Guitar of the Day: 1999 Fender Robben Ford Ultra FM Masterbuilt Greg Fessler | Norman's Rare Guitars

[@calebco9]

Really wish Michael would make like a loop album just playing instrumentals likes these I love it

[@kenmaryfazio]

I honestly believe that Norm should have been Time Magazine's Man of the Year. You are a good man, Norm

[@wesleyAlan9179]

😁💜✌

[@petermuthmann7426]

The best Gibson Fender ever built!

[@joermnyc]

Even has a “TP-6” tailpiece.

[@jerrymcgeorge4117]

Maybe better than any Gibson Gibson ever built!

[@therealdoug1000]

Thanks for making the year bearable Norm, Michael, Jen and NRG team. Happy holidays! And the tone on that guitar is otherworldly!

[@continentalaquatics2725]

Yup! Let’s remind everyone to stop voting democrat! 🍻

[@therealdoug1000]

@@continentalaquatics2725 Why would you use this space for such a ridiculous comment? Don't mind them Norm! Keep up the good stuff!

[@continentalaquatics2725]

@@therealdoug1000 You play a Strat. Sitch yo ass down!!! 😂 End Commiefornia! Vote out Newsom and Garcetti. Vote Republican! 🍻

[@billfleming8281]

That’s a beauty ! Norm , I appreciate all you do for those less fortunate and reminding us all to give back , I truly appreciate it !

[@MrGibsn1960]

This guitar was out when I was first starting with playing. It's actually how I got into Robben because I was such a gear lust kid. If you guys ever come across one of the Gibson Pat Martino signature guitars, please do a demo with it.

[@schalksteyn9594]

Awesome, awesome, awesome. Thanx to the Wizard Lemmo and to Whoo hoo Jen the lens girl for always giving us something worth while. Love and blessings from Kruger National Park in South Africa. 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@MarkSmith-mj6oo]

That is one Ser-mooooooth instrument😎! Aye Carumba, the manner in which Lemmo teases the notes from that ‘board. Robben is one of my heroes; one of the genuine masters of his craft - and this guitar literally screams ‘Craft’, baby🥰!

[@ryanfulldark2775]

That is cool AF! Why doesn’t fender put THAT into production? They could use a model that thumps in their lineup! I even love the headstock, so damn cool!

[@Pnanasnoic]

I like the headstock as well, I just wish it was a straight string-pull. One full step bend and you're reaching for the machines...

[@ryanfulldark2775]

@@Pnanasnoic Not if the nut is cut properly. I’ve never had tuning issues with Gibsons or any 3x3 design. A simple nut file and you’re good!👍

[@Pnanasnoic]

@@ryanfulldark2775 Nah, that hard break is always binding. You can have a graphite nut or shave all the pencil you want.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

@@Pnanasnoic Yet I’ve never had an issue, as I stated. And I’ve owned many Gibsons. Just lucky, I guess? There’s no need for graphite whatsoever.

[@jerrymcgeorge4117]

I agree. I have two ‘93 Robbens, last of the Fuji Gen production before they went into the Custom Shop and the price doubled. I had a 2000 Fessler Robben Elite but didn’t like it as much as the ‘93. The CS pricing killed it off. I still think it would sell if they went back to offshore production, offered a maple top version and improved the bridge / tailpiece hardware.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

Did I mention I love the way the lighting at Norms makes that nitro gleam?

[@martinmcgimpsey9750]

So cool! Beautiful guitar! Awesome set Lemmo! Great video Jen! I love guitar of the day!

[@kevinl6111]

Beautiful guitar! Cant wait for the Special Edition Lemmo "WTF" Fender Strat!

[@babagadoush1]

Beautiful playing

[@Smagledorf]

Love seeing these more obscure Masterbuilds! They're so creative at the Custom Shop! However! Gotta do a Maton!

[@bobsimmons3466]

First Fender Robben Ford to be featured on GOTD. We had a debut yesterday too - the Fender Bullet. Thanks for mixing it up a bit. Happy Holidays!

[@jacttanna2353]

Pretty sure this is the model Robben used on the "Talk To Your Daughter" album. My favorite Robben Ford album. Great guitar.

[@nathantamlyn3892]

Lemmo + loop pedal = musical genius

[@henkkman]

Lemmo knocked it out of the park again! 👏

[@artat777]

That was some really nice playing

[@chrisforsythe1605]

That is stunning! Fender needs to make a set neck production model.

[@uniquestringsthings]

That's an awesome guitar👌the best Gibson Fender has ever built👍 Great demo Lemmo

[@TS-he4dn]

Nice playing right there

[@kjneese]

OHMYDEARBABYJESUS!!!! What a stunning guitar! Lemmo, discovering the Fessler "GF" serial number initials with Norm had me cry laughing!!!!

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

Sweet guitar! I’ve never seen one of those before

[@Brannington]

love that headstock

[@DavidDantePhoenix]

More Strats! They have more pickup selections and thus more Lemmo jams!

[@wildwillie7792]

Beautiful guitar

[@ambrosemackinnon8314]

Lovely tunes there is always something interesting at Norman s rare Guitars interesting topics great guitar tunes

[@fabiogasperini5868]

There are so many great players with millions of followers on YT, and making a lot of money from it. Michael is up there with the best. He's a fantastic player. Why hasn't he created something for himself yet? Or maybe he did and I missed it?

[@RuthlessMojo]

Working as a guitar technician at Norm's would be my dream job. I would permanently move into the shop.

[@jfinester]

That’s a gorgeous guitar! Doesn’t look like it’s been played much either.

[@RickMichaelis63]

Hey I just want to give a shout out and a very merry Christmas to the most well-known vintage guitar dealer in the whole world Mr. Norm Harris merry Christmas to you and yours🎄✌️❤️🎸🎵🎶

[@stevesuv]

Designed by the great John Carruthers and Dan Smith. When I was much younger I would go to Johns' shop in Venice and play the green proto type which was then called the Esprit. It had the greatest neck I ever felt. I used to beg John to will it to me. He was hard to make laugh, but that did it. No offence to Greg or Fender but the Robben models that Robben would get from Fender he would take straight to John to disconnect all the electronics and put in his giant frets. I was there , and I saw it with my own eyes. Ask Robben?

[@jerrymcgeorge4117]

He added 6105s, a Gibson Nashville bridge and Seymour’s 59 neck & JB bridge PUs.

[@richleonard55]

@@jerrymcgeorge4117 I have one of those early models (serial below 005) and it has those SD pickups factory-fitted. Mine was built by Gene Baker and he told me that Robben Ford took the models either side of mine in the numbering sequence, but the one I've got went out on the road with Fender as a demo model at shows. So this suggests that the SD p/us were standard fitting from the Custom Shop. Anyway, it's a beauty to play.

[@jerrymcgeorge4117]

When the lockdown was in place Robben did some live videos from his home in Nashville. When asked about his signature guitars he surprisingly didn’t have much good to say about them. I can’t recall what all he said but he was on about the guitars being too bright due to the wood combination. There was something else about the truss rod. I had a 2000 Elite that had a maple top. It did need truss rod tweaking occasionally. I have two Japanese made ‘93s now that I suppose you could say are a bit bright but they’re within the range of amp knob fixing. I read once the real reason he stopped using them was a dispute over his purchase cost.

[@joacimabinger5455]

Holy S**T, that's a real beauty! :o

[@jamesbagshaw8251]

Never seen one of these...wow

[@waynehicks1969]

That bridge pickup thin playing a Robben Ford guitar while channeling Eric Clapton, sounded cool.

[@ms.capricorn4540]

Great music. Nice guitar.

[@zankyalbo2208]

Finding this website, years ago, has been such a great treat .... that and when they opened the weed store two blocks away. "Christmas time is here again, ain't been 'round since you know when .."

[@BrianOboylemusic]

Thing is beautiful

[@grahamt33]

JEN - the video Monday for Michael and us fans over the world !

[@iliailia5562]

I just saw it at some Japanese auction for $ 2,400, which is unattainable for me. Great guitar for the advanced musician!

[@NS-hs6lt]

Eastwood makes a clone of the espirit version of this. Goes for 750$ right now. I assume it’s based on the 80s version and not this one.

[@tokamana]

Excuse my ignorance but what is the first song Lemmo played using the neck pick up?

[@ckelly5141]

I’ve gotta have more binding baby! But seriously, this axe looks amazing, and sounds even more amazing 😉!

[@wilmathewisp8252]

I need one ❤

[@joshp777]

Stunner

[@barry3045]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone 🎄

[@flobadee]

Towards the end of this video I had a vision of Michael Schenker playing the Rock Bottom solo at Norms. Please god let that happen one day 🙏

[@gui-texzan7477]

Fuggin' A. Make it happen!

[@jeffvargo1068]

The guitar was designed by Dan Smith (of Fender ) and John Carruthers…the Green Burst prototype hung in John’s old shop in Venice Ca for years…originally….called the Esprit……

[@dukeviking]

woah...I JUST bought a used Masterbuilt Greg Fessler Fender VI today - and on the same day I see a MB GF guitar on GOTD.

[@anthonyc1883]

Really, really funny. Jen even snorted while laughing so hard at Lemmo's cluelessness in the back room!

[@MiketheNerdRanger]

Oh thats purrrdy 💕

[@MarkJVSomers]

I first heard Robben on one of my all-time favourite albums, 'Miles of Aisles' by Joni Mitchell, many years ago. What can I say?

[@Redstagwsmnp]

I think they are sold before Lemmo ever gets to the couch lol I only got to be first once. They sell fast

[@sc3ku]

Reminds me of the Teisco DG-67. one of their finest, rare with block inlays. Whoever sees this should check them out!

[@kitano0]

"...this is a big day for me". "Thank you, Mike. I'm glad you're coherent...." So funny! By the way, Robben Ford's new album "Pure" is fantastic.

[@coachdewalls9355]

Fender, but different...very cool. Great tone!

[@64fiestared]

Well played Michael…

[@MeechYaboy]

Any chance we can get pre recorded guitars of the day ?

[@erikmeyer2323]

Ahhh! Coherence!!!

[@shixson957]

What was the name of the song before you went to bridge?

[@martinschafer6097]

Euch auch schöne Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr liebe grüße aus dem Schwarzwald

[@davemeshamsr6000]

U should have said some more about the guitar and it’s parts.... sounds great but what about the specs?

[@chasadavis]

What trickery is this? A symmetrical Fender?

[@leovfl]

What's the name of the first song he plays?

[@neilmeansneil]

Beautiful guitar and beautiful playing, maybe it’s time for a job swap between Jen and Lemmo!

[@glenkepic3208]

Pretty sweet. RF fan since TTYD tho i'd read 2 Pros Reply from GP in the early '70s ("Rock music makes me ill". A year later he's doing session work for Joni Mitchell,,,they called him out on this). Sorta surprised Fender went all out on this one. Heck, last i heard, Robben doesn't own any anymore.

[@floodgatestudios1825]

Would love to hear your Shtrat

[@anotheryoutubed]

I see Michael is going through the constantly-in-the-eyes bangs and needs a hat regularly now 🤣

[@cdbrown30]

The stuff Lemmo comes up with…I’d like to know how he comes up with these riffs.

[@theshamannik]

Dis Lemmo is lika …wizard

[@josephgrant757]

Love the guitar but where’s the phase switch tone?

[@jfinester]

That’s not a phase switch. Lemmo calls it a bass cut, but I think it’s a coil split.

[@josephgrant757]

@@jfinester sucks he never used the coil split!

[@nyacoustics8373]

nice outfit mike :)

[@cindylauperfan7597]

Let him burn - what he did Let him burn - what he said Let him burn - Hail Mary! Let him burn - he’s better off dead No I can’t change-can’t change my ways No I can’t be your enemy This congregation of confrontation Surroundings don’t define you Upon the fire, it’s burning higher Only actions can speak the truth Do you question your devotion? Are you trapped in your emotions? Is there a way out to see what’s really right in front of me? Should I let him learn? Let him burn? Let him burn! No I can’t change-can’t change my ways No I can’t be your enemy This congregation of confrontation Surroundings don’t define you Upon the fire, it’s burning higher Only actions can speak the truth I choose my fate It’s never too late Looking through the gates The devil awaits I choose my fate It’s never too late Looking through the gates The devil awaits! This congregation of confrontation Surroundings don’t define you Upon the fire, it’s burning higher Only actions can speak the truth(x2)

[@davemeshamsr6000]

What does FM stand for? And does that have tremolo tailpiece?

[@pgm3013]

Flamed maple?

[@jfinester]

Fine tuner tailpiece.

[@anthonyc1883]

Frequency Modulation

[@glennlazzaro5276]

God forbid there is anything else but a Fender from Norm. there are maybe 25 other guitar builds that are worth hi lighting...

[@joermnyc]

Lemmo is doing the celebrity incognito thing with the hat over his eyes?

[@BrianOboylemusic]

Dude holy smokes Lemmo …. Hmmm RF what can that be for ?

[@nationalduo4945]

Anyone know the scale length?

[@gui-texzan7477]

Guessing 25.5'ish. Doesn't look like a short scale.

[@jamesdiehl8690]

Gone Fishing! 😆 🤣 😂

[@brandonlash3629]

Lemmo, you are a one tasteful dude.

[@ldelcarmen]

😳 want

[@YTGetReal]

Is mike wearing his parka because of blizzard conditions ovadare ?

[@michaelpowers3283]

GF - a gluten free guitar!

[@sammiller237]

That’s a fender?

[@noahp346]

Hat

[@cindylauperfan7597]

Lemming Rocks lol

[@ms.capricorn4540]

My B string on my acoustic guitar broke last week, that always happens! 😎

[@denniskramer9657]

then restring it..

[@jamesprice6381]

more cowbell? NO more VERB...................:)

[@guitarsandme]

not happy holidays mate. its merry Christmas!!

[@michaelgoodhand2313]

Michael is rather "happy" today.

[@anthonyc1883]

"Edibles at Night," maybe?

[@bukwok]

is fender..? set neck and 3,3headstock,tp6,if cover up the headstock, hard to tell is fender guitar, thats so cool, why fender USA bring them back,if can bring them back,more like fender JAPAN can make it happen than fender USA, fender japan like do something like these unsucces model .

[@cindylauperfan7597]

$300

[@tt55k]

Sounds like a Gibson

[@tcollacott]

Gibender

[@wesleyAlan9179]

Fenderson 😅

[@boss123400]

Try to be kind to everyone and pick up a little trash on your way out…

[@killerfascistmodaftermath4475]

なんか恐ろしい位音が悪いな❗ スマホで録音したのかね？😁 外人のコメントがべた褒めばっかし🙆

[@raffyzoo2130]

does anybody like 'clownburst'? the hard edges without any blending are so crass? blatantly ugly? cheap? i could do a better burst and i never did one

[@andrewthomason3857]

It may be master-built, but it looks apprentice-painted.

[@lucasmulvehill6300]

If you have to wear a hat then you need a haircut, hehe