Bushman Goes Guitar Shopping
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Photos by MJ Klein
Lately I’ve been looking to expand my horizons. I’m getting bored with the same thing, musically speaking. Since my 1958 Epiphone has been unavailable, all I have been using for the past few years is a Fender Stratocaster that’s been highly modified. I don’t really like the Strat and I’ve grown tired of it.
I wanted to get a guitar that wasn’t just the same old stuff made pretty. There are a ton of absolutely gorgeous guitars that are basically all the same as far as capability goes. They are mostly based on Fender or Gibson designs, and rather limited. So, the choice was clear for me. I had to get a Red Special.
I had made arrangements with a guitar shop boss down in Kaohsiung, to take a look at 2 different color. Even though the sunburst looks great (on the right) I decided to go for the original color. These are made by Burns London.
What makes this guitar so unique is the pickup choices and the electronics. The Red Special uses 3 Burns Tri-sonic pickups, wired in series (as opposed to parallel in other guitars). There are 3 slide switches for turning each pickup on and off, and 3 more switches for each pickup that reverse the phase. This guitar has more settings than anything I’ve ever seen before. Plus those great Queen sounds are all there too. I can go from the searing solo on Bohemian Rhapsody to the heavy chords of We Will Rock You, with just a few switch changes. The number of sounds and the outright versatility of this guitar are mindblowing. I’m going to use this guitar on stage at the Taoyuan Stadium gig coming up on April 13. I’ll get some more photos of it soon.
Click here to read about the original Red Special.
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March 5th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
A great guitar! I like the fact that it looks different from the “classic” look and at the same time pretty!
Ovidiu - GuitarFlame.com’s last blog post..Extreme Test Of Steinberger Guitar Neck Stablity Or Kids, Never Do This At Home!
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March 7th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Speaking of Brian May, did you ever hear the Star Fleet Project EP he did with Edward Van Halen? Listening to those two cats jamming on some blues was definitely a treat. I’ve still got a copy on vinyl somewhere in storage in Australia.
cfimages’s last blog post..Facebook - Your Uploaded Content and the Rights You Give Away
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thenhbushman
reply on March 10th, 2008 10:38 am:
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March 10th, 2008 at 10:42 am
It was quite surprising. The “b” side was a 12 minute long blues jam in the style of John Mayall Bluesbreakers / Cream era Eric Clapton. Very sweet.
cfimages’s last blog post..Tour de Taiwan 2008
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thenhbushman
reply on March 10th, 2008 6:11 pm:
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March 12th, 2008 at 10:55 am
No, I haven’t heard that track.
cfimages’s last blog post..Tour de Taiwan 2008 - Stage 3
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thenhbushman
reply on March 12th, 2008 11:41 am:
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March 13th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Dude-I so avoid guitars and guitar shops because they are so frigging beautiful and awesome. This of course is way up there. Play it well my friend!
Mark Forman’s last blog post..TaiChi Man
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thenhbushman
reply on March 13th, 2008 11:56 am:
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March 13th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
MJ. I am looking forward to hearing you play in person one day. And in the wayout looking bar where you go with all the Thai people would be a good place.
Do you have any videos of you belting out any tunes?
Brunty.
Brunty’s last blog post..Practicing for Graduation Day in Thailand.
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March 14th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Brunty »
it would be my pleasure Brunty. i’ve been considering having the Fong Band play on my roof for a big spring party! unfortunately the only existing video these days is on my YouTube account. you’re welcome to check it out.
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March 24th, 2008 at 12:50 am
[...] I’ve done my best to keep The Bushman entertained and he has continued to throw his readers my way by including me in his weekly picks. Thanks for your support! Now here’s what I’ve been enjoying on his blog: Special Homecooked Foods (Stop will ya! My salivary glands can’t stand the torture!) Blue Sky Hoedown and Bushman Goes Guitar Shopping. [...]
June 21st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
AS a lifelong fan of Queen I have always wondered what owning a guitar like this may be like - I have heard the switches that control the pickups along with being able to go in and ou of phase is fantastic
I will stick with my 5 selection pickup at the moment!
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thenhbushman
reply on June 22nd, 2008 6:20 am:
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