VOX Mark III (a/k/a Brian Jones' guitar)

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Right here:

[lennon211]

Pretty cool. That's where it is on mine. Is that special inlay for the new edition as well? Could you post a pic of the guitar itself?

Here's mine from the '90's reissues:

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Yes, that inlay is on the new ones. I'll try to get a pic of mine up ASAP. In the meanwhile, here's one for sale:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/msg/505255366.html

[JakeK]

Pretty cool stuff, Matt. You've got a Firebird, too? If you get a Gretsch 6118, a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, and a 1993, you'll have all the guitars Brian was seen with!

I'm sad I didn't get one of these Teardrops. I like the jangle from my 660/12, and the bite from my Strat and Tele, but I'm looking for a different sound, something that I can get that early Stones sound from. Something that'll make me think when I'm playing "The Last Time" riff, I'll think Brian's in the room!

[lennon211]

Pretty cool stuff, Matt. You've got a Firebird, too? If you get a Gretsch 6118, a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, and a 1993, you'll have all the guitars Brian was seen with!

I'm sad I didn't get one of these Teardrops. I like the jangle from my 660/12, and the bite from my Strat and Tele, but I'm looking for a different sound, something that I can get that early Stones sound from. Something that'll make me think when I'm playing "The Last Time" riff, I'll think Brian's in the room!

Jake, I've actually got 3 Firebirds at the moment. Hopefully I'll have some pics of my collection taken and posted on Wednesday. I don't have a green Gretsch Anniversary, although I'd like to sometime. It's rather not that big of a deal as I have a Tennessean with the Hi-Lo Trons like his had in basically the same body style. I've never had much interest in Les Pauls, and a 1993 is a dream for another day. By the way, he's playing a FG 360/12 on the inside cover photos of the High Tide and Green Grass album. There were also more guitars in his arsenal. He had a matching Teardrop 12 string to go with the 6 string. Also among his guitars were a white Telecaster, an Epiphone 12 string acoustic, various Firebird III's and VII's in reverse and non-reverse body styles, the Gretsch, the 360/12, the Les Paul, a Casino, a Gibson 330 (Gibson equivalent to a Casino), various Gibson acoustics, and a Harmony Meteor. Keith Richards, although not the most trustworthy source on Brian Jones (not as bad as Mick), says that Brian would show up at sessions with all kinds of new guitars and insist upon playing them whether they were right for the song or not.

As for having one of these Teardrops, they are a special guitar that nails that early Stones sound, but you can get that sound from Casinos, Teles, and even a Ric 330. I was having fun the other night trying out my new Maestro Fuzztone pedal (the Satisfaction pedal as it's sometimes called) with my 330. I was nailing many of the early sounds, from Satisfaction to 19th Nervous Breakdown. For kicks I kept playing some other Stones stuff after I had finished with the pedal. Among those were The Last Time and It's All Over Now. I hit that ultra-electric, high-tension tone from The Last Time by running through a Vox Over the Top Boost pedal with the treble maxed out, the treble on my amp maxed out, and the reverb around 6 or 7.

And yes, Brian Jones is a big influence on my playing. Along with handling a lot of the blusier, non-Chuck Berry lead work, I think that he's a hell of a rhythm player which seems to be becoming more and more of a lost art form among new bands in my opinion.

[JakeK]

There is one more Teardrop up for sale at North Coast Music.

Gary emailed me Christmas day saying that there was one left, and offered it to me. Sadly, I declined, as my parents weren't up for it, and I was low on cash. For anyone who wants a Teardrop, check it out:

http://www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast/v ... mkIII.html

Matt, your collection sounds inviting! I ought to go up to your place one day so we can jam!

[rickenmetal]

Slightly off topic (sorry), but Andrew, does the Rick from your avatar have a Vox neck?

[JakeK]

Here's a Phantom reissue of that guitar for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... =p3907.m29

Not as nice as the original thing, but still something to consider! (I'm not because I've got a 1997 on the way!)

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Slightly off topic (sorry), but Andrew, does the Rick from your avatar have a Vox neck?

That indeed is a Vox neck; a "leftover" from the re-issue run of the late 1990s.

But the rest of it is not a Rickenbacker... it just resembles one.