For anybody who reads my blog from time to time you may be thinking this guy's finally gone off the deep end reviewing a couple of First Act guitars and calling them collectible. First Act for years has done a great job creating affordable, playable, entry level guitars that have started many a guitar player on their way to developing the passion we all have for the instrument. But First Act collectibles? I submit for review the Paul Westerberg PW580 and VW GarageMaster special additions. Both were created for a short time in 2006 and have recently built up somewhat of a cult status among collectors as well as players. Paul Westerberg PW580
Paul Westerberg was the legendary lead singer, chief songwriter, and mostly rhythm guitar player for the groundbreaking group The Replacements throughout the 80's and early 90's. Often called the greatest unknown band in rock and roll at the time, the "Mats" were never quite given their just dos. After their breakup, Westerberg went on to perform as a solo act and apparently was on tour in America when he stopped into a retailer to buy supplies and found a crimson ME501 First Act guitar. He bought it on the spot, played it onstage that night, and continued to use it for the rest of the tour. First Act upon hearing this, invited Westerberg in collaboration to design a signature Paul Westerberg model. The black bodied PW580 featured a single "vintage voiced" Alnico pick-up, a volume and tone control, and an oh-so-appropriate punk style red plaid pick guard. This is quite simply a bare bones, garage-rock guitar and even if you don't play it, it is extremely cool looking and getting hard to find these days,
VW GarageMaster
In the fall of 2006, Volkswagen of America had the brilliant idea of teaming up with First Act to design a guitar that would play through the audio system of select VW models. As a result, during the fourth quarter of that year, each new Jetta, Rabbit, and Beetle was shipped with what was to be know as the GarageMaster guitar. The key to the guitar's unique design was a special built-in pre-amp that allowed the guitar to plug directly into the VeeDub's auxiliary jack. The preamp is activated by one of three small switches that are located by each of the knobs (volume, tone, preamp boost). If you activate the preamp, a blue LED will light up. If you flip the selector switch for the volume knob, you will overdrive the pickup. If you flip the tone switch, it will boost the tone signal and give the guitar a punchier sound. The control knobs, truss rod cover, and neck plate all have VW logos. An engraved plate on the back of the headstock featured the same Vehicle Identification Number as the newly purchased car. A good friend of mine who performs regularly, recently purchased a GM and likes it so much he now uses it as part of his arsenal on stage.
Volkswagen's supporting ad campaign included TV spots featuring John Mayer, Slash of Guns N' Roses, and Christopher Guest (as Nigel Tufnell of Spinal Tap).
Check out this promo clip of Slash playing the GarageMaster and using VW's as Marshall style stacks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCQHgETt1dw&feature=related
In the First Act tradition, both of these guitars were inexpensive to purchase when new. In fact the GarageMaster was a giveaway if you purchased a VW. They can still be bought relatively cheap and are just a blast to play. Hey..... it could be time to join the cult!
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