House of the Ward

[The Duke]

With recording costs of the Southern Born Killers album continuing to escalate, I have decided to part with two of my dear friends. Those of you who know me well, will find this shocking, but I have decided to sell my 1976 Natural Top Les Paul Standard. This guitar was used to record most of Snappin' Necks, all of Pigwalk, all of Rising, most of Declaration of a Headhunter, all of the Sick Speed material, all of the first Fozzy, most of Happenstance, most of All That Remains, some of The Duke and used most recently on the new SBK record. It was the guitar I used in the Not Promised Tomorrow, Pigwalk and Rising videos. It was virtually the only guitar that I used on stage from 1991 to 2003, when after one of my guitars was stolen from a club and another was lost by an airline, I decided to retired it from the road and used exclusively as a recording guitar. Now, with the completion of the new Mojo record my only focus, this is a sacrifice that I must make. This guitar has been played by Dime, Zakk, Devin Townsend, Robert Flynn, Andy Sneap and many other notables, who all have claimed it, as one, if not the best playing and sounding Les Paul on the planet. Part of the guitar's unique and aggressive sound comes from a hard to find body, made up of a thin layer of walnut, sandwiched between a 2 pieces of mahogany. The other key element of this guitar's tone, is it's maple neck, which was only found on a few Les Pauls manufactured between 1976 and 1982. These Paul's hard to find maple necks were made from leftover stockpiles of maple that were originally intended to be used for maple tops and had been sitting in the Gibson factory since the 1950's. Ever wonder why new Les Pauls sound like shit and old ones can make you slap your Mama? Good pieces of old, dry wood. Over the years, I have modified the guitar to match my playing and my tone. It has a Duncan Jeff Beck in the bridge and a Duncan 59 in the bridge. Spertzel tunig kets, a graphite nut and a volume knob that was modified by Dime's tech Grady in 1998. There is also a small "hip pad" on the back of the guitar's body, because I used to severely bruise my hip bone while slinging this huge piece of wood around for 15 years. This guitar has been on the cover of several magazines, including Metal Edge, Terrorizer and a photo of me from 1998's Dynamo festival appeared as the cover shot on an issue of Aardschok (Holland and Belgium's biggest metal mag).

Equally as surprising, is the fact that I am selling my 1982 "duke of metal" Marshall JCM 800. Every album that I have ever recorded, was done so with this amp. This amp was modified by Bob Bradshaw himself and is the best sounding JCM 800 in the world. Again, don't take my word for it, there have been many world class players (Dime, Zakk, Dev, Flynn, Stephen from the Deftones, but the list is endless), who have flipped out and claimed this amp "KING", when giving it a test drive. Take one listen to the guitar tone on Rising or Declaration and all non-believers will be converted.

With this message, I am reaching out to those of you on the mojo/fozzy/duke boards, who would be very familiar with these items. I will leave this post up for a few days, to give you first "dibs" on them before listing them on ebay. Anyone interested can contact me by private message through this board (www.dukerocks.com/phpBB2/). This will be a silent auction and bids for the Les Paul will start at $2,500 and $2,000 for the Duke Of Metal JCM 800.

[axeman8]

It's times like these when I wish I had $$$. I'd buy that gear right away - and then turn around it give it back to it's rightful and deserved owner - Rich Ward. Truly, this is very disturbing and sad.

[fLaMeBoY]

Rich,
Very sad news for you.
Though I can't play the guitar this is truely a remarkable item for any Mojo fan to have.

A daft idea maybe, but a couple of ways of raising some cash for the record -
Firstly, why don't you offer us fans a chance to be a real part of the album. The idea is that you could offer us fans a chance to have our name listed on the album sleeve under a small 'Thank You' or "Mojo fans who help make this possible" section? I would happily pay say £100 to have my name on the album. If a hundred people do that then thats a grand, some $1800.

Second one, and a purely selfish one, but I guess you have lots of Stuck Mojo merch? I would be delighted to pay you $50 for a Stuck Mojo vest shirt, one I lost years back! Seriously dude!

Mark

[fLaMeBoY]

Oh, and third idea...

You could always release the "Live at Camden Underworld DVD" - I would pay a fortune for it, honestly mate, even if you made a few hundred available You could easily ask people for $30-$50 for a copy.

Mark

[axeman8]

I think part of the problem with all our ideas is that it isn't guaranteed to get the sum of the money Rich needs quick enough. I was thinking all different ways, too, but realized if someone needed the money to pay bills, money trickling in little by little just wouldn't cut it.

[Bobby]

Damn!

I have told so many people about this JCM 800 and the tone it has created on the mojo albums... legendary amp. legendary tone!
damn, i wish i had the cash right now, i would buy that as soon as i could.
but then i would have to part with my gibson explorer to buy the JCM800... then i would only have the amp, and no guitar to play it on...

Im sure there are still other ways though Rich... why not, like mentioned by flameboy, let us be a part of the new album... im willing to invest as well, and im sure there are many out there who would love to do the same.
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[Bobby]

One more thing...

You might want to post this at the Sandy Neap forum as well.. or i will once it's on ebay, if you want to.. since these items are unique and need to be in the right hands... the people there know all about good gear and good tone, so it could help.


http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=151


But let's see who wants it here first though...
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[UncleKG]

Guys,

Don't look at this as an ending, but a new beginning. Rich is completely OK with selling both items. He has a number of other guitars and amps, and while these two pieces will always hold a special place in his heart, he said it's time to let go of some of the old and welcome the new.

Just be excited (if you're bidding), and know that the money will be used wisely to help move the Mojo machine along.
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[Bobby]

Very true man...
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[Edes]

man this is so fucking tempting.... wish i had more $$$$ right now.
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[Double A]

I'm speechless...
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[NESFantasy]

While Rich is obviously willing to part with these things that he holds in high regard, I'm sure he's still gutted about it. With all those things that you mentioned recording with that guitar and the amp, I truly hope that while any selling helps you finish this album, that the new owner would let you "borrow" it for any future albums you need just the RIGHT touch on.

I don't have the kind of money to buy any of this, nor do I probably have enough money to make a difference, but I'd be happy to contribute a bit here and there to help you guys. I think most of us refuse to allow you to work at Taco Bell to finance your music!
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[GeorgeFN]

I'd be lying if I said 'I feel your pain' but I can relate to such sacrifices. I had to sell my home-bodged Bullseye Les Paul in order to buy the 5150 and I'm still really struggling financially at the mo. I often look at my Les Paul Standard and Fender Strat thinking 'hmmm... how much would they fetch?' but i can't do it. They're my fuckin boys, even tho i don't use em much.

Anyway, I wish I could afford both said items Rich, cos i'd simply hold on to em until you made your money back on SBK, then sell em back to ya! I just hope you make an absolute killing cos it sounds like they should be worth thousands.
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[izzie]

yer but still.. its his main guitar..... if he got others why dont he sell them instead?
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[izzie]

on that note... yard sale?.......
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