Interactive Fender Bible with Dave Hunter & Carl Verheyen

The above clip is from the Book/DVD package "Interactive Fender Bible", published in 2007. The DVD combines one of the best guitar authors with a virtuoso player and features Dave Hunter & Carl Verheyen demoing lots of the sweetest classic Fender gear.

The book primarily lists Fender gear through various eras and is a helpful reference tool for collectors and eBay shoppers. Amazon reviews are mixed as some felt there wasn't enough historical detail, while others thought the lists and organization of information to be a valuable reference. To put it in perspective, IFB is a good reference supplement to Tom Wheeler's Stratocaster Chronicles and Soul of Tone... (Fender Amp book). The DVD clips are a cool bonus.

Thanks to Stratochrister Blog!!

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A Strat for Friday #127 - Nash S-63, Shoreline Gold

Nash Timewarp guitar for sale

Food & Beverage Suggestion:
Smoked Brisket Sandwich
Rogue Brewery - Mocha Porter
Peanut Brittle

Bill Nash Guitars are one of the best custom guitar values these days. This Shoreline Gold with Duncan lipsticks goes for just under $1700 new w/case & free shipping. This is an aged/distressed guitar. I guess we can't use the "R___c" word unless referring to a Fender product.

Nash dealer Fat Tone Guitars currently lists this one at their website. Fat Tone also has a bitchin' white Nash T-type Thinline with the WR pups, plus a few other cool lines of guitars, amps & effects.

more Friday Strats

Super Strats for Sale

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Fender '57 Strat RI Aztec Gold Auction

Lately I've seen more Shoreline Gold than Aztec. Real clean lookin' listing from a hi-rated seller. Reportedly still has most of the protective film and stickers on guitar and case, so it would seem to have little if any miles.

Meet the Parents:

atallmirror (110 Feedback score)
100% Positive feedback

Time left: 1 day 10 hours (May 29, 200911:32:29 PM PDT)

Item number: 230345118355
Item location: AURORA, IL, United States
Ships to: United States

Fresh Super Strat Listings

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Stratoblogster Reaches Half Million Hits

Wow! I just looked at the hit counter in my footer and discovered I went over 500K hits today!

This blog began in July '06 and currently has just over 1300 posts. It's been fun, I've learned a lot and made some friends too!

Most importantly, I also make good beer money from the affiliate stuff.

All from blogging about Strats and Strat accessories. Yup...

Wish I was getting 4 million hits per day like that Perez Hilton blog, but that's the way it is when you blog about guitars instead of what Lindsay Lohan hurled on the sidewalk last night.

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Jake Haldenwang, Young Guitar Wonder in Charlotte, NC

We welcome 13 year old Jake Haldenwang to Stratoblogster's Young Guitar Wonder Directory.
Here's the scoop directly from the Haldenwang organization:

"...He was the youth guitarist selected to represent the Charlotte NC area, at the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and he just recently played on stage with Buddy Guy at the Halton Arena in Charlotte NC about a month ago. He started playing at age 11 and was playing live at age 12 and is now 13 yrs old...."

How's that for an accelerated learning curve!

Jake as the feel and the moves. We see more kids influenced by SRV than anyone, and if I had to pick the "Golden Child" who was SRV the last lifetime, I still couldn't narrow it down below five kids out there. Jake's in my 5 though. He's also performing a lot; getting in tons of stage hours and looks to have a full Summer schedule. So Jake's only gonna continue to improve his groove!

In the above vid, watch as it progresses how he's constantly tweaking the knobs and gradually dialing in the tones. The right hand strumming up the neck and other body language is right in the Stevie Zone too. No doubt Jake has the DVD's. Still, beyond mere mimicry, Jake and a few other youngsters are really tapping into the Blues through the essence of SRV, which only continues to expand. It's a real phenomena folks! Jake also cites Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, Derek Trucks & Joe Bonamassa as influences-- a very nutrient rich listening diet!

www.myspace.com/JakeHaldenwang
www.youtube.com/user/JakesHwy61BB
(Be sure to check out the "Little Wing" clip)

Young Guitar Wonders

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Brad Paisley's Cliffs of Rock City... Why Not?!

Any guitarist who titles an instrumental tune "Cliffs of..." is being cocky. I'm diggin' Paisley's Cliffs of Rock City and glad I ran into it. As you can imagine the Youtube comment threads for this one contain an expected Eric Johnson vs Brad Paisley sh@* fest.

I love the fusion of country flavors with progressive guitar. It's nothing new. If you like this sort of thing, be sure to check out players i.e. Steve Morse, Michael Lee Firkins, Andy Timmons, Johnny Hiland & David Grissom. The late great Danny Gatton was a master of blending country into hi-octane progressive genres. And yes, Eric Johnson is a great Country picker.

So Kudos to Brad Paisley for rockin' that Tele into the FAT Zone!!!

Cliffs of Rock City is featured the Paisley release, "PLAY, The Guitar Album".

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Fender Bench Check & Food Drive in Augusta, GA

If you happen to live in the Augusta, Georgia area, Rock Bottom Music is sponsoring a Fender Bench Check in which Mr. Jack Schwartz, Senior VP of Fender Global Customer Support will be on hand to tweak your guitar. The fee is a non-perishable food donation for the local food bank.

This is happening Thursday, May 28th.

Click here for details.

Schwartz is doing a just few of these "Bench Checks" around the country.

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Jacob Petersen Demos Fred Stuart Pickups

Portland, Oregon Blues Strat killer Jacob Petersen just uploaded this vid with his new Fred Stuart pickups into a RedPlate 40w 112 combo. This is at apartment volume with zero effects. Keep watching because Jacob isn't simply copping SRV-- his chops go back to Albert & BB King, Albert Collins, and he does a mean Robert Cray too. Tonally, Jacob is in my top 10 Strat tonester list, headed by: Mark Knopfler, Scott Henderson, Eric Johnson, Carl Verheyen, Sonny Landreth, etc...

Check the above links for more info. on the aformentioned.

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1991 Fender Jeff Beck Strat w/Original Goodies, No Reserve

eBay JB Stratocaster NR Auction Surf Green

This '91 JB Strat has the Lace HSS config and includes ALL its original case candy and accessories. I can't get over the deep color of the headstock and neck! We've featured auctions by this guy before (how could anyone forget "whammybarczar"?).

Meet the Parent:

Seller: whammybarczar (403 Feedback)
Feedback: 100 % Positive
Member: since Nov-24-04 in United States

Current Jeff Beck Strat Results

Fresh Super-Strat Listings

Current Items - Top Dealers

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Carolyn Wonderland Takes Texas Blues to Europe

It's ladies' day folks! A reader sent us this video link of Strat-o-Sister Carolyn Wonderland at a very recent gig in Belgium. Imagine the reincarnation of Janis Joplin with a Tele-- a lethal combination fo sho! Carolyn's attack always makes me feel like a wimp for using a pick. The Belgian beer seems to make her attack even more lethal!

Click Here for previous post on Carolyn, including her web links. Her latest release "Miss Understood" is available in mp3 download at Amazon.

more Strat-o-Sisters

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Joanne Shaw Taylor Touring USA This Summer!!!

Jo Shaw Taylor Blues guitar girl concert schedule White Sugar

"This just in!" Right from the source too! One of our favorite UK Strat-o-Sisters is coming to the US in June '09. JST sent us the schedule herself. Unfortunately for many of us, she's not making it to the Western USA. But if you're near any of areas listed below, mark your Blues recreational calendar.

June 10th, Whites Bar, Saginaw Michigan
June 11th Callahan's, Auburn Hills Michigan
June 13th Callahan's (Supporting Popa Chubby)
June 16th Riverbend Bar and Grill, Kankakee, Illinois
June 17th The Dragons Dome, Pekin, Illinois
June 18th Creekside Bar and Grill, Davenport, Iowa
June 19th The Washington, Burlington, Iowa
June 20th Blues on Grand, Des Moines, Iowa
August 8th Bayfront Blues Festival, Duluth, Iowa

American Blues audiences are in for a real treat! This gal plays just the right mix of Clapton, Albert Collins and SRV right in your face too! Check out 4:38 - 4:51 in the clip.

Hear samples from her latest release "WHITE SUGAR" at:

www.myspace.com/joanneshawtaylor

Girl can sing too!!!



Strat-o-Sisters Directory

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A Strat for Friday #126 - American Standard HSS w/upgrades

Food & Beverage Suggestion:
Assorted Sashimi
Beer: Sapporo, of course!
Dessert: Junior Mints

Nothing major here, but I was drawn to the vibe of the silver pearloid pickguard upgrade against the stock Blizzard Pearl finish. The seller refers to the finish as "silver", but I think he means "Blizzard Pearl"; Fender's color designation for this series. Orig. tuners were replaced with locking ones, and the guitar comes with a G&G black & white tweed case. This model has the S-1 feature-- and the little spot in the headstock pic is reportedly just a fly or bug seeking a photo op. All in all, both guitar and seller look pretty pest free.

Meet the parent:

Seller: bluesixstring (16 Feedback score)
Feedback: 100 % Positive
Member: since Nov-28-03 in United States

Item number: 150346355147

End time: May-24-09 20:24:29 PDT (2 days 8 hours)
Shipping: US $40.00
UPS Ground
Service to United States
Ships to: United States
Item location: Decatur, IL, United States

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Super Strat Listings

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Dave Hunter Clears Up Surf Guitar Myths

(photo: Gibson Lifestyle)

This isn't the first totally Fender oriented article I've found at the Gibson Lifestyle blog. Let's just roll with it!

Renown guitar writer Dave Hunter, posted a very good one about Surf guitar well worth checking out. Discover interesting details about Dick Dale's gear and more.

I guess I knew Dick Dale is a lefty, but never realized he also plays his lefty Strat strung upside down like Albert King. Thus the tighter bottom end, since the low strings are over the part of the bridge pickup closest to the bridge.

Yeah, we were beatin' this one to death a couple weeks ago with the Hendrix Voodoo Strat stuff, but here's another example!

Check out reverse Strat loaded "Gypsy Pickguards" at Metal Shop Music.

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DIY David Gilmour Strat Kits

2011 Note: These guys are history. Check bottom links for DIY resource directory.

I found this interesting item at the Guitar Parts And More eBay Store. For under $700 you can build your own Gilmour Strat! Check listing# 400026975463 for details. This store seller is an ALLPARTS dealer and 100% rated eBay Power Seller. They also have a Yngwie Strat kit and a large variety of selected guitar parts and hardware. The Gilmour kit parts are not aged, tinted or relic'd-- dealer suggests doing this yourself if that's what you want.

Pimp Your Strat Directory
Relic Resource Directory

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Guitars Not Guns Helps Kids With Music Resources

Guitars Not Guns is an organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth through donated guitars and guitar lessons. They are a volunteer group with chapters mainly throughout the US, but also in Canada and soon in the UK. Check out the website and discover more about GNG. There are a variety of ways to help support this group!

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Guitar Adoptions, New Website, New Guitar Lines, Same Girl...

It's all good! Besides being the web's premier source for new & pre-owned, high end G&L-USA guitars, Guitar Adoptions now has Flaxwood, Michael Tuttle, Giffin, Delilah and Larivee electrics. Each are top end, innovative guitar lines for players ready for the next level. Lefty players are also in luck as Guitar Adoptions actually stocks more lefty instrument models than most places.

Check out the newly launched Guitar Adoptions website; one of the least cluttered & easiest to navigate websites around for guitar gear seekers. Take your time and explore without distractions, goofy specials and scratch 'n sniff pop-up rebates on mainstream junk nobody really wants.

But don't worry about too much change because the famous Guitar Adoptions Girl is still there-- greeting visitors as always!

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Fender Deco-Tone & Tweed Blues Jr. Junior Limited Amps

eBay rare guitar amplifier auction

370202877462

Samsonite Jr.?

The same seller is listing both of these limited run Blues Junior configurations. I think the tweed unit was a Guitar Center custom run. According to a bit of web research the Deco-Tone (bottom pic), only 165 of these were made. Both have reverb. Either amp paired with Caitlinbread's Semaphore tremolo unit would create a classy little swamp romp combo for guitar or harp!

Meet the parents:

Seller: witty37 (feedback score - 443)

Feedback: 100 % Positive
Member: since Jan-30-03 in United States

End time: May-22-09 14:57:12 PDT (3 days 3 hours) BOTH LISTINGS
Shipping: US $50.00
Service to United States

(more services)
Ships to: Worldwide
Item location: Asheville, NC, United States

Current Boutique Amp Links

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Guitar Pickup Marketing, Hand-Winding-- Yeah Cool! But...?

The above image is a computer embroidered pattern. Nowadays people have sewing machines in their homes capable of embroidering a jpg image onto a shirt.

So why aren't the two big "D" pickup companies tooling up with computerized "scatterwound" pickup winding machines? If they were, they'd certainly be telling us about it in their ad copy. Meanwhile, hand wind guru outfits like Fralin, Lollar and a few others, not to mention the gear-head discussion community, talk about the mojo of irregular winding "scatterwinding" a la the Leo Fender modus operandi, and how the automated machine winding process can't duplicate scatterwinding, blah, blah, blah...

Don't get me wrong, some of these famous hand-winders have earned their rep by making great pickups, and we all appreciate individually handcrafted products. I also understand the induction "coupling" factor behind scatterwinding and how this winding method can result in a superior guitar pickup.

I just don't understand why DiMarzio & Duncan can't determine the best scatterwound patterns, and design software driven automated-scatterwound winding machines. Far more intricate things are being done today with ordinary applications by ordinary people-- like embroidery. Don't even try to tell me it's cost prohibitive!

Maybe the big D's are just Dumb & Dumber...

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Eddie Blue, Arizona's Young Guitar Wonder

Special thanks to Tom from The Stagemaster Project blog for the tip on Eddie Blue!

This little blurb from the lad's myspace pretty much sizes things up:

"Edward “Eddie Blue” Yakkel was born in Hammond, IN on April 21, 1996. In 2003 Eddie’s father, John Yakkel, ordered a copy of the 1983 and 1989 Austin City Limits performance by Stevie Ray Vaughan. At 7 years old Eddie was mesmerized by these recordings and would watch them 2 to 3 times a day, using an old shoe horn as a make believe guitar..."

(Read the rest at: www.myspace.com/eddiebluesmusic)

Kudos to Eddie's parental units for replacing that shoe horn with Strats-- real Strats too! Don't mess around folks!

more Young Guitar Wonders

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Catalinbread Semaphore Tremolo Demo Video

Bobby D does a great demo with a very cool tremolo pedal from Caitlinbread, one of the premier boutique pedal outfits these days. Besides the classic Duane Eddy & CCR type applications, the tremolo effect is also interesting in other areas i.e. some really nasty sections on ZZ Top's Rhythmeen album and Robin Trower's "For Earth Below" or "Victims of the Fury" tracks.

Caitlinbread's Semaphore is deep and smooth like a tube tremolo unit, plus added controls we don't have in our old school tremolo equipped amps. The most versatile Tremolo I've run across. This one will bring yo' crocodile shoes back to life!

Shop & compare Caitlinbread pedals at these TOP 4 Boutique Pedal Stores.

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A Strat for Friday #125 - Custom Shop '60 Ice Blue

Food & Beverage Suggestion:
Tiger Prawn Cocktail
Tarantula Azul on Crushed Ice

This one is a Closet Classic from '96, with some beautiful birdseye maple neck wood. The Ice Blue finish includes headstock face. The body is ash, and the pickguard is actually tortoise though hard to see in the photo-- and hdwr is gold. The seller does not have the COA on this, but provides pics with stamp. Seller is also selling a Custom Shop set-neck Tele w/P90's, and has the COA on that one. High rated seller.

Meet the parent:

rnrdad (322 Feedback score)
100% Positive feedback

Item number: 280344483044

Time left: 3 days 10 hours (May 18, 2009 9:00:24 AM PDT)

Item location: Boston, MA, United States
Ships to: Worldwide

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Fresh Super Strat Listings

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Fred Stuart, Rock-It Tone Custom Guitar Guru

Most Fender-tone oriented geeks are at least familiar with the name Fred Stuart as one of the original core Fender Custom Shop luthiers. I've seen & featured a few Fred Stuart Masterbuilds in our weekly Friday Strat series. But recent conversations with Portland Blues guitarist Jacob Petersen and Jason Allen of Virtual Vintage Guitars have led me to the gates of major Fred Stuart enlightenment.

Jacob, a recent & raving convert to Fred Stuart's pickups, certainly knows Strat tones, as you can discover at his link above. Jason Allen, who runs a hi-end boutique gear establishment/website and THE exclusive source for Fred Stuart guitars & pickups, referred me to the May '06 ToneQuest Report feature on Stuart, a MUST read.

Having just recently read the 1977 Jon Sievert GP Les Paul interview really primed me for the TQR on Fred Stuart. If you want insights into Leo Fender production culture, Custom Shop evolution, scatterwinding, wood and all around serious tone wisdom from a guru builder who does it all from scratch, ya better read it kids!

I originally wanted to do a quick post about Fred Stuart pickups, but he's got a lot more goin' on since leaving the Custom Shop to do his own thing. Besides pickups and super Strat & Tele-type builds, Fred has been developing the ultimate tone weapon in his Rock-It Tone model, also reviewed by TQR in June, '08 (click the link). I say "ultimate tone weapon" based on the TQR reactions-- those folks were losing their minds! And those people know their stuff, so find out about Stuart's Rock-It Tone guitar too.

virtualvintageguitars.com

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11 Year Old Guitarist CC Chasing David Gilmour

When you're age eleven in 2009, really what else is there to do besides learn the guitar solos of David Gilmour and Angus Young; cats old enough to be your grandfather?

This 11 year old who we know as "CC", even has an SG just for the Angus tunes-- good form! Dad, who tipped us on the lad also mentions that CC is more recently hitting the stage to sit in with the big boys. Hope they don't live in Illinois or one of those states with the stupid laws against minors playing music in bars.

We're look forward to new clips on stage! Keep us posted pops!

More CC vids:
www.youtube.com/user/kcfx7655

Young Guitar Wonders (directory)

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Willie Vega's Strat-o-Artistica Novus

I ran into Willie Vega at Youtube, where he features gear demos, original music, guitar lessons and even a 2016 Presidential pitch-- which pretty much makes Willie a renaissance man of sorts. He also has known ties to Gearmanndude, further emphasizing the renaissance aspect... or not.

Either way, take some tips from Willie Vega on making your Strat unique. The possibilities are limitless. Break out the paints, pastels, crayons, markers and just go for it! Click on the photos for extreme close-up views-- yes, Crayola is represented!

www.youtube.com/user/willievega

Here's an original by Willie that Mrs. Stratoblogster loves... says it reminds her of a merry-go-round. Mrs. S is a kindergarten teacher, and also loves Crayola stuff.

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Guitar Blogs of Note From GW Blips

Blips, Blogging, Beer & Burgers!

Thanks to GW Blips, Guitar World Magazine's newsfeed page, the guitar blog community is showing up where we can all find one another.

Check out Guitar Player Daily for great features with interview links and videos.

The Fifth Fret blog is run by an active duty US military cat who was reading Stratoblogster via Google rss feeds in the Middle East. He's back home (for now) and blogging like crazy with recent posting on the Blips too. Congrats Pappy!!!

Check out these blogs!

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John Cruz Masterbuilt Strat - It's Pink... Really Pink!

eBay custom shop stratocaster guitar auction

Between that shade of pink, the brassy gold hdwr and that carpet... Check out the carpet area in the very top pic. Maybe he's sellin' this guitar in order to re-carpet the house. This Strat is right out of a stripper club or something-- maybe give ya a lap dance I dunno... Bada Bing Bada Boom! So wifey wants new carpet, and guess who's gotta go. RROXXXANNNNNE! That's who.

Anyway, the seller's listing description is equally interesting (surprised?), but sincere. And I think sincerity is important, especially in troubled times such as these. The seller even includes their phone number. I kid you not. Yeah, you wanna hang this guitar on a brass pole and stuff $20's under the strings.


Meet the parent:

Seller: kidjohnthekidjohn (68 Feedback score)
Feedback: 100 % Positive
Member: since Nov-19-01 in United States


End time: May-14-09 20:36:47 PDT (3 days 3 hours)
Shipping: US $75.00

UPS Ground
Service to United States
(more services)

Ships to: N. and S. America, Europe
Item location: Lake Placid, New York, United States

Search more nasty Strats!

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Rev. Billy F. Gibbons Remembers Duane Allman

This video is very recent. Notice that Billy speaks the way he plays guitar. He carefully chooses and places his phrases, accents & adjectives. No stutter, no clutter and no runnin' out of control. The timber of his voice is rough but his expression is smooth. The Gibbons' vernacular is eloquent yet warm and informal. Just like his guitar style!

And that's why we do love the Rev. Billy G. around here!

www.zztop.com

Note: After the vid, check the thumbs for ABB 40th Anniversary clips from March '09 NYC, Beacon Theater featuring ABB with Haynes, Trucks, Clapton, Gibbons & more.

ZZ Top Ticket Auctions & Memorabilia

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BBC's May 7, B.B. King Profile

(photo:www.whiterabbitdesigncompany.com)

This week BBC NEWS online's Stephen Smith featured an excellent profile on B.B. King. Click on the photo or link above for the article page which includes a 12 minute video piece. Ya gotta love B.B. King! Some of the segment was taped aboard B's killer tour bus. Check out the clock on King's dressing room wall. Really cool retrospective and update on the man who's still touring strong at 83.

I went to a B.B. King show a few years ago. His gigs real are magic! Click Here for more about that. Lastly, I always tell people, if you have a chance to see B.B. King live; if he comes to your area-- you'd better do it. Don't put it off!

www.bbking.com

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Austin Guitar Legend Stephen Bruton RIP

I just stumbled into the passing of Stephen Bruton in the guitar news lines. He had been battling cancer. Stephen was a fixture of Austin's guitar & music scene who also recorded with and produced some major people like Bonnie Raitt, Gov't Mule, Storyville, John Mellencamp, Delbert McClinton, Sonny Landreth and many others. He also had a television and film career including a most recent role with Tommy Lee Jones in "Man of the House".

http://stephenbruton.com
www.myspace.com/stephenbruton

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Vintage 63 VOX AC30 Auction

 guitar amp collector

The bidding is hot and heavy on this classic hunka British burnin' love! The US based seller provides good info. on original components, designations, etc. Looks pretty straight for '63.


Meet the Parents:

Seller: royal_brit (107Feedback score is 100) Member is a PowerSeller
Feedback: 99.1 % Positive
Member: since Jul-14-08 in United States


Current:

Vintage Vox Listings

Fresh Amp Searches (VOX, Fender, Music Man, Marshall & more)

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