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New Pete Townsend Goldtop - Pancake Body and Volute!!!

sparky

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Oct 8, 2002
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the reason there is a 1st fret inlay on these guitars is that the Deluxe that Pete gave them to spec out had one. it also had a TP-6, which those of you who went to NAMM may remember seeing on the prototype they had there. Gibson eventually decided against using the TP-6 on production models.
 

Hammerhead

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rhubarbred said:
That is the lamest excuse for downloading kiddie-porn I've ever heard.

The version I hear was that he was researching for a forthcoming rock-opera on kiddie fiddling.

If only Gary Glitter had thought of that.
 

garywright

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Aug 17, 2002
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rhubarbred said:
That is the lamest excuse for downloading kiddie-porn I've ever heard.

There is plenty of attention paid to child molesters without his celebrity being needed to draw attention to it.

"He claimed he may have been sexually abused as a child and that he hoped the images might help jog his memory"

:)

...I agree ! ...rather than having to see actual kiddie porn pix couldn't ole Pete have just closed his eyes and imagined a deaf, dumb and blind kid gettin rear ended..
 
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LPCrafty

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Jun 23, 2005
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It's interesting that I haven't actually seen Pete play either the sig SG or LP live in concert. In both the Live 8 and Concert for New York City shows he played his Fishman and Lace-equipped Strats exclusively! What's up with that, Gibson?
 

dmt

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LPCrafty said:
It's interesting that I haven't actually seen Pete play either the sig SG or LP live in concert. In both the Live 8 and Concert for New York City shows he played his Fishman and Lace-equipped Strats exclusively! What's up with that, Gibson?

He played Gibsons since 1967, and then was using a J-200 acoustic and an SG Special from Tommy (1969) on, followed by Les Paul Deluxes as his stage guitars almost exclusively throughout the period from 1973 until Keith Moon's death in late 1978. Aside from the great early singles, this is the period where The Who made their mark. The time that matters. The time being honored.

Pete was never bound by any kind of exclusive contract to play Gibsons, and played a large variety of different kinds of guitars in the early years (from among which was a Rickenbacker, which also honored Pete's use and abuse of them with a limited edition signature model). By the time Who Are You was hitting the stores, Townshend was already dabbling with Schecter parts Telecaster copies, which would be his main guitar throughout the Kenny Jones denouement (he had used Fender Telecasters a bit in the early years).

And then, after The Who "retired" (and certainly did retire as creative force, though they continue to occassionally tour or do special events playing their old hits) Pete went back to the Stratocaster (since '89), the guitar he had been using all the way back just before he had started using SGs all those years ago.

Since The Who have played some pretty prominent concerts in the last 15 years (the Eric Clapton Signature Strat era), Fender could conceivably honor Pete Townshend and The Who with a signature model, especially as he has a piezo transducer pickup put in his guitars for covering acoustic songs (heck, they seem to give everyone else a signature model!). I don't think that's at all neccessary, but I could imagine it -- there has been almost no material with Pete playing a Gibson electric for 26 years! Many people (such as my beautiful young wife) think of Pete Townshend as an old bald guy who plays a Strat! But for those of us with a few more miles on them, we know that the legend was made during the Gibson years. The Schecter and Fender years are but a pale echo of the power and glory that once was. Gibson is quite right to honor the man and music that played such a big part in the Gibson story (just as they're right to honor numerous other legendary users of their great guitars).

That Pete plays a Strat now, in 2005, is completely besides the point. The 2005 Who (or remnants there of) is a fun reminder, but it's not really important. The Who that matters lives on forever in memories and in documents like their original studio albums and The Kids Are Alright movie, with Pete usually riffing or wailing away on, or smashing to pieces, a Gibson.
 

Hammerhead

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dmt said:
Many people (such as my beautiful young wife) think of Pete Townshend as an old bald guy who plays a Strat!

I don't, I think of Pete Townshend as an old bald guy who downloads kiddie porn.
 

fjminor

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Apr 28, 2005
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I will always remember Pete and The Who making the biggest mark on my life when I first listened to Live at Leeds. Just 6 songs, but 6 songs that to me were historical. And I agree with DMT...The Gibson years for Pete were his best sounding years by far!!!
 

keef

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Jan 27, 2002
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Stop press - the new PT Goldtop reissue will also be available in an 'authentic' version:
0310_wc-gtlespaul-vcm.jpg
 

maidenstrat

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Jan 12, 2003
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691
I thought that this thread was about Petes signature guitars. Nearly half the posts here have been about the Porn charges which have S.F.A. to do with a Gibson Guitars. He has been cleared of any charges on that topic so can we just talk about Guitars thats what we are here for after all.
 

Hammerhead

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Jan 16, 2003
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maidenstrat said:
I thought that this thread was about Petes signature guitars. Nearly half the posts here have been about the Porn charges which have S.F.A. to do with a Gibson Guitars. He has been cleared of any charges on that topic so can we just talk about Guitars thats what we are here for after all.

Chill out my friend, just some gentle ribbing over what was undoubtedly ill-advised behaviour on Pete's part. :)
 

Jignant

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Mar 28, 2003
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452
maidenstrat said:
I thought that this thread was about Petes signature guitars. Nearly half the posts here have been about the Porn charges which have S.F.A. to do with a Gibson Guitars. He has been cleared of any charges on that topic so can we just talk about Guitars thats what we are here for after all.

I have to agree with you. That being said, who needs a Deluxe with a humbucker in the center...not me. I like Deluxes well enough and if I had one would probably load it with P 90's or leave it alone and enjoy the unique tonality of the mini hums. Lots of great rock n roll recorded on those Norlins. We all have our personal preferences.
With regard to Pete and his porn, I could really care less. Given that I am not a huge Townsend fan, he has made contributions to rock guitar. My issue would be that every article I have EVER READ where Pete has the opportunity to speak, he comes off as an egotistical GASSBAG. I believe in being humble about my guitar playing craft and also believe that there is something to be learned from EVERY GUITARIST. MOST players that love themselves the way Pete obviously does, could not play their way out of a paper bag. I'd prefer to stick with Warren Haynes' tone or Jimmy Page (alternate tunings - incorporation of jazz chors into rock music etc.) as much more influential players of our time. As far as this signature model... :puke

Jignant opinions are not necessarily those of the LPF and it's members...yours may vary. :ahem
 
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Al Russo

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Apr 22, 2002
Messages
585
jignant...I'm a tremendous WHO fan. I agree w/the statement about people tooting their own horns not being all that great. However, Pete has numerous times spoken about his lack of single note skills. He claims that he started to play "traditional" solos after hendrix went to england. His traditional solos aren't all that traditional once u start analyzing what he does. He gets kind of frenetic and his timing gets all over the place. He plays in front of and behind the beat and eventually lands on his feet. In order to hear what i'm speaking about, check out the new version of Who's next. The live cuts from the young vic speak volumes about his off kilter timing. I"m not knocking him in any way. I'm just telling it as i see it. He happens to be the main reason i picked up a guitar in the 1st place..
 

RocknTommy

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Aug 8, 2003
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Al Russo said:
jignant...I'm a tremendous WHO fan. I agree w/the statement about people tooting their own horns not being all that great. However, Pete has numerous times spoken about his lack of single note skills. He claims that he started to play "traditional" solos after hendrix went to england. His traditional solos aren't all that traditional once u start analyzing what he does. He gets kind of frenetic and his timing gets all over the place. He plays in front of and behind the beat and eventually lands on his feet. In order to hear what i'm speaking about, check out the new version of Who's next. The live cuts from the young vic speak volumes about his off kilter timing. I"m not knocking him in any way. I'm just telling it as i see it. He happens to be the main reason i picked up a guitar in the 1st place..

Amen Bro! Three Words.

Live at Leeds

The latest release with all of TOMMY on it.
 

Lennon24

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Jul 15, 2003
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473
Jignant said:
. MOST players that love themselves the way Pete obviously does, could not play their way out of a paper bag. I'd prefer to stick with Warren Haynes' tone or Jimmy Page (alternate tunings - incorporation of jazz chors into rock music etc.) as much more influential players of our time. As far as this signature model... :puke

Pete has NEVER claimed to have chops...but son, he has WRITTEN some of the greatest pop music of the 20th Century...he may not be in the same league as John Lennon or Paul McCartney...but being the 3rd greatest songwriter the rock era is not bad
 

fjminor

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Pete may not be the perfect human being but the dude had chops and could play and wrote some of the most memoriable music this side of mankind. For those that have issue with Pete - maybe take it to the Backstage, as I would rather discuss the Deluxe Topic or SG with members that have the same likes.
 

les strat

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Aug 22, 2004
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Lennon24 said:
Pete has NEVER claimed to have chops...but son, he has WRITTEN some of the greatest pop music of the 20th Century...he may not be in the same league as John Lennon or Paul McCartney...but being the 3rd greatest songwriter the rock era is not bad

And in the end, that's all that really matters: good songs.
 

boogie92801

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Apr 10, 2003
Messages
211
I have a couple of comments:

First, listen to Quadraphenia; killer guitar tones, great songs and one of my favorite albums. I read years ago that he used some vintage Gretch guitars, that John owned, on that album.

Second, just like claptone his tone sufferd as the years went on.

Lastly, I think I read he was cleard of the kiddy porn charges but I think he has "issues".

Oh, I went to the Quadraphenia concert and it was KILLER.
 
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