CRASH to Paint 33 Telecaster-Amp Sets for Fender Custom Shop

TDPRI · June 23rd, 2007, 10:57 AM

CRASH to Paint 33 Telecaster-Amp Sets for Fender Custom Shop

June 23, 2007
From Modern Guitars Magazine

Visual artist John Matos, known to the art and guitar communities as CRASH, has announced on his Modern Guitars magazine column, CRASH Pad, that he will paint 33 sets of Fender Custom Shop Telecasters and amps.

Matos recently completed a Fender-commissioned run of 50 Custom Shop Stratocasters that bear his graffiti-style artwork.

Well known in the art world since the '80s, Matos came to the attention of guitar enthusiasts in the late '90s when Eric Clapton began performing with CRASH-painted Strats, one of which sold at the 2004 Christie's Clapton Crossroads Auction for $321,000. CRASH chronicled the Fender Stratocaster project in his Modern Guitars column and will similarly document the 33 Tele-amp sets.

CRASH has received the first shipment of Telecaster bodies and amp housings from Fender (below).

GUITARmole · June 25th, 2007, 01:00 PM

Maybe if he changed his nickname from "Crash" to "Crap" it would be more descriptive of his "art"

TDPRI · June 26th, 2007, 01:19 PM

The great thing is that "art" is in the eye of the beholder. What's "crap" to you is definitely "art" to me. Isn't that what makes the world go 'round. I'm sure you can agree on that.

Paul Green

snoglobe · June 26th, 2007, 04:10 PM

I agree, art is in the eye of the beholder and I'm sure they'll sell.

Not for me though. Makes the splattercaster look like a good idea.

Kind of gives me a bad 80's Duran Duran vibe. Nooooooooooooooo!

GUITARmole · June 26th, 2007, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webmaster

The great thing is that "art" is in the eye of the beholder. What's "crap" to you is definitely "art" to me. Isn't that what makes the world go 'round. I'm sure you can agree on that.

Paul Green

Absolutely

Rob J · July 5th, 2007, 06:20 PM

As a part time graphic designer myself, I am looking forward to seeing what "Crash" comes up with for Tele designs. I like most (not all) of his Strat designs, and think he offers a welcome alternative to traditional guitar painting.

At the same time, I am somewhat of a "traditionalist" when it comes to Fender paint schemes. I will always prefer solid colors as a first choice, or a nice sunburst, but I would never lable other options as "crap". What a boring world it would be if we all conformed to the same vision of what is, and is not, pleasing to the eye.

Big Mike Simpson · July 7th, 2007, 04:39 PM

The only one I liked was #16 that looked like clouds...

The rest of them I find unattractive but I am unfamiliar with the painter and therefore clueless as to why anyone would want a one off pop art strat painted by him. I guess if I could get Clapton to play a guitar I made then everyone would want one... not trying to be disrespectful to the artist... but I know some really good painters and these don't look that impressive to me... but judging art is a lot like judging music.

At risk of sounding stupid... how come all of the pick guards are cut off leaving the control cavity uncovered? Is there another piece or a metal plate that will be used to cover that?

I "almost like #35... it has sort of a Pink Floyd Dark side of the Moon look to it... I would have preferred black instead of brown.

June 23rd, 2007, 10:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
TDPRI Administrator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TDPRILAND Posts: 5,582 36 Photos	CRASH to Paint 33 Telecaster-Amp Sets for Fender Custom Shop CRASH to Paint 33 Telecaster-Amp Sets for Fender Custom Shop June 23, 2007 From Modern Guitars Magazine Visual artist John Matos, known to the art and guitar communities as CRASH, has announced on his Modern Guitars magazine column, CRASH Pad, that he will paint 33 sets of Fender Custom Shop Telecasters and amps. Matos recently completed a Fender-commissioned run of 50 Custom Shop Stratocasters that bear his graffiti-style artwork. Well known in the art world since the '80s, Matos came to the attention of guitar enthusiasts in the late '90s when Eric Clapton began performing with CRASH-painted Strats, one of which sold at the 2004 Christie's Clapton Crossroads Auction for $321,000. CRASH chronicled the Fender Stratocaster project in his Modern Guitars column and will similarly document the 33 Tele-amp sets. CRASH has received the first shipment of Telecaster bodies and amp housings from Fender (below). Attached Images

June 26th, 2007, 04:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
snoglobe Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 520	I agree, art is in the eye of the beholder and I'm sure they'll sell. Not for me though. Makes the splattercaster look like a good idea. Kind of gives me a bad 80's Duran Duran vibe. Nooooooooooooooo! __________________ Snoglobe "The liver is bad, it must be punished!"

July 7th, 2007, 04:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Big Mike Simpson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ (PHX) Age: 52 Posts: 1,503 62 Photos	The only one I liked was #16 that looked like clouds... The rest of them I find unattractive but I am unfamiliar with the painter and therefore clueless as to why anyone would want a one off pop art strat painted by him. I guess if I could get Clapton to play a guitar I made then everyone would want one... not trying to be disrespectful to the artist... but I know some really good painters and these don't look that impressive to me... but judging art is a lot like judging music. At risk of sounding stupid... how come all of the pick guards are cut off leaving the control cavity uncovered? Is there another piece or a metal plate that will be used to cover that? I "almost like #35... it has sort of a Pink Floyd Dark side of the Moon look to it... I would have preferred black instead of brown. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/bigmikesimpson

June 25th, 2007, 01:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
GUITARmole Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,117 50 Photos	Maybe if he changed his nickname from "Crash" to "Crap" it would be more descriptive of his "art"

June 26th, 2007, 01:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
TDPRI Administrator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TDPRILAND Posts: 5,582 36 Photos	The great thing is that "art" is in the eye of the beholder. What's "crap" to you is definitely "art" to me. Isn't that what makes the world go 'round. I'm sure you can agree on that. Paul Green

July 5th, 2007, 06:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rob J Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Nor California Posts: 148	As a part time graphic designer myself, I am looking forward to seeing what "Crash" comes up with for Tele designs. I like most (not all) of his Strat designs, and think he offers a welcome alternative to traditional guitar painting. At the same time, I am somewhat of a "traditionalist" when it comes to Fender paint schemes. I will always prefer solid colors as a first choice, or a nice sunburst, but I would never lable other options as "crap". What a boring world it would be if we all conformed to the same vision of what is, and is not, pleasing to the eye.