Michael Bloomfield's Telecaster...don't miss!

[Gypsyblue]

Michael was the first great blues/rock guitarist many of us were aware of in the middle 1960's.

There was Jeff Beck too, but Clapton hadn't made his mark with John Mayall yet and Hendrix had yet to record Are You Experienced.

So, like GE Smith, I bought that first Paul Butterfield album, studied it, and wore it out!

Michael traded the Tele used on that recording for a 50's gold top Les Paul. Dan Erlewine traded Michael the famous sunburst Les Paul Michael was so often often pictured with thereafter for the gold top, and Dan still has it.

The guy who got the Tele was a left hander and he cut a new cutaway (more like hacked...) so could play it left handed and reach those high notes.

Anyways, here's a cool video:

[Gypsyblue]

Here's Dan Erlewine taking this iconic guitar apart and going through it:

[muscmp]

great article about that guitar in the October(yes, october) vintage guitar mag.

bloomie was one of my favorites.

thanks for posting this.

play music!

[jpjr50]

Just watched both of those videos wow, that's a $1,000,000+ guitar after being hacked up be a left hander in 1968.

[zabdart]

Well, if anyone can do justice to Mike Bloomfield's old Tele, it's probably G. E. Smith. However, back in the mid-60s, nobody -- but NOBODY -- could come within a lick of Michael Bloomfield.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Gypsyblue

Michael was the first great blues/rock guitarist many of us were aware of in the middle 1960's...Michael traded the Tele used on that recording for a 50's gold top Les Paul...The guy who got the Tele was a left-hander and he cut a new cutaway (more like hacked...) so could play it left-handed and reach those high notes...

The Eighth Amendment forbids cruel and unusual punishment...

The guy who did this passed away a few years ago TMK...

I'm going to end this day without facing felonious assault charges...

Two lucky guys here...

[Gypsyblue]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

The Eighth Amendment forbids cruel and unusual punishment...

The guy who did this passed away a few years ago TMK...

I'm going to end this day without facing felonious assault charges...

Two lucky guys here...

Well it could have been worse. At least the guy hadn't already cut an extra cutaway in the '55 Les Paul he traded to Michael for the Tele.

There were some terrible things done to now vintage and valuable guitars back in the 60's.

I know.

I did some of them.

Like painting my '56 Les Paul goldtop polka dot!

Did that around 1967.

Hey, it was just an 11 year old used guitar at the time.

Of course nothing compares to this hack job someone did on this original Les Paul Junior/Special:

[Pgambon]

That's some creative repair work!
The Bloofield tele is , IMHO, hardly noteworthy. Sorry but the missing bout and changed pickups leave little resemblance to its former self. Kk, somewhat noteworthy!

[Otterhound]

Originally Posted by jpjr50

Just watched both of those videos wow, that's a $1,000,000+ guitar after being hacked up be a left hander in 1968.

Likely wouldn't have been necessary had there been more proper lefty guitars built back then .
It's all part of the journey , now get over it .