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What's the story on Bloomfield's Les Pauls??

Litcrit

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May 9, 2002
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The stories of Bloomfield and his guitars are reminiscent of the stories of "Bird" (Charlie Parker) and his alto sax. For those who don't know, Bird was probably the finest improvisational mind of the 20th century (certainly in the top 5), co-creator of Bebop, genius extraordinaire AND...stone cold junkie. He pawned his sax more times than Mike Tyson attempted comebacks. So, typically, he'd have some big name, big time gig coming up and he'd be frantically searching around for somebody to help him get his axe out of hock....Junkie stories: all the same.
 

goldtop0

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Aug 19, 2003
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Well I'm gonna stay in NZ keep my guitar in the case eat more vegetables and play with The Hives,but only if I'm asked okay.

Jeez that is boring ain't it!!

Great stories you guys.............it's just too bad that these brilliant muso's were junkies,that's a real HARD way to go.
 

frisco

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Jun 21, 2002
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what about the lester that Santana owns and says that belong to Mike?

Does anyone know how many bursts did he owned?
 

WheelchairBandit

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Santana has one of Mike's bursts,but it's not the famous one he got from Dan Erlewine.

According to what I've read,here and elsewhere in the last week or so,Mike had at least three bursts-a 58,a 59,and a 60,and possibly another 60.Supposedly Mike only bought these after he lost the other one in Canada.

Mike taught Santana most of his chops-he was a frequent student of Mike's.

WB.
 

Klyde59

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Jan 26, 2004
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This subject has been covered many times before,but for those not up to speed let me add my story on the Bloomfield(once again!).It is true that the guitar ended up in Canada and eventually made it's way to Toronto in 1980.I was a struggling 19 yr. old and one of the very few guys into vintage guitars in southern ontario.A guy named Ken Goodwin got the '59(Erlewine burst) and had it as well as two other bursts and a V.I went to his house and played the guitar,closely examined it and then ran down to a local record store to check the details with one Mike is holding on the front of one of his records.It was absolutely the ONE with the beautiful bookmatched top,battle scar below the stop tail on the treble side,two knobs that were slightly different,the sg/les paul truss rod cover,grovers,etc.It was really beat and had an average quality headstock repair.Need less to say even then I wanted it badly and the price was $4000 canadian at the time a considerable amount for anyone let alone a 19 year old with no cash.I even went to my bank to try and get a loan for it,and they looked at me and laughed.It was sold to a Toronto guitar enthusiast(he LOVED Jimmy Page and wanted a les paul like his).He eventually moved to the U.S and last I heard it was still in his posession,but I won't confirm it.Oh yeah and it was an absolute mother to play with a vibe that still stays with me.Talk about one that got away.
 

WheelchairBandit

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I just read somewhere that Bloomfield had a '56 Custom while he was with Butterfield,but didn't like it and later ditched it.Does this sound correct to anyone?

WB.
 

frisco

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Jun 21, 2002
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I went to his house and played the guitar,closely examined it and then ran down to a local record store to check the details with one Mike is holding on the front of one of his records.It was absolutely the ONE with the beautiful bookmatched top,battle scar below the stop tail on the treble side,two knobs that were slightly different,the sg/les paul truss rod cover,grovers,etc.It was really beat and had an average quality headstock repair

WOW!

I have seen pics of Mike here on the forum that looks like the Supersesion sesion where he is playing a 345
any one got info about that?
 

56Tweed

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Mar 19, 2004
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WheelchairBandit said:
I just read somewhere that Bloomfield had a '56 Custom while he was with Butterfield,but didn't like it and later ditched it.Does this sound correct to anyone?

WB.

I know he played a Goldtop on East-West, not sure what year. Haven't heard about any customs.
 

55Custom

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Goldtop
pic-5.jpg


pic-79.jpg
 
Last edited:

WheelchairBandit

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Well,I see the white Telecaster,the 'burst and a Custom of some kind.

The Gold Top was a '55 wrap tail with P90s-supposedly the East-West guitar.

WB.
 

55Custom

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I removed the pic of the Tele. The Goldtop wraptail is pictured several times on the CD entitled "Mike Bloomfield Live at the Old Warldorf", recorded between 12/76 and 5/77.
 

chuck dale

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Feb 16, 2003
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I read the Les paul Custom on the front of Guitar Player was one handed to him for the picture.I don't think he owned a Les Paul at the time.It looks really "clean" for a Bloomfield owned guitar.
 

WheelchairBandit

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55Custom,
The guitar on the cover of the Ed Ward book is the 'burst-I have that book right here.

The Gold Top was traded to Dan Erlewine in '66 for the burst.

WB.
 

MHGOLDTOP

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Oct 4, 2002
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how bloomfield felt about instruments is summed up on Refugee from Live Adventures of Bloomfield and Kooper, when he drops his Burst to the stage with a cacophony of mahoganization via the twin reverb valve extraction units...
 

Slim Taper

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Jul 19, 2001
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OOOHHH....as much as I have cherished that album and played the grooves off the vinyl, I can never, never listen to the sound of that guitar dropping to the floor. I always get up and lift the needle off just before...
 
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