Guitars

Lucky Number Seven

1978 Black Gibson Les Paul Standard

Johnny bought this guitar new and quite literally (at least partially) paid for it in blood. Between jobs at area construction sites, Johnny would hitchhike from Redlands to nearby San Bernardino, California to sell blood to make the payments.

Well worn "Lucky Seven" has been heavily modified with 2 Seymour Duncan "Jeff Beck" model humbucker pickups, a 1985 Kahler locking tremolo system and Schaler tuning pegs. The impressively heavy mahogany body sports numerous crude etchings executed by Johnny over the years (one of his sons Hans' name on the top edge, where he can look down and see it onstage) as well as an AIDS ribbon on the head stock in memory of his late brother Drew and several polished stones from his rockhound father in law.

This guitar was used for roughly 75% of all Cracker recordings including "Low," "Get Off This," "Eurotrash Girl," "Teen Angst," and many more right up to and including many of the tracks on Cracker's latest CD "Forever".

Says Johnny: "Of course no guitar will ever really replace my old friend. It's been with me for half my life. Through heaven AND hell. As you can see by its appearance I'm not one of these fey 'OH GOD...don't touch my guitar!' collector guys. They are meant to be played, not locked in a case like some precious family knick knack."