While Byrne doesn’t seem to be using any of the synthesiser capabilities of the instrument, it still makes for a great tone, and of course, looks super cool.Ī staple addition to Byrne’s collection of acoustic guitars, the revered Martin D-35 can be heard throughout various tracks on Speaking In Tongues, particularly the band’s commercial breakthrough hit ‘Burning Down The House’.Īlthough predominantly known as the bassist for Talking Heads, Tina Weymouth also contributed guitar to ‘This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)’, in which she played a super weird and incredibly rare Fender Swinger.Ī short-lived production model from a tumultuous era for Fender, the Swinger was built to use up spare parts from Fender Bass V and Musicmaster models, and surprisingly never really took off well with buyers – wonder why. Throughout the critically cherished concert film Stop Making Sense filmed a year after the release of Speaking In Tongues, Byrne can be seen playing a quirky Roland G-303 Guitar Synthesiser, particularly in the art-funk freak out ‘Slippery People’. GuitarsĪs an authentic purveyor of art-rock at its most adventurous, it makes sense for band leader David Byrne to play a Fender Duo-Sonic – a weird, offset oddity made by Fender as a student guitar in the 1960s.īyrne added a humbucker to the bridge position of the instrument, with the distinctive out-of-phase pickups able to be heard on various songs from Speaking In Tongues as well as the band’s previously released material.īoth Byrne and fellow Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison played various Stratocasters around the Speaking In Tongues era, with a Guitar Player article from 1984 claiming that two of Byrne’s sunburst Strats hail from around 1962-63, making them collector’s grade vintage pieces. We dug into the vault to discover the gear used by the band to create a pivotal new wave classic. Read up on all the latest features and columns here. ![]() There’s no denying that Talking Heads are one of the most inspirational bands of the ’80s, and further that the band’s album Speaking in Tongues, influenced much of the alternative music that emerged from the decade.īlending elements of punk, funk and art-rock, the group, spearheaded by the enigmatic David Byrne, helped pave the way to the explosion of new-wave music, particularly with the release of their 1983 LP Speaking In Tongues, which was backed by what many consider to be one of the greatest concert films ever – 1984’s Stop Making Sense. Smeared out for the first time, next day, some new coats will follow.Words by Mixdown Staff We're taking a look at the tools behind Talking Heads' 'Speaking In Tongues' - celebrating the record in all of its wonderfully strange glory. I'm a musician, my bank-account is always empty, why do you need that card anywayĮpoxy on the first places that needed major touch-ups. ![]() It's an advantage that you can work from two sidesĬavity's sealed to protect the original stamps and colours.ĭit moon-like landscape can't be sanded out, I'll take out the epoxy woodfiller. Mind you little children, a screw you heat up with a lighter IS VERY HOT!!! In 20 minutes time, my neighbours learned a whole new string of cursing terms. I tore it out of it's hole with a screw I've heaten up, and melted my way half in it. I couldn't get my ground wire into the channel. Tape at the sides of the headstock, making it flush with the top of it (sides don't need painting)Įlectronics, the start, with a handwritten diagram borrowed from uncle Leo F. Protected neck with a piece of musicstore-wrapping. The result of a nice afternoon of working.īyeBye old logo, de headstock after a meeting with my grinding paper. The rest of the parts I already have (neckplate, screws 'n bolts, replacement logo with the same serial number, a squier bronco pickup (not the best thing, but sure good enough) and paint. ![]() I'm still searching for 1 complete tuner, and 2 axles (tuning posts) and 2 camwheels (with bolts) for this bass, they are virtually impossible to find (I know it's illegal to ask here, but in my "wanted-section" topic, there isn't much reaction either, but does anyone can give me a clue to a complete set of tuners, or just the parts I still need?). He used a kettle of water to make clouds of steam to weaken the glue, to no avail, it was elbow-grease and a LOT of patience to get the body in this bare state. ![]() My friend already pealed off the plastic veneer on the top and bottom, which was attached with bitumen-like glue. I've traced the pickguard on the body, so I can see what areas need to be refilled with wood, because some router-maniac decided it would be cool to route all the way TROUGH the body. I've got hold of this wreck by a friend of mine (he's still the owner of the thing), with the question if I could restore the thing to it's former glory.
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