Paul Kantner, 12 string sound in Jeff Airplane

[tomt3]

A few years ago in one of the local guitar centers, they had a vintage mapleglo 360/12 with those stripes on it, and a photo of Kantner playing his next to the guitar. The guitar was there a while, and after some time, a GC employee peeled the tape off, saying it was electrical tape. It wasn't.

[firstbassman]

This is really bizarre. I have not visited the forum in a really, really long, long time. (You have all missed me, haven't you? )

For those that don't know, take a look at my avatar which should give away that I am probably the biggest Airplane fan on RickResource, if not the planet.

And, what is the very first post I see when I return ... ? But a thread about Paul Kantner and the Airplane!

Paul sees himself as a very modest guitar player. But I think he did some wonderful work with his RIC 12. I will try and post some examples for you this weekend.

A couple of immediate comments though -

I don't know this for a fact but I would be very surprised if Paul was using a RIC 12 on the first album. So therefore none on "Blues From an Airplane." Though I've never asked Kantner about this.

Yes, Paul likes stripes taped to his guitars. I will post some photos.

The photo above with Jack was taken at the infamous Altamont concert in December 1969. You may notice that one string on Jack's bass has broken.

Paul's guitar there that he played a lot used to be the 6/12 convertable model. I forget what model number that is.

Don't forget a small footnote: Jorma used to play lead on a RIC 360/12 for a short time. So, some 12-string jangling on early Airplane material may be him. That guitar is famous for his (then current wife) throwing it against the wall ... and it stuck! Jorma later sold the guitar.

Hope that all helps for now.

[Folkie]

I used to be a huge Jefferson Airplane fan, but I never knew that Jorma (or Paul) played a 360/12. Thanks everyone for your contributions to this thread. I'll have to revisit "Surrealistic Pillow" soon.

[collin]

here's another thread on it from a few years back.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=392650&hilit=guitar+center+kantner

and another thread from when I saw the guitar for sale on GC website:

viewtopic.php?f=68&t=386017&hilit=guitar+center+kantner


I saw the guitar for sale on Guitar Center's website....but it wasn't advertised as Paul's guitar though...but how many 366/12's are there with identical black electric tape like that and the converter comb removed?

[firstbassman]

Paul sees himself as a very modest guitar player. But I think he did some wonderful work with his RIC 12. I will try and post some examples for you this weekend.

Here is one easy example of Paul's great RIC 12-string playing. The great interplay between his rhythm and Jorma's lead on the intro to "High Flying Bird:"

[firstbassman]

I used to be a huge Jefferson Airplane fan, but I never knew that Jorma (or Paul) played a 360/12.

Here is a rare photo of Jorma when he played lead of a 360/12:

[firstbassman]

and another thread from when I saw the guitar for sale on GC website:

viewtopic.php?f=68&t=386017&hilit=guitar+center+kantner

Wow! I'm even mentioned in that thread. Sorry, I don't recall seeing it at the time otherwise I would have replied.

I always suspected that the GC RIC-12 with the black tape was one of Paul's but I don't know that for a fact.

Kantner's guitar tech (Michael something?) used to be a sometime member of this forum. He would probably know.