This is one he's been after for a LONG time.
That is a Fernandes Brad Gillis signature model, a fairly little-known Japanese superstrat from the mid-80s. If you don't know who Brad Gillis is, check him out - he's awesome. See 2:30 for details, and excuse the clothes and hair.
So yes, this guitar was only made for a couple of years, and some estimates suggest that there were only about 50 ever built. My dad is a big Brad Gillis fan and has wanted one of these guitars for ages - until a few days ago when an eBay alert led him to this example, located in South London. We went to pick it up yesterday and here it is now! It's in pretty good condition (a couple of paint dings but nothing major) and only really needed a new battery in the active gain-boost circuit (which is a hoot) before it worked properly.
It sounds great, it's well set-up, the neck is really nice and the trem is great - it's a copy of the old-style Floyd Rose without fine-tuners (similar to what Guthrie Govan is now using on his Charvel) and it seems to work well - feels really good in use too. The gain boost is a cool feature - as you can see, it includes a second input jack (there's a normal one on the side of the body) and has a trim-pot to adjust the level of distortion - it can get really quite lairy. It's kind of like having a DS-1 or something built into the guitar. The boost sounds pretty good as well!
Most importantly though, dad's pretty chuffed to have finally found one!
- "I'm going to write a very stiff letter. A VERY stiff letter. On cardboard."
Comments
Great NGD!
SSSSSWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I is ever so slightly completely jealous
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
I first heard of him when I saw Ozzy on this tour
Oh and yes I too remember Brad Gillis, which obviously makes me ancient as well
Happy new "Axe"* day to your Dad.
*I deem this as an acceptable term due to the 80's'ness of the piece in question.