7 replies to this topic

[hotrodder]

Hi All,

Sorry if this has already been asked a million times before, but I was hoping to identify exactly what Fender Telecaster Steve Cropper uses in the Blues Brothers movie, specifically the red coloured one he can be seen playing at Bob's Country Bunker and also at the Palace Hotel Ballroom.

Does anyone know what production year and colour etc this instrument is??

Thanks in advance all.

[hotrodder]

I thought I should post a few pics so that you can see which guitar I am referring to...Here we go:







On the "Playin' My Thang" record cover it looks like it has maybe a dove tail P90 pickup of sorts maybe? Any and all info anyone has about this guitar would be greatly appreciated!! I would love to be able to source one the same, or very similar as I play guitar and Cropperis the reason I started playing....to have a tele just like his is a dream of mine...

Thank you all...

[TK826]

This is what I've been able to find...

The white Tele that he uses in "Minnie the Moocher" and at Rays Music, is a
Tele-Esquire.



Not his famous '63, but quite possibly the '59 Esquire that was given
to him by Duck Dunn, which he used for "Green Onions" and other pre-63 recordings.
(Wide space between dots on 12th fret)



The '63 Tele (small space between dots)
On the floor is the '59 Esquire.



An alternate photo, for the "Playin' My Thang" album cover.


There doesn't seem to be too much information on the Red guitar.
The most I could find is that it was .... "Custom".


This would probably be the place to ask:

http://www.tdpri.com

There are a few Cropper threads there, with this one being the largest:

Steve Cropper appreciation thread - Telecaster Guitar Forum



There is, of course, the current release by Peavey, the "Cropper Classic".



http://www.peavey.com/assets/literature/manuals/80302327.pdf

[TK826]

Interestingly, I can't seem to find what it is that he currently plays.





It's a Peavey, but not the Classic, that is shown above.



.

[hotrodder]

Hey thanks for taking so much time and putting in a great effort in sourcing all of that great info for me!! I really appreciate it The links, pics and info you have dug up for me is just great! Thanks mate.

I had read a little bit about the '63 tele and a bit less on the Esquire in my previous travels (its funny, I own a Bill Nash built relic 1963 Esquire style guitar finished in white with a rosewood board too...at the time I purchased it I had no idea Steve used almost the same type of guitar in the early days (and even one that looks very very similar to mine. I just might have to name it "The Colonel" haha).

The red tele is more of a mystery to me. From what I can pick up about it from pictures, just using my own (limited) knowledge of Telecasters is that it looks like maybe a '66-'68 custom tele with white binding, a custom candy apple red paint job and a dove tail P90 style (seymour duncan maybe?) neck pickup. I would really love to find out exactly what it is, but perhaps I can piece together a bit of a parts guitar of my own with the majority of those kinds of specs and build a red cropper clone! If I do, I will make a thread for it here on BBC.

Thanks again for your great help Damian!


If anyone else has any more info about Steve's red tele, I would really appreciate it!

Thanks again.

[TK826]

Not much help on the red guitar, but I did find out a little bit on his current one...

It is a custom made Peavey guitar (plugged into a Webb amp).
The guitar was made for Steve by Hartley Peavey personally and has
$1200-$1500 pickups.


Although not quite the same, here is Hartley Peavey, with the retail version of the Cropper Classic...

Attached Files

•  Peavey_Cropper.jpg   41.09K   4 downloads

[hotrodder]

Thanks for the update on Steve current axe...I wonder if the Croper Classic is still in production...I will have to look into that.

Cheers.

[Blueblood]

There's a ton of info out there, but as was suggested above, the TDPRI is an excellent Tele source!

Been a member for 7 years and they haven't failed me yet...:D

Steve Cropper Appreciation Thread