Page 149 - Paddock Life Issue 13 ADRENALINE

The 1960’s is perhaps my favourite era, one I wish I could’ve seen, it was a ground breaking era of music, fashion and of course cars. While I fell in love with its sound, others reflect more upon its style, but in truth, sound and style really went hand in hand - as is often the case...
We were recently invited to the launch of Epiphone’s next signature model down at Gibson’s HQ, the setting was familiar, we wandered in with a wave and welcome from security, said our hellos to our friends on the team and each time I walk in, I take a moment to scan the room, this shrine to Gibson brands and its legacy in music. Soon enough we were able to head on down stairs to the stage. Before us were three identical guitars each of them seemed familiar to me, it soon occurred to me that my dear friend at home was obsessed with a certain James Bay, for those of you that don’t know, James is the Grammy nominated artist behind the hit song ‘hold back the river’. I was informed that he was performing but I wanted the rest to be a surprise. So I was especially pleased to see that the next signature model guitar I would be looking after would be the James Bay ’66 Epiphone Century Outfit.
James’s performance was quite breath taking, the acoustics in the room are phenomenal. it was quite an odd feeling to have James Bay literally within an arms-length, I could just imagine how different this experience would be if we were in a room of teenaged girls. James has this sort of rock star charisma about him, he talked about the honour
of being asked to do a signature guitar and how it had always been a dream since a young boy. He performed a short, but excellent acoustic set, accompanied for a cover of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of my Heart” by an old friend on another 66 Century. At the end of the set he simply sauntered off stage and into the crowd with a beer in his hand and smile on his face, he seemed so down to earth, the sort of chap that would give you a hand loading your car in a furniture shop.
Also in the room was Epiphone’s president Jim Rosenberg, he was a real character, easy going, friendly, poised and ready to make your acquaintance. it was actually Jim that gave the guitar to us, he just waved it down off stage and there it was, ‘James Bay 1’. It still had his finger prints on when I got home, I noticed as I popped the latches on the case, to reveal an unfamiliar but exiting blue lining. My friend actually forbade me from touching the guitar until she had (something about contamination).
When I finally got to play the guitar I fell for it. It was just so smooth to play, everything was in reach and gorgeously crafted, it looked authentic, but felt brand new. As Jim had told me, they only built 335 of the original Century back in 1966, making originals pretty rare now, he had been waiting to produce this Epiphone for a long time, so the opportunity to do this Signature was as exciting for Jim as it was for Bay. I think the Century is easily on par with some of the Gibson Signatures, but what I liked the most about this guitar was the attention to
WORDS ETHAN BLAKE-JONES IMAGES JENNIFER SCHAUERTE
detail of the whole package. The Guitar strap was a replica of James’s own, which had been made by his girlfriend using a piece from an old dress. Each Maple bodied guitar comes with a signed certificate in a cool leather book (with a picture of Mr Bay) and the headstock is etched with the James Bay “hat man” logo.
The guitar has a particularly warm tone for an archtop, (down to the vintage pick-ups and top quality hardware) it has a full sound even when unplugged, which is often my favourite ways to play. despite being a new built replica, she produces a very authentic 60’s sound, it has the capability of a jangly rock and roll sound, but has the versatility for blues and jazz playing, which I am still deeply engrossed in after my last guitar from Gibson.
The James Bay 66 Century Outfit is a real masterpiece, its warm Gloss Cherry red just sucks you in, you could hang it on a wall and treat it as art... My experience with the guitar, with the artist, and the man behind its recreation is one that I shall recount at many parties and social events to come. This limited edition guitar is easily one of my favourites, combining 60’s sound and style in a modern, robust form. There is only 600 of these beautiful guitars available (599 if you take off the one I have...) so I’d recommend you secure one very quickly as I think it’ll be a future collectable as well as a great instrument.
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