The '72 Custom

The Telecaster was Leo Fender’s original electric guitar, designed for ease of production, maintenance and repair. From its original launch in 1951, its simple design survived nearly unchanged for 20 years. In what most guitarists view as Fender’s dark ages, the ‘seventies, when CBS owned the company, they did attempt to innovate, almost as if to compensate for the less than consistently good workmanship that characterised the era. The best-known innovation from that period was the 1972 Telecaster Custom, viewed by some as a work of genius, and by others as a mongrel.
The ’72 Custom was probably the closest thing ever to a Fender-Gibson hybrid (with the possible exception of the now-forgotten Gibson Marauder.) Gibson-like features included a front humbucker pickup, and individual volume and tone controls for each pickup. It was the only Telecaster to feature Fender’s controversial three-bolt neck assembly and micro-tilt mechanism.

In its day, the ’72 Custom was poorly received by most Telecaster aficionados, possibly because it was such a radical departure from Leo Fender’s original design, and more probably due to the poor quality image enjoyed by Fender under CBS management. One well known guitarist did make the Custom his primary go-to guitar for a while, not surprisingly, given his propensity for replacing Telecaster single-coil neck pickups with humbuckers, and that was Keef Richards.

In the late ‘80s Fender Japan began re-issuing the ’72 Custom, followed in the late ‘90s by Fender Mexico. The ’72 has become an Indie band icon; Thom Yorke uses one as his main guitar on the rare occasions that Radiohead gigs. Ironically, the Reissues are generally much better made than the originals ever were, and in fact many more Reissues have been crafted than original ’72 Customs.

I have a soft spot for my Custom. When the house was burgled this past summer, it was the only guitar to escape, as it was still on vacation in Brittany. Three days later at the Stade de France, Keef launched the Stones’ show with Jumping Jack Flash, playing his original black ’72 Custom. An omen, or what?

The Café Society - Part 6 - Coming Soon, to a Mall Near You

On a lunchtime stroll recently, along rue de la Verrerie, I came across a new shop, strategically located at the border of the trendoid Halles area where I work and the very gay Marais.

The boutique had a rather chic look to it, and in fact at first glance I thought I was looking at a new Geox outlet, until I saw the prices, and the curious logo on the storefront, and on all the
labels. Geox now manufactures its famous Respira soles in China, but this was clearly an all Chinese brand, with China-like prices, and a personality cult to boot.

So I wandered in, and found a dazzling array of pretty fashionable shoes, nicely stitched, in cool colours.The two shop assistants, who barely spoke French, or English, explained that the shop had been open for two weeks, and was the first of many. I bought the urban strollers, for all of €38.

We'll be buying the rope next.

Happy Birthday Mum!

Today is my mother’s 47th birthday, or something like that. As my friend Michel Trébitsch said more than once, “Despite her gentle manner, your mother is the rock on which your family rests.”

In many ways, Michel was quite correct. In the unspoken division of labour that characterises most couples, my mother has kept the enterprise’s feet on the ground. When De Gaulle said that “l’intendance suivra,” he was no doubt referring to my mother. She has successfully and loyally shepherded many of my father’s visions to reality, such as the Big Move last year. She has been a Soccer Mom before the term existed, tennis instructor, or Chief Purchasing Officer of model aircraft.

Happy Birthday, Mummy!

Celia - Part 5 - Now we are 53...

MVI_0011

...weeks old. Celia has learned new ways to entertain her Cousin Roseline, come all the way from her birthplace, Mauritius, and her Auntie SylVie, straight from Scandinavia via Normandy.

The proud parents are still learning the word "No."

La Hacquinière - Part 13 - The New Alain Prost

Robin came by this morning with Claire, and honoured us with his first drive outside Paris.

I trust he shiftedd out of First Gear on the highway.

La Hacquinière - Part 12 - The Sheep Look Up

The shadows are growing longer, and the sheep getting fatter. They didn't go back to school and neither did I. Our paths will keep on crossing all winter long.

I once took a colleague home with his luggage along this footpath, forgetting that it was less than ideal for his rollerbag. I don't know whether he's forgiven me yet. The sheep certainly found it very funny.

La Hacquinière - Part 11 - Z3025591 & Z4029215

Fender US Special Telecaster N° Z3025591 & Fender American Series Stratocaster N° Z4029215 have left the building…unfortunately in the hands of burglars, late July. The Tele is three-tone sunburst, with a black pickguard (which replaced the white pickguard in the picture) and a rosewood fretboard. The Strat looks like Eric Clapton’s Blackie, with a black body, a white pickguard and a maple fretboard.

I had come back from vacation a couple of days before and had gone to work for the day. When I got home, the garage door was suspiciously ajar, and the bedroom windows wide open. I found that the thieves had attempted to hack the front door open using my axe (no more tools will be left in the wood shed) and had resorted to jimmying open a window using a screwdriver of mine (I repeat: no more tools will be left out.)

Fortunately, I’d taken the Alfa to the station that day, because the spare key disappeared, and the 156 was no doubt the reason the thieves partially forced open the garage door. Equally fortunately, the ’72 Custom Telecaster was still in Brittany and, in their haste, the thieves overlooked the Gibson Flying V. Indeed, the thieves were in such a rush that they took the guitars without their cases.

Since then, I’ve done the inventory and, given the photographic documentation and sales slips, most items stolen will be replaced by the insurers. There’s now a remote surveillance system in place, as well as motion-detecting floodlights in the garden. I’ve been restrained from installing landmines, out of deference towards the local wildlife.

So, if you come across Fender Telecaster N° Z3025591 or Fender Stratocaster N° Z4029215, my insurers and local gendarmes would love to hear from you.