New models include the Postmodern series, 1959 Journeyman Relic Precision Bass, American Custom series, and more.
Scottsdale, AZ (January 22, 2015) -- The Fender Custom Shop is proud to announce the 2015 Collection for the 2015 NAMM Show.
2015 Limited Edition Tele Caballo Tono (Tone Horse Tele)
The 2015 Limited Edition Tele Caballo Tono presents a fresh take on Fenderās original workhorse tone machine. Its name translates to āTone Horse Tele,ā and there is indeed a great deal of horsepower here, courtesy of a TV Jones Classic neck pickup, a hand-wound Texas Tele bridge pickup and a Greasebucket⢠tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain. Itās a dark horse too, with a Black lacquer finish on its lightweight alder body and the aged-and-worn Relic treatment to impart the look of authentic wear and tear.
Other premium features include a quartersawn AAA flame maple neck with a highly worn heavy-Relic treatment, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, distinctive Cabronita pickguard and reverse control plate (pickup switch placed behind control knobs), rock-solid Custom Shop RSD bridge, Sperzel tuning machines with pearl buttons, and Schaller strap locks. Black LTD case included.
2015 Limited Edition 1955 Stratocaster
The 2015 Limited Edition 1955 Stratocaster takes you straight back to the instrumentās original era, with a lightweight ash body in Dirty White Blonde or Two-Color Sunburst lacquer Relic finishes that evoke years of hard-fought wear and tear. The sparkling trio of hand-wound ā55 single-coil Stratocaster pickups is mounted on a single-ply eight-hole white pickguard, with five-way switching for modern tonal versatility.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, rock-solid American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, American Vintage tuning machines and a Custom Shop Limited Edition neck plate. Includes blonde LTD case containing a 1955 Fender Downbeat catalog insert reproduction.
2015 Limited Edition 1955 Esquire
The 2015 Limited Edition 1955 Esquire is a peerlessly crafted take on the single-pickup classic that preceded even the Telecaster in Fender history. Everything about the instrument takes you back to that original era, with a lightweight ash body in Dirty White Blonde or Two-Color Sunburst lacquer Relic body finishes that evoke long years of wear and tear. Authentic Esquire snap comes from its hand-wound ā55 Telecaster single-coil bridge pickup with staggered/beveled polepieces, and, in a special touch, the guitar comes with a neck pickup conversion kit containing a ā55 Telecaster single-coil neck pickup, pickguard and control assembly should you prefer dual-pickup tone and performance.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with āsoft Vā profile and highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three-way tone/pickup switch with black ātop hatā tip, single-ply five-hole white pickguard, ā55 Telecaster bridge with ¼ā steel saddles, American Vintage tuning machines and a Custom Shop Limited Edition neck plate. Includes blonde LTD case containing a 1955 Fender Downbeat catalog insert reproduction.
2015 Limited Edition 1955 Precision Bass
The 2015 Limited Edition 1955 Precision Bass gives you a magnificently crafted original-era version of the bass that started it all. Its lightweight ash body is sculpted with comfortable body and forearm contours, and comes in Dirty White Blonde or Two-Color Sunburst lacquer Relic body finishes that evoke the wear and aging of decades of frequent use (and occasional abuse). Its muscular blunt-force tone comes from a hand-wound ā55 Precision Bass single-coil pickup with a classic chrome cover.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with a highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, 7.25ā-radius maple fingerboard with 20 vintage-style frets, single-ply seven-hole white pickguard, authentic reproduction bridge with chrome cover, American Vintage tuning machines and Custom Shop Limited Edition neck plate. Includes blonde LTD case containing a 1955 Fender Downbeat catalog insert reproduction.
2015 American Custom Telecaster
The Fender Custom Shop 2015 American Custom Telecaster takes a double-bound early-ā60s classic and decks it out with knockout appointments that make it a dazzling performer. The two-piece lightweight alder body comes in Three-Color Sunburst, Black and Faded Lake Placid Blue finishes with parchment top and back body binding and an NOS treatment that evokes the look of a brand-new instrument in its original model year. Scorching Telecaster snap comes from a pair of hand-wired Twisted Tele single-coil pickups and Fenderās Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include an AAA flame maple neck with ālarge Cā profile, fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) maple or dark rosewood āslabā fingerboard with bone nut and 22 narrow jumbo frets, three-way pickup switch with black ātop hatā tip, three-ply eight-hole parchment pickguard, custom deluxe Telecaster bridge, and Elite chrome tuners with pearl buttons. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 American Custom Telecaster FM
The Fender Custom Shop 2015 American Custom Telecaster FM takes a double-bound early-ā60s classic and decks it out with knockout appointments that make it a dazzling performer. The two-piece lightweight ash body has a gorgeous two-piece book-matched AAA flame maple top, with parchment top and back body binding. The guitar comes in elegant Violin Burst or Honey Burst finishes with an NOS treatment that evokes the look of a brand-new instrument in its original model year. Scorching Telecaster snap comes from a pair of hand-wired Twisted Tele single-coil pickups and Fenderās Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include an AAA flame maple neck with ālarge Cā profile, fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) maple or dark rosewood āslabā fingerboard with bone nut and 22 narrow jumbo frets, three-way pickup switch with black ātop hatā tip, three-ply eight-hole parchment pickguard, custom deluxe Telecaster bridge, and Elite chrome tuners with pearl buttons. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 American Custom Stratocaster
The Fender Custom Shop 2015 American Custom Stratocaster takes the quintessential Fender electric guitar and decks it out with knockout appointments that make it a dazzling performer. The two-piece lightweight alder body is sculpted with deep ā57-style contours for remarkable playing comfort, and comes in Two-Color Sunburst, Black and Shoreline Gold finishes with an NOS treatment that evokes the look of a brand-new instrument in its original model year. Singing Strat sparkle comes from hand-wired ā69 Stratocaster single-coil neck and middle pickups (middle pickup is reverse wound/reverse polarity) and a hand-wired Texas Special single-coil bridge pickup.
Other premium features include an AAA flame maple neck with ālarge Cā profile and ā57-style small headstock; fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) maple or dark rosewood āslabā fingerboard with rolled edges, bone nut and 22 narrow jumbo frets; five-way pickup switch; three-ply 11-hole parchment pickguard with countersunk pickup- and switch-mounting holes; vintage white control knobs and switch tip; custom deluxe tremolo bridge; and Elite chrome tuners with pearl buttons. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 American Custom Stratocaster FM
The Fender Custom Shop 2015 American Custom Stratocaster FM takes the quintessential Fender electric guitar and decks it out with knockout appointments that make it a dazzling performer. The two-piece lightweight ash body is sculpted with deep ā57-style contours for remarkable playing comfort, with a gorgeous two-piece book-matched AAA flame maple top. The guitar comes in Violin Burst and Honey Burst finishes with an NOS treatment that evokes the look of a brand-new instrument in its original model year. Singing Strat sparkle comes from hand-wired ā69 Stratocaster single-coil neck and middle pickups (middle pickup is reverse wound/reverse polarity) and a hand-wired Texas Special⢠single-coil bridge pickup.
Other premium features include an AAA flame maple neck with ālarge Cā profile and ā57-style small headstock, fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) maple or dark rosewood āslabā fingerboard with bone nut and 22 narrow jumbo frets, five-way pickup switch, three-ply 11-hole parchment pickguard with countersunk pickup- and switch-mounting holes, vintage white control knobs and switch tip; custom deluxe tremolo bridge, and Elite chrome tuners with pearl buttons. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 Postmodern Stratocaster
The 2015 Postmodern Stratocaster is elegantly designed with a reappraisal of modern assumptions. A thoroughly contemporary take on a time-honored classic, it has a lightweight ash body with a comfortably contoured heel, a quartersawn maple neck with a finely sculpted ā60s āCā profile, a fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) āround-laminatedā maple or rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, and three sparkling Fat ā60s single-coil pickups with modern five-way switching and a special āTone-Saverā treble-bleed network that keeps tone consistent at any volume (no loss of highs when decreasing volume).
Other premium features include a three-ply parchment pickguard, American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, staggered tuning machines (no string tree), Schaller strap locks and Fender āFā logo engraved neck plate. Available in Black, Olympic White, Dakota Red and Three-Color-Sunburst NOS and new āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, the latter of which imparts the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 Postmodern Telecaster
The 2015 Postmodern Telecaster is elegantly designed with a reappraisal of modern assumptions. A thoroughly contemporary take on a time-honored classic, it has a lightweight ash body with a comfortably contoured heel, a quartersawn maple neck with a finely sculpted ā60s āCā profile, a fast compound-radius (9.5ā-12ā) āround-laminatedā maple or rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, and dual Twisted Tele pickups with three-way switching and Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include a three-ply parchment pickguard, Custom Shop RSD bridge, American Vintage tuning machines, Schaller strap locks and Fender āFā logo engraved neck plate. Available in Black, Dakota Red and Aged White Blonde NOS and new āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, the latter of which imparts the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
2015 Postmodern Precision Jazz Bass
The 2015 Postmodern Precision Jazz Bass is elegantly designed with a reappraisal of modern assumptions. A thoroughly contemporary combination of Fenderās two most time-honored basses, it has a lightweight alder Precision Bass body with a comfortably contoured heel, a quartersawn maple Jazz Bass neck with a finely sculpted ā60s āUā profile, a 7.25ā-radius āround-laminatedā rosewood fingerboard with 20 medium jumbo frets, and a seismic ā63 Precision bass split single-coil pickup with a vintage-style chrome cover.
Other premium features include a three-ply parchment pickguard (three-ply tortoiseshell pickguard on Three-Color Sunburst model), Custom Shop string-through-body RSD bridge, American Deluxe tuning machines and āStealthā A-string retainer, Schaller strap locks and Fender āFā logo engraved neck plate. Available in Olympic White, Dakota Red and Three-Color Sunburst NOS and new āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, the latter of which imparts the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case.
1959 Journeyman Relic Precision Bass
The Custom Shop 1959 Journeyman Relic Precision Bass takes you straight back to the original era of the bass that started it all. Its two-piece ash body comes in Vintage Blonde or Faded Three-Color Sunburst āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, which impart the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. The quartersawn maple neck has a carefully sculpted ā60s āoval Cā profile and a highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, topped by a 7.25ā-radius rosewood fingerboard with 20 vintage frets.
Other premium features include a ā59-ā62 Precision Bass split single-coil pickup with chrome cover, gold anodized aluminum pickguard, authentic reproduction bridge with chrome cover, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes brown textured vinyl hard-shell case with gold interior.
1960 Journeyman Relic Jazz Bass
The Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Jazz Bass transports you to the debut year of Fenderās most popular bass guitar model. Its two-piece alder body comes in Aged Olympic White or Three-Color Sunburst āJourneymanā Relic lacquer finishes, which impart the appearance of years of aging and light use without heavy wear and tear. The quartersawn maple neck has a carefully sculpted ā60s āUā profile and a highly worn Heavy Relic treatment on the back, topped by a 7.25ā-radius rosewood āslabā fingerboard with 20 vintage frets.
The two single-coil Jazz Bass pickups are designed for era-specific authenticity, with chrome covers and, in a special period-correct touch, dual āstackedā concentric control knobs (volume and tone for each pickup). Other premium features include a four-ply tortoiseshell pickguard, authentic reproduction bridge with āFā logo chrome cover, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes brown textured vinyl hard-shell case with gold interior.
1970 Relic Stratocaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1970 Relic Stratocaster delivers the authentic style and sound of the era when the Strat ascended to world dominance on the charts and concert stages everywhere. Features include an alder body, quartersawn maple neck with 1969 āUā profile and large headstock, 9.5ā-radius maple or rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three Fat ā60s single-coil pickups (reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup) with five-way switching, three-ply parchment pickguard, vintage white control knobs and an American Vintage bridge. Available in Black, Lake Placid Blue, Three-Color Sunburst and Olympic White (maple fingerboard model only) worn Relic finishes. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case with red interior.
1960 Relic Telecaster Custom
The Fender Custom Shop 1960 Relic Telecaster Custom is a sight and sound to behold, with an alder body dressed in a gorgeous Three-Color Chocolate Sunburst Relic finish with Dark Plum sides, and the elegant top and back binding that is the early-ā60s hallmark of the instrument. Pure Telecaster snap and sparkle comes from a pair of hand-wound Twisted Tele pickups, and the quartersawn maple neck is sculpted with a comfortable early-ā60s āoval Cā profile.
Other premium features include a 9.5ā-radius rosewood āslabā fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three-way pickup switch with aged white ātop hatā tip, three-ply mint green pickguard, American Vintage Telecaster bridge with threaded saddles, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes brown textured vinyl hard-shell case with gold interior.
1957 Relic Stratocaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1957 Relic Stratocaster takes you straight back to the pivotal year when the instrument was largely perfected into the form known worldwide today. Its deep-contoured alder body comes in Two-Color Sunburst, Black and HLE Gold lacquer Relic finishes, while an ash-body model is available in a White Blonde lacquer Relic finish. Sparkling tone comes from three hand-wound ā50s Stratocaster single-coil pickups (reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup) with modern five-way switching.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with a ā57 āsoft Vā profile and small headstock, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, single-ply parchment pickguard, vintage white control knobs, American Vintage bridge, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes hard-shell tweed case with gold interior.
1963 Relic Stratocaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1963 Relic Stratocaster takes you back to a pivotal period in the instrumentās history, when surf music was riding high and the Strat underwent some notable design mods. Its deep-contoured alder body comes in Three-Color Sunburst, Black, Candy Apple Red and Olympic White lacquer Relic finishes. Sparkling tone comes from three hand-wound ā60s Stratocaster single-coil pickups (reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup) with modern five-way switching.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with a comfortable ā60s āoval Cā profile and small headstock, 9.5ā-radius āround-laminatedā rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three-ply mint green pickguard, vintage white control knobs, American Vintage bridge, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes brown textured vinyl hard-shell case with red interior.
1952 Heavy Relic Telecaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1952 Heavy Relic Telecaster is an authentic evocation of Fenderās first workhorse guitar, along with some upgraded features for modern playability. Its ash body comes in Two-Color Sunburst, Black or Nocaster Blonde Heavy Relic lacquer finishes. Time-honored Telecaster snap comes from dual Nocaster pickups with three-way switching and Fenderās Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include a maple neck with a Nocaster āUā profile, 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, single-ply parchment pickguard (black pickguard on Nocaster Blonde model), ā52 Telecaster bridge with brass saddles, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes hard-shell tweed case with center pocket.
1963 Relic Telecaster
The Fender Custom Shop 1963 Relic Telecaster takes you back to the early years of one of modern musicās most electrifying decades. Its alder body comes in Three-Color Sunburst, Olympic White and Blue Ice Metallic lacquer Relic finishes, with signature Telecaster snap and sparkle coming from dual American Vintage Telecaster pickups with three-way switching and Fenderās Greasebucket tone circuit, which rolls off highs without reducing gain.
Other premium features include a quartersawn maple neck with a comfortable mid-ā60s āoval Cā profile, 9.5ā-radius āround-laminatedā rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow jumbo frets, three-ply mint green pickguard, American Vintage Telecaster bridge with threaded saddles, and American Vintage tuning machines. Includes black textured vinyl hard-shell case with red interior.
For more information:
Fender
Well-designed pickups. Extremely comfortable contours. Smooth, playable neck.
Middle position could use a bit more mids. Price could scare off some.
$2,999
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II
A surprise 6-string collaboration with Cory Wong moves effortlessly between ā70s George Benson and Blink-182 tones.
Announced at the 2025 NAMM show, Cory Wongās new collaboration with Ernie Ball Music Man scratched an itchānamely, the itch for a humbucker-loaded guitar that could appease Wongās rock-and-R&B alter ego and serve as complement to his signature Fender Strat. Inspiration came from no further than a bandmateās namesake instrument. Vulfpeck bassist Joe Dart has a line of signature model EBMM basses, one of which uses the classic StingRay bass body profile. So, when Wong went looking for something distinctive, he wondered if EBMM could create a 6-string guitar using the classic StingRay bass body and headstock profile.
Double the Fun
Wong is, by his own admission, a single-coil devotee. Thatās where the core of his sound lives and it feels like home to him. However, Wong is as inspired by classic Earth, Wind & Fire tones and the pop-punk of the early ā90s as he is by Prince and the Minneapolis funk that he grew up with. The StingRay II is a guitar that can cover all those bases.
Ernie Ball has a history of designing fast-feeling, comfortable necks. And I canāt remember ever struggling to move around an EBMM fretboard. The roasted maple C-shaped neck here is slightly thicker in profile than I expected, but still very comfortable. (I must also mention that the back of the neck has a dazzling, almost holographic look to the grain that morphs in the light). By any measure, the StingRay IIās curves seemed designed for comfort and speed. Now, letās talk about those pickups.Hot or Not?
A few years ago EBMM introduced a line of HT (heat-treated) pickups. The pickups are built with technology the company used to develop their Cobalt and M-Series strings. A fair amount of the process is shrouded in secrecy and must be taken on faith, but EBMM says treating elements of the pickup with heat increases clarity and dynamic response.
To find out for myself, I plugged the StingRay II into a Fender Vibroverb, Mesa/Boogie Mark VII, and a Neural DSP Quad Cortex (Wongās preferred live rig). Right away, it was easy to hear the tight low end and warm highs. Often, I feel like the low end from neck humbuckers can feel too loose or lack definition. Neither was the case here. The HT pickup is beautifully balanced with a bounce thatās rich with ES-335 vibes. Clean tones are punchy and brightāespecially with the Vibroverbāand dirty tones have more room for air. Individual notes were clear and articulate, too.
Any guitar associated with Wong needs a strong middle-position or combined pickup tone, and the StingRay II delivers. I never felt any significant signal loss in the blended signal from the two humbuckers, even if I could use a bit more midrange presence in the voicing. The midrange gap is nothing an EQ or Tube Screamer couldnāt fix, though. And not surprisingly, very Strat-like sounds were easy to achieve for having less midrange bump.
Knowing Wongās love for ā90s alt-rock, I expected the bridge pickup to have real bite, and it does, demonstrating exceptional dynamic range and exceptional high-end response that never approached shrill. Nearly every type of distortion and overdrive I threw at it sounded great, but especially anything with a scooped-mid flavor and plenty of low end.
The Verdict
By any measure, the StingRay II is a top-notch, professional instrument. The fit and finish are immaculate and the feel of the neck makes me wonder if EBMM stashes some kind of secret sandpaper, because I donāt think Iāve ever felt a smoother, more playable neck. Kudos are also due to EBMM and Wong for finding an instrument that can move between ā70s George Benson tones and the hammering power chords of ā90s Blink-182. Admittedly, the nearly $3K price could give some players pause, but considering the overall quality of the instrument, itās not out of line. Wongās involvement and search for distinct sounds makes the StingRay II more than a tired redux of a classic modelāan admirable accomplishment considering EBMMās long and storied history.
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II Cory Wong Signature Electric Guitar - Charcoal Blue with Rosewood Fingerboard
StingRay II Cory Wong - Charcoal BlueAdding to the companyās line of premium guitar strapsand accessories, Fairfield Guitar Co. has introduced a new deluxe leather strapdesigned in collaboration with Angela Petrilli.
Based in Los Angeles, Petrilli is well-known to guitar enthusiasts around the world for her online videos. She is one of the video hosts at Normanās Rare Guitars and has her own YouTube lesson series, the Riff Rundown. She also writes, records and performs with her original band, Angela Petrilli & The Players, and has worked with Gibson, Fender, Martin Guitars, Universal Audio, Guitar Center and Fishman Transducers.
Angela Petrilli's eye-grabbing signature strap is fully hand cut, four inches wide and lightly padded, so it evenly distributes the weight of the instrument on the shoulder and offers superb comfort during extended play. The front side features black "cracked" leather with turquoise triple stitching. The "cracked" treatment on the leather highlights the beautiful natural marks and grain pattern ā and it only gets better with age and use.The strapās back side is black suede for adhesion and added comfort, with the Fairfield Guitar Co. logo and Angela's name stamped in silver foil.
Features include:
- 100% made in the USA
- Hand cut 4ā wide leather strap with light padding -- offering extra comfort for longgigs and rehearsals.
- Black suede back side avoids slipping, maintains guitarās ideal playing position.
- Length is fully adjustable from 45ā - 54ā and the strap has two holes on thetailpiece for added versatility.
The Fairfield Guitar Co. Angela Petrilli signature strap is available for $150 online at fairfieldguitarco.com.
Tube Amp Doctor has reissued one of the companyās mostsought-after products: the TAD 6L6WGC-STR Blackplate⢠small bottle power tube is back inproduction after a 5-year absence.
The TAD 6L6WGC-STR Blackplate⢠is the tube that has made TAD so popular with boutiqueamp manufacturers and vintage tone enthusiasts since 2003. A direct replacement for 6L6 and5881 tubes, itās a remake of the small bottle GE6L6GC and has the same warm lower midrangeand silky top end as the classic GE versions of the 1950s and 1960s. Like the historic RCA5881, this tube features exclusive Blackplate anodes and a side getter.
The TAD 6L6GC-STR Blackplate⢠and the TAD 6L6WGC-STR Blackplate⢠feature TADāsexclusive black-plate designs, gold grid wire, double getter construction, no-noise filaments and1.2mm thick heavy duty glass. This tube is approximately 80mm high (without pins) and canreplace 5881 and 6L6WGB tubes.
The newly reissued tubes feature the original design and raw materials from old stock, availablein limited quantities as long as the old stock raw materials are available. Theyāre the perfectchoice for vintage tweed and black panel amps such as the 1960 Bassman, Twin, Showman orSuper Reverb. The complex midrange and sweet heights are a class of its own. The TAD6L6WGC-STR is recommended for classic tone with warm cleans and rich, sweet mids whenpushed ā and itās great for fat jazz or blues tones.
- Delivers classic sound of the 1950s and ā60s - excellent tone, maximum lifespan
- Tube Type: 6L6/5881
- Socket: 8 Pin(Octal)
- Identical construction, even tighter tolerances with improved production quality
The TAD 6L6GC-STR Blackplate⢠and the TAD 6L6WGC-STR Blackplate⢠are each priced at$48 (does not include VAT) / ā¬46.50 (includes VAT) and are available at tubeampdoctor.com.
In challenging times, sometimes elemental music, like the late Jessie Mae Hemphillās raucous Mississippi hill country blues, is the best salve. It reminds us of whatās truly essentialāāmusically, culturally, and emotionally. And provides a restorative and safe place, where we can open up, listen, and experience without judgement. And smile.
Iāve been prowling the backroads, juke joints, urban canyons, and VFW halls for more than 40 years, in search of the rawest, most powerful and authentic American music. And among the many things Iāve learned is that whatās more interesting than the music itself is the people who make it.
One of the most interesting people Iāve met is the late Jessie Mae Hemphill. By the time my wife, Laurie Hoffma, and I met Jessie Mae, on a visit to her trailer in Senatobia, Mississippi, sheād had a stroke and retired from performing, but weād been fortunate to see her years before at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival, where she brought a blues style that was like quiet thunder, rumbling with portent and joy and ache, and all the other stuff that makes us human, sung to her own droning, rocking accompaniment on an old Gibson ES-120T.
To say she was from a musical family is an understatement. Her grandfather, Sid, was twice recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress. While Sid played fiddle, banjo, guitar, harmonica, keyboards, and more, he was best known as the leader of a fife-and-drum band that made music that spilled directly from Africaās main artery. Sid was Jessie Maeās teacher, and she learned well. In fact, you can see her leading her own fife-and-drum group in Robert Muggeās wonderful documentary Deep Blues(with the late musician and journalist Robert Palmer as on-screen narrator), where she also performs a mournful-but-hypnotic song about betrayalāsolo, on guitarāin Junior Kimbroughās juke joint.
That movie, a 1982 episode of Mr. Rogersā Neighborhood (on YouTube) where she appears as part of Othar Turnerās Gravel Springs fife-and-drum band, and worldwide festival appearances are as close as Jessie Mae ever got to fame, although that was enough to make her important and influential to Bonnie Raitt, Cat Power, and others. And she made two exceptional albums during her lifetime: 1981ās She-Wolf and 1990ās Feelinā Good. If youāre unfamiliar with North Mississippi blues, their sound will be a revelation. The style, as Jessie Mae essayed it, is a droning, hypnotic joy that bumps along like a freight train full of happily rattling box cars populated by carefree hobos. Often the songs ride on one chord, but that chord is the only one thatās needed to put the musicās joy and conviction across. Feelinā Good, in particular, is essential Jessie Mae. Even the songs about heartbreak, like āGo Back To Your Used To Beā and āShame on You,ā have a propulsion dappled with little bends and other 6-string inflections that wrap the listener in a hypnotic web. Listening to Feelinā Good, itās easy to disappear in the music and to have all your troubles vanish as wellāfor at least as long as its 14 songs last.āShe made it clear that she had a gunāa .44 with a pearl handle that took up the entire length of her handbag.ā
The challenge Iāve long issued to people unfamiliar with Jessie Maeās music is: āListen to Feelinā Good and then tell me if youāre not feeling happier, more cheerful, and relaxed.ā It truly does, as the old clichĆ© would have it, make your backbone slip and your troubles along with it. Especially uptempo songs like the scrappy title track and the charging āStreamline Train.ā Thereās also an appealing live 1984 performance of the latter on YouTube, with Jessie Mae decked out in leopard-print pants and vest, playing a tambourine wedged onto her left high-heel shoeāāone of her stylish signatures.
Jessie Mae was a complex person, caught between the old-school dilemma of playing āthe Devilās musicā and yearning for a spiritual life, sweet as pecan pie with extra molasses but quick to turn mean at any perceived slight. She also spent much of her later years in poverty, in a small trailer with a hole in the floor where mice and other critters got in. And she was as mistrustful of strangers as she was warm once she accepted you into her heart. But watch your step before she did. On our first visit to her home, she made it clear that she had a gunāa .44 with a pearl handle that took up the entire length of her handbag and would make Dirty Harry envious.
Happily, she took us into her heart and we took her into ours, helping as much as we could and talking often. She was inspiring, and I wrote a song about her, and even got to perform it for her in her trailer, which was just a little terrifying, since I knew she would not hold back her criticism if she didn't like it. Instead, she giggled like a kid and blushed, and asked if Iād write one more verse about the artifacts sheād gathered while touring around the world.
Jessie Mae died in 2006, at age 82, and, as happens when every great folk artist dies, we lost many songs and stories, and the wisdom of her experience. But you can still get a whiff of all thatāāif you listen to Feelinā Good.