I thought I would post this up here after doing some digging to find the Telecaster he used in many of thier earlier concerts, its on the Liberty PV from the Something Else section on one of the DVD's as well.

IMO, I am typically against buying a guitar just because a favourite artist used/uses it, however I had a chance to play a Thinline before and they are very nice instruments.

The particular guitar is a 1978 Fender Thinline Telecaster, in Trans Red.

[img]http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8014/p1uhf0klnkkso.jpg[/img]

I would kill for one of those. I'm getting one of the Squier Vintage model for Christmas.

remember that his thinline was made by ESP.


im sure the fender one is just as good or even better.

[quote="Little Bastards"]remember that his thinline was made by ESP.
im sure the fender one is just as good or even better.[/quote]

Only a true pillows fan would buy the inferior guitar due it being the used-by-Sawao model.

Nice HBs. I'm envious.

Shouldn't this thread be named Sawao's Guitar? Just saying.

About my earlier post, I'm either buying a Squier Vintage Thinline Tele, or a Classic 50s Vibe Tele. What do you guys suggest?

[quote="Spike"]
IMO, I am typically against buying a guitar just because a [i]favourite[/i] artist used/uses it.
[/quote]

First of all, are you Canadian/British?

Anyway, I never really understood this point of view. Now, once you get a guitar above a certain standard of quality, it's just a matter of personal preference - the majority of your sound is up to you and your playing. I would further argue that it the connection between tone and the guitar you use is extremely overrated, as just the pickups, the amplifier, and [i]you[/i] account for 99% of your tone (and yet there are those who will argue that the type of wood you use on your fingerboard is important - come on, really?). So, who cares if your reason for buying your guitar is that your favorite artist uses it? You're getting what you pay for anyway. You're not going to pay a price premium because Sawao used a Thinline.

It also makes perfect sense if you're influenced by that artist. [b]Your sound[/b] isn't some innate musical sense - it's all the musical influences you've had in the past amalgamated in a combination unique to you, from a perspective unique to you.

[quote="sheerheartattack"]words[/quote]

Indeed. I'll add that despite my love for Manabe's sound in the middle years, I don't think I'll ever own a Mustang (unless, you know, I happen to be filthy rich someday). It's because I know that it would take too much extra gear for me to make a Fender Mustang sound how I'd want it to sound (amp, effects, pickups, as you said). Sure, there's something to be said with working with the gear you have and carving out exactly what you want...but I'd sure love it if the Mustang had a remotely usable tone right from the get-go. I'm no expert, and I'm usually very timid in guitar shops...but the three I've played involved me fiddling with the controls and amp for a good while, thinking "OK, how can I get it to NOT sound weak and nasally?"

Just an aside.

[quote="GoldenRhino"]I'm no expert, and I'm usually very timid in guitar shops...but the three I've played involved me fiddling with the controls and amp for a good while, thinking "OK, how can I get it to NOT sound weak and nasally?"[/quote]

All you would have to do is swap the pickups. It's not the guitar, for the most part, which was my point.

[quote="sheerheartattack"][quote="GoldenRhino"]I'm no expert, and I'm usually very timid in guitar shops...but the three I've played involved me fiddling with the controls and amp for a good while, thinking "OK, how can I get it to NOT sound weak and nasally?"[/quote]
All you would have to do is swap the pickups. It's not the guitar, for the most part, which was my point.[/quote]

I've got an inkling that the short scale of the Mustang also has a lot to do with it, though. Exactly how much, I'm not sure. But it's a definite factor.

...anybody else wishing Sawao would dump his old Cyclone already?

I don't really give a damn about what Sawao plays. I was kind of shocked when he painted over his old artwork though. (If that's even the case, he might have just gotten another one.) Something like that would have at least SOME sentimental to me. My guitar is like my companion.

edit: my favorite guitar that Sawao used would probably be taylor t5, which is one of my favorite guitars ever.

I have a picture somewhere of him playing the T5 in the studio. I played one of those at the local Sam Ash and they are incredible. I did like Sawao's "I Think I Can" artwork but I like what he's had since then.

EDIT: Oh and I found the one of the Taylor.

[img]http://www.pillows.jp/p/images/stories/blog/07020705.jpg[/img]


[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2348140506_eeff226afd.jpg?v=1206034971[/img]

[img]http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1906/234737257525a8877a10b.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/2347310273_a6a066a8ac_b.jpg[/img]

I've always been tempted to buy a Cyclone, it Sawao seems to get a pretty good array of tones out of that thing.