Brian’s Guitar Spotlight
Brian with twin Fender Telecasters
2019 Brian Ray '62 SG Junior: Gibson Custom Shop special in White Fox.
2015 Brian Ray '63 SG Standard: Gibson Custom Shop special in Silver Fox finish. Features dual humbucker pickups, a Bigsby B5 with Vibramate, mahogany neck with Indian rosewood fingerboard.
Gretsch Custom Shop Caddy Bo. Master built by Stephen Stern. "It’s a 'what if' design, it looks like it should’ve come out in 1958 but it didn’t". Made with a Korina wood body and neck with a Rosewood fretboard. Photos by Tucker Beirne at Scruff’s Vintage.
1971 Purple Telecaster (technically Lilac Lavender): This and other wild custom colors were used by Fender on Limited Edition models for merchant shows and school fairs to attract attention. Leaning casually against a ferocious 1970 Marshall Bluesbreaker combo w Tremolo.
1954 Fender Telecaster: Well worn, well loved
1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop: Rode hard and put away wet for every show I ever played with Etta James over 14 years - and many with Paul McCartney as well. My forever #1.
1954 Gibson ES 295: A 1954 Gibson ES 295, the guitar made famous by Scotty Moore (Elvis's guitarist extraordinaire) and a tight little Fender Princeton Reverb amp from 1965.
1950 Fender Broadcaster: Before the Telecaster model in 1952, they were named "Broadcaster." Leo Fender's second electric guitar made in Fullerton, CA. This guitar was a stripped basket case until it was lovingly and painstakingly restored
1957 Airline Roy Smeck: A 1957 Airline Roy Smeck model w 3 pickups. Hello baby.
1961 Fender Esquire: The cutest lil’ thang you ever did see! What we have here is a clean & rare transitional “Champ Amp” in original black tolex 2 top panel, front ‘n back w my 1961 Fender Esquire.
1963 Gibson “Hummingdove”: A custom order of a Hummingbird with Dove appointments; Maple sides and back, rather than the typical mahogany.
1958 Gibson Les Paul TV Jr: My '58 Gibson Les Paul TV Jr and 1961 Vox AC15 Twin.
1964 Gibson-Firebird: A Firebird V in original Cardinal Red.
1975 Gibson EDS-1275: A one-off custom color Gibson EDS-1275 doubleneck guitar from 1975. Sounds killer too!
1962 Sunburst Les Paul SG Jr: Ultra-rare SG Jr in factory Sunburst (purple-ish) finish. After authentication and checking the OG Gibson ledger books, we know it’s for real and it’s rad. All factory solder, only one screw on control cavity plate changed. (and later model bridge). This guitar was in a vault for 10 years before it found its way to England before I found it. It had been encased in what seemed like 50 years of a smoky environment because it had a thick coating of tar covering the whole body. After a painstaking cleaning and restoration, it’s as if it was preserved by the tar. Plays like a dream and sounds like a demon.
For your viewing pleasure: A National Town and Country from somewhere in the middle of the last century.
1965 Gibson SG Jr in original Pelham Blue and an early 60’s Watkins Dominator: A hell of a combination!
1961 Les Paul TV Jr: This is an all original first year TV Junior in the shape which would later become known as the SG model. It’s strange not to see the model on the head stock, but that’s the way they were made this year. I’m super excited about this new find and it was fun to drive up to Ventura California and purchase it from a really cool new guitar friend. It plays and sounds terrific btw.
1956 Gibson Les Paul Special, in factory Sunburst finish. Just another casual day at Bad Manors.