Thursday, January 12, 2012

Led Zep Week: You can't forget the Danelectro

I have few complaints about NIGEL WILLIAMSON'S "THE ROUGH GUIDE TO LED ZEPPELIN," the comprehensive biography/discography of the band I have been reading during *LED ZEP WEEK.*
I do have at least one minor quibble.
The Page 79 feature on the guitars of JIMMY PAGE refers to Gibsons, Fenders, 12-strings, double-necks and acoustic guitars -- but makes no mention of the most surprising axe in the guitarist's arsenal.
Associated with the SEARS, ROEBUCK catalog, the DANELECTRO was considered the "beginner guitar of the post-war Baby Boom generation," according to "TOTALLY GUITAR: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE" by Tony Bacon and Dave Hunter.
Page used the humble Danelectro for a specific and important role in LED ZEPPELIN -- it was the guitar of choise for slide playing.
He first used the guitar in the YARDBIRDS, tuning it in a modal fashion.
By the time Led Zep took flight, Page used the Danelectro for the "WHITE SUMMER/BLACK MOUNTAIN SIDE" medley on tours.
He also used it for such live favorites as "When the Levee Breaks," "Kashmir" and "In My Time of Dying."
Page thought enough about the Danelectro to use it during the band's 1988 reunion at the Atlantic Records' 40th Anniversary concert.
For a guitar of "low birth," Page's Danelectro gained a high profile.

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