Haole Jim wrote:A while ago, 'was chatting jive with a chum who is also a serious guitar lover and WW II historian...
...we kind of came up with a few WW II fighter / electric guitar analogies.
Reproduced here for your amusement.
Stratocaster---P-51 Mustang; famous beyond all others, the ultimate thoroughbred, can do it all, plenty of variants and colour schemes
Les Paul---P-47 Thunderbolt; heavy but powerful, fast and agile, recognizable, respected
Telecaster---P-40 Tomahawk / Kittyhawk / Warhawk; not as modern or sexy as some, simple, utilitarian, but was "there first" and soldiers on faithfully, a number of variants but basically all the same-ish, brilliant in the hands of a competent "pilot"
ES-335---F4U Corsair, big, elegant, fast, a hands-full, capable in every way
6120 "Country Gentleman"---F6F Hellcat; big, heavy, not as glam or sexy as some, but been there a lot and has a sterling record of accomplishment, mighty in the right hands
Fender VI---Mosquito VI; not as well known as the smaller ones, big, versatile, powerful, but still curvy and sexy
Gibson EDS-1275 Double 6-12---Beaufighter; big, powerful, instantly recognizable, fearsome in the hands of an expert
Mosrite Mk I---Spitfire XIV; the ultimate fighter plane hotrod, huge "engine" in small, sexy airframe
Too bad that the ME 109. FW 190 and the Me 262 dont get any mention here. The ME 109 qualifies as another staple, perhaps another parallel to the Tele: it did chalk up the kills (hits, that is). The FW 190 with its big radial and deep throb would be a Jazzmaster and the Me 262 will be the Travis Bean aluminum neck guitars - way ahead of its time.
-Kanad
