I always loved the Fusion, since the first ads on the back page of Guitar Player. It was designed to do jazz, rock, and blues well, without the weight of an LP or the size of a 335 or 175. In the early 90s, I owned a Howard Roberts Fusion III, the newer model of this guitar with gold hardware, a different bridge, balsa (!?!) center block, and slightly stretched out shape. I settled for the 90's version back then because the 80s version was really rare, and it was before Ebay and Reverb, so finding such an obscure model in the store was impossible.
Well, I owned that Howard Roberts for a few years, until my gf (at the time) had some car trouble, and we were essentially poor musician kids. I sold the guitar to pay for the car. Even today, this model (especially the early 80s) is rare on Reverb and Ebay. So when one came up this week, in excellent condition, I thought about it for a few days and grabbed it. It was apparently bought by 1 guy who intended to learn guitar but never did. It remained in the closet for 41 years, and it certainly looks like it.
This one has a maple center block, and is all original. The fretboard is ebony, and the body is slightly bigger than an LP, and slightly thicker on the sides than a 335.The neck is a Tim Shaw and the bridge is a Tarback. I am not sure if I am going to keep these in the guitar, as I have 2 un-aged Antiquities sitting on the shelf. I do like the way the neck pickup sounds, but not crazy about the bridge pickup.
Well, I owned that Howard Roberts for a few years, until my gf (at the time) had some car trouble, and we were essentially poor musician kids. I sold the guitar to pay for the car. Even today, this model (especially the early 80s) is rare on Reverb and Ebay. So when one came up this week, in excellent condition, I thought about it for a few days and grabbed it. It was apparently bought by 1 guy who intended to learn guitar but never did. It remained in the closet for 41 years, and it certainly looks like it.
This one has a maple center block, and is all original. The fretboard is ebony, and the body is slightly bigger than an LP, and slightly thicker on the sides than a 335.The neck is a Tim Shaw and the bridge is a Tarback. I am not sure if I am going to keep these in the guitar, as I have 2 un-aged Antiquities sitting on the shelf. I do like the way the neck pickup sounds, but not crazy about the bridge pickup.
