Credit: Myriam SantosJohn Fogerty recently was reunited with a prized Rickenbacker guitar that he played during Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s heyday, but which the rock legend says he gave away in either 1973 or ’74, shortly after CCR broke up in. Rolling Stone reports that Fogerty’s wife tracked down the instrument, a 1969 Rickenbacker 325 Sunburst, and gave it to him as a Christmas present in December.
Fogerty tells the magazine that after he plugged in the guitar, “I started playing the solo in ‘Green River’ and the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. It was exactly that sound, 100 percent.”
John purchased the guitar new and customized it by adding a Bigsby whammy bar and Gibson Humbucker pickup, as well as by painting the word “ACME” in yellow paint on its headstock in homage the fictional company featured in the Warner Bros. cartoons he loved as a kid. The instrument became his main guitar from 1969 to 1972, one he played at 1969’s Woodstock festival and used to write such classic songs as “Proud Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” “Green River” and “Travelin’ Band.”
Fogerty is planning to reintroduce his “ACME” guitar when he launches a new Las Vegas residency on March 3 at the Encore Theater in the Wynne Las Vegas hotel and casino.
John also tells Rolling Stone that he’s hoping to use the instrument to pen some new tunes.
“It’s crying out for me to make some new music on it,” he says. “This guitar has had a journey with me and that will close the circle.”
In other news, Fogerty co-wrote and is featured on the title track of country star Brad Paisley‘s upcoming album, Love and War, which is due out in the spring. John also has been working on his own new studio album.
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