John acquired this 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar around mid-2004. The first time he was seen using it was on March 24th, 2004 at the Knitting Factory, at a “John Frusciante & Friends” show featuring Flea, Josh Klinghoffer, Eric Avery, and others. He was subsequently seen using it during the Roll On The Red tour, beginning in June 2004.
Later, during the recording of Stadium Arcadium, he used it to record “Readymade” and to add overdubs on “Make You Feel Better.”
According to John’s guitar technician, Dave Lee, this guitar was purchased as an alternative to his SG. The SG’s factory tremolo system was unreliable and impractical for touring, prompting John to seek out another solution.
I don’t remember a sunburst SG. The “Cherry Red” one was more brownish. And yes, he did use it for overdubs. That guitar was what led him to get the Les Paul. That SG has an old factory tremolo that was a nightmare. So, it wasnt very practical for touring. That’s what inspired him to get the black Les Paul.
Dave Mail 98: The Gibson SG mystery and the purchase of the ’69 Les Paul Custom
In addition to Stadium Arcadium, John occasionally used this guitar live, most notably on “Fortune Faded,” a track likely recorded with his 1961 SG/Les Paul Custom. He also played it during The Mars Volta’s Frances The Mute recording sessions in mid-2004 and at the Ramones tribute concert in September 2004.
Specs
The guitar is a 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom featuring two PAF humbuckers without metal covers. Other than this detail, the guitar appears unmodified.
The Les Paul is a ’69, but I’m not sure what years the ES-175 and 335 are from. I don’t play those much; I bought them because Steve Howe played them, but they don’t really go with my style that well. I feel like Strats are an extension of me, and a Jaguar feels like the next closest thing to being an extension of me. Les Pauls and SGs seem like a further stretch.
John Frusciante, Red Hot On The Empyrean
Now with Dave Navarro?
Dave Navarro recently revealed on the Dark Matter Radio podcast that John had gifted him a black Les Paul. Navarro mentioned that he had given a Les Paul Standard to John in the ’90s and never got it back, so this gift was John’s way of returning the favor.
It’s possible that the Les Paul Custom John gifted Navarro is the same 1969 model he used with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but without photos or a confirmed timeline, it remains speculation. (You can listen to this part of the podcast on YouTube: When Frusciante Gave a Les Paul to Dave Navarro).
John actually acquired this in around 2004, if you watch the ramones tribute show that RHCP played at he’s using this guitar.
Coming back a year later to add this! Dave Lee also added that John bought the Les Paul because he loved the sound of his SG Custom but struggled to keep it in tune. You can see John using that SG Custom in footage of the Mars Volta recording Frances The Mute in mid 2004 and then John playing this at the ramones tribute in September 2004 so safe to assume this guitar was acquired in mid 2004. Also apparently used heavily on Inside Of Emptiness (I found a quote with John talking about that will have to find it)
I just updated the page with the new details. Really appreciate it!
3rd times a charm? Still one of my favourite John guitar’s and I’ve found some more points to make!
Watching some videos and seeing some photos, the very first thing that I can find of John using this guitar is on March 24th, 2004 at the Knitting Factory. The show is a “John Frusciante & Friends” show that features Flea, Josh Klinghoffer, Eric Avery, etc.
It then makes appearances on the Roll On The Red tour, beginning in June 2004. I do still remember that quote of John’s saying he used it on the Inside of Emptiness album sessions but never found it. Those sessions occurred from March 8-13 2004 so lines up with it being a new guitar for him!
The photo I’ve attached is from the March 24, 2004 Knitting Factory show.
Updated the page again, thanks. If you happen to find that quote, please let me know.