![]() ![]() In an attempt to clear the (lacquer-saturated) air on the topic, we offer a look at the custom-color finishes offered by Fender in the ’60s, including an aide for easy reference and a reminder of the debt guitar builders owe to the automotive industry.įrom a guitarmaker’s standpoint, a “custom” finish does not necessarily mean a colorful finish, but rather a non-standard finish on a given model. ![]() Regardless of the rationale or reasoning, custom colors are today an essential (and sometimes highly valued) feature of many vintage instruments, though their origins and specificity are not always adequately documented. What better way to make the electric guitar a similar object of desire, symbolizing the dawn of a new era of freedom, innovation, and rising affluence? Guitar makers, competing similarly and becoming ever more savvy, moved to capitalize on the cult of the car (and its many colors). A Lake Placid Blue ambiance dominates the front page of the ’58 Cadillac catalog. (RIGHT) This 1964 GM chart includes the two Cadillac Firemist shades used (and re-named) by Fender. The Blue Ice and Sherwood Green shades featured in this ’59 Mercury chart are not the colors actually used by Fender. (LEFT) This 1956 Ford color chart lists the famous Fiesta Red (which was not invented by George Fullerton!). Competing furiously, makers offered a broad palette of potential colors to help Neighbor A differentiate his ride from that of Neighbor B. As a result, automakers started to offer their wares in ever-better dress.īeyond plush interiors and dashboards with more dials, switches, and knobs, one of the key elements of the surge in the popularity of the automobile involved its paint. The booming economy of the country’s post-war years pushed the car from a purpose-built means of transportation to the center of family and social life. In the 1950s, America’s fascination with the automobile was running at a fever pitch. This ’56 Buick exhibits a combination of Foam Green and (darker) Laurel Green. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |