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Great music recorded on cheap instruments
- Thread starter ElectroVibe
- Start date
You’re thinking of Wayne Charvel, who made parts for Boogie Bodies, Mighty Mite, and DiMarzio.
The Charvel body used on the first Frankenstrat in 1977 was one of a batch of about 100 built from a design by Dave Schecter. So, there’s some debate about who should get credit!
The original neck was from a ‘61 Strat, though it went through bunch of necks in a short time. Floyd Rose didn’t even hit the market until 1980; EVH used a conventional Strat-style bridge. The Kramer connection wasn’t until a bit later (around 1982).
It’s hard to pin down details because this was a time when there was lots of excitement around guitar hotrodding in Southern California: guys like Charvel, Schecter, Carlos Sandoval, Larry DiMarzio, Lynn Ellsworth, and Jim Warmoth were all working together and collaborating in various ways. Then you have Floyd Rose and Grover Jackson getting into the mix. Must have been a wild time!
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Kramer wasn't until much later. The tremolo on the first two albums was from a '58 strat.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Marc Ribot is similar. Always seems to be playing those $50 pawn shop junk guitars and making them work.
How about Jon Spencer of Blues Explosion, plays a really crappy old Teisco.
Seasick Steve?
Hell, Kashmir was recorded with a cheap crappy Danelectro -- they're worth $$ now because of the association
Talking of which, Jack White -- but then all the pries went up because he was using old Harmonys. Same with Black Keys.
How about the Hill Country Blues guys. That's real low budget stuff, but great.
isn't David Lindley famous for playing Dumbles though -- the antithesis of cheap
Trivia question: What early '80s movie was this guy in?
"Using my head for an ashtray"
"Using my head for an ashtray"
I’m pretty sure Days by Real Estate was recorded with mim Fenders and other weird vintage inexpensive guitars. Highly recommend https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9FOcjmiWH2MtzuYkLTd1v1WQSG7bvL1r
Most Shergolds were affordable instruments, aside from some special models. Bernard had a cheap Japanese SG copy in addition to his Gibson SG too, I'm not sure if it got used on any recordings though. In the later days of Joy Division Hooky did get a Yamaha BB1200 and a Shergold Marathon 6, both of which were used on Closer, but everything recorded before 1980 is the Hondo II Ric copy.
EVH's Frankenstrat(s). From his interviews, assembled from 2nd's for a $ 50 body, not sure what level of quality for the $ 80 neck, but he did his own wax potting of a few PAF Humbucker pickups, some he said he ruined & also did his own paint finishes.
Elastica. According to interviews, Squier guitars and bass.
Quite possibly early UB40. Early photos of the basses used by Earl Falconer include what look like Japanese imports.
Do they Ibanez Roadstars used by several in the early 80s count?
The early English Beat recordings (Peel sessions) included things like WEM guitars and ancient Vox, although I'm not sure what was available in the studio. By the second album, Fenders were in evidence, but the WEM pseudo-Strat was at least in videos.
Glenn Cornick had what looked to be something like a cheap WEM neck on his Jazz bass in the early days, with a headstock much like a Sire. I don't know if it made it onto recordings.
Location is important here. In the UK in the 1960s a Fender was a very expensive import item, hence a number of bands used domestic alternatives of various qualities. Vox was one popular choice, although many were made in Italy. Users, including recorded, of Vox include Bill Wyman, Brian Jones and Jimmy Page in the 1960s, and Dave Wakeling in the early 80s alongside WEM and Fender.
The Shadows, Honeycombs, etc., endorsed Burns, even though Hank Marvin is typically associated with a Strat.
Surely the most obvious answer here is Brian May's 'Red Special'? It doesn't get much cheaper than an upcycled kitchen table and an about-to-be-scrapped fire-place mantle.
Red Special - Wikipedia
Red Special - Wikipedia
Right. Although kinda depends on song/era. George's Gretsches were not cheap. Nor were the later Rics (12 strings, Macca's bass). The Gibson J160 acoustics were not cheap. In 65 they got Strats, in 67 they got Martin D28s (Blackbird, Julia) then George's gorgeous Gibson J200 (heard prominently on the intro of For You Blue then given to Dylan who's holding it on the cover of Nashville Skyline). Then of course the famous Kubicki built rosewood Tele. (And others, lefty and righty Jazz Basses, George's ES-335, for example.)
But yes, the Epi Casinos were cheap and used A LOT. Both John and Paul in both word and deed christened them their favorite electrics (cue Band on the Run). Paul's two Hofners were cheap of course. And of particular note, the most covered song in music history, Yesterday, was played on an Epiphone Texan (upside down, and tuned down a whole step.) So yes some VERY notable music on cheapies.
Might have been different back in the day, but I've wanted an ES-175 for awhile but simply can't justify over $3k. I feel like it's about as far from cheap as you can get without going custom 
