Joe Satriani and Steve Vai

The coolest guitars that get the most attention are the ones that have been in the hands of legendary players. The thought that you could play the very same instrument is appealing to so many.

Two legends are going on tour this Spring. Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have a few dates on the East Coast, followed by a West coast run, then up through the Midwest. Those tickets go on sale today.

Satriani has been nominated for a Grammy 15 times. Vai started his career by taking lessons from Satriani.

Vai has 3 Grammys.

Steve Vai

^{We met a luthier that caught Steve Vai’s attention. He even signed the masterpiece guitar.}

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Joe Walsh Donates Guitars

Collectors and Christmas Shoppers with deep pockets can circle December 16-17 on the calendar.

Joe Wash is donating 800 items to VetsAid. 400 of those items are guitars. He says, “ I have played every one of them.”

If you wanted to actually see all the items, including a Mclaren super car, Joe Walsh’s stuff is at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.

Imagine 400 guitars played by Joe Walsh.

Two of them are pretty interesting. There is a 1966 Framus 12-string from the Barnstorm album that he played on tour.

The other is a 2014 Duesenberg Joe Walsh Signature semi-hollowbody electric guitar that he played live with the Eagles. That’s about a $3000 guitar before Joe Walsh played it on tour for the Eagles 40th Anniversary. I’ll track the sale of that one, just for amusement.

Here’s a celebrity owned guitar that makes me smile:

https://youtu.be/Qw8exGaS19c?si=h7Ap4OtHCpW0NV0k

Steve Cropper’s Guitar

He wasn’t popular with the general music lover public because he always just wanted to be in the band,

but Steve Cropper was a legend among professional musicians.

As a huge fan of Soul Music, I loved Sam and Dave. The intro to Soul Man was so iconic.

The younger me always wondered who Sam was talking to when he said, “Play it, Steve.”

Now I know.

Steve Cropper was on so many of my favorite songs. He was the backbone of Green Onions by Booker T and The MGs. When the organ needed that structure, it was provided by Steve Cropper.

How many times have you heard Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding? That’s how many times you heard Steve Cropper play those guitar licks.

Wilson Pickett depended on him In The Midnight Hour.

Eddie Floyd had him Knock On Wood.

Johnny Taylor sang Who’s Making Love while Steve Cropper provided the groove.

The list is endless and goes past his early days at Stax Records.

But Every Guitar Has A Story must ask what guitar was he playing?

The answer is a 1956 Fender Esquire. It had a single pick up.

He had it painted Candy Apple Red, but people swore he had a purple guitar.

He played it until the frets wore down and moved on.

Those Stax Record days were magic.

Where is that guitar? The Smithsonian has it on display in Washington, D.C.

^{We met a 1957 Fender at the Indiana Guitar Show.}

1957 Fender Strat

^{Eddie will explain how it works and what it is worth}

^{https://youtu.be/rUAv3xOsfBo?si=PDzDqNvxKQ3XG45z}