Back in 1989 during the inauguration party of President George Bush
(the first), the news organizations snapped this picture of the
president-elect and political strategist Lee Atwater, "jamming" onstage.
Bush was slinging a guitar custom-painted for the occasion and the
press ate it up.
The
guitar is on exhibit right now at the Newseum in Washington DC, as part
of the "Every Four Years" exhibit, looking at media coverage of the
presidential elections. Specifically, it is an inexpensive Epiphone
Strat clone from around 1988 - most likely an S-310 - and is pretty much
stock, with its laminated alder body, hockeystick neck, ivory finish,
low-grade hardware and maple fingerboard. In truth, it probably wouldn't
receive two glances on eBay or Craigslist today, except for the fact it
was the
guitar worn (but not really played) by "The Prez" a little over 20
years ago.
As an aside, the Newseum is a pretty cool place to visit for anyone coming through D.C. Look it up: www.newseum.com
Alan Peterson
Washington DC USA © 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!
The main design flaw of the Epiphone 310 strat was the incorrect placement of the middle and neck pickups which,along with the plywood body,affected the sound.Using a correctly spaced,Fender spec pickguard improved the sound.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of the hockeystick,22 medium jumbo fret neck,and it's string tree free tilt back headstock, I currently use 6 of these necks on alternative,solid wood bodies!!
It's all about the NECK. Once you find one that suits you it becomes awkward when friends 'insist!' you play their "Lumberjack Special" and you know it will take a WEEK just to get back where you were?
DeleteI've always admired people that can transistion from acoustic to... 12-string to... bass. It just isn't me. Oh and not an expert but generally electric guitars are louder when you plug The Prez IN! THERE'S a selling point for Ebay'ers; "Virgin output jack!"
Jackaboutguitars.com likes GUITARZ! You guys rock! - Best, Jack
ReplyDelete***I think that's Duck Dunn on the left, and Sam Moore on the right?
ReplyDelete