I look forward to hearing comments about the playability, and sound of the Campy - by those who've actually played it... I think it's one helluva piece of wood.
Jim just gave mine the once over at Umanov Guitars (NYC). Alex, the salesperson with whom I've become well acquainted over the last year, was kind enough to take pictures. These pix are going to have to get me through until Saturday! Thanks Jim - for all the time and effort you put into this project.
It was very nice to meet Jim and hear him play. I am a fan ever since I heard his cover of Folsom Prison Blues so many years ago.
He was very nice to us and even dedicated a song to my dear Mom, who accompanied me to the Living Room as our family was on a trip in NYC. We were very grateful for the time he took to give us a couple of hugs and talk about the guitar.
Today I am back on my island and played my first gig with "our" new guitar. It was with an organ trio-style band (with a singer). It cut nicely through the organ/piano/synths when soloing and it was very chunky when comping. I received compliments from my band mates and our engineer/roadie for how "buttery and fat" it sounds.
As you can see I use a Fender Princeton Reverb (an orange one!!!) and mostly played with my Radial ToneBone Classic (overdrive) and sometimes I would turn on my Leslie type pedal and/or a Jimi CryBaby. I still need to figure out the sweet spots on the volume and tone knobs, since I never turn off my overdrive.
When I play with my power trio, I can give an update on how it sounds in that setting, which is also my favorite gigging band.
Hi everybody! I have to say three things: 1) Fender has always sat down with artists and worked with them to develop the exact tool for them. The artist is ALWAYS the real deal as far as R&D. We are and always have been committed to that. With this project, we were pushed in many ways by Jim and we are excited by the outcome.
2) This guitar sounds and plays amazing. Anybody who knows me, knows that I am a Tele guy and when I first approached Jim, it was because we have always admired his playing and we wanted to help get the message out about him, his music, and his Tele. What we have created is a very unique Tele for a very unique artist, and we could not have built a guitar like this without Jim's input and point of view.
3) Why not make more than 50? Why not make 500? Why not make 5,000? Why not make 5? At the FCS, we strive to make guitars that are an investment. Collectible. We don't sit down and say, "Hey, let's make a guitar and charge... I dunno...$10,000 for it". When we build an instrument, it takes t i m e. That's why there is a wait. The more time you spend on something, the more it costs, so, why not make sure that everybody gets an instrument that is worth it, desirable, and collectible. That's why there are 50 and not 5,000. So, to the people who get one, congrats! To the people who want to get one, hurry.
It has been an honor working with you Jim, and we all believe at Fender that this guitar will be talked about and written about for a very long time.
So I kind of played one today. One of the dealers listed in RightHand's link (can I call you by your first name, Righthand?) is near me. I just finished a particularly stressful job today, and I figured I owed myself a few minutes of me time before I run home to take care of my daughter so my lovely, free-lancer wife can get some work done. The local boutique guitar shop is a beautiful hang, but I'm not good enough to be a regular. Still, I'm excited to be done with the job and looking forward to playing one of these guitars, if only for a few minutes, before I have to put on my Daddy hat. The guy at the store tells me that, yes, I'd read correctly, but that the guitar has already been sold. Then he says, "Wait a minute. It might still be here." It was, in fact, in a case right in front of us. So he takes it out and hands it to me. I thank him for letting me play someone else's guitar, and he says, "Just don't ding it." Which seems fair. All the same, that was all it took for my hands to seize up on me and remind me how much work stresses me out, how I was stealing time, and how much it would suck to do something clumsy with something someone else had paid no small amount of money for. In short, I played like an arthritic squirrel monkey with the DT's. What I can tell you is that it felt really nice. I never really cranked it up, but I pushed and pulled on the neck a little. I don't know how to describe the effect without sounding like a silly wine writer, but, hell, I'll risk it: there was a nice musical kinesis to it. Also, the bridge pickup does, indeed, sound richer and less harsh than tele bridge pickups can sometimes sound (I have a 52 reissue that I really like, but I'm always trying to find the spot between too bright and stepped on). Also, the pots are smooth and responsive, and the top hat selector switch is real sporty. Or maybe it's dashing. Either way, I like it. So, Jim, Fender Custom Shop, Friendly Guitar Merchant, and the Lucky 50: you all get two thumbs up from the pale, twitchy guy with the little kid.
I got my guitar on Saturday and ***wow***. Stunning sounding and looking. I wrote a full review for the TDPRI, and rather than copy/paste here's the link to it:
Jim, I received my guitar yesterday. You did it. This is a whole new standard for a Telecaster. I thought my NOcaster was good until I played yours. No comparison. Congratulations my friend, someone had to come along and build a better Telecaster and it was you. I will send a picture soon. John
John - I'm so happy to hear your review of the guitar. I know you WAITED a long time and I'm glad you love your Tele. I hope you two have a beautiful relationship! Armin - You da man...
Thanks ArminSolo to share these video, great to hear the Campi's sig played by an another musician, you seem happy to play with here:-) Sweet playing!! à bientôt mon ami
Armin - I love your band, you guys really have a sexy spirit! Nice assortment of sounds on your tele too... good work sir. It was my pleasure to hear you. Thanks for sharing your music.
Comments
http://www.fendercustomshop.com/index.php/news/article/campilongo_tele/
-Bernie
He was very nice to us and even dedicated a song to my dear Mom, who accompanied me to the Living Room as our family was on a trip in NYC. We were very grateful for the time he took to give us a couple of hugs and talk about the guitar.
Today I am back on my island and played my first gig with "our" new guitar. It was with an organ trio-style band (with a singer). It cut nicely through the organ/piano/synths when soloing and it was very chunky when comping. I received compliments from my band mates and our engineer/roadie for how "buttery and fat" it sounds.
As you can see I use a Fender Princeton Reverb (an orange one!!!) and mostly played with my Radial ToneBone Classic (overdrive) and sometimes I would turn on my Leslie type pedal and/or a Jimi CryBaby. I still need to figure out the sweet spots on the volume and tone knobs, since I never turn off my overdrive.
When I play with my power trio, I can give an update on how it sounds in that setting, which is also my favorite gigging band.
I have to say three things:
1) Fender has always sat down with artists and worked with them to develop the exact tool for them. The artist is ALWAYS the real deal as far as R&D. We are and always have been committed to that. With this project, we were pushed in many ways by Jim and we are excited by the outcome.
2) This guitar sounds and plays amazing. Anybody who knows me, knows that I am a Tele guy and when I first approached Jim, it was because we have always admired his playing and we wanted to help get the message out about him, his music, and his Tele. What we have created is a very unique Tele for a very unique artist, and we could not have built a guitar like this without Jim's input and point of view.
3) Why not make more than 50? Why not make 500? Why not make 5,000? Why not make 5?
At the FCS, we strive to make guitars that are an investment. Collectible. We don't sit down and say, "Hey, let's make a guitar and charge... I dunno...$10,000 for it". When we build an instrument, it takes t i m e. That's why there is a wait. The more time you spend on something, the more it costs, so, why not make sure that everybody gets an instrument that is worth it, desirable, and collectible. That's why there are 50 and not 5,000. So, to the people who get one, congrats! To the people who want to get one, hurry.
It has been an honor working with you Jim, and we all believe at Fender that this guitar will be talked about and written about for a very long time.
Best,
Mike Eldred
Fender Custom Shop
One of the dealers listed in RightHand's link (can I call you by your first name, Righthand?) is near me. I just finished a particularly stressful job today, and I figured I owed myself a few minutes of me time before I run home to take care of my daughter so my lovely, free-lancer wife can get some work done.
The local boutique guitar shop is a beautiful hang, but I'm not good enough to be a regular. Still, I'm excited to be done with the job and looking forward to playing one of these guitars, if only for a few minutes, before I have to put on my Daddy hat. The guy at the store tells me that, yes, I'd read correctly, but that the guitar has already been sold. Then he says, "Wait a minute. It might still be here." It was, in fact, in a case right in front of us. So he takes it out and hands it to me. I thank him for letting me play someone else's guitar, and he says, "Just don't ding it." Which seems fair.
All the same, that was all it took for my hands to seize up on me and remind me how much work stresses me out, how I was stealing time, and how much it would suck to do something clumsy with something someone else had paid no small amount of money for. In short, I played like an arthritic squirrel monkey with the DT's.
What I can tell you is that it felt really nice. I never really cranked it up, but I pushed and pulled on the neck a little. I don't know how to describe the effect without sounding like a silly wine writer, but, hell, I'll risk it: there was a nice musical kinesis to it. Also, the bridge pickup does, indeed, sound richer and less harsh than tele bridge pickups can sometimes sound (I have a 52 reissue that I really like, but I'm always trying to find the spot between too bright and stepped on). Also, the pots are smooth and responsive, and the top hat selector switch is real sporty. Or maybe it's dashing. Either way, I like it.
So, Jim, Fender Custom Shop, Friendly Guitar Merchant, and the Lucky 50: you all get two thumbs up from the pale, twitchy guy with the little kid.
-Will
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/271138-ngd-jim-campilongo-signature-tele.html
I'm very stoked and happy about every aspect of this guitar - it is quite an accomplishment for both Jim and Fender - congratulations to all involved!
-Bernie
I received my guitar yesterday.
You did it. This is a whole new standard for a Telecaster.
I thought my NOcaster was good until I played yours. No comparison.
Congratulations my friend, someone had to come along and
build a better Telecaster and it was you.
I will send a picture soon.
John
Armin - You da man...
I recently shared it with my friend Tadahiko, from Japan, and
he was blown away.
Thanks!
Princeton Reverb and a Tube Screamer. Nada mas.
According to me, it cuts through beautifully!
Crybaby added...
à bientôt mon ami
Thank you, Mr. C., I am truly honored you took the time to listen.
PS: I must have you notice my Street-Walking-Cheetah-Iggy-And-The-Stooges T-Shirt.
-Bernie
In reference to your fleet-fingered comment, here's a picture of the back of my car. As an added bonus I let my plates show... ;-)