The Vinnie Vincent Forum - Where Freedom Rocks!

DarrenD

I figured I would give you guys first dibs at this before I throw it on Reverb. I'm letting go some gems from my collection. This is a complete, early 1983 production Floyd Rose FRT-3 in gold (that is flaking off....the gold never lasted long on these). These are, of course, what Vinnie played and p...

DarrenD

Indeed the Floyd Rose Pro and the Edge's are great trems! I've had them all. The Floyd Rose Pro came out in 1989 and was first seen on the Kramer Proaxe. To me, they should be used on most guitars with 43mm locking nut with or smaller due to the Pros have a smaller string spacing. I guess they never...

DarrenD

Correct, Vinnie had the production FRT-3s. The locking nuts were still pretty solid on them and stayed "close" to tune once clamped, but at times, you have to pretune the string sharp or flat to get it in tune once clamped...not very fun. Again, if it's floating, it's easier because you can adjust t...

DarrenD

We are living in a vitally important timeframe in music history, and you all are part of it. The electric guitar, KISS, Vinnie, etc. are all original innovators of Rock N' Roll history. I'm going to guess that most people on this forum are in their 50s/60s. Think about it, you all grew up in the 198...

DarrenD

If the trem is floating, it makes it easier to tune after clamping because you just slightly adjust the springs. I had one on my Frankenstrat clone for a while. It was fun, but I would say the non-fine tuning Floyds are for the "advanced" Floyd users. Once clamped and in tune, they rock! But after e...

DarrenD

If you're really precise, the 36 frets are fully accessible, but not easy. Here is a modified EC36 with whole notes I used to own. It's now hanging up in on an EC collector's place in Seattle. The whole note modification makes it easy to hit those dog whistle territories and is actually really fun t...

DarrenD

Monkey grips on EC36s are very rare. I might also add that the EC29s/36s are made amazingly well and some of the best guitars I've ever played. Great example of the Kasuga Japan factory at their best. They were also very expensive to make. I think Steve liked to use three-piece lamination on his nec...

DarrenD

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kyaduYBn38s4Eg4NVwGsc9yjMLDsyd5aZZD1zAMP-a18C_ZlzOkZEQaEbm5kJc8lfDL8jtBX4_Nn8IywkrquL22G8NrtvCQzNois_1TQzRyTReqpLsAMlix4nNnVqznVI-ebGr4XQA=w2400 Ok I did find a few still frames, and yes, Vinnie does have "Stephen's Extended Cutaway" on the guitar much like the nec...

DarrenD

I have one still frame that shows the D-tuner on the guitar, but that's it. I think I lost the other photos of it. Not a big deal as I can just download the video and take it from there, but if you still have those frames, please send them to me. Has there been a higher quality HD version of the vid...

DarrenD

Cool! Thanks for the the info. I have a rough draft version of the new website started here: https://vintagewashburn.net/vinnie-vincent-signature/ I'll get still-frame pictures fro the "That Time of Year" video and post them on as well. Maybe I'll try to reconnect with Steve Davis again to see if he...

DarrenD

Forums of all hobbies, not just music related, have slowed down dramatically from what they once were. The old Kramer Forum shut down due to inactivity (although there is a new one, which is still relatively inactive). Cars forums, etc. it's the same thing. I was part of around 8+ forums, and they a...

DarrenD

It takes a lot of work and money to keep forums running. A lot of forums just called it quits and lost lots of information. One example is the old Kramer forum. There was over a decade of specific detailed information that is lost forever. Glad to see this one still running. I was surprised to see t...

DarrenD

I'm glad to see the forums still running after a decade. I was keeping tabs here and there on Vinnie and always thought about this forum whenever something crazy happened in Vinnie's life. Lots of passion of the people on this forum that love music and details in all things music.

DarrenD

Vinnie is using a prototype FRT-3 Floyd Rose on it, which is what Eddie used late 1980 (approximately) on his "unchained" guitar. Charvel was known to carry these early Floyds. It would be interesting to know why Vinnie stuck with the non-fine tuner versions. Most artists hated them, but him and oth...

DarrenD

I'll have to add more Vinnie information on the FRT-3 page because now that I look at the Washburn VV, he had a gold FRT-3 on it. Like Brad Gillis, it seems like Vinnie preferred the non-fine tuners....probably due to his playing style. I have a few of these old Pre-Schaller FRT-3s and they sound gr...

DarrenD

Ok guys, it's been almost a decade. Have we found any new pictures within the last 10 years of Vinnie's Washburn?

I might being back Vintage Washburn

Wow, time flies.

DarrenD

Darren here of the old vintagewashburn.com website and now webmaster of vintagefloydrose.com I've come across so much lost information regarding Floyds. There is really an interesting backstory to everything. Anyways, check out the site for those of you who are Floyd fanatics. That being said, I'm h...

DarrenD

These are great guitars. Ritz made some unique guitars back in the day. It's a pitty they went under. Michael Angelo Batio still has a few I think. They don't pop up too often.

DarrenD

Nope sorry - haven't heard anything yet. I'm hoping at the end of the month.

DarrenD

Wow that Marshall is incredible - great condition too. Did you have to replace anything over the years?

DarrenD

The blueprints are supposedly hand drawn, so I don't think there won't be too many specifics in general in regards to detail (drafts)- or surprises for that matter in regards to specs - I'm guessing he just went after copying the Jackson and adding the customization specific to the washburn. Hopeful...

DarrenD

Damn you guys have attention to detail! I'm still on to getting more info of this guitar from the guy who made it. The drawn blueprints are still around but in a storage warehouse that hasn't been touched in probably 20 years. This summer (hopefully June and not August :!: ) I was promised that the ...

DarrenD

Great stories!

I'm a beer saleman (aka bar band member) right now playing strictly 80s rock - split lead vocals and lead/rhythm guitar. We play about 4x a month and hit the occasional wedding here and there.

DarrenD

About 2 months ago I put up the external link to here. I was doing some Washburn edit external links and just went to the VV wikipedia quick and swapped it in. Whether it was up before that or taken down and put back up within that time I do not know.

DarrenD

Mickey Thomas has always been one of my favorite singers. He can sing HIGH even to this day at 60-something years old. Starship/Jefferson Starship has a lot of great tunes.

DarrenD

27 fret firebird? nice! Looks stock too.

I really regret selling some of them, but I learned exactly what I want in my next guitars. Now days I'm more obsessed with pedals and amps.

DarrenD

Parts mutt made from wenge/ebony neck and mahogany body. Neck made by Soulmate Guitars. It was sitting in a room for 5 years until I put it to use. The body was made by Riggs customs guitars. It is a 25.0 scale length with a Dimarzio Liquifire. I planned to put in a sustainiac but never got to it. h...

DarrenD

Today I went through some VV videos on youtube - listening to the lyrics, songs. etc. This tune is very beautiful, catchy, and meaningful. Did Vinnie write most of the songs for VVI? If so, he is very good at it.

DarrenD

I'm guessing he has a lot of his old documents, pictures, etc. laying around in his storage. This was 23 years ago and he probably didn't really go through all of his storage until 1997 when SSI went under.....14 years ago. I wouldn't expect any updates on this situation for at least another month o...

DarrenD

Yeah I don't know. He said it was at a small club just north of Seattle. Any Seattle dates in '87?

DarrenD

I wouldn't hold my breath guys because he wasn't 100% sure if he had them or not.....nor if they are in good condition or how much of a "rough" draft they are. They definitely won't be computer enhanced styles....literally hand drawn. He has a storage unit that load of his former SSI materials layin...

DarrenD

Got a hold a Steve for a short bit and in communication regarding the guitar. He can't remember the details off the top of his head, but he does remember dropping the guitar off to Vinnie during one of his gigs in Seattle. He recalls hand-drawn blueprints stashed away somewhere and will take picture...

DarrenD

The only companies that can charge 9k for a guitar and actually sell them are Fender and Gibson. Gibson recently has been knocked down due to poor quality control, product planning, and being one of the worst places to work in the usa. They make copies of copies of rehashed guitars - yet people stil...

DarrenD

Who is this Sandra person?

DarrenD

Is the luthier the Pears guitar guy? I've never played one, but remember some of them. From what I've seen with the luthier's skills on previous guitars I have no doubt the guy has talent in building guitar - and they will be nice. Doubt they will sell at that price though. The only real market I se...

DarrenD

It will be interesting to see what happens with this guitar. As many of you have pointed out, it will be a tough sell especially if the price is too high.....from an unknown builder and company nonetheless. Maybe Vinnie will come out of hiding if it works well? Less than a week until we find out mor...

DarrenD

Hi everybody - Shramiac pointed out on the Washburn forums that the guitar was indeed seen on the "That Time of Year" video. I've been going through some VV videos and I totally didn't see it until now. I always get so confused because he switches back and forth between the Carvin and Jackson so muc...

DarrenD

Yep, Fender picked up Jackson and Charvel around 5-6 years ago - as well as Hamer. I believe they were all 24.75, correct?

Are there any more photos of the Ibanez and Washburn VV guitar other than those photoshoots?

DarrenD

I'm a little confused regarding the Jackson VV model. So Jackson never officially made a VV model or mass produced it? As for the Washburn "Viper" model, it was a rumor that surfaced years ago but I have found no evidence if it was actually true or not. The Viper was basically a Washburn MG superstr...

DarrenD

Wow I totally forgot about him working with Ibanez. It's too bad a deal couldn't have been made between one of the companies. I'm not sure if Steve met or discussed specs with Vinnie or not. I know he said it was a very difficult guitar to make by hand. I will check back with him and see if he remem...

DarrenD

I will see if I can get a clear picture of the decal instead of just the silkscreen. I think Rich said there were around 6 of them. As for selling them, I think I asked sometime ago and he might have been hesitant in letting them out of the shop. It might start a little fury with Washburn and I don'...

DarrenD

Does anyone know when exactly the pre-release photo shoot took place? Davies came on board in mid-late '87 for Washburn and he must have been put to work on it soon afterwards. Please disregard my '89 and '90 comments as I was unsure that the photo shoot took place around then. I am unsure about the...

DarrenD

Hello all. This is Darren from vintage washburn. You are right about the year. It was around '88 or '89 right when Steve Davies starting making and designing guitars for Washburn. The guitar was built by the luthier Steve Davies in Seattle (also known as Stephen Davies). Steve Davies had his own com...

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