Update on Icons of Music auction
To update a story mentioned here a week ago (or so), Edge has announced he will donate 2 Gibson guitars and other personal items to the upcoming “Icons of Music” auction on May 31.
In an interview with the Associated Press by phone while the band was in the studio, Edge said, “No one could ever come close to repaying the debt of those who have established this form (of music) that we all take totally for granted, this hybrid of European melody and African-American rhythm that’s given us jazz and R&B and rock ‘n’ roll. There’s something powerful about musicians giving instruments they own to an auction to aid musicians who are going through a particularly difficult time.”
The AP story also said that Aaron Neville is scheduled to perform at the May 31 auction, held at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. Edge will host the auction.
If anyone is planning on attending the auction, let us know. We’re looking for special correspondents to cover this event!
Silvrlvr said,
April 23, 2008 @ 10:35 am
“We’re starting to get serious now.” I wonder how much time elapses between “serious” and “album”?
rihannsu said,
April 24, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
Press release today says Edge is donating the Explorer. Yes, that one. Here’s the link
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=368039
Dana
HAROLD RONCALLO said,
April 25, 2008 @ 4:36 am
RELAX PEOPLE THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL 1976 GIBSON EXPLORER THAT EDGE BOUGHT IN GUITAR SHOP IN NEW YORK.HIS ORIGINAL EXPLORER IS A 1976 AND THE ONE THAT HE IS GIVING AWAY IS 2000 EXPLORER THAT HE BOUGHT FOR ALL THAT YOU CANT LEAVE BEHIND ALBUM .GUITARS HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS THAT YOU CAN LOOK UP AND IT TELL YOU THE YEAR IT WAS MADE.SO THIS IS NOT “THE ONE:” TRUST ME HIS 1976 EXPLORER IS AT HOME. HE WOULD NOT GIVE THAT GUITAR AWAY FOR NOTHING IN THIS WORLD. THIS IS HIS STAGED PLAYED EXPLORER FOR THE LAST TWO TOURS.THEY MIGHT WANT TO CLARIFY THIS ON THE WEBSITE. THANKS
Beth said,
April 25, 2008 @ 11:34 am
Here’s some backup for the above claim:
From the auction site:
TITLE EDGE STAGE PLAYED GIBSON EXPLORER
DESCRIPTION Notes Limited Edition Gibson Explorer, serial number 00230010, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, 500T and 496R ceramic humbucking pickups, gold hardware, natural finish, with black leather Allans Music guitar strap, an extra brown leather Levy’s guitar strap, and 10 packages of replacement strings.
Gibson serial numbers:
YDDDYPPP
YY is the production year 1 and 5 number
DDD is the day of the year 2-4 numbers
PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank 6-8 numbers
And: the serial number is 00230010. Enter it at this Gibson dating site:
http://www.guitardaterproject.org/gibson.aspx
to verify that the above commenter is correct and the donated guitar was made in 2000 (in Bozeman Montana).
Silvrlvr said,
April 25, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
Well, now my heart can start beating again.
u2gek said,
April 25, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
Well, I just spent some time reviewing the items up for auction and I can say that the Explorer comes with 10 extra packs of strings. What a deal for the person who ultimately ends up with this. (And, yes, thank goodness, it’s not THE guitar). Phew!
Jeff said,
April 26, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
Actually 00 are the first numbers to a 1976 Gibson Explorer. I know, I own one. So what Edge is auction IS a 1976 Ltd Ed. Explorer but is more likely than not, a spare to the one that he bought in NY in 1978 and has used since U23.
Jeff said,
April 26, 2008 @ 11:44 pm
Further proof that the auctioned guitar IS a 1976:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html
Gibson Serial Numbers, 1975-1977.
All models, decal, 2 digit prefix followed by 6 digits. The decal can also states the model name/number.
Prefix Year
—— —-
99 1975
00 1976
06 1977
HAROLD RONCALLO said,
April 27, 2008 @ 5:21 am
I was emailing the people at Juliens Auctions to find out what is going on.This guy darren was being real rude telling me that if i was going to DISPUTE THE EDGE AND GIBSON GUITARS ?? He was a real A##HOLE !! All i asked him was why the serial number traced back to 2000 instead of a 1976.Somone needs to ask Dallas Schoo (The Edge’s Guitar Tech) or the Edge himself What is going on over there at that Auction!
daz said,
April 28, 2008 @ 10:47 pm
it does not say 1976 on the auction site
HAROLD RONCALLO said,
April 29, 2008 @ 4:16 am
Yea i know it does not say that,But that guy at that auction was swearing to me that it was his original 76. HA HA Iam so glad that he was wrong iam going to go rub it in his face now .Iam also glad that all of this has come to an end. If The Edge ever gives his Explorer away iam sure that it will be to one of his children,and not to some rich collector.
Sherry said,
April 29, 2008 @ 5:43 am
In case you missed it on the @U2 front page:
it’s not *the* Gibson Explorer. We received confirmation from a U2 spokesperson who confirmed for us that it’s not the beloved Explorer. The press release probably will not be updated, but the auction website has been.
Jeff said,
April 29, 2008 @ 7:42 am
There’s been a lot of speculation about WHICH Explorer is being auctioned. Is it THE Explorer?
HERE ARE THE FACTS. I contacted those running the auction and here are the facts of WHICH of The Edge’s Explorers is being auctioned:
Dear Jeffrey,
We appreciate the dedication and interest in the U2 community regarding the Edge’s items in the upcoming Music Rising Icons of Music II auction.
As fans of U2 know the Edge has a large collection of instruments, including back up instruments. This particular Explorer is his #3 back up. Meaning, the Edge has at least two other of this model of guitar and used those two guitars with greater frequency than this particular guitar. That said here is what the Edge told us of this guitar:
“Dallas found this one in Cincinnati and it became one of the backup instruments for my main 1976 reissue Explorer during the 1987 Joshua Tree world tour and many U2 tours since.”
Regarding confusion over the serial number, Gibson serial numbers pre-1977 serial numbers varied greatly. Many strategies were employed before the development of the system employed by Gibson today.
From 1975-1977 some experimental serial numbers were used. Please refer Blue Book of Electric Guitars Sixth Edition Gibson Serialization available in pdf form on the Gibson website. Where you can find the following information on page 4:
“During the period from 1975-1977 Gibson used a transfer that had eight digit numbers, the first two indicate the year, 99=1975, 00=1976 and 06=1977, the following six digits are in the 100000 to 200000 range. MADE IN USA were also included on the transfer and some models had LIMITED EDITION also applied. A few bolt on neck instruments had a date ink stamped on the heel area.
In 1977, Gibson first introduced the serialization method that is in practice today. This updated system utilizes an impressed eight digit numbering scheme that covers both serializing and dating functions. The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYPPP
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank.”
You can see why many would contend that this guitar’s serial number indicates that it was made in the year 2000.
The idiosyncrasies of the serial numbers can cause confusion that we hope to have cleared up.
Thank you - and happy bidding!”
So there you have it. Them’s are the facts. Cheers!
HAROLD RONCALLO said,
April 29, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Sherry ,I did not miss it .Actually, I was the one who discoverd this whole thing .I knew it was not the *one *since the begining.Check out the 3rd comment.
Laterz!!
Jeff said,
April 30, 2008 @ 7:50 am
Here’s the info on the blue 1981 Gibson Les Paul Standard, that is to be in the Icons Of Music Auction. Seems it’s seen some action in the recent recordings…
1981 Blue-flake Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitar, serial number 03381589. Carved AA Maple top, Mahogany body and neck and rosewood fingerboard in blue finish, with black leather Ernie Ball guitar strap.
“This instrument has been in my collection for nearly 6 years. Dallas found it in a vintage shop in a small town in Maryland during the production rehearsals for the 2003 Elevation tour. It has a very good tone and the color makes it quite rare. I used it in the studio on the current unreleased U2 album recordings” - The Edge
[Ed: note, if it was for the Elevation tour, that would make the production rehearsal in late 2000 to early 2001]
“I thought that Edge would like the unique color and sound of this instrument. I installed the pickup in the rear “bridge” position where none existed, and it is accompanied by the case that it came with on the day of purchase.” - Dallas Schoo, U2 Guitar Technician
$40,000 - $60,000