Keif's guitars

[brammy]

http://members.tripod.com/blue_lena/guitar2.html

• 5-String - Ernie Ball Custom 5 String Set. The strings for those guitars are custom made by Ernie Ball to Keith’s exact specifications as far as gauge goes and are not for sale anywhere.

WOW, I'm IMPRESSED!.... not.

"exact specifications as far as gauge goes" ?????
Here's how the conversation went:

Ernie Ball: Hi Keith, what can we do for you today?
Keith Richards: I need a set of 5 strings... {burp}... an 11, 15, 18, 30 and a 42. Send me 100 sets.
Ernie Ball: no bottom string?
Keith Richards: ... {burp}... no.
Ernie Ball: So what should we do with the low E string?
Keith Richards: How the f*ck should I know, mate. Shove it up your f*ckin arse... {burp}... for all I care.
Ernie Ball: OK, Keith, you got it.
Keith Richards: Ok, mate... {burp}... bye. (click)
Ernie Ball: ...(dials phone) ...Sam? Ernie. Arrange a meeting with marketing for first thing in the morning... I got a live one.

[winston]

Interesting read from a musicians perspective especially since I now realise that the alternative tunings he uses have become his norm and standard tuning is rarely used. I guess that explains why he has never been much of a lead player, in my estimation.

[tennis_nick]

Interesting read from a musicians perspective especially since I now realise that the alternative tunings he uses have become his norm and standard tuning is rarely used. I guess that explains why he has never been much of a lead player, in my estimation.

That's what I thought too, until I saw them live.

His 5 string Telecaster didn't see as much action as his 6 string telecaster, or even his Gibson ES-355, the later both in standard tuning.

I think the 5 string Open G worked well when he needed something new, but he's a standard tuning man at heart!

[gregga41]

Having just watched 'Shine a Light', i don't give a bu##er what Keif plays, they are one awesome unit of entertainment!
Great film BTW!

[collin]

Apparently, that "We Buy Guitars" company brokered Keith's original '59 Les Paul (with Bigsby).

richards.jpg (6.66 KiB) Viewed 597 times

Apparently it went through Christies and failed to meet the $400,000 reserve! Surprising, given it's provenance and the fact that mint '59 LPs have indeed sold for that much before (mint, of course..).

[winston]

They are a great band Greg but I still miss Brian Jones. He really gave the 'Stones' a great balance and added some creative flashes of brilliance, but that's just my opinion among many I suppose.

Collin after looking at Keith's guitars it appears that they are all pretty much road worn but even so, you'd think a collector or an avid 'Stones' fan would pay top dollar for his '59 Les Paul.

[doombuggy]

theres something way cooler about Keefs and John Sebastians LPs to me. I like Jimmy Page but....

[lennon211]

One of the big aspects of the Stones' guitars, especially Keith and NOT Brian, is that there are few really notable guitars. They didn't have the guitars that became extensions of their personalities the way that the Beatles did. Keith bounced all over the place in the 60's and beyond, messing around with the '59 Les Paul, a LP Black Beauty, various Teles, a Harmony, a Casino, the Ampeg plexi, a Firebird from time to time.

[collin]

Collin after looking at Keith's guitars it appears that they are all pretty much road worn but even so, you'd think a collector or an avid 'Stones' fan would pay top dollar for his '59 Les Paul.

Yeah, definitely. Especially based on the fact that non-celebrity owned Bursts have sold for $400K before, and this was not some instrument Keith played once or twice. He used it quite regularly throughout the entire Brian Jones era (at the height of their fame). Plus it's gorgeous