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Rig Rundown: Todd Rundgren

The multi-instrumentalist, producer, and all-around sonic shaman explains the origin story on his No. 1 “Foamy," discusses fixing Clapton’s “Fool” SG, and reveals how he stays musically energized after nearly 50 years.

In 2011 Todd Rundgren released an album of Robert Johnson covers titled, Todd Rundgren's Johnson. Prior to hitting the road to support the new album, Rundgren realized that the perfect instrument to electrify this historic material was a Fender Tele. He made a faithful stop to a Guitar Center in the San Francisco area and landed this late ’60s, clean-as-a-whistle Telecaster. It’s all original except for the wiring—the original owner did a ham-fisted soldering job and left it anemic and, more importantly, affordable. This one is typically sidestage as a backup and is called “Butters.”

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