Pete’s Gear: Schecter/Giffin ‘Telecaster’-style Guitars

Pete Townshend’s Schecter and Giffin Guitars

Telecaster-style guitars custom-built by Schecter Guitar Research and Roger Giffin, used from September 1979 through 1982 (as well as Live Aid, 1985, and the BPI television appearance in 1988).

Basic specs (see sidebar for specific model differences):

• Dual coil-tapped humbuckers (some Kent Armstrong, some Schecter) with exposed pole pieces on pickup covers.
  • The Z+ humbuckers Pete used reportedly were 5,000 turns of .06mm wire DC 3.8-4k ohms ceramic magnets.
• Gibson-type pickup selector toggle switch.
• Chrome Schecter (Kluson) tuners and (later) chrome or black Sperzel locking tuners; one standard string tree.
• Mahogany (Schecter), then Poplar (Giffin) Tele-style bodies.
• 25½″ scale bolt-on rock maple necks; “Telecaster”-style headstock.
• 21 extra-jumbo frets.
• One volume, one tone control, with push-pull coil-tap control.
• Alan Rogan’s straplock system.

Pete began using Tele-style guitars in September 1979, first mixing them in with the Les Paul Deluxes, which were gradually faded out of use by the end of 1979. These guitars were first Schecter-built, then custom-built by Roger Giffin, then finally, custom-built by Schecter. He used the these guitars on stage until 1982 (plus the Gold model on stage for Live Aid in 1985, and with a 1988 television appearance, using a double-bound black model), switching to Eric Clapton model Fender Stratocasters in 1989.

History

Timeline

First known stage use:

September 1979, Madison Square Garden, New York

Last known stage use:

8 February, 1988, Royal Albert Hall, London – BPI Awards

Pete’s first Schecter was acquired by Alan Rogan, Pete’s guitar tech, during the September 1979 series of shows at Madison Square Garden, New York. Alan picked up a custom-built guitar made from “Schecter Guitar Research” parts at Manny’s and introduced it to Pete during those shows. It remains unclear whether this was built by Schecter, or another manufacturer in the U.S.

Until mid-1979, Schecter Guitar Research was strictly an after-market parts/kit manufacturer. According to an interview with Schecter president Michael Ciravolo in the September 2006 Guitar World, “well-known repair shops around the U.S., like Rockin’ Robin in Houston and Rudy’s Music in New York, started making their own guitars from Schecter parts. And in mid-1979, Schecter announced the availability of completely assembled Fender-style Schecter guitars, which were sold by 20 retailers across the United States, including Valley Arts Guitars in Studio City, and Manny’s Music in Manhattan.”

Either way, Pete began using these guitars in September 1979, with the first photographic appearance using a single-bound black model.

Upon returning to London, Alan Rogan contacted guitar builder Roger Giffin, about building additional, “lighter” guitars.

Roger Giffin

Roger Giffin, a guitar builder then based in the UK (who built guitars for Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton and others), made six of these guitars for Pete, as copies of the original Schecter, but with varying details, and some using Poplar instead of Mahogany bodies. The Giffin-built guitars comprised at least three in black (double-bound) and one in two-tone sunburst. The Giffin guitars were assembled and “customized” by Giffin using custom parts.

When Giffin took a position with Gibson Guitars in their custom shop, he was unable to continue making guitars for Pete. So Schecter began making these guitars to basically the same specification on a custom-order basis.

Schecter

At first, Schecter was a small custom order shop and their guitars were not widely available to the general public. They began building guitars for Pete as Giffin was no longer available to do so. The later models, such as the Gold model with no pickguard, were built by Schecter. As Schecter’s guitars became more widely known due to their use by others artists (such as Mark Knopfler and Yngwie Malmsteen), Schecter got into production guitar manufacturing (around 1984). Production was very limited and not widely available but you could find shops that did carry them or could get them.

Giffin details

Details about the Giffin guitars, from Melvyn Hiscock, who worked at Giffin, and is author of “Make Your Own Electric Guitar” and “Make Your Own Acoustic Guitar”:

The first Schecter tele was walnut-coloured (not sure of the wood) but some were made in black (single binding) with mahogany bodies, which were quite heavy. Alan Rogan approached Roger Giffin and requested lighter guitars and so Roger made some with Poplar bodies. These were not made from bought-in parts but were completely built by Roger at Arch 7, Kew Bridge. They were double-bound poplar bodies and one-piece maple necks. Kluson tuners were originally fitted but later replaced with Sperzel. Some had the telecaster-style selector switch replaced with a Gibson-style toggle.

The one shown in the photo at the Hard Rock having been glued back together is a Poplar body. I know this as I glued it back together!

Pickups on all the Schecters were originally Schecter Z+. These were a design submitted to Schecter by Dan Armstrong. Unfortunately, Schecter used an epoxy that was not the original spec and it did not stop shrinking and so they often used to crush themselves out of existence. The coils would just stop working. As a result, Schecter had to approach Kent Armstrong, who had originally designed them, and ask him to sort the problems out. Before this happened, Roger replaced the Schecters with identical pickups made by Kent Armstrong and the Giffins were made with Kent Armstrong pickups.

There was one Telecaster that was labelled as a “Chandler Giffin,” which may have had a Schecter body with a Giffin neck. From memory that was the two-tone sunburst one. In late 1979, Chandler Guitars in Kew became the UK agents for Schecter, but I think the Townshend guitar was prior to this.

In addition, Giffin has said that the Poplar wood used for the bodies was too soft and was easily damaged by Pete, especially due to the large screws used for the custom straplocks installed by Alan Rogan.

Schecter’s retail ‘PT’ model

When Schecter made the first “Pete-style” model available to the public (based on the Gold top model design, with no pickguard and offset controls, though with alder(?) black bodies and dot neck inlays), it wasn’t called anything — and it wasn’t endorsed by Pete (see Pete’s Signature Series). Later, around 1986/87, Schecter named the guitar “Saturn.” The Saturn name was towards the front of the headstock and on the bottom. At some later point in time, it was renamed the “PT,” which are still available today, though the design is substantially different from the original Pete-style model.

Selected quotes from Pete Townshend and Alan Rogan

All quotes and references are copyright their original owners and are included for reference only.

Guitar World, November 1983, excerpt of interview with Alan Rogan

G.W.: How have his guitars changed since you started working with him?

A.R.: He’s changed his stage guitars, which was a big changeover. We used to use Gibson Les Pauls. One day I spotted a Schecter Telecaster-type guitar and I took it down to the shows we were doing in ’79 at Madison Square Garden and he used it immediately, then we had backups and spares made of that.

G.W.: How many does he use on stage now?

A.R.: Six to eight with different tunings and capos on different places. They’re made by a guy named Roger Giffin and Schecter. They’re basically the same guitars. They’re exactly the same. About half are Giffins, the rest are Schecters. There’s no difference in the sound. It’s easier to work with a guy in London [then] it is with a company in L.A., you see.

G.W.: They’re not customized?

A.R.: No, aside from the fact that they have humbucking pickups as opposed to single-coil pickups. They do have the facility of pull-push knobs but Pete doesn’t use them, and instead of having the three-way Fender-type switch, they have a Gibson-type toggle switch so you can flick it much easier when you’re playing, up and down as opposed to left and right. That’s about as customized as it gets.

International Musician and Recording World March 1981 ‘Review of the The Who Concert and equipment used at the Granby Halls, Leicester on January 25, 1981,’ by Ken Dibble

The legendary Pete Townshend as wild as ever except that on this occasion no gear was smashed up, played seven or eight guitars which although not exactly identical were very similar indeed. These comprised black Telecaster pattern bodies fitted with Schecter double coil pickups and mainly Schecter fittings, but some has the new Sperzal [sic] machine heads. Some of these guitars were made by Schecter and some by Roger Griffin. All were custom built for Townshend. The reason for so many instruments is so that each guitar can be pre-tuned by Pete’s roadie, Alan Rogan, with capos already in position on various frets to avoid the de-tuning hassle.

From the October 1989 Guitar Player

Despite the apparent randomness, Pete Townshend is actually quite selective and specific about his guitars. “In practical terms,” begins Pete, “I look for strength first, and a solid line from tailpiece to headstock — and that all components in that pathway be of high quality and super strength. I’m also very keen on clean, enhanced treble of the Gibson variety, but with no sustain. This more closely approximates the vibration cycle of the acoustic, and suits my rhythm style far better than charged-up, overwound pickups that whine on for hours. However, when I play solos, I like sustain, so a well-matched guitar and amplifier is the key, one in which the treble doesn’t change — up or down — when you change the level of the guitar into the amplifier. All that should change is the amount of sustain, in my opinion. I got a perfect combination for stage work with my Les Paul Deluxes or Schecter teles run into a master-volume Hiwatt.”

Text from Schecter advertisement, ca. 1983

“My favourite guitar is a rare and expensive ’52 Telecaster. For stage use and recording I need a lighter, tougher and less temperamental guitar. These Schecter guitars are superbly made and easy to play and they sound glorious. They are capable of anything; consistant[sic] but adaptable. Pickups can be changed easily to keep up with the advances made and the bridges, machines etc., can be of whatever standard you want. Don’t be fooled by imitations of old guitars, these Schecters are unique!” (Pete Townshend 1982)

Where are they now?

Pete smashed a few of these guitars. But some have survived. Likely whereabouts of some Giffins/Schecters:

• A single-bound black Schecter (s/n S8474) is owned by Brad Rodgers.
• The blue (turned green) and double-bound sunburst Giffin were sold by Rock Stars Guitars.
• The gold-top Schecter was retained by Pete, then donated to the Hard Rock Café, and is on display in their New York location.
• Another unknown model is reportedly on display at the Hard Rock Café location in San Diego, California. (If you have further information or photos of this, please contact us.)
• A smashed Schecter/Giffin double-bound black poplar body is on display at the Hard Rock Café location in Chicago. (The plaque incorrectly states that the guitar was smashed at the Chicago Auditorium on 17 August 1971.)
• A smashed Giffin poplar body was retained by Alan Rogan.

• Unknown model owned by MESA/Boogie

  Courtesy Ian at the Boogie Files:

  Mike B., head engineer at MESA/Boogie, spent time with Pete and Alan Rogan on the 1982 tour. They used the Boogie 4×12 cabs and some of the Coliseum Series 300 Mark IIB heads. One of PT’s Giffin/Schecter guitars is at Boogie. It was feeding back at the Oakland show and he came to the side of the stage and smashed it as he got another guitar. Alan Rogan looked at it and told Mike it was finished, as the neck was now broken. He gave it to Randy and they fixed it.

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