You might be onto something there.Could it be a prototype for the Super Axe with the built-in effects?
Chet and Lester were both well-known electronic tinkerers.I never noticed that before, and considering that is one of my favorite albums, that’s amazing. He‘s holding a Super Chet and all I can speculate is that he did some homebrew modifications. He was well studied in electrical theory and knew his way around electronic devices, including operating as a Radio Amateur, so he was prone to electrical experiments with his guitars.
It would be good to see some clear pix of this guitar.
Great picture. Thanks.How about this?
I wonder if there are onboard effects that he is controlling per pickup.How does one put eight switches and six knobs to use on a two pickup guitar? It is sheer madness.
Great picture. Thanks.
I wonder if there are onboard effects that he is controlling per pickup.
And at least 8 years before Midi existed.How about this? Wow. Looks like one of those midi guitars!
You may be right. That sort of surprises me.On second thought…seeing the position of the switches and lack of any FX adjustment options like on the Super Axe, I think the switches are strictly for pickup switching duties.
Looking at the arrangement I can guesstimate them to be a on/off and phase switch per PU coil.
You may be right. That sort of surprises me.
I just can’t picture Chet fiddling with out of phase sounds. Coil taps, maybe, but funki, in yer face outta phaz, no way.That's all sorts of funny right there.
Maybe Les Paul modified Chet's guitar, and many of those switches are for different kinds of delay.I just can’t picture Chet fiddling with out of phase sounds. Coil taps, maybe, but funki, in yer face outta phaz, no way.![]()
I suppose anything is possible.Maybe Les Paul modified Chet's guitar, and many of those switches are for different kinds of delay.
I just can’t picture Chet fiddling with out of phase sounds. Coil taps, maybe, but funki, in yer face outta phaz, no way.![]()
He knew his electronics. He had scratch built his own tremolo unit and if he was a radio amateur, chances are that he would have spent time working on devices much more complex than the simple circuitry of a guitar, or even a tremolo unit. Now, he might not have enjoyed working on guitar wiring. I do it when I need to, but it’s not an activity I crave.I read an interview with Chet(on Reverb IIRC) where he confessed to have changed the electronics on a guitar(possibly his d’Angelico) and only after quite a while finding out it was wired up wrong.
Just from that interview I got the impression while having no fear of wiring up guitar electronics Chet didn’t actually had much knowledge nor particularly care about the inner workings. He almost sounded callous.
With great ingenuity.How does one put eight switches and six knobs to use on a two pickup guitar? It is sheer madness.