What was the first signature guitar?

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

J,
Ibanez's first high-profile endorsee was George Benson...and that was 1969 I believe. Bob Weir may have come next, but that wasn't until the mid 70's when their endorser list exploded!

BC Rich was Bill Bodine (right again J) and the guy Johhny (last name slips me) who designed the Mockingbird.

ESP was Akira Takasaki in 1982 4 years before Loudness broke in the states. But even EVH was seen in the early days with a coke-bottle head ESP.

Rickenbacker was John Lennon (first to have a Sig model made by Rick) in 1984...before that, no sig models existed.

Dean [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img] hard to pinpoint that list!

Hamer could've been Rick Neilsen in the late 70's but not 100% sure on that.

Guild goes back into the early 70's, but I think their first Sig guitar was an acoustic, and not a solidbody. The first Guild Sig solidbody I'm aware of is the Mick Mars X79 Star in 1986(7?)

Jackson is obvious....J already stated that firmly.
As for Charvel....it's been discussed before, but I'd say Alan Holdsworth.

Carvin?....hmmm...that one slips me too. That would be mid-80's (timeline would make sense)

[jgcable]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

The Carvin could be Craig Chaquico. I know he played Carvin X220's back in the late 70's.

[jgcable]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

Could Hamer be possibly KK Downing?

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

[ QUOTE ]
Fender makes a big to-do about signing Clapton to an exclusive deal in the 70's. I'm not sure if there was a sig model at the time but he did switch sometime before then.

[/ QUOTE ]

Clapton's Fender deal went down in 1978...but only as an endorser. His sig Strat didn't come around until 1994(?)
Throughout most of the 70's...he was seen using that hacked '59 Explorer

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

[ QUOTE ]
The Carvin could be Craig Chaquico. I know he played Carvin X220's back in the late 70's.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wanted to say Craig Chaquico for Carvin....but the X220 was around back in the late 70's?!
I always remember seeing Chaquico with a white BC Rich Mockingbird in the late 70's early 80's [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

And I think (just think mind you)...that Hamer goes back into the late 70's (KK would've still been playing his mid-70's Gibson V's...no?)

[jgcable]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

So could it be Malmsteen for Fender. His sig model came out around 1988-89 I believe. I think the Blackmore came out the same time in Japan. The Stevie Ray Vaughan 1st year strats are all serial #'s 1989 but I believe they were all 1992's or 1994's.

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

Not aware that Malmsteen had a sig Strat that early!
Yes! now I remember....Blackmore's signature came out as a Japanese import until 1997 when they released a US version.
SRV's first mass-produced versions weren't seen until 1992
Before that...they were a limited edition only (hence the 1989 serials and much higher collectibilty)

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

I found that Fender's first was actually an Eric Clapton signature guitar in early 88. I'd have bet on the Malmsteen as well.

[ QUOTE ]
One of the first jobs for the Custom Shop was to make a yellow Vintage reissue Strat® for Jeff Beck. At this stage Beck turned down Fender®'s proposal to produce a Jeff Beck signature edition Strat®. (This design eventually evolved into the Strat® Plus). A Jeff Beck signature Strat® finally appeared in 1991.

The first musician with whom Fender® informally discussed the possibility of a signature model had been James Burton (who had played Tele® with a galaxy of big names, including Elvis Presley), back in 1981. Burton however, had to wait until 1990 for his signature Telecaster® to appear.

So who was the first artist to have a signature model produced? The first signature guitar made by Fender® was the Eric Clapton Stratocaster®. Clapton had asked Fender® to make him a guitar that had a V-shape neck and a "compressed" pickup sound. Various prototypes were built by George Blanda, and the final design eventually went on sale to the public in 1988. Lace Sensor™ pickups and an active circuit delivered the sound Clapton was after, and true to the Custom Shop's legendary penchant for accuracy, the Clapton model even offered a blocked-off vintage-style vibrato unit, carefully duplicating that feature of Clapton's original.

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[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

Ah...no shit! Gotta go do some more homework then!
I didn't realize it (Clapton's) was offered that early!

[jgcable]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

This is a very cool topic. I would like to take partial credit for it... and I will. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[markD]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

what about chet atkins? he had a couple of sigs - one from gretsch and a couple from gibson. what years were those offered? and didn't roy clark have a sig ovation in the 70's? what about the james burton teles?

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

James Burton's tele's didn't come out 'til 90.

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

[ QUOTE ]
This is a very cool topic. I would like to take partial credit for it... and I will. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I was also just gonna say John...excellent topic!
Now THIS is good JCF reading! (other than all the guitar porn!) [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[j2379]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The Carvin could be Craig Chaquico. I know he played Carvin X220's back in the late 70's.

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I wanted to say Craig Chaquico for Carvin....but the X220 was around back in the late 70's?!
I always remember seeing Chaquico with a white BC Rich Mockingbird in the late 70's early 80's [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

And I think (just think mind you)...that Hamer goes back into the late 70's (KK would've still been playing his mid-70's Gibson V's...no?)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep Craig was a BCR user endorsee prior to Carvin, & the X220 he used it but it wasnt his signature model. ive seen some cool pics of him with a trans purple mock as well.
Rick (cheap trick) probably had the first custom signature hamers but it wasnt his model so to speak. hamer would just put his name above the logo. the original KK's V's from the mid 80's would probably be the first of the first signature models. the one with the mini pickguards.

Johnny GoGo designed the mockingbird.

Dean ML Matt Lynn, not a player but its named after him. Dean named it after his late friend.

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: What was the first signature guitar?

Johnny Gogo...that's it! Thanks J!

Rick Neilsen's '80 Checkerboard Standard was a Signature I thought.

I had an original KK Vector too! (small guard, single hum and Kahler) SO that would've been the first Sig Hamer eh?
How about the Steve Stevens?...when did that one come out?