Jerry
Donahue
The Hellecasters/Fairport Convention
A
real guitarist’s guitarist, Jerry Donahue has
been on the scene for 40 years. Renowned for his masterful
and original approach to string bending (Danny Gatton
referred to him as “the string bending king of
the planet”), Donahue has released a number of
solo albums, is a charter member of guitar group The
Hellecasters, and has a list of album and band credits
across the spectrum of modern popular music as long
as the proverbial arm.
As a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention in
the 1970s, Jerry has also lent his playing to some of
the greatest folk rock records ever released.
Jerry’s discography and story can be found at:
www.hellecasters.com/JDonahue/jdon.htm
The Fret-King®
JD Black Label Guitar
“I’m over the moon with the amazing range
of iconic tones the Fret-King JD produces. It’s
literally the best of the three most popular solid bodies
ever, rolled in to one!”
This new guitar, created with close cooperation between
Jerry and designer Trev Wilkinson, uses Jerry’s
custom pickup designs, wiring, and switching, with a
beautifully comfortable vintage neck profile and unique
– but very recognisable – body shape, all
constructed with materials usually associated with boutique
guitars, and a build quality the equal of anyone’s
custom shop!
The Fret-King JD will be the very first Black Label
model, and also the first of a string of models to be
released throughout 2011, designed in conjunction with
internationally renowned players of distinction.
Donahue has always been known for his single coil sounds,
and this special new guitar stays true to form. Coming
in a classic single cutaway shape, the body is alder
with an ash veneer top, and is complemented with black
binding. A 22-fret maple neck and fingerboard add slinkiness
to the feel of the guitar, and the contrasting black
pickguard brings a classy touch to proceedings.
The Black Label JD guitar really comes into its own
in the sound department. Powered by two specially designed,
custom-wired Wilkinson single coil pickups, the five-way
selector switch allows a multitude of tones, gleaning
the best of the classic tones associated with three
of the most iconic, benchmark guitar designs into one
instrument.
Position ONE: This neck pickup yields the rich, sparkling
tone of the traditional three-pickup guitar. The result:
that unmistakable single-coil sound that echoes the
soaring, majestic blues tones of the '60s and '70s.
Position TWO: The neck pickup (now with a special cap
engaged), affords this position a special tonal quality
you would ordinarily expect to hear from a full-body
jazz guitar! Engage an overdrive and you capture that
classic late '60s "Woman Tone".
Position THREE: The neck and bridge pickups are in a
customised parallel wiring, producing an enhanced, more
contemporary version of the customary middle position
timbre on the classic two-pickup guitar.
Position FOUR: By combining both pickups with a capacitor
and resistor in a controlled degree of reversed phase,
this position offers the popular "in-between quack
tone" found in this position on three-pickup guitars.
Position FIVE: This is an updated stock-style bridge
pickup with symmetrically staggered pole pieces for
great string balance and a special wind for increased
sustain. It captures that amazing gutsy lead sound found
on the very best of those traditional two-pickup guitars!
Specifications: Fret-King Black Label
Series JD Guitar
Body: Alder. Ash veneer top.
Binding: Black, plastic.
Neck: Maple, 22 Medium Jumbo frets. Bolt-on.
Fingerboard: Maple.
Pickups & Controls: Two specially-wired Wilkinson
single coils. Five-way selector switch. Brass volume
and tone pots.
Pickguard/Hardware: Black 3-ply pickguard. Wilkinson
bridge and tuners.
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