Never heard of a ‘67 Messenger? Don’t start kicking yourself just yet… I’m a self proclaimed funky-old-guitar junky and I had to do some background research on this one myself.
Eastwood this week announced the Limited Initial Run of their new 1967 Messenger Tribute guitar––an instrument based on the aluminum-magnesium necked Messenger first built by tiny California guitar company Musicraft in the late ’60s, and made notable due to its use by Grand Funk Railroad’s resident six-string madman, Mark Farner.
That’s right––the Messenger pre-dated Travis Bean and Gary Kramer’s infamous aluminum-necked guitars by at least seven or eight years.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your feeling for metal necks,) Eastwood appears to have done away with the aluminum-magnesium neck entirely, opting instead for good ol’ maple, with set-neck construction.
The guitar also sports a hollow-body design with maple center block, unique “cat’s eye” f-holes, mahogany back and sides, and a spruce top.
Sadly, there’s no word on whether Eastwood will consider adding the built-in fuzztone circuit that many of the original models carried… now that would be a true stand-out addition to an already great looking guitar.
This early Limited Edition run will be selling for $849, and is being made available in Greenburst or Cherry finishes. The ‘67 Messenger Tribute is expected to ship sometime in early April.
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February 20th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Hmmm…would be a lot cooler if it had the original neck but that green burst finish sure is pretty.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I got to fess up: I’ve never heard of the Messenger. I’m liking the Greenburst though. Is it just me, or does it seem that the headstock is a little angled to the right in the photo?
February 20th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Yes, you’re correct… the originals had a headstock that looked a bit like Gumby if I’m not mistaken ;) I’m sure Eastwood copied that as well, though the picture here doesn’t do justice to it.
February 20th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Do we know where these are being made? US, China, Korea?
February 20th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I live not far from them and have a couple of Eastwood guitars. Knowing his price points in the market, I can bet almost 100% it will be a Korean made instrument. Eastwood’s Korean made stuff is made to a very high standard.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I just saw an actual Messenger last week in Subway Guitars in Berkeley (http://www.fatdawg.com/) Didn’t play it, but it looked nice.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I’ve visited Subway’s website a number of times. Looks like one funky guitar shop. And that Messenger is one funky guitar.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:13 am
I didn’t know about it either but I do like the green color. My acoustic guitar is also green so I might be a bit subjective here :-)
February 21st, 2008 at 5:29 am
If you want earlier examples of metal-necked guitars, then what about the bizarre offerings of Italy’s Wandre Guitars - I’ve just blogged about them earlier this week:
http://guitarz.blogspot.com/20080201_archive.html#7040627866463740688
February 21st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Tom:
Yep, I too have visited Subway’s site many times, and a Bay Area business trip gave me a good excuse to head up there. It’s a great store, in my opinion: tight, cluttered, “cheap”/weird guitars all over the place…perfect. I went up there with the goal of checking out one of their Danelectro-based baritones, and there happened to be one in the shop (not for sale, but in for an upgrade), which played and sounded beautifully. They’re good people, too. They’re on my short list.
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Cool. I’ve always planned to go check them out if/when I get out to the Bay Area. Sounds like it’s worth the effort!
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
The original Messengers had an interesting three-layer laminated pickguard. I wonder if there are plans to reproduce this? Also think the original ‘violin’ style tailpiece was cool.
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
In 1966 I purchased a brand new Messenger Guitar that had a stereophonic outlet, the aluminum-magnesium cast neck the ran the length of the body with the rosewood finger board. This was a beautiful black cherry type color and one of the smoothest sweetest guitars I had ever played. Took it to a guitar shop and have never seen it since. That was back in the mid 70’s and I could never find a replacement. Bought it in Ogden Utah of all places for $400.00. If anyone runs across a guitar like this I would sure love to know about it. Might consider trading a fender strat (American) for one.
March 19th, 2009 at 2:27 am
did anyone sell a Orginal 67-68 Messenger Guitar?
Please let me know…
Thank you very much. Yannick Lehmann YannickLehmann@gmx.net