piece of #guitar...

A very special #MacroMonday throwback to 2018 when @terry_foster asked me to help him out with some photographs for an article he was writing to be published in the @fretboardjournal’s inaugural Electric issue.
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The incredible piece of #guitar history you are looking at is an actual preproduction prototype of what became the legendary #Stratocaster #vibrato bridge that we all know and love. This was probably made sometime in 1953 and would have been used to test Fender’s new and revolutionary tremolo design prior to the launch of the #Strat in 1954. The prototype is completely hand-made and machined. You can see the “#Fender” lettering on the saddles is all hand-punched and uneven (if you look really closely you can see someone even misspelled the word *Fender* as “Fener” on the D saddle and had to go back and punch “D” over the erroneous “E”! There’s actually a closeup shot of this *mistake* on the FBJ website - see the link in my bio). Check out Terry’s FBJ article for full details on this incredible piece.
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PS: One great thing about knowing a guy like Terry is that this one-of-a-kind, never-see-another-one-anywhere-else-in-the-world-in-your-lifetime piece of Fender history is just *one* of dozens and dozens of items in his extensive collection of Fender guitars, amps, memorabilia and ephemera. Like, have you ever been to a truly world class art museum like the Louvre or MoMA? There is so much stuff of beauty and historical value that you cannot possible absorb it all in one visit…or even 10 visits? That’s what it’s like visiting Terry’s collection. You always leave feeling so enriched…but also so exhausted! 😂
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PPS: I wonder if whoever made the mistake on the D saddle ever dreamed that 69 years later his/her seemingly insignificant slip up would be visible to millions all over the world in print and on some magical futuristic computer network? 🤣
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#fenderthegoldenage #terryfoster
#freddietavares #macro #guitarmacro #macrophotography #fenderstratocaster #guitar #guitars #guitarra #chitarra #guitarre #electricguitar #vintageguitars #fenderguitars #vintagefender #vintagegear #guitarsdaily #fendersofinstagram #guitarphotography (at Toronto, Ontario)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZaAcf0pSuX/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I never thought I could love a #Fender #Mustang. Then I found this 1969 #CompetitionRed model in excellent condition at @capsulemusic #Toronto.
It took a bit of time/work to set it up to my liking, and I found it was easier to set up with .010s than...

I never thought I could love a #Fender #Mustang. Then I found this 1969 #CompetitionRed model in excellent condition at @capsulemusic #Toronto.

It took a bit of time/work to set it up to my liking, and I found it was easier to set up with .010s than with my preferred .011s, but once I got it feeling right it was a blast to play. And so light too.

Now: if some one could PLEASE tell me how to keep the set screw from loosening and the #vibrato arm from hanging down all limply and whatnot, I’d be all set! No pun intended. 😁

#guitar #guitars #fenderguitars #vintageguitars #vintagefenders #fendermustang #competitionmustang #mustangsally #mustangmonday #guitarcollection #guitarphotography

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A few days ago we had a little discussion about the differences between a #DuoSonic and a #Mustang, so here is a direct comparison between my 1965 Duo-Sonic II and my 1969 #CompetitionRed Mustang.
As you can see, other than cosmetic differences such...

A few days ago we had a little discussion about the differences between a #DuoSonic and a #Mustang, so here is a direct comparison between my 1965 Duo-Sonic II and my 1969 #CompetitionRed Mustang.

As you can see, other than cosmetic differences such as the colour/finish (the earlier #guitar will be finished in #nitrocellulose and the later one in #poly) and #pickguard, they are almost identical.

Except for one thing: the Duo-Sonic II is a #hardtail, and the Mustang has a #tremolo/#vibrato.

#fenderguitars #vintageguitars #vintagefender #fendermustang #fenderduosonic #fenderoffset #offsetguitars #studentguitars #guitarcollection #guitarphotography

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A very clean 1966 #Fender #Musicmaster.
There’s definitely an evolution to #vintageguitar collecting (apologies to proponents of the “Intelligent Design” theory of #guitarcollection!).
When I bought my first few #vintageguitars back in 2011, I was...

A very clean 1966 #Fender #Musicmaster.

There’s definitely an evolution to #vintageguitar collecting (apologies to proponents of the “Intelligent Design” theory of #guitarcollection!).

When I bought my first few #vintageguitars back in 2011, I was ready to settle for anything…as long as it wasn’t too expensive. My ‘68 #Gibson #SG Special is a good example: changed #tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop tailpiece installed, the short #Maestro #vibrato installed in the wrong place…a real “players” #guitar. A real dog’s breakfast is another way to put it! 😄😅😆

But as I came to appreciate #vintage gear more and more and learned more about #guitarcollecting, I started to want higher quality pieces and those that have been adulterated by refins and drilled full of holes like a Swiss cheese for “#upgrades” to bridges, tuners, #pickups etc. appeal less and less to me over time. This #guitar was acquired a few months ago from my friends at @shyboytexrepairs and exemplifies the “new me” as a collector. It’s by no means perfect…but it has honest play wear and no one has tried to makes it “better” with so-called upgrades. As a result it is just gorgeous, and I’m so happy to have it in the collection!

#guitarphotography #fenderguitars #vintageguitars

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Next up for “What the Flying F*ck is That?!? Friday” is a very unusual and groovy #Magnetone #MarkIV from 1957, spotted at The #TwelfthFret in #Toronto, Canada.
The 12th Fret says this #guitar was made by one of the top (at the time) #amp companies,...

Next up for “What the Flying F*ck is That?!? Friday” is a very unusual and groovy #Magnetone #MarkIV from 1957, spotted at The #TwelfthFret in #Toronto, Canada.

The 12th Fret says this #guitar was made by one of the top (at the time) #amp companies, Magnatone, and is based on designs by Paul #Bigsby (yes, the #vibrato guy, and the guy from whom it is alleged that Leo #Fender semi-plagiarized the #Stratocaster #headstock!). It looks like a #solidbody but it’s actually #semihollow, and it’s all original, with #Kluson #tuners and an aluminum (“aluminium” to the British kids tuning in this evening…) nut. The Mark IV model had a #trapeze #tailpiece, while the #MarkVI had a Bigsby. So there you go!

#guitars #oddguitars #whattheflyingfuckisthatfriday #wtffitf #guitarshopping #magnatoneamps #magnatoneguitars #vintageguitars #guitarphotography

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So I removed the weird, but original, #Maestro #Vibrola #tailpiece from the ‘61 Les Paul SG Junior, because I could not figure it out! People kept saying “just #topwrap it!” but since the #strings loaded from the back instead of the front (as they do...

So I removed the weird, but original, #Maestro #Vibrola #tailpiece from the ‘61 Les Paul SG Junior, because I could not figure it out!  People kept saying “just #topwrap it!” but since the #strings loaded from the back instead of the front (as they do on other models of this #vibrato system), it was not possible to top wrap.  so I wimped out and made it back into a #hardtail.  HOWEVER, rather than going back to the plain #wraparound - or the original “#lighningbolt” #compensated #bridge (which is compensated for a #wound G string) - I installed this modern take on the #compensated wraparound.  Very subtle, isn’t it?  Unless you look closely you don’t even notice it’s not a regular, uncompensated wraparound!

This actually does improve the #intonation over the plain wraparound.  Although the plain wraparound is quite good, I found the G (that pesky g string again!) was not close enough and would bother my ear whenever playing above about the 10th fret.  On my 2009 #LesPaul #Special, the plain wraparound has PERFECT intonation - as good as a bridge with adjustable #saddles.  Not sure why that would be different on this guitar…but it is!

#guitars #gibsonguitars #vintageguitars#vintagegibsons #gibsonsg #sgjunior#lespauljunior #lespaulspecial#guitarphotography

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I removed the #wraparound #tailpiece and reinstalled the original #vibrato on my 1961 #Gibson #LesPaul #SG #Junior. Now I am trying to wrap my head around it!
The #strings are anchored in the back of the tailpiece, so they go underneath and up over...

I removed the #wraparound #tailpiece and reinstalled the original #vibrato on my 1961 #Gibson #LesPaul #SG #Junior. Now I am trying to wrap my head around it!

The #strings are anchored in the back of the tailpiece, so they go underneath and up over the #lightningbolt #bridge, but this has the curious effect of raising the #pitch when the arm is depressed and lowering it when the arm is pulled up - precisely the opposite of EVERY OTHER VIBRATO EVER INVENTED!

I am convinced I am doing something wrong in the way I’m stringing it, but I can’t see another way to do it, and there is pretty much zero information about this vibrato on Internets. HELP!

#guitar #guitars #vintageguitars #vintagegibsons #gibsonlespaul #lespauljunior #sgjunior #guitarphotography

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Another view of the funky original #vibrato system that came with my ‘61 #LesPaul #SG #Junior, but I had removed to convert it to a regular #hardtail with a #wraparound #tailpiece. Later models of this system had “#Maestro” engraved on one side of...

Another view of the funky original #vibrato system that came with my ‘61 #LesPaul #SG #Junior, but I had removed to convert it to a regular #hardtail with a #wraparound #tailpiece. Later models of this system had “#Maestro” engraved on one side of the leading edge and the #strings loaded from the front and wrapped under, around and back over the tailpiece, unlike this model where the strings load from the back, go under the tailpiece and up over the bridge. This has the curious effect of raising the #pitch when you push down on the arm, and lowering it when you pull up! Or…maybe I am not installing the strings correctly. This is more likely actually… ;)

#guitar #guitars #gibsonguitars #vintageguitars #vintagegibson #gibsonsg #sgjunior #gibsonlespaul #guitarphotography

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A short time ago we were talking about my ‘61 #Gibson #LesPaul #SG #Junior and its weird original #vibrato system that I have only seen on very early SG Jrs. and #SGSpecials, as well as an #Epiphone #Coronet or two. But only in '61/62…after that...

A short time ago we were talking about my ‘61 #Gibson #LesPaul #SG #Junior and its weird original #vibrato system that I have only seen on very early SG Jrs. and #SGSpecials, as well as an #Epiphone #Coronet or two. But only in '61/62…after that these just disappear! Anyhoo: I was changing #strings and decided to put the trem system back just for giggles and for the reference of anyone at the Gibson #CustomShop (I’m looking at you @adamzero13!) who may want to reproduce this system on a limited run of #VOS Juniors! Feel free to use this as a reference photo. All I ask in return is one of the finished #guitars! ;)

#guitar #gibsonguitars #vintageguitars #vintagegibsons #gibsonsg #lespauljunior #guitarphotography #gibsunday

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15 days ago I posted a shot of my ‘61 #Gibson #LesPaul #SG #Junior that showed a triangle-shaped set of three holes in the top behind the #wraparound bridge left over from removing the original and unusual #Maestro #Vibrola. At the time I promised...

15 days ago I posted a shot of my ‘61 #Gibson #LesPaul #SG #Junior that showed a triangle-shaped set of three holes in the top behind the #wraparound bridge left over from removing the original and unusual #Maestro #Vibrola. At the time I promised @danlacek that I would put it back on the guitar and post a shot so he could see what this unusual #tremolo assembly looked like!

Well I haven’t put it back yet…but on the plus side I found a shot taken in 2013 that shows the #vibrato on the day I bought it.

So you can see that it is a completely different system than the more common “short” Maestro that you sent a lot on SG Specials. From what I have seen, Gibson used this trem only for a couple of years in the early 60s, and if you look hard enough you can find photos of other SGs and even an #Epiphone #Coronet or two that have this system.

#guitars #gibsonguitars #vintagegibsons #gibsonsg #sgjunior #lespauljunior #vintageguitars #guitarcollection #guitarphotography

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More interesting stuff from #notnamm2016 :D
Here is a very different #Fender Ltd. Ed. #Shortboard #Mustang. The “Competition” stripes are not painted on (like the original late 60s “#Competition” finishes), but are actually pieces of #walnut...

More interesting stuff from #notnamm2016 :D

Here is a very different #Fender Ltd. Ed. #Shortboard #Mustang. The “Competition” stripes are not painted on (like the original late 60s “#Competition” finishes), but are actually pieces of #walnut #laminated into the #ash #body. The #headstock logo isn’t a #decal either…it’s actually carved into the wood!

I’m still not sure how I feel about the substitution of the normal #pickups with Fender’s version of a #P90, or the #hardtail #bridge for that matter. In fact if you just put regular Mustang accoutrements (#pickguard, #vibrato, normal pickups and controls) on this body, I think it would be incredible. Still, I can’t complain about Fender’s willingness to try new things…I think it is always a good thing when a company tries to stay creative. Some results may suck totally, but eventually they’re going to come up with a new classic.

I wonder what my friend and Mustang aficionado @luisecoll
Thinks of this model?? :)

#guitar #guitars #fenderguitars #fendermustang #guitarshopping #guitarphotography

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Keeping the “#Offset” vibe rolling with a #Fender “#Select” #Jazzmaster spotted last night at #CosmoMusic near #Toronto, Canada.
I like it, but do you know what? if this #guitar had a regular Jazzmaster #bridge and #vibrato, I think I would REALLY...

Keeping the “#Offset” vibe rolling with a #Fender “#Select” #Jazzmaster spotted last night at #CosmoMusic near #Toronto, Canada.

I like it, but do you know what? if this #guitar had a regular Jazzmaster #bridge and #vibrato, I think I would REALLY like it. There’s just something about a #Gibson-style Tune-O-Matic on a Fender that just feels wrong to me. Sure is purdy though! ;)

#guitars #guitarshopping #fenderguitars #fenderoffset #jm #fenderselect #guitarphotography

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It’s shaping up to be a #LesPaul kind of day! Here’s my 1961 #Gibson #Les #Paul #SG Junior.
Elegant.
Simple.
Ass-whooping! :D
The three holes just behind the #wraparound #bridge are from the original #Maestro #vibrato which I have removed. It’s an...

It’s shaping up to be a #LesPaul kind of day! Here’s my 1961 #Gibson #Les #Paul #SG Junior.

Elegant.

Simple.

Ass-whooping! :D

The three holes just behind the #wraparound #bridge are from the original #Maestro #vibrato which I have removed. It’s an odd one…not at all like any of the other Gibson vibratos (#Lyre #Vibrola, “#short” Maestro, or “#sideways” Vibrola) I have seen. Next time I change the #strings on this #guitar I’ll reinstall the vibrato and snap a few pics for you!

#guitars #guitarcollection #vintageguitars #gibsonguitars #vintagegibson #guitarphotography

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Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
I FINALLY got around to properly attaching my #pedals to my new and beautiful hand crafted wooden @atlasstands #pedalboard. I just had the pedals sitting loosely on it before…stuck to it by gravity alone! This meant that...

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

I FINALLY got around to properly attaching my #pedals to my new and beautiful hand crafted wooden @atlasstands #pedalboard. I just had the pedals sitting loosely on it before…stuck to it by gravity alone! This meant that every time I bumped it while walking by, or if my cable got caught under one or more of the pedals and I got up, not thinking, to get a cold refreshing beverage out of the fridge, I’d pull all the pedals off and onto the floor! Not great.

So when I found to my utter surprise I had double sided adhesive tape in the house (probably bought for this exact purpose and the forgotten!), I put a strip on the underside of each #pedal and stuck them down there once and for all!

As you can see I am not a huge pedal person. ;) I am using 5 pedals at the moment and 2 of them are for #overdrive (the yellow #Boss #FBM1 and the black Boss #FDR1. And no, the #FDR does not stand for the 32nd President of the USA…it stands for #Fender #DeluxeReverb!) This pedal has #reverb and #vibrato built in too…but I don’t use them. I let the #EHX #Holy #Grail do the reverb. Plus the #Octaver doesn’t even belong to me! It’s my cousin’s (but he’s gonna have a hard time getting it back…I freaking LIVE that thing!). Pictured here with my ‘08 #CustomShop '67 #Telecaster #Relic in #ShorelineGold.

#fenderguitar #fendercustomshop #electroharmonix #holygrail #vintage #dd3 #atlasstands #guitarphotographer

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