“MrZerr0’s Favorite Guitars”
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #148 June 2023
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0
As you may or may not know, I (MrZerr0) has been in the “Music Biz” for over 40 years, yet everyday I encounter someone who thinks my love is Video Games and Comics, yet Mr. Zer0’s 55113 Roseville is a Vinyl Record & CD Store, that also sells VHS, DVDs, Toys Still In Package, Shirts and Vintage Video Games. But MrZerr0’s real personal passion is guitars, ever since I saw The Monkees on TV in 1966, I wanted to be the guitar player- singer in a pop band. Honestly, I think I wanted to be a singer- drummer 1st, like Micky Dolenz and Ringo Starr & Jerry Edmondton (Steppenwolf) but I soon realized playing drums was really hard, even with my Dad (Bill) as my personal instructor. I had to break it to him, I wanted to play guitar, he was to say the least, disappointed. Then I started to focus on the guys in front; like Michael Nesmith, George Harrison and Alan Osmond. I just thought they looked so much more cool standing there, in front with their guitars, Nesmith and his Red Monkees Gretsch, Harrison with his Rickenbacker 12 String and Alan with his White SG Special. I fell in love with the sound of Louie Shelton’s guitar work on “Last Train To Clarksville” and “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day” and Harrison’s guitar on “Day Tripper” and “Paperback Writer” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Alan Osmond’s guitar on “Hold Her Tight” and “Crazy Horses” … And Then, my Uncle John introduced me to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, wow this changed my life, and shortly after this I discovered Jimi Hendrix on my own specifically “Purple Haze” and “Foxey Lady”. Now, of course before all this, I was of course aware of Tommy Bolin, through my Uncle Jeff, who knew Tommy in Bolin’s 3rd band; ‘A Patch of Blue’ in 1966-67. I would have to say this was the beginning of my love affair with the guitar. Also for my 7th birthday, this same Uncle Jeff gave me his Egmond acoustic 6 string made in Holland (The Beatles used them). I had this guitar for many years until I traded it in for a Washburn in 1980.
I was about 9 years old when I started thinking about what guitar would look the coolest on me. I remember first thinking and liking a Red Gibson ES-330, it was like Nesmith’s but not Nesmith’s. I must confess I was really drawn to the cheaper Japanese knock-offs of the Gibson models. They seemed to look so much more exotic. But then about 1976 when I really started liking harder rock music, I started thinking a ES-330, was not really hard rock looking at all, it was cool enough for the 60s music I loved so much, but not for the rock of the 70s I was into. It seemed like everybody either played a Gibson Les Paul (Jimmy Page: Led Zeppelin) or a Fender Stratocaster (Ritchie Blackmore: Deep Purple), I felt I wanted to be different, I started to realize pretty early on I was not going to possess the ability to play Lead Guitar like my idols, so I started thinking more along the lines of being a singer who played rhythm guitar like: Paul Stanley (KISS), Marc Bolan (T-Rex), Ray Davies (Kinks) and Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) I thought I should play a guitar that was not associated with “Lead Guitar” so not a Les Paul or a Stratocaster. In 1976 I saw the “KISS: Alive!” album and the booklet that came with it. In the centerfold of the booklet Paul was playing a white Les Paul looking guitar, made by Gibson but not a Les Paul. Sometime in 1980 isaw a catalog that had this guitar shape in it for sale. A Gibson L6-S. I knew that was the guitar for me. When I lived in Phoenix in 1981, I saw a wine red L6 Deluxe for sale at Milano’s, alas I could not come up with the money to buy it.
Some of my favorite guitar players include: Tommy Bolin usually a Stratocaster, Ace Frehley (KISS) usually a Les Paul, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) usually a SG, Jimi Hendrix; usually a Stratocaster, Larry Byrom (Steppenwolf) usually a Gibson ES-335. The Edge (U2) Usually a Explorer, Wes Montgomery usually a Gibson L5, Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane) usually a ES-345.
MrZerr0’s Favorite Guitars:
Vox Mk VI (Teardrop)
A solid body and hollowbody Teardrop shaped, inspired by the Lute made in 6 string, 9 string and 12 string models. First introduced in 1963 made specifically for Brian Jones as he preferred a Fender Telecaster but wanted something different in appearance. The first model was made in white, with 2 single coil pickups and a 3 way switch 1 volume 1 tone and a fixed fender bridge, later models emulated the Stratoaster with 3 single coil pickups 1 volume and 2 tone controls with a 3 way selector switch. Notable users; Brian Jones (Rolling Stones), Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls), Tom Petty, David Bowie and Siouxie Sioux. While I do not own an original Vox, I do own a Phantom Works USA model, a Chinese Brian Jones Model, and a Apache/ Vox.
Gibson L6
Introduced in 1973 the models include L6 “Midnight Special” (supposedly only 160 made) the Deluxe and the L6-S. This model looks very much like a steamroller ran over a Les Paul, a wider, thinner single cutaway. A 24 fret neck, with 2 pickups usually 1 volume 1 tone and a 3 way switch, the “S” model had a 6 selector rotary phase switch and 2 tone controls with 1 volume. Notable users are: Paul Stanley (KISS), Dave Davies (Kinks), Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), Brad Delp (Boston), Bob Mothersbaugh (Devo), Prince. I love this model so much I have created a photo album solely dedicated to the “L6” contained in the fb for KISSin Time MPLS. There are over 200 photos of all the variations I could find of the “L6”
In Jan 2018 while I was staying in St. Cloud (I also had bronchial pneumonia at the time) I came across, for sale, for the 1st time ever an original “Midnight Special” from Oregon, They wanted $1000.oo for it, I made a counter offer, they showed me that there was another one for sale in Germany for $2000.oo. Unbelievable! Then by March 2018 a 3rd one showed up for sale in New Jersey for $1200.oo. I could not believe this as I had searched for one since 1976 and had never seen one for sale, ever, much less THREE!. In Dec 1982 (in Sioux City) I even asked Paul Stanley himself in-person, if I could buy his from him, he replied “Yes, I still have it, in a warehouse in New York, sorry no” (he did eventually sell it in 1998 for several thousand dollars). Shockingly in April 2018, a guy I kind of knew (Jim E.) comes walking in with a guitar case, I had to tell him “While I love guitars, we can not buy them here at Mr. Zer0’s, please take it 4 doors down to Music Go Round” he replied “I am not here to sell it, as I just bought it, I came here to show it to you” he pulled a guitar out of the case and it was a “Midnight Special” I exclaimed “You bought the one from New Jersey!” Jim answered “No, I just bought it from Willie’s here in St. Paul” I about passed out. How could this be a 4th one for sale only miles from my Record Store. And here it was I was finally holding an Original 1974 Gibson “Midnight Special” sadly no, Jim did not offer to sell it to me until years later. I do own a “Midnight Special” in Cream Sparkle, (thanks to Casey Guitars) a Deluxe in Pearl White and an “S” in White Sparkle. All made in 1975. And a Japanese version named “Encore” in wine red with a maple neck.
Gibson SG
A solid body “SG” means “Solid Guitar” introduced in 1961 to replace the Les Paul, usually referred to as the bat wing, or double design. In the beginning basically 5 models were made the Junior, the Special, the Standard and Custom and also a Bass, offering 1 pickup 1 volume nad 1 tone, or 2 pickups, 2 volumes and 2 tones, and even a 3 pickup model, usually in Cherry or Walnut, sometimes, Red, white or even Black.. Notable users are: Tommy Bolin, Robby Kreiger, Tony Iommi, Michael Nesmith, Glenn Buxton (Alice Cooper Group), Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent Band) Eric Clapton (Cream), Pete Townshend (The Who), Carlos Santana. I do own a 1972 Special in (yellowed) white, which was my very first SG I picked up in Sioux City in 1982 and has been all over the country with me. And a 1969 12 String in Copper, and a 1968 EBO (SG) Bass in wine red, and a 2010 Standard with a custom psychedelic painting by ‘The Butthole Surfers’ (so I was told when it was sold to me)
Gibson ES-330
Introduced in 1959 a thin line hollow body as a single pickup and a 2 pickup model, the 330 has a shorter scale as the neck joins the body at the 16th fret vs. the 335 that joins at the 19th fret. Another difference between the 330 and the 335 is the 330 is completely hollow and the 335 has a block in the center of the body. Also this model has similar dimensions as the Epiphone Casino used by The Beatles and Martin Barre (Jethro Tull). I first bought an ES-355 from Ye Olde guitar Shoppe in Des Moines in 1985, then traded that for an ES-330 (completely redone) in 1987. This one was played by a local Des Moines 60s band, the guitarist that owned eventually became a lawyer.
Gibson Grabber Bass
Introduced in 1973 with a maple bolt on neck which is unusual for Gibson, a single humbucker and 1 volume and 1 tone control, made in Natural, Black and Wine Red. Notable users include: Gene Simmons (KISS), Mark Evans (AC/DC), Suzie Quatro, Gerald Casale (Devo).
Unfortunately I have never owned a Grabber, when I was in 9th grade in Sioux City, I worked and saved all summer to buy a wine red one at Hospe’s, alas when I had enough to get it, they had clearanced it out for a mere $175.oo.
This article is dedicated to Music Go Round Roseville 55113 and in Burnsville 55337. VIG Guitar Repairs St. Paul 55104. Rardin Guitar Repairs St Paul 55104. Mr. Mark Music, Anoka 55303. RD Electronics Cottage Grove 55106. Capitol Guitars St. Paul 55104. Impact Picks St. Croix Falls 54024.
Be sure to check out Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Radio Show on Radio WDGY AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1, Sundays 8am. You can hear the past 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can also hear Mr. Zer0’s “Evolation Show” (32 Episodes) and “Hits And History” (17 Episodes) with Host Rick B. on www.MixCloud.Com under MrZeros.
With that, MrZerr0 has left the station.
Mr. Zer0’s
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Rosville – St. Paul, MN. 55113
Where:
“Nerd Is The Word”
$elling:
Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes, VHS, DVDs,
Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation, Xbox
Toys in Package & Shirts.
And That’s IT!
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