Can anyone point me to some good photos on-line of Mike Campbell playing his Epiphone Les Paul Jr. with the Florida Gators paint job?

These are cheap guitars, but I've wanted one painted up with our local college (University of Washington) for a long time and I was finally able to find one recently. Surprisingly, it's not the worst guitar I've ever played - although it does need some hardware upgrades. I suppose Mike has changed out all of the hardware on his, or most of it anyway. The neck is actually OK. With a few upgrades, this should be a pretty decent player, instead of just a wall hanger.

Anyway, I'd appreciate it if anyone can point me to any high-res shots of Mike playing his. Thanks.

I go look. All I can think of is freeze framing the DVD from Gainesville.

I believe that is an Epiphone Les Paul Jr. It might be the 'Jr. 57 model.

Googleness...

Chap

I believe the '57 reissues have a P-100 pickup in them. These have a single chrome covered bridge humbucker that claims to be "USA designed" whatever that means. Actually, it does sound pretty good.

You can see several of these at Musician's Friend - including the Florida Gators version, but I'm hoping to see some close-ups of Mike's guitar to see if any of his mods are visible.

I'll check the Gainesville video too. Thanks.

Someone had posted that the Florida guitar was someone elses. I'm not sure about that.

I did see him use a gator guitar again in a picture maybe. I can't remember when.

My point, I don't know if there may have been more then one guitar painted that way.

Actually - yes, this was a production run from Epiphone (Gibson) that included 50 different universities throughout the U.S. They called it the "collegiate" series. I haven't seen any production numbers, but I'm sure there are tons of them around. I believe when these came out 5 years ago, they had a street price of $199, and then they were reduced to $99 on clearance at some point later.

They aren't available from the manufacturer anymore, but you can apparently still buy the Florida Gators version here.

At this moment, there are 3 or 4 in different school colors for sale on eBay. They've become kind of expensive, considering that they really aren't very good guitars. At least not in the $300 and higher price bracket.

The story that was told of the Gainesville gator guitar was that a child had brought it back stage and Mike not only signed it but took it onstage to play first before returning it.

I just remember him walking out with it. Hometown shows are a little different then the rest.

For all I know Mike may have had some other type of guitar painted like that. Hopefully I'll remember where I saw it again. I'm sure there is a picture.

I wonder how many guitars Mike has? I've never had an electric guitar so unless there is a guitar player standing next to me, I'm struggling to figure out what is what. He pulls one out and before I know it he's playing something else. lol

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FireflyElf,

OK - I got several screenshots from the video and here's what I can see - the guitar appears to be "unmolested" as they say (other than a million smudgey fingerprints). It looks like all of the original hardware is still on it, or at least exact replacement copies. The wrap-around bridge, the pickup, and the volume and tone knobs all look original. I can't believe he wouldn't change out the tuning machines, because they really aren't very good, but I can't see the tuners well enough to verify. This thing does not want to stay in tune very well with the original tuners. At the very least, it needs a pro setup and some work done on the nut. I will definitely change out the tuning machines on mine.

Carol - I would question the story about the kid bringing the guitar in for an autograph and then Mike playing it onstage. These just aren't stage worthy without some work. Mike plays it on "You Wreck Me" - which is in an alternate tuning, and his guitar work is featured prominently on that song. I don't see him trusting a "stock" version of this guitar in a situation like this. Plus, there is no autograph anywhere on the guitar. I suppose he could have signed it later, but that story just doesn't ring true for me. Anyway, mystery (mostly) solved.

Here are some pictures.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TomFest2002,

I saw an article and Mike remembered what guitar his used to record on what song from long ago.

I may have gotten the story wrong too. By me telling it, it has just turned into gossip. But I like the story.

He just doesn't use the guitar that often.

Maybe someone will come along that can remember when he pulled that guitar out again.

I might be wrong but I thought one of the guitar shops in Gainesville gave it to him to play for the night...Iwazzabadboy

If I was Mike, I would have to own one of those - being from Gainesville and all. Tom too. They have umpteen hundred guitars, and I'd bet they each have one of these. Collecting is what those guys do. Heck, I'd buy one for the right price, and I'm not even a Florida fan. It's kind of like those Gretsch Traveling Wilburys guitars - just a fun little inexpensive guitar. Anybody here have one of those Wilbury guitars?

Regarding the "guitar store" theory, look how dirty the thing is - you think a guitar shop would bring him one that wasn't sparkling clean? It's got Mike's mojo all over it. Possibly it got smudged up just from handling it that night, but I wouldn't think so. And we know Mike never cleans his guitars. They say his Broadcaster has never been cleaned, and he's never had the neck off. Anyway, it's fun to speculate about it.

quote:

Originally posted by TomFest2002:
If I was Mike, I would have to own one of those - being from Gainesville and all. Tom too. They have umpteen hundred guitars, and I'd bet they each have one of these. Collecting is what those guys do. Heck, I'd buy one for the right price, and I'm not even a Florida fan. It's kind of like those Gretsch Traveling Wilburys guitars - just a fun little inexpensive guitar. Anybody here have one of those Wilbury guitars?

Regarding the "guitar store" theory, look how dirty the thing is - you think a guitar shop would bring him one that wasn't sparkling clean? It's got Mike's mojo all over it. Possibly it got smudged up just from handling it that night, but I wouldn't think so. And we know Mike never cleans his guitars. They say his Broadcaster has never been cleaned, and he's never had the neck off. Anyway, it's fun to speculate about it.

Yep Got one of those Wilbury Guitars and I might Just GEt It Out of the box today or tomorrow and give it a restring, or play it or something

That's cool, Drifter. Which model do you have? I understand they made 3 different models, and they never repeated the design exactly the same way twice. Got any pictures of yours?

quote:

Originally posted by TomFest2002:
That's cool, Drifter. Which model do you have? I understand they made 3 different models, and they never repeated the design exactly the same way twice. Got any pictures of yours?

Mine is The TW200, Single Pickup. I have a Picture Somewhere, I have never posted Pictures on the Web before, so I have very little knowledge of doing so.
The Guitar Plays pretty good, It didn't need a re-string, the strings were still clean, I hardly use it much but it is still fun to play from time to time.

http://www.modernguitars.com/m..._Florida_Gators.html

^ Yeah - several of the searches I did took me to that spot, and then to the Musician's Friend website.

I took some pictures of mine, you can see them HERE. It may not be as flashy as the Florida paint job or some of the others, but the UW is my home town school, and I've been a Husky fan forever. GO DAWGS!

Anybody watching the women's college world series finals? The Huskies crushed Florida tonight in game 1 of the best of 3 series. Game 2 tomorrow. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!

Recent picture of Florida Gator Guitar

HAHAHAHA! The guy doesn't even play, but he owns 9 guitars. I like him already.

Here's a Florida Gator up right now on eBay.

Just like Mike's guitar.

No bids.