Son of the Gunn
If you've ever seen a re-run of the '60s TV shows Batman or Mission Impossible, you've heard it. We're talking about legendary LA session guitarist Bob Bain's "Son of the Gunn" Telecaster. Named in honor of the iconic riff that drives Henry Mancici's "Peter Gunn" theme, Bob's guitar is a 1953 Fender "Blackguard" Telecaster with custom modifications — notably a humbucking pickup in the neck position and a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. From television and movie scores to countless hit records by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, and Quincy Jones, this Tele has seen some action — literally thousands of sessions. Now, working closely with Mr. Bain, Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Paul Waller has painstakingly re-created this one-of-a-kind instrument. The Bob Bain "Son of the Gunn" Telecaster is a very limited edition, and only one will be available here at Sweetwater. This is your chance to own a legend.
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A versatile session guitar
Los Angeles session guitarist Bob Bain idolized his Tele. He used it on thousands of gigs (including his 22 years with Doc Severinsen and the NBC Orchestra, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show house band), during which he was called upon to instantly deliver just about every guitar sound under the sun. Bob was a jazz musician, and when rock arrived in the 1960s, he needed a guitar with a more cutting sound than his L-5. His 1953 Fender Telecaster cut through the mix but didn't provide the warm tones he needed for jazz. Switching guitars was a hassle, so Bob installed a humbucker in the neck position of his Tele, which did the trick. This way he could use one guitar for both rock and jazz. Installation of a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece further enhanced the Tele's versatility to deliver steel guitar sounds. Necessity being the mother of invention, Bob Bain had become an early Tele mod pioneer. When Custom Shop Master Builder Paul Waller re-created Bob's beloved axe, he included yet another highly versatile modification: a Fishman Powerbridge, which allows you to add acoustic guitar tones to your sonic palette.
The Custom Shop Relic treatment
The Fender Custom Shop's Relic treatment creates instruments that are spittin' images of the originals. Without sneaking a look at the neck heel stamps, you'd be hard-pressed to distinguish the Bob Bain "Son of the Gunn" Telecaster from the real deal. A period-correct nitrocellulose lacquer finish gives the guitar a timeless, classic look, while the relic process gives you a guitar that looks like it's spent time on the road. Nitro finishes — standard back in the day — are significantly thinner than today's polyurethane finishes, allowing the guitar to "breathe." Nitro finishes not only look vintage-y wonderful; they also enhance the instrument's tonal qualities.
Fender Custom Shop Bob Bain "Son of the Gunn" Telecaster Features:
- Impeccable replica of Bob's modified 1953 Fender Blackguard Telecaster
- Only 30 guitars produced worldwide — Sweetwater has ONE!
- Masterbuilt by Custom Shop senior luthier Paul Waller
- Custom Shop Relic lacquer finish replicates the original guitar's wear and tear
- 2-piece off-center select ash body
- 1-piece maple neck with soft "V" profile
- 7.25" radius fingerboard with 21 vintage frets
- Hand-wound '51 Nocaster single-coil bridge pickup
- Seymour Duncan '59 humbucking neck pickup
- Fishman VIB-101 Powerbridge for acoustic tones
- Bigsby B16 vibrato tailpiece
- Includes deluxe hardshell case and certificate of authenticity
