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Real Mike Bloomfield Burst..

Stow

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Nov 14, 2002
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1,857
Where is it now? I'm a Bloom nut and I have read lots and lots about the man, I know that the LP was last seen in Canada but I'm sure it must have passed hands since then? I assume when Gibson done the sig they did it from photos? LOL Wish we could see what it looked like now..Anyone got any info on it? I recon its now faded to completly to honey / lemon, maybe a tiny bid of red left..dings, dents, breaks..

These pics were taken in 73 and you can see how much its faded since Monterey and that was only a few years before, the burst was deep red then


mb_rusin_03.jpg


mb_rusin_04.jpg




Photos credit - Steve Rusin, found them on Mike Bloomfield.com)
 

MikeSlub

Administrator
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Jul 15, 2001
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15,166
I have seen photos of the guitar within the last few years. IMO Gibson nailed the color perfectly with the reissue. :)
 

rufes

Formerly dmartinez
Joined
May 8, 2003
Messages
4,389
yes the color, maybe not that much the tone

LOL
 

Greco

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Apr 23, 2006
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2,181
It's probaly another one of those badly kept secrets around those in the know :spabout . As Mike hinted at, obviously someone knows where it is.
 
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Stow

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Nov 14, 2002
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As Mike hinted at, obviously someone knows where it is.

I'm sure, I suspect its getting played most weeks..or its in some collection.. I know reasons for keeping it hush hush. just think it would be cool to see what it looked like now
 

Otto 57

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Nov 19, 2009
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1,345
One of the most beautiful bursts ever. Looks and tone. I would love to see a pic of this one as it is today.
 

dretot

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Mar 24, 2003
Messages
490
Stow,
I'm a big Bloomfield fan also. His lp had such a horn-like quality, I'd love to see/hear it again. Probably never going to happen, kinda sad, but I guess that's selfish on my part. Here's a pic that was taken at the same session as the photo on the back of the 2009 Gibson Custom brochure. Has to be post '73 (note the missing neck binding).





dre
 

Kevin L.

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Oct 5, 2009
Messages
584
Hello all. Gotta add my $.02 on this one. I am also a big Michael Bloomfield fan. Those photos were taken at the old Rivoli Theater in Indianapolis. That night I sat in the second row and got one heck of a guitar lesson. Afterwards, I walked around to the stage door and was able to walk right in. Michael came over, shook my hand, and when I told him it was the best concert I'd ever attended was rewarded with a warm smile and sincere thank you. I asked him about the Les Paul. He told me he had "swapped a guy" for it (Now I know that was Dan Erlwine). The guitar was on its stand with the back facing me. I remember the back was quite scarred up.

At any rate, true or not, I have read that the guitar went to the sons of the club owner who kept the guitar after Michael missed a gig. Supposedly it was eventually sold to a collector in the US.

There is a photo of it in the Scott/DaPra book (P. 80), showing removed covers, a zebra in the neck, a black in the bridge, and a repaired tailpiece crack.

Someone knows where it is!
 

Otto 57

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There is a photo of it in the Scott/DaPra book (P. 80), showing removed covers, a zebra in the neck, a black in the bridge, and a repaired tailpiece crack.
/QUOTE]
Which DaPra book,The first one or the latest one?
 

Stow

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Nov 14, 2002
Messages
1,857
Hello all. Gotta add my $.02 on this one. I am also a big Michael Bloomfield fan. Those photos were taken at the old Rivoli Theater in Indianapolis. That night I sat in the second row and got one heck of a guitar lesson. Afterwards, I walked around to the stage door and was able to walk right in. Michael came over, shook my hand, and when I told him it was the best concert I'd ever attended was rewarded with a warm smile and sincere thank you. I asked him about the Les Paul. He told me he had "swapped a guy" for it (Now I know that was Dan Erlwine). The guitar was on its stand with the back facing me. I remember the back was quite scarred up.

At any rate, true or not, I have read that the guitar went to the sons of the club owner who kept the guitar after Michael missed a gig. Supposedly it was eventually sold to a collector in the US.

There is a photo of it in the Scott/DaPra book (P. 80), showing removed covers, a zebra in the neck, a black in the bridge, and a repaired tailpiece crack.

Someone knows where it is!

GREAT story Kevin...man, thats so cool! I bet you were deaf after that gig LOL! I would LOVE to see this Dapra book? anyone got any scans? please??? I also herd through the grapevine that the Bloom burst is a dog player, I know Mike treated it like shit as it was just a guitar to him
 
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dretot

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Mar 24, 2003
Messages
490
GREAT story Kevin...man, thats so cool! I bet you were deaf after that gig LOL! I would LOVE to see this Dapra book? anyone got any scans? please??? I also herd through the grapevine that the Bloom burst is a dog player, I know Mike treated it like shit as it was just a guitar to him

A friend of mine was in an opening act for him and at sound check Mike showed up (late), and came up to the front of the stage and just threw and slid his burst on to the stage.......... in a gig bag!


dre
 

Stow

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Nov 14, 2002
Messages
1,857
A friend of mine was in an opening act for him and at sound check Mike showed up (late), and came up to the front of the stage and just threw and slid his burst on to the stage.......... in a gig bag!


dre


That is rock and roll...wish Mike was still around making music
 

Kevin L.

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Messages
584
Stow,
It's been a long time, and I don't remember the volume level. What I DO remember is that his playing was just incredibly soulful and sweet. He would play a lick or a note and then run his hand up and down the neck of the guitar as if carefully considering all of the possibilities and deciding just exactly which note to play. For me, it was a magic night.

It was out of character for me to walk backstage, but I will be forever glad I did!
 

Klyde59

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Jan 26, 2004
Messages
157
There is a good archive story here in the forum about the Bloomfield that I wrote some years back about it's ending up in Canada and it's subsequent ownership. I am sure you can find it if you do a search. It explains everything....
 

Stow

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Nov 14, 2002
Messages
1,857
Cheers Klyde!

This subject has been covered many times before,but for those not up to speed let me add my story on the Bloomfield(once again!).It is true that the guitar ended up in Canada and eventually made it's way to Toronto in 1980.I was a struggling 19 yr. old and one of the very few guys into vintage guitars in southern ontario.A guy named Ken Goodwin got the '59(Erlewine burst) and had it as well as two other bursts and a V.I went to his house and played the guitar,closely examined it and then ran down to a local record store to check the details with one Mike is holding on the front of one of his records.It was absolutely the ONE with the beautiful bookmatched top,battle scar below the stop tail on the treble side,two knobs that were slightly different,the sg/les paul truss rod cover,grovers,etc.It was really beat and had an average quality headstock repair.Need less to say even then I wanted it badly and the price was $4000 canadian at the time a considerable amount for anyone let alone a 19 year old with no cash.I even went to my bank to try and get a loan for it,and they looked at me and laughed.It was sold to a Toronto guitar enthusiast(he LOVED Jimmy Page and wanted a les paul like his).He eventually moved to the U.S and last I heard it was still in his posession,but I won't confirm it.Oh yeah and it was an absolute mother to play with a vibe that still stays with me.Talk about one that got away.

I need to find a scan of page 80 of the Scott/DaPra book!!!
 
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