Keith Urban's New Guitar Has Arrived
When I interviewed Keith Urban last month, we talked a lot about guitars. Well, he talked. I listened. He had a lot to say about his whole arsenal. But the thrill in his voice seemed to go up a notch when we got around to his latest creation.
It's a Fender, and senior master guitar builder and artist Yuriy Shishkov made this Telecaster just for Urban. Urban told me it was his love of Kiss' Paul Stanley growing up and his Mirror Ball Iceman guitar that gave him the idea for his own decked-out guitar. "I was always mesmerized by his guitar. So we reached out to the guy who'd made one for Paul, so we could do a Telecaster with that same look. Like broken pieces of mirror all over it."
When I asked him how heavy it was, he said very. "I've had a '56 Les Paul and a Strat that were real back breakers, so I should be fine," he said. And when I asked him how it would sound, he laughed and told me, "You'll be blinded into thinking it sounds good."
Urban didn't get to see Kiss play live until about five years ago. But growing up, he'd watched the band on television. "I saw that guitar, and it just stayed with me. I always want to add something to the show. Although I may only play it on one or two songs, because it's pretty over the top." Indeed, you can see the new guitar on his webisodes from his shows in the Carolinas. It is covered with hundreds of fragments of hand-cut mirrored glass.
But because he's Keith Urban -- the man who's occasionally listed in liner notes as playing the cardboard box -- he makes the guitar look downright lightweight, and he makes it sound like he's been playing it for years.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Rufus The Roadie says:
WowWee! Now that’s a fancy Guit-Fiddle! That’s Beautiful right there!
lioness says:
He also has a clear one when I saw him in Huntsville and it was neat and one that lights up and it was gorgeous!!
trink says:
That is soooo cooool!!!!!
Sis says:
Nice!!! Cool guitar!!
Grace says:
And Keith has a one totally covered in LED lights!
MiaT says:
Oh WOW ! Very Cool! Rock on Keith!
Lauren says:
“And he makes it sound like he’s been playing the guitar for years.”
Umm, that’s because he’s been playing it for 35 years…
Trona says:
Not this one he hasn’t.
Jessica says:
Hi I’m 11 years old and I think your hot I love your song Sweet Thing! Ohhh, Ya about your new guitar I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helen says:
I like Keith,He’s the Best, I hope I can see His next new video”My Heart is open”I love this song,and I know this song will be #1 for loooooong time remembered!
Sue Ann says:
I saw the guitar at the Greenville show and let me tell you it was beautiful. Pretty impressive…and I am talking about Keith Urban’s guitar playing too! He’s amazing!
Faye Hilbert says:
Cool guitar Keith! Of course no matter what the guitar looks like, Keith always blows us away with his guitar skills! Being a fan of Kiss in my teenager years, it’s awesome that Keith was a big fan too! Rock on Keith!
Walter says:
This is a cool guitar.Keithurban is great!Also kelliepickler is great!Please vote for keithurban and please vote for kelliepickler for cmt powerpicks and the top20.Keithurban and kelliepickler love you all!Take care.Have a great day all!
syd says:
same here lioness i saw that one last night in moline, il :)
marie says:
I saw him use this guitar at Summerfest. I also saw him use the one with the LED lights. He plays those guitars like he was born with them attached. What a mesmerizing sight to behold!
Keith Urban Scores New Telecaster | Fretbase: Guitars, Tabs, Chords and More says:
[...] KISS. The guitar looks like it has broken pieces of mirror all over it. It is definitely worth viewing at CMT. How does it sound? In the words of Urban, “You’ll be blinded into thinking it sounds [...]
Robert says:
Cool git-fiddle. Keith Urban could make 3 strings & a box sound like heaven…he’s certainly one of, if not the best guitar picker in any genre of music. If you haven’t seen him in concert you owe it to yourself to go to a concert of his. When performing his songs live he adds a lot of guitar work to the songs and amps them up a lot. He has one of the best bands working with him you’ll ever see….they’re true professionals and each and every one of them are dedicated to giving the concert attendees the best concert they’ve ever seen. Urban isn’t about glitz & glamour…for him it’s all about the music, connecting with the fans, and giving them their moneys worth and more.
sxydeeny says:
yes, that is a beautiful guitar
Steve says:
I saw this thing before it was done. It was in two pieces. The neck, which was signed at the base by Keith to show his approval of it’s build. The neck was shaped to EXACTLY match one of his current telecasters. And the body hadn’t yet had the glass laid in, but was cut out and grooved in wood. They showed us the drawings of two different possible ideas for the glass, and we got to touch the body itself.
It was a very small event at The Grammy Museum in downtown LA. Yuriy Shishkov from Fender (he was the guitar’s builder) was there to talk about this guitar specifically, as well as his story moving to the US from Russia to be a guitar maker and how he ended up at the Fender Custom shop.
If you like music and are interested in the process of the recording industry, you need to check out The Grammy Museum!
And I can’t wait to see this axe in use at his LA show in a few weeks!
KeithUrban’s#1 says:
Don’t drop it! I love you, Keith!!!
Redmaz says:
Good story Steve. Thanks for sharing it.
Connie says:
Just got back from Keith’s Dallas concert. PLEASE only go to his concerts if you love to listen to great music, sing, dance, laugh and have a great time! The man genuinely loves his audience and performs his heart and soul out on stage, not to mention in the audience!
Connie says:
P. S. The mirror guitar was awesome, as well as the one that lights up! But he could make a beat up old crappy guitar sound great.
Tink says:
Wow he likes the same KISS star I do, I love Paul.
Momma Lori says:
One thing that makes Keith different is the number of pre-teen fans he has. My daughter and her friends just love the new guitar. They know them all and can even tell you which song he played on each. This is a great thing for Keith. His ‘fan base’ won’t die off till long after he’s gone. Keep smiling at the young ones Keith. I’ll keep taking them, even if I have to hear, ‘He smiled at me!’ the WHOLE drive home!
gloria foster says:
I seen him play in milwaukee Keith makes the guitar look real SWEET!!!!! Even though he needs nothing to make him look good!!!!! Excellent concert!!!!! Words can’t even explain it!!!!! A very loving and commited fan!!!!!
wynette says:
I saw Keith perform @the Forum in Tampa, FL…i love country and rock-n-roll and have seen quite a few concerts in my life. I have to say that that was the best concert that i have ever seen!!!!! Keith is one hell of performer. I was completely blown away with his talent!!!! He’s not to hard on the eyes either!!!!
gether says:
how do i get cd to my ipode
Billie Watts says:
I think it looks like a one of it’s kind guitar!!!!!!!
Korene Woodard says:
Best concert of many for me also. I read this in a magazine once. So true.
” I watched as he walked over to you while you slept and you awakened at his touch. Quietly I looked on as he caressed you slowly. You responded willingly to him and I heard you sigh. His fingers moving lightly as you murmured. I couldn’t take my eyes away as his passion for you intensified. His hands roamed over you until you cried out for him over and over: Driven he took you higher. When once more you lay still and quiet in his embrace.”
” I turned away feeling weak, envy in my eyes. Who would know that I could be so jealous of you. But then who wouldn’t feel jealous after all considering just who you are………. I suppose I’m not the only one………… who wants to be Keith Urban’s guitar!
Jan from Boise says:
This looks sooooo amazing!!! I would just about kill to have him come to BOISE so we could see him again….C’mon Keith…Kenny Chesney even was here the other night…