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Martin's Guitars
Guitar Details
First Act Star Guitar
Head stock: 3+3 Pompadour with 3-D nautical chrome star
All close-up photos of the Star Guitar as well as the information regarding this guitar are used with permission from First Act. Please visit FirstAct.com to see their other amazing instruments and even get your own custom made guitar!!!
Pickups: 2 First Act humbuckers
Bridge: First Act low profile; Knobs: Hipshot O-Rings; Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way pickup selector
Fretboard Wood: Ebony; Inlays: Pearl star inlays; Guitar Wood: Mahogany; Body: Silver Glitter
According to FirstAct.com: "Martin Gore longed for a guitar that would shimmer through the dark beauty of Depeche Mode. He chose the star shape and silver glitter finish as a nod to the glam rock of the 70s. The body and neck are mahogany. Electronics include two First Act humbuckers with hand-wound Alnico magnets and custom chrome housings, which give this electric supreme rock ability. Our innovative low profile bridge and through-the-body string retainer enhance resonance and ensure distinct string tones. Inlaid pearl stars create a constellation along the ebony fretboard. A 3-dimensional nautical chrome star sits atop the headstock."
This guitar is almost an EXACT copy of a guitar owned by one of Martin's idols...Gary Glitter...so much so that I originally contacted a website dedicated to the Glitterband to see if Martin had borrowed the original for the "Playing the Angel Tour." The story of the original star guitar is an interesting one and you can read about it by clicking on the link below:
