Tweet
Week before last I got an email about a 24 hour flash sale, 50% off on the roughly Tele-shaped Backlund Model 200, in red only.
Some of you probably know I've had a Model 400 for a couple of years and like it.
Had been admiring the 200 for awhile. It has forearm contour and belly cut, which for me make Tele types much more comfortable. Singlecoil rail neck pickup with a humbucker at the bridge. And of course the distinctive mid-century futurist styling that makes all of John Backlund's designs so unusual and striking.
But I resisted the urge and did not buy.
A few factors helped: I have a number of Teles and own too many red guitars already. So I passed, somewhat reluctantly.
For a few days I felt good about not spending the money heading into the holidays and congratulated myself on my strength of will.
Then it happened.
I stumbled across a barely-used Backlund 100 DLX for sale. It has the Backlund retro-futuristic look, like something right out of The Jetsons. Same pickup combination as the 200. Forearm contour and belly cut, too. Not even remotely Tele-like. And it isn't red.
Suddenly I realized it hadn't been willpower that stopped me from buying the sale guitar.
Obviously it was Fate - saving me from that impulse purchase so I'd have the money for this one.
Guitar is virtually unplayed. Not a scratch on it, not even a smudge. Factory strings still clean, and some of the protective plastic still on the pickguard. Set-neck construction (as opposed to the 200 which is bolt-on). Plus it has a trem, something I occasionally do miss when playing my 400.
I made an offer and wound up getting a basically brand new guitar for even less than I would've paid on that half-off deal.
The seller threw in a nice Gibson gigbag for it.
So, I'm now the happy owner of a Backlund 100.
Some of you probably know I've had a Model 400 for a couple of years and like it.
Had been admiring the 200 for awhile. It has forearm contour and belly cut, which for me make Tele types much more comfortable. Singlecoil rail neck pickup with a humbucker at the bridge. And of course the distinctive mid-century futurist styling that makes all of John Backlund's designs so unusual and striking.
But I resisted the urge and did not buy.
A few factors helped: I have a number of Teles and own too many red guitars already. So I passed, somewhat reluctantly.
For a few days I felt good about not spending the money heading into the holidays and congratulated myself on my strength of will.
Then it happened.
I stumbled across a barely-used Backlund 100 DLX for sale. It has the Backlund retro-futuristic look, like something right out of The Jetsons. Same pickup combination as the 200. Forearm contour and belly cut, too. Not even remotely Tele-like. And it isn't red.
Suddenly I realized it hadn't been willpower that stopped me from buying the sale guitar.
Obviously it was Fate - saving me from that impulse purchase so I'd have the money for this one.
Guitar is virtually unplayed. Not a scratch on it, not even a smudge. Factory strings still clean, and some of the protective plastic still on the pickguard. Set-neck construction (as opposed to the 200 which is bolt-on). Plus it has a trem, something I occasionally do miss when playing my 400.
I made an offer and wound up getting a basically brand new guitar for even less than I would've paid on that half-off deal.
The seller threw in a nice Gibson gigbag for it.
So, I'm now the happy owner of a Backlund 100.
Comment