Robben Ford Discussion

[Aeolian]

Paul, you are right. The originals were called Esprit and Flame. The Flame was a slightly smaller body and offset (like a Jazz Bass compared to a Precision Bass).
Both came in three trim models, and Robben played the top level trim, the Ultra. The first year of introduction (1984) they had Schaller pickups (I have an 84 Esprit Standard) which were very hot and probably muddy sounding to Robben (based on the way he describes things recently). They did provide for coil tapping in the upper trim level models. My standard had four wires but no tap switch, although the body was routed for one and I put one in when I switched the Schallers out for the 59/JB setup.

The resurected MIJ Robben Ford models may have had Japanese imitations of Gibson humbuckers in the beginning as Bill alludes. He would know more about that than me. Either these or the Schallers would qualify as "no good". I don't know if any of the MIJ guitars got Duncan pickups, but Robben had them put in his guitars. In the recent years that I've been aware of, he has had many pickup changes. Fralins in the flame top solid body, various Burstbuckers in the LPs, the Pearly Gates/59 combo in the black Baker, and who knows what else.

There were several MIJ and MIA Fender Ultras that Robben played in addition to the sunburst shown on some album covers and the videos. Some have found their way into other hands like Garth Webbers blonde, Chris Cobb's black one, and of course Bill's famous Red Lady.
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

[Phill_B]

[quote="Aeolian"]Paul, you are right. The originals were called Esprit and Flame. The Flame was a slightly smaller body and offset (like a Jazz Bass compared to a Precision Bass).
Both came in three trim models, and Robben played the top level trim, the Ultra. The first year of introduction (1984) they had Schaller pickups (I have an 84 Esprit Standard) which were very hot and probably muddy sounding to Robben (based on the way he describes things recently). They did provide for coil tapping in the upper trim level models. My standard had four wires but no tap switch, although the body was routed for one and I put one in when I switched the Schallers out for the 59/JB setup.

The resurected MIJ Robben Ford models may have had Japanese imitations of Gibson humbuckers in the beginning as Bill alludes. He would know more about that than me. Either these or the Schallers would qualify as "no good". I don't know if any of the MIJ guitars got Duncan pickups, but Robben had them put in his guitars. In the recent years that I've been aware of, he has had many pickup changes. Fralins in the flame top solid body, various Burstbuckers in the LPs, the Pearly Gates/59 combo in the black Baker, and who knows what else.

There were several MIJ and MIA Fender Ultras that Robben played in addition to the sunburst shown on some album covers and the videos. Some have found their way into other hands like Garth Webbers blonde, Chris Cobb's black one, and of course Bill's famous Red Lady.[/quote]

Hi everybody, while on the topic of Garth Webber, the new Garth Webber MySpace in now up and running. Guitarist/ SingerSongwriter, Garth Webber, has played with the likes of John Lee Hooker and Miles Davis.
www.myspace.com/garthwebber

[dkesler]

The Master Series Flames and Esprits were built primarily in '84. I own a Flame Ultra, serial #40701957, so built in July '84, about the middle of the run. I have pursued this topic for a few years. Robben endorsed the Esprit in Fender promo literature. He said in his video the original Schaller pickups were crap and the Duncan's in the custom shop models were much better. I personally disagree, but you know how that goes.

Robben appears to have played custom shop models built after Master Series production stopped in early '85. Gene Baker took over this job at Fender and could probably give us a lot of good info. Robben initially played an Esprit Ultra, and later played the RF, which is the same guitar with the signature headstock inlay. The custom shops were built here, the RFs in Japan (like the Master Series). But I bet Gene had his hand on every RF before it went to Robben.

FYI, I have played a Squier Esprit and it is a great guitar for $300, but it is no Master Series. Cheap perloid inlays, no TBX circuit, inferior pots, inferior though decent pickups, I'm not sure about the finish, but the Master Series were nitro. The Master Series were Alder bodies with Maple caps. The Squiers are Mahogany.

[Bluelobster]

ok, but it is cool to have a close look to robben's guitar for 300 Bucks
_________________
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=147748