Mike McCready's 1959 Guitars

[@chrisarmstrong9541]

That 59 les paul on his lap belonged to my father jim armstrong who was the guitarist with them (van morrison).... he toured the states with van. He purchased the guitar in the usa while on tour (1968) they played the whisky a go go for 2 weeks and had the doors as support jammed with captain beefheart, frank zappa etc..... the guitar is soaked in history and used on loads of albums over the years. Any chance of giving it back mike ha ha beautiful guitar. I have fond memories as a child when my dad would open the guutar case and say look at that son its yje holy grail. Id be like yea yea its only a guitar dad.... little did I know

[@acarlovonsexron1994]

Cool! Well I'm sure your dad misses his guitar, but I'm also sure he knows that he's fortunate that it ended up in someone's hands that really appreciates it. Sadly a lot of Burst end up on walls or in safes, or underground never to see the light until another person buys it. Mike is a genuine guy and a hell of a player, and he certainly loves that guitar and has gotten some beautiful things to come out of it. I don't think he'll give it up that easy, haha. Hey, if it's any consolation maybe you can get some Pearl Jam tickets out of this and reintroduce the two.

[@evanisovich]

A co-worker friend of mine and I were *just* talking about Them today at work, particularly about your father...his name escaped me as we discussed his 'sound' on those old records...thank you for reminding me, and thank you for the anecdote :)

[@stratmad]

I agree, a great guitar that is still being put to good use creating music instead of being stashed away in a vault somewhere. Sure Mike said he's not taking it out as much on tour anymore and who could blame him, it IS valuable but he is still playing and recording with it and treating it like a functional piece of art and history that it is.

[@jimtoye3656]

Chris ... Many memories of watching your dad play that very LP in Belfast back in the 70's / 80's (mostly in the Pound on Sat afternoons). He was my hero and really got me into playing ... send him my regards, last I heard he was living in Vegas ?

[@onm3rcur7]

that is a wonderful story. thanks for sharing. Think that at least is in good hands!

[@ziggybaker3446]

He's so excited he interrupts himself lol

[@MavidG]

Revmir Sokolov it's so rude and inconsiderate. 😤😒 jk.

[@Name-el9ps]

I would describe his playing as ‘underrated’ No one thinks of his name much but he’s a fireball

[@JBD0909]

So fucking true, dude's a legend. My guitar idol.

[@anthonydavella8350]

@@JBD0909 Guys loaded from playing guitar. Total pro and seems to be a good guy

[@artzai5]

Mike McCready is such a great guy! He's been an inspiration for me since the first time I listened to his Alive solo. I was really lucky to be in front of him at the Azkena Rock concert back in 2006. He gave me his pick, which I keep like gold... thanks for your art and the great moments Mike!

[@chrisbauman2562]

Famous people need to be more like this,hes humble and just sincere

[@gunnerrene3053]

He sucks

[@MrMuskydude]

What a visionary in the world of guitar players and Rock music. MM plays with so much feeling that you can feel the passion when you listen to him.

[@johnrolhand486]

McCready did some crazy stuff on his strat

[@justinlee9756]

John Rolhand Yup he did hauss. Like playing up in that friggin mjor scale!!! Ohhh weeee!!! Do ray me fa soooooo!!! So fa me ray do

[@SWBaek117]

For curious ones search mad season november hotel live...

[@BryanHRBrodie]

Wake up solo mad season is also 👌 🔥

[@GeorgeTropicana]

Maggot brain 🤌

[@Orieus]

One of the greatest guitar players ever. HIs work on Ten Proved Blues was still alive and always pushing good rock music, something that greatly lacks in Rock Today. Blues was the soul of rock, Mike truly has it. Seeing Him Live is the closest ill have to seeing A stevie/Jimi type of figurehead on the Guitar. His Tones are Unreal, never relies on his effects, just uses them to paint textures. Nothing has it seems just roars Live, Alive, Evenflow, huge classic Rock solos. Keep on Rocking Mike and Pearl Jam! One of the Last real Rock N roll Bands.

[@gfriedman99]

Oreius the shit being played today sux. I know. I heard it.

[@Wagefreedom]

Lol at 4:30 "P90 hello?" What an unpretentious down-to-earth guy. I remember seeing him often in Uptown Espresso in South Queen Anne coming for coffee in probably 1994, just shooting the shit with the baristas. Low-key wonderful Seattle.

[@mikepj1025]

This man is one of my go to guitarists when looking for some sort of inspiration. Mike and Stone are a pair of guitarists that we are very fortunate to be able to experience. Rare breed.

[@gotch7126]

Mike thank you... I love PJ and I know you will go down in history as one of the greatest guitarists of this generation!!

[@billdeskin8563]

I love that he plays both gibsons and fenders. He’s amazing.

[@christopherdougherty7740]

Your are my idol!! Pearl jam has been my favorite band since I was 16 and I'm 37, your an amazing beautiful guitar player! I paid 250 to see PJ at the borgata in Atlantic City, I was like 15ft,20ft from you!! I'll never forget that night, best night of my life!

[@monstrok]

Oh man, I saw that '59 Les Paul at Danny's Guitar Shop (located in Everett, WA - now closed) in a glass case in the middle of the show room floor. The price was in just the mid-5 figures back then and it looked beat to hell. But it was the holy grail. Glad to see it being played and not in some collection in a vault.

[@willman43]

I just googled the Les Paul 1959 sunburst and it's valued at $750,000.

[@xavierortiz2690]

I brought a Fender Champ 2 at Danny's Music in the early 90's that still have

[@emanuela9765]

a great man with an extraordinary class .... simple human adorable a great guitarist❤️ i love him

[@michaeltrodden3761]

The damn flame on the neck of that strat. Phenomenal

[@josephnadeau6689]

Mike McCready is one of the few guys who can damage a super old/valuable guitar and make it more valuable

[@geoarthur6593]

The 59 Les Paul belonged to Jim Armstrong, I know that guitar very very well.. heard him playing it here in Belfast countless times.. like seeing an old buddy.. and yes, it has an amazing sound .. that guitar and big Jim inspired me as a kid to become a lead guitarist.. lovely seeing the guitar I used to gaze at from feet away every Saturday..

[@gfriedman99]

Geo Arthur why did he sell the guitar?

[@alexnagy2044]

" P90 Hello! 😂 ...No wonder guitar player doesn't talk to me..But I'm much more happy about this." Man, this guy so hilarious. McCready is incredible! One of the greatest world class No1 guitarist ever💯🎸🔥✌

[@07foxmulder]

"I traded in a few guitars for it and paid some money and I got it for a pretty good price." Lol oh to be in a band that sells millions.

[@jeffreyschmoldt7798]

Nice collection you have..

[@daijones101]

What a perfect collection

[@carrickbender]

I got to talk shop with him one night before a Rockfords show. Funny, a gear nerd, a good human being.

[@joseantoniohuerta503]

yeeaaa! you are my guitarrista faborito🤘🤘gracias por el video nice! guitars😁

[@mikeseaquest9246]

top notch guitar player

[@Vanoffy]

Mccready was and still is so underrated

[@strictlyherping5946]

Pearl Jam will go down as the greatest American Rock Band mark my words. McCready is such a tasteful player.

[@asdf9890]

He probably is one of the best from that era. Another I would place up there from that time is Frusciante.

[@killval849]

Among the greatest, but tbh they weren't even the greatest of the Seattle scene imo.

[@strictlyherping5946]

Killval the Seattle 4 are all absolutely amazing but taking in factors of catalog, live shows, album sales, longevity, and overall growth and maturity. Pearl Jam out does any American band I can think of. Nirvana, GnR, Metallica, The Eagles, The Doors, etc...

[@timmatthews1604]

@@killval849 tbh I don’t trust people who feel the need to convince themselves and others with superfluous phrases like to be honest. In my opinion your opinion doesn’t hold any weight based on that.... imo. Spell your words out stupid!

He was in front of me, in 1992, when he pushed his 1959 strato in the cone of a Marshall box @3:20

[@elmud]

Sì e poi ti sei svegliato tutto sudato.

[@thegoodguy44]

That’s epic

[@gregschannel4918]

I had a friend who played with a young Stevie Vaughn . Alex played with Stevie in Paul Ray and the Cobras . Got to see Mike at the Gorge . RIP Alex and Stevie

[@AudioReplica2023]

only who really knows the importance of the type of wood and construction of an old guitar would know and appreciate its great sound. Theres is a good reason why all this famous guitar players still have them. Even Slash says the guitar he used for sweet child o` mine he don't use it live . He said; all the les pauls I use for live performances are just replicas. Crazy !!

[@HandlerRezeiofficial]

Great player, great guitars

[@MarceloKuroi]

Mike: I don't care if you don't know what a P90 is,you're awesome.

[@joseantoniohuerta503]

desde mexico un abraso mac!!! eres mi ejemplo a seguir..muy buena guitarra!!!

[@laurawatters914]

I absolutely love Mike Insane McCready 🎸 it's ironic that Mike loves SRV went and saw him live and wanted to be like SRV, and for years now theirs huge fans out there going to see him live and want to be like Mike McCready!! That is amazing!! Dreams do come true but with alot of hard work and determination and so much passion like McCready! Pearl Jam is my favorite band on this planet!! I hope I made sense!! 😊💓🤘✌️

[@alexnagy2044]

That 59 tattoo, bro! My man is a really cool fan of this years stuffs✌😊

[@LickMyBra]

HE BLOWS MY MIND!!!!!

[@cigdamagelungs]

LickMyBra hhghh

[@cigdamagelungs]

LickMyBra hhh

[@gfriedman99]

Hgh

[@adam_-adam]

Sweat from great players definatly adds to the tone!! If mccready says that than now im a true beleiver.

[@gfriedman99]

adam a so does piss and beer

[@cliftonbrown4051]

I've strummed that Strat! Indy 2010

[@farizashafiyah6750]

McCready is one of guitar genius in rock history..

[@JeighNeither]

Why? He's an average lead player, & Goddard writes most the Pearl Jam material, so I'm curious as to why you feel he's a genius? I think his stuff on Ten is good work, but nowhere near genius. I'd love to hear your take tho.

[@farizashafiyah6750]

@@JeighNeither just personal opinion, maybe we have different definition of 'genius', it's just I love his guitar playing.. he plays his solo part of most songs differently while doing live concert.

[@simonharwood8488]

@@JeighNeither you mean albums like Yield where Gossard has writing credits on 4/13 songs, or Riot act where he has credits on 3/15 songs... self titiled: 4 songs, Backsapacer 4 songs, Lightning Bolt 3 songs, Gigaton 3 songs... You can have opinions about McCready's playing but don't go around claiming that Gosaard writes most Pearl Jam material...

[@chriscampbell9191]

I think he fits the band perfectly. At first I wasn't super impressed with his leads (I'm more into Mick Taylor, Clapton, Angus Young, that sort of thing) until I saw the PinkPop 1992 show vid on YT, and then I understood what he really brought to the band's sound, as he was on fire during that show. Mind changed...

[@mxriosxnchez6709]

@@chriscampbell9191 Like with most things, I think you have to see it in person in their element to truly understand it. Be it an artwork at a museum, a car at a racetrack or Pearl Jam at a live show. Stone and Mike have been called the 4-armed monster for a reason, they rely on each other so much, that when they hit the sweet spot they're almost a single person. It's really cool seeing one take over from the other left off, and I know Mike's supposed to be the lead and Stone the rhythm guy but in reality there's so much going on between them that one's the support for when the other is taking a step to the stage front. And then when you take the contributions from all the band, they're really more than the sum of their parts, and maybe that's why they're often overlooked as individual performers, but that's OK, the seven of them are masters of their trades.

[@matale66]

Last week, he used the strat guitar. I knew there was something old about it because it made a lot of electric noise, like old guitars do.

[@coffinshaker]

Last week he used a Flying V and broke the headstock off jamming it into his speaker cab

[@ryebread7224]

Such a cool dude. Love his style!

[@ibacache6555]

I have never seen something about his white strat, he use it in a lot of '92 stuff i think? that's a really cool guitar

[@gfriedman99]

Krist Ibacache he traded it in for the lp

[@johnnybillyeager6703]

I wonder what the information was about that one.. it was my favorite of his

[@rickmathis7755]

McCready is so underrated as a guitarist...

[@emanuela9765]

Esatto 😃 io lo amo ❤️

[@coffeewaldo]

SRV and Robert Cray #realmusicians. Mike has good taste.

[@justinlee9756]

coffeewaldo He had tickets to the show

[@thesavman23]

Is this Strat the one he puts through the Marshall cab during the Mad season live at the Moore gig in 95? Anyone know?

[@ozzie155]

I’m quite sure it is. The clip is also on KZbin now and i saw it yesterday. Just look for November Hotel.

[@bugrakocak6792]

Yes man it is, I was looking through comments to see if anyone mentioned it before

[@Ra1276]

I had a double cut away with double p90s... I was originally gonna buy an SG but the sound was far better than any other guitar I played...that was under 1000 bucks

[@charlespatrick8650]

1959 is my fav for Strats and 1960 for Lesters, unique crossover years

[@powbobs]

Turns out that Strat is actually a 1960.

[@johnfrustrante9943]

his strat is beautiful it reminds mine

[@GordiansKnotHere]

You're a great guy Mike. Love ya!!!

[@aafisher100]

Love that Strat

[@coffinshaker]

Danny! Such a nice guy

[@an032nv]

When Fender took the Strat apart during the process of planning out the replicas they made it was discovered that it's actually a 1960.

[@Romanesquire]

Nice gits. Tv yellow LP Jr’s are cool. Those 59s tho. Very nice. I’m not a strat guy but that 59 is super cool.

[@tomvomton2371]

Is this the Les Paul on Present Tense ? Love that sound.

[@MdhLV]

I think it's the old growth wood they used back then. I've played a few Strats/les Pauls made around that time period. Every one had a resonance that's hard to describe. You feel it more than a modern solid body x10. They vibrate as much or more than any acoustic guitar.

[@JeighNeither]

But the Strat that "Started it all", turns out to be a 1960, not a 59.

[@marions.120]

Yep, I just heard Mike telling the story about that. ✌️🤪🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

[@JeighNeither]

@@marions.120 Haha, that's when you realize that age is just a number 😉

[@stratmad]

And true to SRV’s Number 1, Mike’s Strat now also turns out not to be a ‘59 either, believe Fender is now saying it’s a 1960. Either way it has serious mojo and sounds great in his hands which is all that matters.

[@JaySchraubMusic]

the the 59 strat, belonged to Dawayne Bailey, when he was playing for Bob Seger, Bob didnt like the sound of the strats and called a guy down from a guitar shop in St. Louis to show Dawayne some Gibsons to pick out, he didnt have the money to outright buy it, so he traded the 59 strat for it, however he removed the tone knob before giving it up and he made a necklace from it that he wore the rest of his time with Seger as protest in his own way. It wasnt until he saw a pic of it upclose noticed the tone knob and noticed the scratches and what not on it that he knew that was his guitar. Last I heard from him he was trying to find a way to reach out to Mike to give him the original tone knob back as he still has it.

[@simonedevlin7710]

Mike really loves his treasures and gives credit to other master guitarists like Robert Cray, SRV, JH, EC, lets not forget Van Morrison, Neil Young, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard and Kurt Cobain. McCready+9=Top Ten

[@thedodgelover08]

at 4:58 you can see the bridge on the les paul tv model half way out. oops

[@MaikiStarwood]

Love Pearl Jam, I have probably all of their albums. Just a great band, love their music.

[@Monchi2006]

the year my mother was born. must have been a nice year

[@boomboomerton7394]

There you go brother...love to hear people promoting their mother instead of blaming all their problems and issues on mom or dad or even society.

[@Withcare111]

great shout out to them and van morrison.nice

[@petemanley5015]

I was also one of those guys who watched Jim Armstrong play that 59 Les Paul in the Pound Belfast in 1978-79. Like some of the other guys posting comments here Jim was an inspiration to make me want to play the guitar. In the 80s Jim switched from the Les Paul to playing a Tokai Start. About 1987/88 I saw Jim's 59 Les Paul and his Marshall stack for sale in Baird's music shop, Belfast. The price I think was something like £2,000-£3,000 for both, this seemed like a lot of money at the time. I should have slapped a deposit down there and then. The guitar was casually hanging on the stack (just like Jim used to hang it before a show), both guitar and amp looked really beaten up and tatty. The guitar looks much better in this clip above. Now where did I leave the keys to my time machine? You can hear Jim playing that Les Paul with Light 1978 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaradI2loahsopY

[@matthewklein660]

1959? That's a lot of guitars! Who needs that many? :P

[@SoozBeez]

I seriously had that thought the 1st time this appeared in my "Recommended" column. Not sure why it didn't register with me as a year. I just thought, "Holy shit, that's a lot of guitars, Mike."

[@foxyfoxtrot4233]

Amazing guitars!

[@f1s2hg3]

I bought the 2019 Epiphone Les Paul standard with the 1959 Epiphone Gibson Kalamazoo headstock and neck size/shape slim C shape early 1960-1959. For my son.

[@domboul572]

Lotta wraps around the pegs on the strat!

[@Doty6String]

I love how everyone with a 59 les paul always says, "I got a good price on it"....lol

[@tremorchristlester4688]

That strat looked like that at Pinkpop '92.

[@psiklops71]

wow danny's music so cool

[@antibejbi]

The 'strat into speaker' incident is well documented, check out Mad Season gig at the moore 1995, last part of 'November hotel'... He did a lot more to the poor strat than he says :P But what a great show that is :o some of the best guitar work ever !

[@SWBaek117]

He was deeply into drugs back then, probably he was high af he didn't knew what he's doing

[@bugrakocak6792]

One of the best bands and gigs for sure. I even have a tattoo of above album cover on my arm

[@guitar78ish]

It's funny how people refer to SRV'S strat as a '59. It did have '59 pickups and that's why SRV called it his '59, "Sometimes also referred to as the “First Wife," Stevie acquired the guitar at Ray Hennig’s Heart of Texas Music in Austin. He allegedly traded a '63 Strat for it. “Number One” consists of a 1963 body fitted with pickups taken from a ’59, and a 1962 neck, which has an unusually thick D profile that clearly suited SRV’s unique approach". source:www.guitarworld.com/gear-gear-news-electrics/forgotten-guitar-close-look-stevie-ray-vaughans-number-one-strat/28827

[@Keenan716]

at 2:56 when he plays that quick chord right there it sounds like Tones of Home by Blind Melon lol

[@jotalagarta]

Is that a mint pickguard on the Strat?????? And by the way, wich pickups does he use??? I LOVE his sound!

[@rooster8925]

Mike mccready my hero my idol

[@gabrielafreitas9579]

❤❤❤❤❤❤ Mike McCready 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@johnnybillyeager6703]

I want some information about his main strat he played in 92' the yellow ish one.. that's my favorite guitar ever

[@b.rodclark7349]

Only things of 1959 in SRV's Strat was the pickups and volume & tone pots installed in a '63 body w/a '62 neck.

[@intrsoul]

I met him back in 1990, after a PJ gig in a bar just before "Jeremy" broke. Great guy.

[@frankbrazil7918]

i call bullshit

[@coldacre]

+Frank Brazil cos no one has ever met any of the members of Pearl Jam ever, have they. dick-bag.

[@vomitedshit]

+Coldacre what about VIP passes?

[@carrickbender]

I met him before a Rockfords show. he bummed a smoke-back when we both smoked. we talked shop for a long time. Cool guy...

[@donpelon3391]

You can hear Stevie’s influence on Mike in Yellow Ledbetter .

[@bobaldo2339]

One of my old friends had his '59 gold top LP stolen from his car. Another old friend had his '59 Strat stolen from his car, then replaced it with a new Strat - which was later also stolen from his car along with a new large Fender amp. Do not leave valuable equipment unattended in your car for any reason.

[@xdef1ne]

so cool he mentions JT when he brings out the special

[@dmanv97yt]

the stratus caster im gettin in either a cherry red or sunburst

[@dwaynejessome1728]

umm what's going on with that bridge on the treble side on th LP Jr.?? man oh man...

[@lungflogger9]

ahh, guitar porn....I love it!

[@TheSecondNature]

The bridge on the LP Junior looks out of place, but the intonation in these instruments is misteriously great..

[@daleonov]

+LeonardMcrendall It's just the adjustment screw pushed pretty hard on higher strings there.

[@boomboomerton7394]

yes I love p90 loaded one piece wraparound les pauls.....that is my thing!!

[@DasVolksbad]

It´s a 1960 Strat as we (and he) recently learned through Fender Custom Shop. Anyway!

[@lespauldisciple3349]

Follow Up: Mike's Strat is actually a 1960 model. His guitar tech discovered this some time back but he didn't tell Mike since MIke was so obsessed with 1959. Mike didn't learn the AWFUL TRUTH until Fender disassembled to guitar take measurements for his soon to be released signature model.

[@ianmcculloch1]

Oh to be a fly on the wall during that conversation.

[@RobertFairweatherMusic]

oooh...bummer....time to go shopping

[@lespauldisciple3349]

Ian: Yeah. I'll bet that was a real "Kodak moment".

[@lespauldisciple3349]

Play Amazing Guitar: Personally I'd be looking for a sonic blue '61 Strat. There was this Beatle named George...

[@photohum]

I’m a believer that year 59 things are way cooler. Cars albums guitars etc. aesthetics were great in that year.

[@kurtcobain8316]

Just in the particular year 59? Man every 59 geek is talking about the sweat in the guitars. I love vintage guitar too but I don't get the sweat thing.

[@photohum]

@@kurtcobain8316 59 is a great year for many things. Don’t know anything about sweat 😅

[@kurtcobain8316]

@@photohum you obviously havent watched enough of 59 videos. Its all about the sweat. Haha

[@photohum]

@@kurtcobain8316 🤣🤣🤣

[@kurtcobain8316]

@@photohum 🤣

[@krug8911]

Ídolo 🙌🏻

[@andyfrieden4079]

‘59 is a very serviceable vintage for wines from BORDEAUX-0 Lemme know how I can help🤔

[@acemacgruber6593]

Stevie Ray Vaughan played Bumbershoot in ‘85 also, and the ‘59 Strat turned out to be a’60. ;^).

[@missionrd100]

I didn't know Kevin McCarthy played guitar. He's looking younger too.😊

[@markusmoses4019]

rad

[@hosoiarchives4858]

What color is the Les Paul?

[@jamesmcconnell2473]

Eric Bell guitar from Them?

[@chadwr85]

I love his strat, hate sunburst but the faded look is awesome. I would be so scared of damaging my guitars I wouldn't do anything wreckless to them.

[@kurtcobain8316]

what's to hate with sunbursts? it's the best looking colors there is.

[@davidallen346]

I like my old workhorse cheapies.

[@jclev99]

Van Morrison's guitar player? Are we talking Montrose's 59?

[@AHewett]

...turns out that infamous strat is a '60! 🤣

[@SWBaek117]

$15000 60 pieces limited... there's no way I could get one