Chrissie Hynde Talks About Her New Signature Model Tele, Among Other Things

[crunchee]

https://www.altpress.com/features/chrissie-hynde-interview-telecaster/

The MSRP, or whatever they call it for new guitars,  ain't cheap for a MIM model, at US$ 1399.99:

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-guitars/telecaster/chrissie-hynde-telecaster/0140310783.html

Interesting thing about her guitar, is that it uses the old six-saddle style Tele bridge that came with the original (not reissues) '70's Tele Deluxes, and used to be included in the case candy (maybe it still is) with what's now known as the American Original '50's (AKA '52 model RI) Telecaster.

At the end of the article, there's an interesting statement from her about music nowadays:

"I can’t speak for this current generation. I don’t get it now because I’m a band person, and modern music went into this singer-songwriter thing. And pop music destroyed everything. I thought disco was the enemy, but pop has destroyed everything I liked about rock. It’s not cool."

 

 

 

[gtrdaddy]

14 minutes ago, crunchee said:

"I can’t speak for this current generation. I don’t get it now because I’m a band person, and modern music went into this singer-songwriter thing. And pop music destroyed everything. I thought disco was the enemy, but pop has destroyed everything I liked about rock. It’s not cool."

No argument here.

[Travis]

15 minutes ago, gtrdaddy said:

No argument here.

I concur 

[hamerhead]

I like the Pretenders and understand her status in the music world, but she doesn't exactly burn up the fretboard. Kind of (another) pointless signature model, don't you think?

[BruceM]

The point of strapping one on is not to "burn up the fretboard," but to plumb the depths and tickle the fancy of others. More power to her. The path is littered with burned fretboards. Write me a song that endures, please.

[crunchee]

I'd like her signature model Tele a lot better if the MSRP (or whatever it's called) was $999.99 instead of $1399.99...not that it makes that much difference to me, as I always buy used.  But I like it other than that, and I'd play/own it if given the opportunity, provided the neck isn't as skinny as some '60's Fender RIs can be.  It's no worse than, for instance, this CS Ltd Ed Robbie Robertson 'Last Waltz' Strat (no affiliation)...and lots cheaper:

https://davesguitar.com/products/fender-custom-shop/robbie-robertson-last-waltz-limited-edition-strat-17/

 

[gtrdaddy]

33 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

I like the Pretenders and understand her status in the music world, but she doesn't exactly burn up the fretboard. Kind of (another) pointless signature model, don't you think?

Truth, but... makes more sense than say:

a Kirk Douglas SG 

[hamerhead]

1 hour ago, BruceM said:

Write me a song that endures, please.

Springsteen has no signature model.

To me , a signature model should represent some type of virtuosity on the instrument in question. The Pretenders wrote great songs. Give her ( or rather 'them', as she doesn't get the singer/songwriter thing) a signature pen and notebook.

[0054]

Remember it like it was yesterday, you young snotty punk!

[RobB]

Courtney Love-hole had TWO signature models. 'Nuff said.

[tbonesullivan]

Well, she's here in 2017 playing on what could possibly be the SAME guitar, or one just like it with the same wear pattern on the mirror pickguard:

I didn't realize until just now that the signature model has a mirror pickguard, worn through in one spot.

I googled Chrissie Hynde for giggles, and probably 25% of the photos have her with a guitar, and almost all are with that same one. I like the Pretenders, but I'm not a huge fan. However I could see how that Metallic Blue Tele could be an old friend for the die hard fans.

St. Vincent now has a relatively popular signature model with EBMM, and her playing style is definitely out there, and much more about sound texture than about music.

Heck they gave SAMMY HAGAR a signature model for a while. Certainly not a guitar god by any means.

[ARM OF HAMER]

                                                  She hit the nail on the head with that assessment.  "And pop music destroyed everything. I thought disco was the enemy, but pop has destroyed everything I liked about rock. It’s not cool."

[gtrdaddy]

3 hours ago, RobB said:

Courtney Love-hole had a TWO signature models. 'Nuff said.

But, Courtney can rip!

 

 

[atomicwash]

3 hours ago, RobB said:

Courtney Love-hole.

THAT is funny!

[atomicwash]

5 hours ago, hamerhead said:

I like the Pretenders and understand her status in the music world, but she doesn't exactly burn up the fretboard. Kind of (another) pointless signature model, don't you think?

It's really just marketing. I'm a huge Pretenders fan and have zero interest in this guitar.

I do appreciate it when you read about the what went into Johnny Marr, Eric Johnson, the Edge, etc. signatures.

 

ps. Pretenders' 2020 album kicked ass! Give it a listen.

[scottcald]

That's all it is now is marketing.  Personally, I shy away from signature models, because they're usually not far away from a standard model.  And the people whose songs I like played mostly stock guitars.  Also, the marketing is basically "you can be just like ________ if you buy their guitar/amp/pedal/etc."  We all know that ain't happening.  😀

[Travis]

10 hours ago, gtrdaddy said:

But, Courtney can rip!

 

 

I always preferred Courtney over Nita personally...

 

[gtrdaddy]

19 minutes ago, Travis said:

I always preferred Courtney over Nita personally...

 

Me 2!

[gtrdaddy]

15 hours ago, hamerhead said:

Springsteen has no signature model.

Give it time...

[0054]

My wife was the singer in the mid 80s, Judy Priest.

[hamerhead]

26 minutes ago, gtrdaddy said:

Give it time...

I guess 50 years ain't enough. Not that I'm a Springsteen fanatic, but of all the Tele players out there he comes to (my) mind first.

And I'll never understand marketing.  Who is their target demographic? Borderline elderly women? Of all people aged 0-30, how many of them even know who Chrissie Hynde is? And of those, how many play guitar? Just seems like a pretty narrow field. I'm not baggin' on Chrissie Hynde or the Pretenders or anything like that. And I guess it's a fitting tribute to her contribution to the music world. But I just don't get it. I'm the problem.

A Keef model, or Buchanan, hell even Don Rich makes sense to me.

[mrjamiam]

15 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

I'm the problem.

Yes indeedy.  You, and the demographics that you're part of, the ones that predominate here at HFC:  knowledgeable about guitars, own many, not all that likely to buy a new production Fender product because you know all your options and preferences, and out of fashion due to that unfortunate Y chromosome.

I expect they are likely seeking to bring new customers in, rather than cash in on the hordes of Chrissie Hynde fanatics, tempt a collector into adding another to the vault, or finally offering the magic combo of essential Tele features to bring all the chicken pickers to the yard.  Chrissie Hynde can be seen as empowered, fronting a rock band especially in an era when it was uncommon.  She may not be as current as Taylor Swift (oof, singer-songwriter, sorry, but I don't know my current Billboard scene), but she was a forerunner.  Mom or dad might know who she is/was, and tribute to pioneers is always a thing.  Having her guitar might be empowering.  And it doesn't matter to Fender whether the guitar is sold to a Chrissie admirer who wants to be her, or to a Chrissie admirer who wants a daughter or niece or whatever to believe she can be her, or as empowered as her, as long as the guitar is sold, and hopefully goes to someone who will continue to be a customer.

[Drew816]

I've seen The Pretenders a few times over the years, both tours Chrissy was playing the blue Tele almost exclusively the whole night. And she's awesome, no BS, tells it like it is, let it rip. I'll have to get that book and check it out at some point, talk about a wild life and time to be in that scene; phew!

That said, as stated above, WHO is the target market here? And I get that she likes a guitar a specific way, but man even if I was interested you start rattling off vintage specs and I'm already onto other things. It's not as if younger girls/women would even know who she is, maybe they'd see this and look her up and then become more interested?? I find that a stretch but what do I know.

The market gets flooded with these offerings, and I guess during Covid they'll sell as everyone is looking for whatever they can get their hands on but I have no interest. That said, I hope the model succeeds and it does bring more people to guitar let alone women who rock!

 

[hamerhead]

4 minutes ago, mrjamiam said:

....You, and the demographics that you're part of...

That made me laugh, because she's IN this demographic and nearly 10 years older than me. And I'm OLD!

[Travis]

43 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

And I'll never understand marketing.  Who is their target demographic?

Consider the possibility that Fender is marketing to the demographic of people that demand diversity in all products. The same group of people that made it seem reasonable to rebrand Mr Potato Head and drop the “Mr” to be inclusive. 

There aren’t a lot of Female signature models out there, compared to males at least. We could be seeing an upcoming trend in female artist signature models. Something to even the playing field. Doesn’t matter if the individual has influence. The company looks better by being inclusive and making it an offering. Doubt they’ll sell very much but the fact that it’s available looks good to the public that has the power to “cancel” you if they don’t perceive you as being like them. 

I’m not intending to take anything away from Chrissie Hynde, or any of the other female endorsed artists out there (like my guitarist crush Courtney from earlier in this thread). Just offering a different perspective.