AD: Steve Vai for Ibanez

Light Without Heat

Here’s Steve Vai at his most Steve-Vai-like, touting the Ibanez Jem 7VWH. Steve was embarking on the Sex & Religion journey at the time this ad appeared in Guitar for the Practicing Musician, September 1993.

 

AD: Nuno Bettencourt for Washburn

1991: Get the Funk Out

In ’91 Extreme were still rolling with the success of the multi-platinum Extreme II. Pornograffitti (A Funked Up Fairy Tale), a record obviously referred to in the text here. Washburn’s N4 was unveiled in late ’90 following that album’s release. Ad scanned from Guitar for the Practicing Musician, September 1991.

 

AD: J. Yuenger for Peavey

Jay Noel Yuenger

Though this ad was still running in early ’97, White Zombie had issued their final release, the remix album Supersexy Swingin’ Sounds, the preceding year. This full page piece comes from Guitar for the Practicing Musician, January 1997.

 

AD: Phil Collen for Jackson

Philip Kenneth Collen

Def Leppard’s Phil Collen is a longtime Jackson man. This ad touting Collen’s own model comes from Guitar for the Practicing Musician, January 1997 at which time Def Lep had released the gold album Slang. The copy promotes the band’s “Summer ’96″ tour. Hmm.

Proof positive the guitar manufacturers are just as ridiculous as nail polish companies: The PC1 is available in the following finishes – Euphoria, Mocha, Chlorine, au Natural, and Solar.

 

AD: Michael Hedges for Takamine

Michael Alden Hedges

The inimitable Michael Hedges in a fitting Takamine ad. Hedges was between the albums Taproot and The Road to Return when this piece was running. Taken from Guitar for the Practicing Musician, February 1992.

From the Rooney Archive.

 

AD: Mick Mars for Kramer

“… rock solid guitarist …”

There’s lots of goofy text in this Kramer ad circumlocuting the fact that Mick Mars and Mötley Crüe were supporting Dr. Feelgood at the time. Taken from Guitar for the Practicing Musician, March 1990.

From the Rooney Archive.

 

AD: Michael Lee Firkins for Yamaha

Michael Lee Firkins

Have you ever listened to Michael Lee Firkins? You really should. This ad for the Yamaha Pacifica came out right around the time of his self-titled debut on Shrapnel, referenced here.

Scanned from Guitar for the Practicing Musician, March 1990.

From the Rooney Archive.

 

AD: Gibson Corvus, Challenger, Invader

“Ready to rock when you are.”

The Gibson Corvus has to be one of the ugliest guitars ever dumped on the public. It’s as if half a dozen templates landed on each other in the wood shop and someone said, “Ehh, go ahead—how terrible could it look?” Being a U.S. made Gibson nearly 30 years old, however, the things list for over $900 on eBay.

Meanwhile, the Challenger and Invader are more typical, classic looking instruments.

Scanned from Guitar for the Practicing Musician, June 1984.

 

AD: Jeff Worley and Jimmy Stiff of Jackyl for SIT strings

“POWER WOUND”

Not sure how many endorsement deals Jackyl had in the ’90s, but this one would’ve appeared at the height of their commercial success. Push Comes to Shove came out in ’94 and its title track went to #7 on the “mainstream rock” chart. Main man Jesse James Dupree does not appear in the ad, though a caricature of his chainsaw does.

Scanned from Guitar for the Practicing Musician, March 1994.

 

AD: Andy Timmons for Hughes & Kettner

“Guitar Wizard Andy Timmons”

Ads featuring Andy Timmons are always a hit here at Pointy Guitar. So here’s one from Guitar for the Practicing Musician, November 1994, Andy surrounded by a variety of Hughes & Kettner gear. This ad emphasizes the H&K Red Box MK III and Timmons’ debut solo album, Ear X-tacy.