Fender Q & a with Al Jardine

[Rocker]

http://www.fender.com/de-DE/news/index.php/?display_article=885

[Cabinessenceking]

I like that Al says they may do two from his album and two from the new BB album. I would prefer that to the 62-65 stuff they most likely will churn out. 

[Mikie]

Now I have a question for Fender.

Q: Where's the Al Jardine Signature '62 Stratocaster that was suppose to be cloned and issued a few years ago?

[Emdeeh]

In the interview Al says: "I'm still going to play my Strat on tour. I have a couple of replicas made, too."

Maybe that's the answer to your question.

[Shady]

Seriously, why the hell would they play songs form Al's album 

[Ron]

Help Me Rhonda is on Al's album.  California Saga would be cool too. 

[Mikie]

In the interview Al says: "I'm still going to play my Strat on tour. I have a couple of replicas made, too."

Maybe that's the answer to your question.

No, that doesn't answer my question. Back in 2006, Al was at Fender HQ for the kick-off of some MoPar event/rally. He received his own custom MoPar - a '71 Hemi 'Cuda called "Rhonda".  He then handed over his olympic white '62 Strat to a Fender boss. Fender supposedly spec'd out the guitar and returned it. Speculation was that Fender was going to do a signature limited edition run on them, but nothing has been heard from them since.

Maybe Al DID just have replicas made for himself and the project never got off the ground....

[Andrew G. Doe]

In the interview Al says: "I'm still going to play my Strat on tour. I have a couple of replicas made, too."

Maybe that's the answer to your question.

Al's not going to be playing his Strat on the C50 tour.

[HeyJude]

In the interview Al says: "I'm still going to play my Strat on tour. I have a couple of replicas made, too."

Maybe that's the answer to your question.

No, that doesn't answer my question. Back in 2006, Al was at Fender HQ for the kick-off of some MoPar event/rally. He received his own custom MoPar - a '71 Hemi 'Cuda called "Rhonda".  He then handed over his olympic white '62 Strat to a Fender boss. Fender supposedly spec'd out the guitar and returned it. Speculation was that Fender was going to do a signature limited edition run on them, but nothing has been heard from them since.

Maybe Al DID just have replicas made for himself and the project never got off the ground....

You’re definitely correct Mikie. I remember that event from a few years ago as well. I think there was a thread on this board about it. (There was a whole sort of sub-debate about whether Al, the rhythm guitarist in a band not known for flashy guitar work, warranted a custom Fender Strat model). I’d have to go back and take a look at the wording of the stories from back then, but they certainly seemed to imply an actual Jardine custom model for commercial sale was going to result from cloning his guitar, and not that it was simply for Al’s own use.

It appears that indeed maybe it never got past a prototype stage, but Al does seem to have some replicas now. I believe when I saw Al play with Brian in 2007, it appeared to be an aged replica he was playing rather than the original (a Fender guitar buff was with me at the show, and they seemed to believe it was a replica). Even if they decided not to go forward with production of the signature model, they would give Al some prototypes probably.

[HeyJude]

In the interview Al says: "I'm still going to play my Strat on tour. I have a couple of replicas made, too."

Maybe that's the answer to your question.

Al's not going to be playing his Strat on the C50 tour.

Okay, I’ll bite on this one. This is a really weird, specific supposition. I can’t imagine our esteemed friend AGD would mention this unless there was a specific reason to know that Al will not use a specific model of guitar on a tour that hasn’t started yet.

Al and other guitarists have been known to switch guitars during shows, so I’m curious how we know for sure that Al will at no point play a Fender Stratocaster on this tour, especially considering he gave an interview where he says he will play one, and considering he often if not usually plays one at shows.

The only things I can think of to explain this would be that we’re only saying he’s not playing *his* Strat on this tour, or that he’s simply been seen lately playing non-Strat guitars, or there was something to some comments I read around the time of the grammys that they were all using Gibson gear (Al and David both played Les Pauls) exclusively. That would just be extra weird to have some Gibson-exclusive deal for the tour, but still give an interview to Fender to promote his solo album, and to indicate he will use Strats on the tour.

[hypehat]

They are sponsored by Gibson, it would seem - I know Brian is (he pops up at the Gibson tent at things like NAMM) and I guess it has been extended to the rest of the group. Check the Grammies - Al and David are rocking Les Paul's, and I presume Jeff's hollowbody is a Gibson of some variety.

[HeyJude]

Seriously, why the hell would they play songs form Al's album 

Well, I’m guessing if they did anything from Al’s album, it would either be the stuff that was a BB cover to begin with, or the stuff that features BB’s on it (“Don’t Fight the Sea”, “Waves of Love”). But that comment from Al seems pretty loose and off the cuff, sort of like a “Hey, who knows, maybe we’ll toss a song in from my album.”

Also, not that precedent from 30-plus years ago means anything in the slightest, but the BB’s in past years threw in solo Carl stuff for a short time, and also on rare occasions devoted mini-sets to Dennis’ solo album, Mike’s “Celebration” project, and even a mini Brian solo set for at least the one show from 1989 that they used for that “Endless Summer” TV show.  

[HeyJude]

They are sponsored by Gibson, it would seem - I know Brian is (he pops up at the Gibson tent at things like NAMM) and I guess it has been extended to the rest of the group. Check the Grammies - Al and David are rocking Les Paul's, and I presume Jeff's hollowbody is a Gibson of some variety.

Yeah, that seems to be the strongest possibility. I know anything can be written into a promotion deal, including exclusivity for gear used. But that just seems weird still, for musicians to literally be prohibited from using any other model of guitar for these shows. Any guitar player that takes guitar seriously would have to feel they can’t be constrained to one type of guitar. I prefer Gibsons to Fenders myself (that Eric Clapton uses Strats with lace sensor pickups now to play old Cream stuff that requires the Gibson humbucker sound is pretty annoying), but there is something to the idea that the clean, specific “Fender” sound is a part of those early BB hits. Yes, David can play “Surfin’ USA” and whatnot on a Les Paul too, but playing it on a Fender would make it sound more authentic.

Maybe they’re just trying to make this tour happen, and if that includes striking deals that don’t allow them to use the gear they want, they gotta do what they gotta do.

[tpesky]

Ya  2 of the songs from Al's album they might play: Help Me Rhonda, California Saga, California Dreamin, Honkin so technically he's going to be right.  I'm ok with Al on the Les Paul , I known he likes the strats but he played the Les Paul a lot in the 70's so it was kind of cool to see him with one again,

[guitarfool2002]

I have no knowledge beyond a fan's interest of any specific deals or endorsements, but having known people endorsed by instrument manufacturers or brand names, like drum sticks or guitars or picks or whatever, some of them *do* require that musician to be exclusive to the brand. The whole point is marketing that brand in the hands of a visible player for public appearances, so if Gibson signs a deal with someone like the Beach Boys, the whole point of the deal is to have them seen playing Gibson guitars during any appearances.

How far these contracts extend is a case-by-case basis, but some are apparently very strict and very specific about being seen playing the brand of instrument you're signed to endorse.

We had a thread on the Gibson thing with the Beach Boys a few months ago...from the beginning when early news was filtering out, it was pretty obvious something was in the works when not only did news of the Beach Boys reunion start appearing on Gibson's website, but also more prominently Brian and Jeff performed an acoustic set at a Gibson manufacturer display booth I believe during NAMM.

To me, my opinion that is, the Beach Boys classic sound was 100%...make that 110%...the "Classic Fender Sound". It defined those early 60's records, and Fender was so connected to that sound...I dunno, Gibson has a different vibe to it. I'm a Fender guy to the core, my first real professional guitar was a Telecaster and I'm most loyal to the sound.

Bottom line, it would depend on the endorsement contract whether or not Al or David or anyone on stage with the Beach Boys can play something other than a Gibson. And at this point, is there any doubt there is at least some deal with Gibson?

[Mark H.]

Well to be fair Carl played a 335 from 1970 on and only occasionally pulled out the strat.  The Concert album from 1974 is virtually all Gibson - Al, Carl, and Blondie all were playing Gibson at the time.  So in the end the band has a solid history of playing Gibsons - obviously the stuff from 1962-1964 is Fender dominated.  I'm very cool with however they do it.

Will the backline be Gibson too?

[Andrew G. Doe]

In the interview Al says: "I'm still going to play my Strat on tour. I have a couple of replicas made, too."

Maybe that's the answer to your question.

Al's not going to be playing his Strat on the C50 tour.

Okay, I’ll bite on this one. This is a really weird, specific supposition.

Not a supposition.

[HeyJude]

Not a supposition.

Of course not! I suppose it was my silly way of trying to elicit more information on the matter. It's of little consequence. The Gibson sponsorship is really the only  readily apparent reason one could say there's not at least a slim possibility Al might pick up a Fender guitar at some point on this tour. The fact that he wouldn't play a Strat on this tour is much less interesting than the reason why someone would claim such a thing so adamently without being able or willing to tell us why.

I guess the lesson has been learned by the band, their camp, insiders, and everybody else involved that we now get cryptic references to even the most mundane bits of information.

I guess I'll have to try to track down Probyn Gregory to find out what the fudge this all means....  

[HeyJude]

Well to be fair Carl played a 335 from 1970 on and only occasionally pulled out the strat.  The Concert album from 1974 is virtually all Gibson - Al, Carl, and Blondie all were playing Gibson at the time.  So in the end the band has a solid history of playing Gibsons - obviously the stuff from 1962-1964 is Fender dominated.  I'm very cool with however they do it.

Will the backline be Gibson too?

I don't think the type of guitar is a huge deal is it pertains to the sound of the band. As I mentioned above, I'm more curious why specifically it can be said already that Al will not for a split second appear with a Strat on this upcoming tour, especially considering an interview was published with Al today where he said he would play one. I'm also curious why a reason cannot be stated for this. You know, something like "Al actually won't be playing a Strat, the tour is sponsored by Gibson exclusivey", or "Al won't be playing a Strat, it fell off the back of his PT Cruiser", etc.  

[HeyJude]

I should also mention that I'm not doubting AGD for a second on this. I just hope there's a good reason to not tell us why Al won't be playing a Strat, other than the novelty of having inside information of some kind.

I can tell you, when I learn who's catering this tour, I'm going to be as cryptic as possible in revealing which type of coldcuts and cheeses the band prefers........

[Ron]

Your reaction to AGD's news is exactly why Andrew dangles things like that.  He LOVES it, I think more than maybe he loves the Beach Boys (which is considerable)... he loves being cryptic about what info he's gleaned from his sources. 

[HeyJude]

Your reaction to AGD's news is exactly why Andrew dangles things like that.  He LOVES it, I think more than maybe he loves the Beach Boys (which is considerable)... he loves being cryptic about what info he's gleaned from his sources. 

You could be right. 

It's nearly the most mundane "inside info" around, right above the brand of underwear the band will be wearing. It's not much to "dangle", which makes it more puzzling that the cryptic nature is needed. But if it is just to get off on being cryptic, then that explains it I suppose. I honestly hope there is better stuff to be cryptic about as we get closer to the album and tour.

[guitarfool2002]

Well to be fair Carl played a 335 from 1970 on and only occasionally pulled out the strat.  The Concert album from 1974 is virtually all Gibson - Al, Carl, and Blondie all were playing Gibson at the time.  So in the end the band has a solid history of playing Gibsons - obviously the stuff from 1962-1964 is Fender dominated.  I'm very cool with however they do it.

Will the backline be Gibson too?

That's odd because they had some kind of a deal with Fender in the Blondie-Ricky 70's era as well, I have an old Guitar Player mag showing Carl touring the Fender plant, along with that shot of them all playing Fender guitars and amps, same era.

They also did radio ads for Fender and appeared in print ads for them in 66-67.

The most popular and influential music the band made was played with Fenders, all the classic photos of them as a band and on shows like Ed Sullivan, the closed-circuit live show, etc. showed them with Fenders except for Carl's Rickenbacker. Those early years formed the image of the band, and Fender was what they played.

It's like George Harrison and the Gretsch guitars he played. He didn't play them as much after 1965 until the 80's, yet most guitarists know him from when they saw him on Sullivan or any other iconic appearances from the same era playing those brown Gretsch models. I don't think many would associate George with a guitar he played on the 1974 tour, like I doubt many could even name the instruments the Beach Boys played on an early 70's show.

[guitarfool2002]

Poor Al...seriously, the guy says precisely "I'm still going to play my Strat on tour" and we're supposed to take that to mean something either opposite of or far beyond what the man actually said. This after praising Fender and thanking them for all the stuff they sent him...I guess "Beach Boy Al" has to be seen with a Gibson and regular Al the solo guy can play his choice of a Strat.

Did someone named Love work out this clusterf*ck of an instrument endorsement deal or something?

[guitarfool2002]

It would be funny if similar deals were arranged to prohibit Mike from wearing certain hats or Bruce from wearing specific brands of man-shorts when they tour as the regular Beach Boys versus the reunion shows.