ALSO THIS MONTH
THE TRAGIC FATE OF ‘BETTY JEAN’
Bassist Billy Cox has revealed the fate of Hendrix’s singlepickup Danelectro Shorthorn 3012 from his army days. The guitar was nicknamed ‘Betty Jean’ after Betty Jean Morgan, a woman Hendrix was dating when he served in the army. It was during this time that Hendrix and future bandmate Cox would meet, and they played early jams and gigs with this guitar.
“I was told, ‘If you ever found that guitar in Nashville it’d be worth $5 million.’ I found out where it was,” Cox explained to NAMM’s Music History Project podcast series. “He had pawned it to the guy who owned the Del Morocco [a Nashville club that Hendrix had played during the early 60s] for about $150, something like that,” Cox recalled. “And he kept it because Jimi didn’t pay him back. He kept it at his house, and about four years later that house burnt down.”
NEW SIGNATURE FOR JOBO
Joe Bonamassa’s next Epiphone signature model will be a Les Paul Custom Black Beauty. “We based my new signature on this 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom,” he told Gibson TV. “I made it a super-playable instrument, throaty but clean, and the lead pickup just barks. I fell in love with it. It’s a great Black Beauty and you just play this thing into the ground.”
ADRIAN SMITH ALBUM TEASER
Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith has revealed he’s recorded an album for a new project with another guitarist – but who could it be? “He is a really good singer, a great guitar player,” Smith told MusicRadar, “and I can’t name it at the moment! It’s not coming out just yet and I don’t want to reveal too much. But I have done an album.”
JON GOMM NEW MUSIC
Guitar virtuoso Jon Gomm has joined Ibanez Guitars ahead of the release of his album, The Faintest Idea. It’s preceded by Cocoon, his first new single for seven years. Gomm also performed and taught a version of the song in an exclusive video lesson that you can watch as part of MusicRadar.com’s Virtual Guitar Show. Visit the website for more.
WYMAN BASS SMASHES RECORD
A sale of Bill Wyman’s gear at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills set a new record in September for the most expensive bass guitar and guitar amp ever sold at auction. Wyman’s 1969 Fender Mustang bass sold for $384,000, while his 1962 Vox AC30 Normal model amp sold for $106,250. However, a 1968 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top used by late Stones founder Brian Jones in the band’s Rock And Roll Circus show was the highest value item; it sold for $704,000.