Carl and Al's guitars

[MeeMaw]

My apologies if this has been covered before. As a guitar player, I've always been fascinated by the guitar choices in the band. Regarding Carl's Fender Jaguar, it seems as though after about '65/66 he stopped using it live. Around that point he's then seen more with his Rickenbacker and white Telecaster. Then in the early '70s, it's the Epiphones and Gibsons that he stuck with throughout the duration of his career.  Was he ever seen with his Jaguar after that point? I don't think I've seen any photos of him with it after around 1966.  What ever happened to it? Did he sell it? I loved the sound he got with it (though he sounded great regardless of what he was playing).
 
Something else I've wondered - what was the reason for the switch from Fender to Gibson in the early 70s? Was it to get a more modern (for the time) rock sound? Have any of them ever explained or acknowledged why both Al and Carl, seemingly around the same time, abandoned Fender for Gibson?

Finally, while we're at it, with the exception of the Grammy's (in 2012?), did Al ever bust out a Les Paul after the mid/late '70s? It seems like it was all his white Stratocaster after that.

[Mikie]

I can only contribute this. I think it needs to be updated. Updates would be appreciated:

Carl Wilson

* Kay single cutaway acoustic w/pick-up (his first)
* Fender Jaguar
* Fender Telecaster, w/Bigsby, yellow
* Fender Stratocaster, white
* Fender Stratocaster (Old Yeller) his favorite
* Fender Stratocaster, blonde
* Rickenbacker 360 12-string “Fireglo”. Limited edition (500) repros were made by Rickenbacker of the CW 6-string and 12-string varieties in both Fireglo and Jetglo finishes.
* Gibson ES-335 (Custom made in 1962, it had a blonde finish and gold hardware with a Bigsby B-7 tremolo. In 1983, the original guitar neck was broken and replaced with a neck from an ES-355).
* Gibson ES-335, red
* Gibson Epiphone Sheraton 6-string (used for the '72 In Concert album)
* Gibson Epiphone Casino
* Gibson Epiphone Riviera 12-string, tobacco sunburst
* Gibson Les Paul, black
* Gibson Les Paul, sunburst
* Gibson Les Paul Jr. (2)
* Gibson Firebird
* Gibson J-200 acoustic
* Baldwin 712 12-string, red
* Martin Bicentennial D-76 acoustic
* David Russell Young custom acoustic
* Fender Band Master amp
* Fender Concert amp
* Fender Princeton amp
* Fender Dual Showman amp
* Fender Twin Reverb amp (Cerwin Vega speakers)
* Fender Twin Reverb amp (Gauss speakers)
* Fender Bassman amp
* Mitchell amp
* Peavy amp
* Orange amp
* Fender, Ernie Ball Slinkys, Extra Light strings

Al Jardine

* 1956 Gibson Les Paul
* 1962 Fender Stratocaster (offered to Fender for repro)
* 1964 Fender Stratocaster
* 1962 Fender Jaguar repro (2012)
* Fender Precision bass
* Epiphone Casino
* Gibson ES-335
* Fender Bassman amp

Brian Wilson

* Fender Precision bass

Dave Marks

* Sears Silvertone acoustic
* Carvin electric
* 1957 Fender Sunburst Stratocaster
* 1962 Fender Sunburst Stratocaster (used on the studio albums and on the road)
* Fender Jaguar
* 1962 Fender Jaguar repro (2012)
* Rickenbacker 12-string
* Fender Showman amp, blonde (w/ Fender Spring Reverb)
* Fender Super Reverb with custom Howard/Alexander Dumble Mod  

Dennis Wilson

* Gretsch drums
* Camco drums
* Ludwig drums
* Yamaha Drums

Bruce Johnston

* Fender Precision bass
* Keyboard (Fender Rhodes, Farfisa?)

Mike Love

* Saxophone
* Tambourine
* Moog ribbon controller

[Mikie]

Another good thread about the guitars used on 1974's Good Year's Rockin' Eve:

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,16748.msg415822.html#msg415822

[HeyJude]

My apologies if this has been covered before. As a guitar player, I've always been fascinated by the guitar choices in the band. Regarding Carl's Fender Jaguar, it seems as though after about '65/66 he stopped using it live. Around that point he's then seen more with his Rickenbacker and white Telecaster. Then in the early '70s, it's the Epiphones and Gibsons that he stuck with throughout the duration of his career.  Was he ever seen with his Jaguar after that point? I don't think I've seen any photos of him with it after around 1966.  What ever happened to it? Did he sell it? I loved the sound he got with it (though he sounded great regardless of what he was playing).
 
Something else I've wondered - what was the reason for the switch from Fender to Gibson in the early 70s? Was it to get a more modern (for the time) rock sound? Have any of them ever explained or acknowledged why both Al and Carl, seemingly around the same time, abandoned Fender for Gibson?

Finally, while we're at it, with the exception of the Grammy's (in 2012?), did Al ever bust out a Les Paul after the mid/late '70s? It seems like it was all his white Stratocaster after that.

One tiny bit I can add is that, especially in the 2000's, you can sometimes see Al with different guitars when he is just dropping in and doing quick sets. He played a sunburst Strat when I saw him in 2005 with Stevie Heger's band. I got the sense Al just came down for the show and played one of the other guys' guitars.

Al can be seen playing a Gibson ES guitar (can't remember if it was a 335 or 345 or 355) at the July 4th, 1984 televised show. I think he popped up with some random guitars here and there, but usually stuck to the white Strat (which I believe is his red one repainted white?).

I believe he *may* currently sometimes if not usually be playing a newer Fender repro of his white Strat. As Mikie mentioned, Fender took his white Strat and measured it and whatnot for a signature edition, but I don't think they ever released one. But when I saw Al in 2007 with Brian, his Strat had that "new but antiqued" look, so I wondered if they had run off a few "antiqued" repros and gave one to Al.

[Emdeeh]

Strictly from memory, but wasn't Carl's Jaguar stolen?

[Mikie]

Yep. And Al's 1956 Les Paul was recently stolen. Wonder if he ever got it back.

[Alex]

So Al's "modern day" white Strat isn't the same one he had at Knebworth?

[CenturyDeprived]

I can only contribute this. I think it needs to be updated. Updates would be appreciated:

Carl Wilson

* Kay single cutaway acoustic w/pick-up (his first)
* Fender Jaguar
* Fender Telecaster, w/Bigsby, yellow
* Fender Stratocaster, white
* Fender Stratocaster (Old Yeller) his favorite
* Fender Stratocaster, blonde
* Rickenbacker 360 12-string “Fireglo”. Limited edition (500) repros were made by Rickenbacker of the CW 6-string and 12-string varieties in both Fireglo and Jetglo finishes.
* Gibson ES-335 (Custom made in 1962, it had a blonde finish and gold hardware with a Bigsby B-7 tremolo. In 1983, the original guitar neck was broken and replaced with a neck from an ES-355).
* Gibson ES-335, red
* Gibson Epiphone Sheraton 6-string (used for the '72 In Concert album)
* Gibson Epiphone Casino
* Gibson Epiphone Riviera 12-string, tobacco sunburst
* Gibson Les Paul, black
* Gibson Les Paul, sunburst
* Gibson Les Paul Jr. (2)
* Gibson Firebird
* Gibson J-200 acoustic
* Baldwin 712 12-string, red
* Martin Bicentennial D-76 acoustic
* David Russell Young custom acoustic
* Fender Band Master amp
* Fender Concert amp
* Fender Princeton amp
* Fender Dual Showman amp
* Fender Twin Reverb amp (Cerwin Vega speakers)
* Fender Twin Reverb amp (Gauss speakers)
* Fender Bassman amp
* Mitchell amp
* Peavy amp
* Orange amp
* Fender, Ernie Ball Slinkys, Extra Light strings

Al Jardine

* 1956 Gibson Les Paul
* 1962 Fender Stratocaster (offered to Fender for repro)
* 1964 Fender Stratocaster
* 1962 Fender Jaguar repro (2012)
* Fender Precision bass
* Epiphone Casino
* Gibson ES-335
* Fender Bassman amp

Brian Wilson

* Fender Precision bass

Dave Marks

* Sears Silvertone acoustic
* Carvin electric
* 1957 Fender Sunburst Stratocaster
* 1962 Fender Sunburst Stratocaster (used on the studio albums and on the road)
* Fender Jaguar
* 1962 Fender Jaguar repro (2012)
* Rickenbacker 12-string
* Fender Showman amp, blonde (w/ Fender Spring Reverb)
* Fender Super Reverb with custom Howard/Alexander Dumble Mod 

Dennis Wilson

* Gretsch drums
* Camco drums
* Ludwig drums
* Yamaha Drums

Bruce Johnston

* Fender Precision bass
* Keyboard (Fender Rhodes, Farfisa?)

Mike Love

* Saxophone
* Tambourine
* Moog ribbon controller
* ML Skin Flute

I like how there's been several replies, and not one notice of the ML skin flute. Lol.

[Mikie]

Didn't get any guffaws when I posted it on the original thread either. Sometimes I slide stuff in to solicit a response to see if anybody's reading my posts.

[MeeMaw]

I remember reading that Al lent his Strat to Fender's custom shop, but never heard any follow ups. It makes sense that he'd have some repros made rather than risk his vintage one biting the dust on the road. I wonder what year his original one is that the reproductions are based on? This is the red one that was repainted white? Did I read that the original white Strat he was first using when he came back to the band was stolen?

I hadn't heard about Carl's Jaguar and Al's LP also being stolen. I had one stolen at a gig quite some time back. Damn thieves 

I wonder if the ML skin flute still gets a lot of play     

[Mikie]

Been waiting for the Al Jardine Signature Strat since 2006!

From a Fender employee: "The reason behind looking at Al Jardine's guitar was primarily because Al was at Fender for the kick off of a Mopar event/rally. Al handed his Olympic White '62 Strat to a Fender boss. Fender spec'd out the guitar and returned it. There were no prototypes or samples made. Because the aforementioned event took place at Fender HQ, somebody took pictures of the event and put the "story" on the website. Al received his own custom MoPar - a '71 Hemi 'Cuda which he called "Rhonda". End of story".

Evidently, Fender has spec'd out a lot of famous guitars and has the specs on file somewhere, but that doesn't mean that these guitars will ever get made. But honestly, how many of these guitars would sell? 100 - 200?  Fender is in business to make money.......

I know the 500 Carl Wilson Signature Rickenbacker 360's (6 & 12 string) sold out, but could a Jardine Strat do the same?

[Mark H.]

I've been hankering for the Keith Partridge signature Strat myself.

[Mikie]

Since I can't have a 1990 limited edition guitar, I'm thinking about one of these suckers:

http://www.rickenbacker325.com/

[Marty Castillo]

I read through a number of guitar/gear/equipment threads. Some had links that no longer worked, so I decided to bump one of the more recent threads. I was on the Hard Rock Cafe memorabilia site (http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/) and this 1966 Fender Jaguar was the only instrument featured of the Beach Boys:



If you go to the site, you can zoom in even further and really see the detail on this guitar.

This compels me to ask some questions:

1. In some of the previous threads, it was implied that Carl had one Fender Jaguar that was presumed stolen. If the description is to be believed, this is a 1966, meaning he owned at least two Fender Jags, right?

2. Was this Jag donated? Did it come up in public auction? Any additional information on this particular Jag beyond what the limited description?

3. The Hard Rock site has very few Beach Boys items cataloged. I know this isn't everything from the Beach Boys in their collection. Any one know of significant pieces of Beach Boys history in their collection? I would love to see additional photos.

[Pretty Funky]

Is this piano listed? Someone can correct me but I think it may have been his grandmothers from a story I vaguely remember when it was donated.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19880824&id=MnocAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EVIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1119,6531656&hl=en

Good picture about half way down this story.

http://www.vh1.com/news/51401/inside-hard-rock-memorabilia-vault/

[Cool Cool Water]

Strictly from memory, but wasn't Carl's Jaguar stolen?

Any source to that?

[c-man]

What I'd really like to know is what the heck is the model of guitar Al can be seen playing in this shot...damn, I can't get the image insert function to work...well, it's the alternate shot from the TeenSet Party - the full color, full size one included in the Goodbye Surfing, Hello God boot box set. Al is strumming what appears to be a 4-string acoustic guitar with an extremely narrow neck...

[Jon Stebbins]

I read through a number of guitar/gear/equipment threads. Some had links that no longer worked, so I decided to bump one of the more recent threads. I was on the Hard Rock Cafe memorabilia site (http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/) and this 1966 Fender Jaguar was the only instrument featured of the Beach Boys:



If you go to the site, you can zoom in even further and really see the detail on this guitar.

This compels me to ask some questions:

1. In some of the previous threads, it was implied that Carl had one Fender Jaguar that was presumed stolen. If the description is to be believed...

I don't think this description is to be believed. I've seen no evidence of a white jag anywhere near the BB's after early 1965. If anyone has a photo that disproves that let me know. The description says this is a '66, and Carl often strummed it in the "late '60's"....seems unlikely.

[Cool Cool Water]

I don't think this description is to be believed. I've seen no evidence of a white jag anywhere near the BB's after early 1965. If anyone has a photo that disproves that let me know. The description says this is a '66, and Carl often strummed it in the "late '60's"....seems unlikely.

Agree. However, unless it got stolen like previously mentioned by a member above (not 100%).

[Marty Castillo]

I read through a number of guitar/gear/equipment threads. Some had links that no longer worked, so I decided to bump one of the more recent threads. I was on the Hard Rock Cafe memorabilia site (http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/) and this 1966 Fender Jaguar was the only instrument featured of the Beach Boys:



If you go to the site, you can zoom in even further and really see the detail on this guitar.

This compels me to ask some questions:

1. In some of the previous threads, it was implied that Carl had one Fender Jaguar that was presumed stolen. If the description is to be believed...

I don't think this description is to be believed. I've seen no evidence of a white jag anywhere near the BB's after early 1965. If anyone has a photo that disproves that let me know. The description says this is a '66, and Carl often strummed it in the "late '60's"....seems unlikely.

So, is it a bad description? Is it a 66 Jag that Carl happened to sign, but never played? Who would have more info on this particular guitar--Billy Hinsche, Carl's sons???

Also, is this the same Jag that was at the Sacramento HRC before it closed in 2010? See the last photo in this article:  http://sacramentopress.com/2010/03/19/another-one-bites-the-dust-hard-rock-cafe-and-its-memorabilia/

If no, what is the history of that Jag???

[Rob Dean]

Is this piano listed? Someone can correct me but I think it may have been his grandmothers from a story I vaguely remember when it was donated.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19880824&id=MnocAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EVIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1119,6531656&hl=en

Good picture about half way down this story.

http://www.vh1.com/news/51401/inside-hard-rock-memorabilia-vault/

[/b]

And look at the picture following the BB's surf board , the size of the Endless Summer poster behind the Lady GaGa garb

[bgas]

I read through a number of guitar/gear/equipment threads. Some had links that no longer worked, so I decided to bump one of the more recent threads. I was on the Hard Rock Cafe memorabilia site (http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/) and this 1966 Fender Jaguar was the only instrument featured of the Beach Boys:

**

If you go to the site, you can zoom in even further and really see the detail on this guitar.

This compels me to ask some questions:

1. In some of the previous threads, it was implied that Carl had one Fender Jaguar that was presumed stolen. If the description is to be believed...

I don't think this description is to be believed. I've seen no evidence of a white jag anywhere near the BB's after early 1965. If anyone has a photo that disproves that let me know. The description says this is a '66, and Carl often strummed it in the "late '60's"....seems unlikely.

So, is it a bad description? Is it a 66 Jag that Carl happened to sign, but never played? Who would have more info on this particular guitar--Billy Hinsche, Carl's sons???

Also, is this the same Jag that was at the Sacramento HRC before it closed in 2010? See the last photo in this article:  http://sacramentopress.com/2010/03/19/another-one-bites-the-dust-hard-rock-cafe-and-its-memorabilia/

If no, what is the history of that Jag???

  Hmmmm....It seems very unlikely that Carl signed that guitar after the 2010 closing, so I'm going to venture they're different guiitars  
( presuming that's really Carl's signature)

[Marty Castillo]

I read through a number of guitar/gear/equipment threads. Some had links that no longer worked, so I decided to bump one of the more recent threads. I was on the Hard Rock Cafe memorabilia site (http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/) and this 1966 Fender Jaguar was the only instrument featured of the Beach Boys:

**

If you go to the site, you can zoom in even further and really see the detail on this guitar.

This compels me to ask some questions:

1. In some of the previous threads, it was implied that Carl had one Fender Jaguar that was presumed stolen. If the description is to be believed...

I don't think this description is to be believed. I've seen no evidence of a white jag anywhere near the BB's after early 1965. If anyone has a photo that disproves that let me know. The description says this is a '66, and Carl often strummed it in the "late '60's"....seems unlikely.

So, is it a bad description? Is it a 66 Jag that Carl happened to sign, but never played? Who would have more info on this particular guitar--Billy Hinsche, Carl's sons???

Also, is this the same Jag that was at the Sacramento HRC before it closed in 2010? See the last photo in this article:  http://sacramentopress.com/2010/03/19/another-one-bites-the-dust-hard-rock-cafe-and-its-memorabilia/

If no, what is the history of that Jag???

  Hmmmm....It seems very unlikely that Carl signed that guitar after the 2010 closing, so I'm going to venture they're different guiitars  
( presuming that's really Carl's signature)

The photo quality is poor from the Jag at the Sacramento HRC and the signature on the 66 is in silver (i.e. maybe it just didn't photograph well). I agree, it is more likely that they are different guitars. So, either Carl had multiple Jags and at least two have wound up in the HRC collection OR these two Jags were not actually used/owned by Carl.

By the way, this is the other old thread I was referring to: http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,14109.0.html  Unfortunately, the links to the gretschpages are dead. Did they ever determine the provenance of the HRC guitars?

[c-man]

What I'd really like to know is what the heck is the model of guitar Al can be seen playing in this shot...it's the alternate shot from the TeenSet Party, included in the Goodbye Surfing, Hello God boot box set. Al is strumming what appears to be a 4-string acoustic guitar with an extremely narrow neck...

[guitarfool2002]

What I'd really like to know is what the heck is the model of guitar Al can be seen playing in this shot...it's the alternate shot from the TeenSet Party, included in the Goodbye Surfing, Hello God boot box set. Al is strumming what appears to be a 4-string acoustic guitar with an extremely narrow neck...

That is a tenor guitar, a relic from the folk years of the 50's and 60's that is all but obsolete and has been for about 50 years. Companies like Martin and Gibson made tenor models out of their more popular 6-string models (especially Gibson electrics) which should be very valuable since they are rare and not many were made, but there aren't many players looking for them to actually play.

They were 4-strings with a high register sound, to add more high-end chords to the blend. Most players of note got a similar effect by doing the "Nashville Tuning" thing, think Keith Richards on Wild Horses. Take a 12-string set of strings, put them on a regular 6-string minus the wound bass strings, and it's a similar effect while you could still play 6 strings on a regular neck versus 4 on the tenor.

Where did Al come to use one? I'm *assuming* since Al was a major Kingston Trio fan, his influence was Nick Reynolds who was perhaps the most prominent tenor guitar player (or at least the most visible) to regularly play the instrument, even well into his later years. Both Nick and the tenor guitar were seen and heard on Kingston Trio albums, concerts, photos, etc. Again just a guess, but connecting Al as a Kingston Trio fanatic to Nick Reynolds and his tenor guitar is a pretty easy connection!

Nick Reynolds playing the tenor guitar in the 60's: