PRS Dragon, "dragon" inlay fretboard

PRS Dragon, Series I, II, III and 25th anniversary

Some guitars are considered to be "art", and actually, there are guitars which can be found in museums. In this case it's not about playability, but it's all about craftmanship and design, guitars built by masterbuilders with the skills of an artist / designer.
One of those guitars to be considered "art" is the PRS Dragon with it's design and inlay of the fretboard.

prs dragon series I fretboard inlay closeup

PRS, founded in 1985 by Paul Reed Smith, has the PRS Dragon exposed in the Smithsonian, the National Museum of American History. Also the PRS Dragon is supposed to be in the collection of the MOMA, the Museum Of modern Art, but I can't find any information about that on the MONA website. The guitars were donated by PRS, and it gave a boost to the collectability of the PRS Dragon. From here, the success of PRS Guitars started.

The PRS Dragon is handbuilt, in the early years of PRS Guitars, and is considered to be far more superior than the guitars built in the PRS factory, which was established in 1995.

prs dragon series II

PRS Dragon, Series, building years and limited numbers

Like most collectible guitars from a Custom Shop or (PRS) Private Stock, the limitation of numbers built is essential. The PRS Dragon is no exception. The PRS Dragon is not as rare as "single pieces", but still rare and expensive enough to be collectible. Most PRS Dragon's will be in private collections.

The PRS Dragon Series I was built in 1992, limited to 50 Dragon's.

The PRS Dragon Series II was built in 1993, limited to 100 Dragon's.

The PRS Dragon Series III was built in 1994, limited to 100 Dragon's.
The PRS Dragon 25th Anniversary, limited to 100 Dragon's.

PRS Dragon, fretboard / neck inlay

Obvious, the fretboard "dragon" inlay is the main feature of the PRS Dragon series I, II and III. The work is done by hand, which takes a lot more time than the modern method, using computer controlled cutting machines and duplicating devices to automate the series production. The fretboard inlay of the PRS Dragon series I, II and III is crafted by hand, so every fretboard of the Dragon in each serie is kind of unique.

I'm not sure if the inlay of the PRS Dragon 25th anniversary also is crafted the "old fashion way". Probably the fretboard inlay on this PRS Dragon is done by "Pearl Works", who does all the inlay work for PRS, computer driven.

*****

The dragon inlay on the fretboard of the PRS Dragon Series I is made of 201, small pieces of abalone and turquoise mother of pearl which results in a 2 color dragon on a dark rosewood fretboard.

prs dragon series I fretboard inlay
 

The dragon, crafted in the fretboard of the PRS Dragon II, is my favourite dragon inlay within the PRS Dragon Series. I especially grave the shiny abalone wings of the dragon. This dragon is made of 218 pieces of gold, coral, abalone, malachite, onyx and mother of pearl.

prs dragon series II fretboard inlay



The PRS Dragon III, the last of the original PRS Dragon Series has the most extensive dragon inlay. No less than 238 pieces of gold, red and green abalone, mother of pearl and real mammoth ivory were used for the dragon!

prs dragon series III fretboard inlay

The PRS Dragon 25th anniversary has a new designed multi material dragon inlay in the fretboard, which includes 300 pieces of 20 different materials in 8 colors, difficult to describe, but the image tells it all.

prs dragon 25th anniversary fretboard inlay

*****

The PRS Dragon is in every way a very desirable and collectable guitar. Apart from the dragon neck inlay, the rest of the guitar is first class too. The top of the PRS Dragon is made of "bookmatched" superior wood, and as every PRS, lots of attention goes to the finish and details.

How does it sound in real? I don't know! My local guitar stores don't have the PRS Dragon in stock, so I never had the opportunity to see and hear the PRS Dragon myself..  PRS wants every guitar to sound like a perfect blend of a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender, and I'm sure the PRS Dragon, with "PRS Dragon" humbuckers sounds great. However I can't imagine taking this guitar from the wall and playing the delicate fretboard!

PRS Dragon III Video

Below is a video of the PRS Dragon III, posted on Youtube by guitarist  Tony McKenzie who runs a wonderful website and who actually owns the PRS Dragon III. He presents the guitar, but, like expected, this PRS Dragon III is unplayed. It's all about the fretboard!

Seasick Steve: cheap guitar rocks



seasick steve, guitar

Seasick Steve, raw and uncut on his cheap guitar

One of the biggest surprises on Lowlands 2011 and Pinkpop 2012, (major music festivals in Holland), in my opinion, was the raw and uncut performance of Seasick Steve. Guitarist-singer Seasick Steve plays bluesrock, and his cheap guitars are mostly self-constructed!

Guitar player Seasick Steve

Seasick Steve, over 70 years old, born in Oakland California, rough beard, jeans and baggy shirt, has not allways been succesful in life. He ran away from home at the age of 14, and decided not to settle down. Guitar player Steve performed for years in small bars and blues cafe's. In the 60's he even played guitar on stage with Johny Lee Hooker and Lightnin' Hopkins, but he never reached the rock-star status.
In between, as a happy Seasick Steve told in an interview he gave during Pinkpop 2012, he stayed some time in hotels, with in the back of the yard a small basketball court, but with fences around, and no "going home". Despite of that, it was ok, according to Seasick Steve.

seasick steve, cheap guitar

Since the end of 2009, after his appearence on the Jools Holland Show, UK television, his carreer is booming, and in 2006, at the age of 65, he presented his first album. Sinece then, Steve tours a lot, mostly in Europe, with for Holland, the Lowlands 2011 and the Pinkpop 2012 highlights. Seasick Steve seems to enjoy the whole circus, happy, friendly, grateful, and after an unsettled life, he's finally getting his (guitar)act together, now living in the UK and Norway.

Seasick Steve's cigar box guitar and other cheap instruments

seasick steve cigar box guitar

It's not only what Seasick Steve is playing, it's also what he is playing on. No fancy luxery dream-guitar for Steve on stage, Seasick does his act mostly on a cheap or self-constructed guitar. One of these guitars he became famous with, is the "cigar box" guitar, a well beloved object for photographers. This guitar sounds amazing, and only has four strings.



seasick steve's cheap guitar

Another one of Seasicks amazing guitars is his red Fender Coronado. Seasick himself calles this guitar "the biggest piece of shit in the world". It really looks old and worn, with it's, on the body taped, old Harmony humbucker. The guitar has 3 strings, and Seasick tunes it to G. Seasick Steve playes this cheap guitar he bought for $75 on almost every gig.

The guitar Seasick Steve became famous with, due to his performance in the UK show "Top Gear", is made of two wheel-covers from an old English Morris Minor, and a broomstick.
According to Steve, this guitar is only suitable for "slide" playing.

Besides of the guitars mentioned, and some crappy other ones, Seasick Steve also uses an amazing collection of music gear and amps.  Two of these instruments are the one-stringed self-made Diddley Bow, just a piece of wood, a bottle and a humbucker, and the Mississippi Drum Machine with licence plate and carpet design.

Seasick's amplifiers are "state of the art" too: a Roland Cube, and as seen on Pinkpop 2012, some worn out, original vintage Fender Bassman's, almost as old as the master himself, real collector's items.

Seasick Steve on stage

Seasick Steve live on stage

Below is a video of Seasick Steve's performance on the Pinkpop 2012 Festival in Holland. He got great reactions from the public. His live performances are raw and spontaneous, much better than the recordings killed by techniques in a studio. Enjoy, I did!

Seasick Steve on guitar, Pinkpop 2012

Epiphone ES-339 Ultra, video





Epiphone ES-339 Ultra:

Epiphone shows the official demo and the  "getting started with Guitarrig"  video's.



epiphone es-339 ultra

 
In addition to my posts regarding the Epiphone Es-339 Ultra, here and here, these video's, originally from Epiphone, give a good impression about the sounds and (acoustic) electronics of the Es-339 Ultra. I'm aware that the video's are a bit promotional, but I didn't find other video's about the Ultra as informative as the ones below. Still, If you're interested in the Epiphone ES-339 Ultra, they're worth watching

Nick Colionne presenting and playing the ES-339 Ultra

In the first video, jazz guitarist Nick Colionne, who, in his play, combines jazz, R&B, blues and funk, presents the Epiphone ES-339 Ultra, and plays it. He obviously loves the big, warm sounds in this guitar, and the acoustic Shadow Nanomag pickup. For him, the sound of a guitar is more important than the build-in electronics.

 

Register the ES-339 Ultra (and Les Paul Ultra), and downloading, installing and using Guitarrig-4

The Epiphone ES-339 Ultra comes with a free copy of Guitarrig-4 LE. When you follow the instructions in the manual it's not clear where to register the ES-339 Ultra ( and the Les Paul Ultra) and how to download and install the Guitarrig software. In this video Epiphone gives the answers. It took me a while to figure it out myself, and probably lot's of Ultra-owners had the same problems. Good thing Epiphone provided this how-to video.

The controls and electronics on the Les Paul Ultra (and ES-339 Ultra)

This last video is about the electronics and the controls on the Les Paul Ultra. It shows how to blend  the humbuckers and the Shadow Nanomag, how to use the Nanomag controls, how to use the onboard tuner and how to use the dual outputs and USB output. The ES-339 Ultra uses the same technology and controls as the Les Paul Ultra, so you get the picture!

George Harrison Duo Jet, Tribute and Signature by Gretsch



George Harrison and his Gretsch Duo Jet

George Harrison and his "first decent guitar", the Gretsch Duo Jet

Lately I've been reading a lot about George Harrison, the lead guitarist from the legendary Beatles, and his guitars. As a fan of the Dutch "Egmond" guitars, I was surprised to hear that the first guitar George Harrison bought, actually was an Egmond. After this acoustic guitar, George obviously obtained more guitars. One of his favourites was the 1957 Gretsch G6128T.

 

George Harrison's  "ol' black Gretsch"

It's clear that George Harrison (25 february 1943 - 29 november 2001) was, within the Beatles, the guitarman. He was not the songwriter, but the real guitarist, who was grazy about guitars.

After playing some cheap second hand guitars, like the already mentioned Egmond, George in 1961 bought his first, as he said, "decent guitar" , the Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet, from a cab driver, former merchant seaman Ivan Heyward, who bought the guitar new in New York in 1957. The Gretsch replaced the Futurama George was playing on until then. George paid 70 Pound of the asking price of 90 Pound, and left an "I.O.U" on the back of the customs receipt. Ivan claims he never received the remaining 20 Pound.

George Harrison Cavern Club Liverpool 1962 Gretsch 6128T Duo Jet

George played the Duo Jet from 1961 to 1963. It was in that period his main guitar, and he used the Duo Jet in the early Beatles years, performing mostly in the Cavern Club in Liverpool and in the Star-Club in Hamburg. Also his Gretsch Duo Jet can be heard on the first Beatles album, "Please please me".

Although George was crazy about his Duo Jet, he replaced and retired the guitar in 1963. George stayed loyal to Gretsch, performing on with the Country Gentleman 6122, brown Walnut finish, and the Tenessean. George gave the G6128T Duo Jet to his German friend Klaus Voormann, but about 20 years later Voormann returned the guitar to George Harrison.

The Gretsch G6128T-GH, George Harrison Tribute and Signature.

In 2011, 10 years after the dead of George Harrison, when Gretsch wanted to honour George with a tribute and a signature model, it had to be the first guitar he was so proud of, the Gretsch Duo Jet G6128T.

The G6128T-GH Tribute is an exact replica of  George's original Duo Jet, made in the Gretsch Custom Shop. Only 60 pieces are manufactured, set at a price of 20.000 USD! Every detail has been duplicated from the original guitar as Gretsch got George's Duo Jet from the UK for the project. I suppose some die hard fans must have been excited; all George Harrison Tributes have been sold.

George Harrison Gretsch Duo Jet G6128T-GH

The G6128T-GH Signature can be found in the Gretsch Professional Collection, and can be recognized by the George Harrison signature on the truss rod, set at a price of 5.000 USD.

 

George Harrison Gretsch Duo Jet G6128T-GH headstock



George Harrison Gretsch Duo Jet G6128T-GH body

Some nice information, including a video about the making of the G6128T-GH Tribute, and all specifications about the George Harrison Duo jet Tribute and Signature can be found on the Gretsch website.
These guitars surely share some wonderful history, and as all signature models, also the ones build by others, they attract the real fans; and there you pay the price.

The ol' black Gretsch Video

Some nice detailed shots of George Harrisons's original ol' black Gretsch. From this original Duo Jet, every detail has been duplicated to create the George Harrison Duo Jet G6128-GH Tribute.

Fender Birdflower Telecaster, only one piece, built in the Fender Custom Shop

fender birdflower telecaster

Fender Birdflower Telecaster!

Take a look at this wonderful one of a kind Fender Birdflower Telecaster from the Fender Custom Shop, and read more! It might well be your last and only chance.....

Here in big pictures!


When going through the 2012 catalog of the German Musicstore my eye fell on the Fender Custom Shop Birdflower Telecaster, advertised with: "single piece" and a pricing of 45.000 Euro! It's the most expensive Fender Custom Shop ever build.
The guitar is built by master builder Yuriy Shishkov who was looking for a way to put some Claro Walnut to a good use. He presented the Telecaster on the Namm show in Los Angeles in 2011, and put hundreds of hours of craftsmanship in building this Telecaster masterpiece. No CNC machine or laser used! The fingerboard, headstock and the top are handcrafted, decorated with mother-of-pearl, different colors of abalone, silver wire and copper wire. What a piece of work!

Fender Birdflower Telecaster

I took the freedom of using the information and the pictures from www.musicstore.de where this diamond is for sale. I hope they don't mind. Only a little piece of information can be found about the Birdflower Telecaster, and when it is sold, we probably never see it again....

Fender Birdflower Telecaster

Features: 

• Premium Ash Body 
• "Claro walnut" blanket with Ivoroid Binding 
• AAA birdseye maple neck with modern C shape
• Ebony fingerboard with 9.5 "radius 
• 22 medium jumbo frets 
• Fender Texas Special neck pickup hand wound by Abigail Ybarra 
• Fender 1963-style Telecaster bridge pickup hand wound by Abigail Ybarra 
• 3-way switch and pots from the back of the cabinet mounted 
• Modern Fender tuners Pearl Button 
• Razor-thin, hand-polished lacquer 
• including Morris & Holmberg Flight Case & certificate 

Birdflower Telecaster back

Fender Birdflower Telecaster Video

The German Musicstore has been so kind to put a video online on their Youtube tv-channel, starring the Fender Custom Shop Birdflower Telecaster. It still is the most expensive Fender Custom Shop guitar ever.

Enjoy the video!

Fender Select Series, Carved KOA Top Telecaster

The Select Series from Fender, Custom Shop Luxary for a factory price.  

Until now, if you were in search of a real luxary Fender; Telecaster or Stratocaster, you had to visit the Fender Custom Shop. The normal Fenders do come streight out of the factory, and the exclusive ones, as said, come from the Fender Custom Shop. But where to shop if you are into a special Fender, but you don't have the budget for the real expensive ones? Fender gave the answer: the Fender Select Series.


Fender Select Series

The Fender Select Series

The guitars from the Select Series can't be compared with the standard guitars from the factory. Luxary woods, carved tops and flamed maple are rarely seen on Fenders outside the expensive Custom Shop. The Select Series though, gives you all of this at reasonable prices. This special serie is valued in between the very modern "The Luxe Series" and the very vintage "Vintage series", and they offer the best of both series. The Select Series are the best Fender offers from the factory production lines with the focus on the use of the best available materials, superior selected woods, re-designed electronics and a stunning finish. It's supposed to be the top of the factory production models. And the price? Yes, the Fender Select Series are the top of the factory line, and so is the pricing of these guitars, but you sure get a special Stratocaster, Telecaster or Fender bass from the Select Series for your money.

The Fender Select Series are, as Fender says, the "best ones". They're guaranteed to sound good, they have the best woods, and the best pickups, according to an article in the 2012 Fender Magazine. The Fender Select Series instruments are all limited, and won't be around forever, but in the future, new designs, new woods, and new innovations will be developped for the Fender Select Series.
These Fenders can compete with a custom shop guitar from any other guitar builder.

Koa,  special wood for special guitars

It's no wonder that Fender uses, like lot's of guitar builders, Koa wood for one of their exclusive guitars, the Carved Koa Top Telecaster, from the Select Series. Koa comes from Hawai, is in short supply, and is a very expensive, very high quality wood. Koa deeply shines from light to rich golden colors to dark, with strong grain markings. Very often Koa has a wonderful flame or curl which gives every Koa made guitar it's own unique, exclusive character. Koa gives the guitar a well balanced sound, with the warm tones of Rosewood, and the bright tones of mahogany. The colors, flames and curls make Koa one of the most beloved materials when it comes to building luxury, mostly acoustic, expensive guitars. From the Select Series, I put the spotlight on the Carved Koa Top Telecaster, as I'm a huge fan of guitars made of Koa.

Koa Carved Top Telecaster Fender

Koa Carved Top Telecaster Fender

Carved KOA Top Telecaster, a master piece from the Fender Select Series

The body of the Carved Koa Top telecaster is made of Empress, a leightweight wood, originally used for traditional Chinese and Japanese instruments. The body is chambered, like a labyrinth or maze which leaves the weight balanced, but still keeps a great sound. It is a good, leightweight alternative for the common used woods like ash. One of the spectacular features is the bookmatched Koa Top. Slightly carved and very elegant. The Koa top and the Empress body together gives the telecaster an impressive depth of 53 mm.
Surprisingly the Telecaster control-panel on the Koa Top fits wonderful in the top, and is also slightly carved. As an extra, the standard no-load tone knob has a bypass-click if opened completely, to provide maximum hight tones, and makes this Koa Top Telecaster a bit more versatile than the standard Telecaster.

For the Select Series, Fender produced some re-designed electronics. This results for the Carved Koa Top Telecaster in two Fender Select single coil elements. The neck element has a higher resistance than the more standard bridge element, which results in a higher output and  more agressive tones. By doing this, Fender created the so much wanted mix between vintage and  more modern tones.

The carved top, and the use of Koa wood makes this Telecaster look very good. Combined with the Telecaster sound and the modern no-load bypass, the Carved Koa Top Telecaster deserves to be an item in the Select Series.

Koa Carved Top Telecaster Fender body

Koa Carved Top Telecaster Fender head

Fender Select Carved Koa Top Telecaster video

Below is a video of the Fender Select Carved Koa Telecaster. In this video the Koa Telecaster is shown, and the sounds of both pickups are demonstrated. The video is of excellent quality, so the carved Koa top, and the control panel plate which follows the carve of the Koa top of this Select Telecaster, is well presented. Worth watching!