Worlds Most Famous Autographed Guitar Of Rock & Blues Greats.
One of the heaviest autographed guitars of Rock and Blues greats on the planet.
I have been a recording engineer and guitarist for almost 3 decades in San Diego & Los Angeles, California.
In that time with much effort and passion, I have put together this amazing piece by navigating to many different shows in different states to connect with my personal heroes to amass this rare collection of signatures.
I personally got every signature on this one of a kind rare piece by
connecting with the artist at "live" concerts that I attended.
This early '70's white Fender Stratocaster originally belonged to Jennifer Batten who ended up being the guitarist for Michael Jackson for 10 years. I met her when she was living and playing in San Diego in a band called Purl shortly after she was the first female to graduate from the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) in Hollywood.. After playing & touring with Michael Jackson, she then went on to play and tour with Jeff Beck for 4 years.
After I met and became friends with her, I ended up purchasing the guitar the same year. The way the whole thing started was: I was rehearsing with some guys in San Diego and we ended up getting tickets to see Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lonnie Mack who were playing and touring together. We had to park a long way away from the venue as it was on the university campus in San Diego and you couldn't park on the campus grounds unless you were enrolled there. So we walked about a half mile to the venue and when we arrived, we saw Stevie's tour bus. There he was all decked out in his stage clothes and famous hat along with one of his heroes and influences Lonnie Mack. He was larger than life standing on that tour bus and we could easily see them talking together through the bus window.
One of my bandmates suggested that I should get Stevie to sign my guitar. I thought about it, but the van was so far away. And then what would I do with the guitar after I got it signed? The show was going to be starting soon. I made the decision with the urging of my friends to go back to where we parked and fetch the guitar. I returned just in time before the show started and asked Stevie and Lonnie if they would sign the guitar. They were both as kind as could be and agreed. Stevie had some of the nicest handwriting I have ever see. He signed his name easily and fluidly like a work of art. To this day when I look at his signature, it seems to have a life of its own.
I was ecstatic to have two of my heroes sign my guitar. My only option was to return all the way back to where the van was parked and hope that nobody would see me putting the guitar back into the van. By now, the show was so closed to starting that I was sure I'd miss part of it. Luckily, that wasn't the case and I returned just in time to reunite with my friends and witness one of the finest guitar players to ever live absolutely channel his heart and soul through his own incredible piece of wood that night. That was the beginning that would set the wheels in motion to end up getting to meet 13 of my heroes and have them sign the guitar as well.
This one of a kind guitar now contains the following legends. Sadly, all but 4 of them have since passed on but there music and contribution to the arts lives on!
Here is the list of guitar greats that were kind enough to take the time to meet me and add their signatures:
Stevie Ray Vaughan
BB King
Buddy Guy
Jeff Beck
Gary Moore
Johnny Winter
Robin Trower
Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf & Willie Dixon)
Eric Johnson
Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush)
Rory Gallagher
John Lee Hooker
Lonnie Mack.
With the late great Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf and Willie Dixon)
at the Casbah in San Diego, California. One of the kindest
and most gracious human beings I have ever met.
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Dude thats one cool collectors item you have there! So you have it hanging on the wall now? Or still always ready to take with your to collect more signatures?
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Hi Karin, The guitar is currently in California at my place. It hasn't been playable for about 20 years because some of the signatures were getting a little worn from playing. You can see it on Stevie Ray Vaughans signature because of where he signed it on the guitar. It's still available for signatures. The wish list of currently living artists for me would be David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton (who's stage manager turned me down 20 years ago. The only person to ever turn me down), Jimmy Page.
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Great wee story and I’m sure every autograph paints a picture in your mind and body of The Whole experience of not only the great guitar players but the actual events themselves ,,,,your a lucky boy that you followed and maintained your passion for music
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Thanks for your comment & support! Yes, every signature has a story behind it of what it took to actually get backstage to the artist. Some signatures took an entire day or more just preparing to be in the right place at the right time. As in life, kindness and respect were my greatest tools. Maybe someday I'll document the stories. Some are alittle foggy as I began getting signatures around 1982 I believe. I know this because BB King signed 1984 after his name. He was also one of the kindness Souls I have ever met on the planet. I got to sit in his hotel room for 4 hours as he told stories of working on a cotton farm and getting money to take the bus into town in the early days to play on the streets. Good times :)
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What a great story Jeff. It took me back to rock-in-roll hay days when artists were more likely to connect with the other musicians as well as those they created the music for.
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Thanks for sharing & supporting. I was very Blessed to grow up and learn from some of the best at the best time for new and original music.
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What a treasure! Meeting these great guitar players had to be awesome. I've seen in concert Gary Moore (w/ BBM, with Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker), Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy. All great concerts. I couldn't see SRV and Rory Gallagher, two of my guitar heroes. Sad that will never happen.
Thanks for sharing the pictures and the story with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lonnie Mack.
I do rock posts daily in case you want to follow me.
Let's rock!
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