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Electric guitar
Maker: Dean USA Custom Shop
Date: 2008
Place Made:Tampa, Florida, United States, N. America
Model: USA Tommy Bolin Tribute Teaser model
Serial No: 131121
SignedBlack lettering on front of head: DEAN® [between two wings]
Stamped on back of head: MADE IN U.S.A. / 131121
Stamped on back of head: MADE IN U.S.A. / 131121
MarkingsPrinted on front of guitar body: Tommy / Bolin
Stamped on bridge: Wilkinson / By GOTOH
Stamped on tuners: USA / Sperzel [in cursive lettering]
Black plastic inlay in fingerboard behind 12th fret: Teaser
Stamped on bridge: Wilkinson / By GOTOH
Stamped on tuners: USA / Sperzel [in cursive lettering]
Black plastic inlay in fingerboard behind 12th fret: Teaser
DescriptionA tribute guitar, this is the prototype for a limited edition of 100 guitars of the USA Tommy Bolin Tribute "Teaser" model. Its construciion is based on measurements taken from Bolin’s own 1974 Stratocaster. The graphic design was created by fellow Iowan, Nicholas (Nick) Simmons (d. 2015), based on Bolin's "Teaser" album cover, featuring portrait of Bolin.
Stringing: six steel strings
Pickups and hardware: three single-coil pickups with individual pole pieces and black plastic casings, one volume and one tone potentiometers with black plastic knobs and white numbering and lettering [1 through 10 and “TONE” or “VOLUME”]; 5-way selector switch with black plastic head
Body: alder; two black plastic cover plates on back
Head and neck: quilted maple with broad curl; satin-chrome-plated steel bolt-on cover plate
Fretboard: maple with faint, broad curl, with 22 nickel-silver T-frets; single black plastic dots and black plastic plastic side dots behind, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st frets; black plastic inlay with word "Teaser" behind 12th fret
Nut: black plastic
Bridge: chrome-plated steel Wilkinson bridge with individually adjustable saddles
Tuners: six individual satin-chrome-plated steel Sperzel covered worm-gear tuners with satin-chrome-plated steel heads
Strap buttons: satin-chrome-plated steel, secured to body with satin-chrome-plated steel Philips’ head screws
Finish: satin clear on neck and head; glossy black on back and sides of body; blue, black, and off-whiteprinted design of Tommy Bolin's face and name on front
Stringing: six steel strings
Pickups and hardware: three single-coil pickups with individual pole pieces and black plastic casings, one volume and one tone potentiometers with black plastic knobs and white numbering and lettering [1 through 10 and “TONE” or “VOLUME”]; 5-way selector switch with black plastic head
Body: alder; two black plastic cover plates on back
Head and neck: quilted maple with broad curl; satin-chrome-plated steel bolt-on cover plate
Fretboard: maple with faint, broad curl, with 22 nickel-silver T-frets; single black plastic dots and black plastic plastic side dots behind, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st frets; black plastic inlay with word "Teaser" behind 12th fret
Nut: black plastic
Bridge: chrome-plated steel Wilkinson bridge with individually adjustable saddles
Tuners: six individual satin-chrome-plated steel Sperzel covered worm-gear tuners with satin-chrome-plated steel heads
Strap buttons: satin-chrome-plated steel, secured to body with satin-chrome-plated steel Philips’ head screws
Finish: satin clear on neck and head; glossy black on back and sides of body; blue, black, and off-whiteprinted design of Tommy Bolin's face and name on front
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 981 mm (38-5/8“)
Back length at neck joint: 403 mm (15-7/8“)
Upper bout width: 277 mm (10-29/32“)
Waist width: 223 mm (8-25/32“)
Lower bout width: 330 mm (13“)
Side height: 45 mm (1-25/32“)
Head length: 188 mm (7-13/32“)
Head width, top: 37 mm (1-15/32“)
Head width, bottom: 63 mm (2-15/32“)
Neck length (nut to body): 393 mm (15-15/32“)
Neck width, nut: 43 mm (1-11/16“)
Neck width, body joint: 54 mm (2-1/8“)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 648 mm (25-1/2“)
Back length at neck joint: 403 mm (15-7/8“)
Upper bout width: 277 mm (10-29/32“)
Waist width: 223 mm (8-25/32“)
Lower bout width: 330 mm (13“)
Side height: 45 mm (1-25/32“)
Head length: 188 mm (7-13/32“)
Head width, top: 37 mm (1-15/32“)
Head width, bottom: 63 mm (2-15/32“)
Neck length (nut to body): 393 mm (15-15/32“)
Neck width, nut: 43 mm (1-11/16“)
Neck width, body joint: 54 mm (2-1/8“)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 648 mm (25-1/2“)
ProvenanceOriginally owned by Johnnie Bolin (Tommy Bolin's younger brother), Sioux City, Iowa. Auctioned at a Rock and Pop Culture Auction, November 2018, where Scott Wilcox, Sioux City, Iowa, was the high bidder. Gift from the families of Scott and Sue Wilcox, 2019.
Terms
Credit Line: Gift from the families of Scott and Sue Wilcox, 2019
Not on view
Published References"A rockin' reveal: The NMM receives a Tommy Bolin guitar." _National Music Museum Newsletter_ 44, no. 1 (Spring 2020): 7.
Object number: 15079