Guest Luthier Series - Mike Eldred

[FuseG4]

GREAT question!
The SEMA Show in Las Vegas. It's primarily cars, but the paint work and design is over the top. I wish I could take all the Master Builders there every year.

Yeah, sometimes that happens, but mostly it works out because you have to approach it like "why not" you know? Yesterday we were kicking around this idea of finding one part... maybe a pickup, maybe a knob,...and building a guitar around it! Let that part be the fuse. MY LIKE!!!!!

ME

Cars... NICE. thanks for answering.

Also, burgundy mist metallic is the best color ever! Every time you guys put out teles in that color I feel like the world is becoming brighter.

[Mike Eldred]

First, it's an honor to speak with you, since I bought a new Pro Mod Charvel- and after years of trying to build guitars out of kits, Charvel/Fender finally made a production guitar that fits me perfectly.

Second- you mentioned the Hendrix strat- is this something new? Will Fender be making a replica of one of Hendrix's strats?

The honor is mine.

Hendrix...We made 4 copies of the Woodstock Strat a while back. No plans to do more right now.

ME

[FuseG4]

I can understand not doing more of the woodstock strat. with something that special, it like, if everyone has one, it's not special anymore.

[Mike Eldred]

This isn't a question, but two memories I wanted to share.

Seymour and I spent two days with you at the Custom Shop while we were working out the details for the Fender Custom Shop Seymour W. Duncan Signature Esquire. I remember you and Seymour totally geeking out over all the old tooling and fixtures that were around from the pre-CBS days. Anyway, at the end of the first day, your builders put together a working prototype of the Esquire and even though the paint wasn't completely dry, you invited Seymour to sit in with you on your gig at the House of Blues where you were tearing it up with Kid Ramos and Dave Gonzales from the Paladins. (Don Mare, one of our forum members, was there that night). I think that was the first time I heard you play live and I was blown away.

Another memory was hanging out with you at the NAMM show. That same day I was driving back to Santa Barbara and listening to the Rockabilly Hour on the local college radio station and I heard this amazing guitar player. Then the DJ says, "That was Mike Eldred of the Mike Eldred Trio." And I was so proud of that fact that I was hanging out with you just a few hours earlier.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you again for spending time with us today. Given your background as a player and luthier with the various companies with which you've worked, I think it would be fair to call you an Industry Icon. As you can tell by the comments and questions, your presence here is very welcome.

I know you're a super busy guy, but if you have any spare time, please feel free to check back in with us, even if you don't have time to post. Again Mike, thanks for doing this.

You are too kind my friend, but MY favorite memory with you is being asked to "TURN DOWN THE UKULELE" in the hotel bar in Yokohama!!!!! Hahahahahahaha!!!!! That was priceless!

ME

[Evan Skopp]

That was a good one. I think that was the evening where Mike Lewis caught the ukulele bug.

[Mike Eldred]

Hi Mike!

I'm very happy to be able to ask you some questions, so thank you.

OK...

1. What are your experiences with the tone qualities of a Fender-style neck---one piece (skunk stripe) , vs. two piece (no skunk stripe) with all other variables the same...type of wood, etc.

2. What are your experiences, tonally, of a maple fingerboard, vs a Indian rosewood board, vs. a Brazilian board?

3. What is your experience, tonally, of a slab-style ('62) Fender neck, vs a Veneer-style ('63) Fender neck?

Thank you very much, it's truly appreciated...

D

1) Two piece is brighter. It's that lamination of the finger board. really stiffens up the neck.
2) Rosewood is a bit warmer. Indian is what we like the most. Brazilian shouldn't be used. It's been mis-represented in the solid body guitar market in my opinion.
3) Slab style is warmer, round lam is brighter. It's all good, just need to take that into account when building the instrument. Slab board on a lighter body is going to sound woofy...and if you're looking for mids and highs, you're gonna miss it.

ME

[Evan Skopp]

OK, 10 minute warning, guys. Mike is out of here at 2:00 Pacific, so we'll have to limit this to just another couple of questions.

[FuseG4]

I like the Gretsch influence on the la cabronita. Gretsch's style seems like it would have a lot to draw upon in terms of style and tone. Any more plans to experiment in a gretsch-y way?

[speed2dirt]

Thanks for responding to my last question. I hope I didn't offend you by asking about G&L. There's so much talk about these two companies in comparison, I thought why not hear it from the horse's mouth.

Anyway, one last question. In the 80's, it seemed that Fender had quite a few stats loaded with Kahler tremolos: Spyders (licensed Floyds) and vintage 2-point trems with fine tuners & brass rollers (couldn't find the name... sorry). Why did Fender stop using Kahler trems as stock hardware? I know the company stopped working on trems in the 90s, but have begun again in recent years. Any models expected to come out Kahler loaded?

[J Moose]

Speaking of Gretsch... whatever became of this instrument & are there any plans for more?!

[Mike Eldred]

I like the Gretsch influence on the la cabronita. Gretsch's style seems like it would have a lot to draw upon in terms of style and tone. Any more plans to experiment in a gretsch-y way?

The La Cabronita may have that Filter-Tron, but that thang is MUEY FUERTE!!!!!""

ME

[newking70]

can you give me a discount on the fender custom shop made brian setzer sig model?

[Mike Eldred]

Thanks for responding to my last question. I hope I didn't offend you by asking about G&L. There's so much talk about these two companies in comparison, I thought why not hear it from the horse's mouth.

Anyway, one last question. In the 80's, it seemed that Fender had quite a few stats loaded with Kahler tremolos: Spyders (licensed Floyds) and vintage 2-point trems with fine tuners & brass rollers (couldn't find the name... sorry). Why did Fender stop using Kahler trems as stock hardware? I know the company stopped working on trems in the 90s, but have begun again in recent years. Any models expected to come out Kahler loaded?

No worries! All good! I just think that any comparison things are kinda childish myself. There's room for everybody.

Don't know about that time period really. No Kahlers are planned.

ME

[Mike Eldred]

Speaking of Gretsch... whatever became of this instrument & are there any plans for more?!

Paul Waller built that!! He's the Man!!! No plans for that again though.

ME

[Mike Eldred]

can you give me a discount on the fender custom shop made brian setzer sig model?

Yeah...give me your credit card...

ME

[elscorcho]

Thanks ALOT....this was a great read....I LOL-ed @ the 56'Floyd!

[Evan Skopp]

OK, we're past time.

Mike thanks again. This was one of our best Q&A chats. And this will be archived in The Vault.

[newking70]

Yeah...give me your credit card...

ME

thanks for your time sir.

[Mike Eldred]

Thank you all so much!!!!

ME

[Luís]

So... who's next ?

Great start, now we have to keep the ball rolling, maybe Mike could say who he would like to see do this next eheh.

Again, thanks for doing this.