MCI MUSIC CO
info@mcimusic.com
MCI MUSIC CO
There is only 1 Hunterburst
and it now resides in the midwest
A special tribute to a very special guitar
LA ROCK HISTORY TIME CAPSULET
An MLP Exclusive
THE HUNTER BURST
Revealed
(Thanks to Marc Canter's book "Reckless Road "we now have a detailed photo journal of exactly what guitars Slash was using in 1986 up until the time of the AFD release.)
An MLP Exclusive
THE HUNTER BURST
Revealed
(Thanks to Marc Canter's book "Reckless Road "we now have a detailed photo journal of exactly what guitars Slash was using in 1986 up until the time of the AFD release.)
THE HUNTER BURST
JANUARY 18TH 1986 - SLASH BACKSTAGE AT THE ROXY WITH
THE HUNTER BURST
MARC CANTER PHOTO
Fact: Slash did own another Les Paul guitar described by Slash as "The 1959 Reissue" formerly owned by Steve Hunter (Alice Cooper / Lou Reed guitarist) who purchased the guitar in the early 1980's from a well known Hollywood Luthier....
Affectionately known now as the “ The Hunter Burst ” which Slash regrettably hocked/sold the guitar in mid-July of 1986 as told by Slash in his self biography.
""The Steve Hunter Burst" was acquired by Slash on Wednesday September 25th 1985 from Howie Huberman / Albert Molinaro of Guitars R Us who's shop was right next door to Steve Hunter's place and traded the guitar to Slash just prior to the famous 8th Annual LA Street Scene Sept 28th 1985
MARC CANTER'S
"RECKLESS ROAD"
LIMITED EDITION SLASH COVER
The problem with this guitar being a Gibson 1959 reissue is does not resemble anything Gibson was making during this period. For instance, the 1982 Gibson Guitar Trader Les Paul had a much lower silk screened "Les Paul" logo and the inked on serial numbers were located much lower on the backside of the headstock than the Hunter Burst photos indicate.
Also note the earlier Jimmy Wallace / The KM and the Heritage 80 models that were released previously do not resemble the Hunter Burst either during that period.
So was it a real 1950's Burst
or a Burst Conversion
or something else?
or a Burst Conversion
or something else?
(We've reached out to Steve Hunter recently to confirm his recollection of the guitar - More to come on this as we receive information from Steve)
SITE EXCERPT FROM
Here is some more info from someone who was actually there at the time, that being me.
The "Hunter Burst" was sold to slash by Howie Hubberman.
Knowing how Howie operated, I am 99.9% sure it went to Slash on some kind of credit or barter.
Slash was a struggling musician at the time and had no money.
Howie took many bands under his wing and was looking to get into management.
He worked with GNR and Poison at that time, and to a lesser degree Ratt.
If you were in a band that he felt was going somewhere, he would help you out with getting gear. He was a great supporter of the local music scene.
Here is a little back story on the History.
I had recently bought Image Guitars from MaX who at the time was still going by Peter Baranet.
We had a place around the corner from The Sunset store on Sierra Bonita ave.
Howie and Albert had a shop right next door which was called Guitars R US, but had no sign. The only sign was Peter's IMAGE guitars.
The illusion was that we were all the same place but they were separate shops.
Myself, being the new owner of Image Guitars, Moved to a larger shop right on Sunset Blvd.
The place was huge.
Howie and Albert were still on the side Street.
I spent about month renovating the new shop and getting it ready. I still called the place Image Guitars but was planning to phase out the name in favor of using my own.
Max at the time was MIA, off to "retire". He came out of retirement when I had come into a bit of money and we decided to embark on a project consisting of a batch of Korina V's and Explorers. We ran an ad in guitar player and Gibson was not doing the reissue yet.
Our "partnership" did not last that long, and after a batch of guitars we moved on.
Here is the last of the batch, which I did not finish till last year. I was saving it for my self and someone talked me out of it.
The "Hunter Burst" was sold to slash by Howie Hubberman.
Knowing how Howie operated, I am 99.9% sure it went to Slash on some kind of credit or barter.
Slash was a struggling musician at the time and had no money.
Howie took many bands under his wing and was looking to get into management.
He worked with GNR and Poison at that time, and to a lesser degree Ratt.
If you were in a band that he felt was going somewhere, he would help you out with getting gear. He was a great supporter of the local music scene.
Here is a little back story on the History.
I had recently bought Image Guitars from MaX who at the time was still going by Peter Baranet.
We had a place around the corner from The Sunset store on Sierra Bonita ave.
Howie and Albert had a shop right next door which was called Guitars R US, but had no sign. The only sign was Peter's IMAGE guitars.
The illusion was that we were all the same place but they were separate shops.
Myself, being the new owner of Image Guitars, Moved to a larger shop right on Sunset Blvd.
The place was huge.
Howie and Albert were still on the side Street.
I spent about month renovating the new shop and getting it ready. I still called the place Image Guitars but was planning to phase out the name in favor of using my own.
Max at the time was MIA, off to "retire". He came out of retirement when I had come into a bit of money and we decided to embark on a project consisting of a batch of Korina V's and Explorers. We ran an ad in guitar player and Gibson was not doing the reissue yet.
Our "partnership" did not last that long, and after a batch of guitars we moved on.
Here is the last of the batch, which I did not finish till last year. I was saving it for my self and someone talked me out of it.
The Rist 1958 Flying V
Max and I parted ways for now, although he frequented the shop.
At this time, I built a studio Apt in the back of the shop and moved in.
Howie and Albert were bugging me to get on Sunset, as they were still in the original location.
I rented the front 1/3d of my shop to them to help out with overhead.
While good in many aspects it also hurt me. For one they put up a Guitars R US sign and now people thought I worked for them, and they sure liked to convey that idea.
Eventually I said get your own damn store and they moved a couple of doors down on sunset, and I put up the Rist Guitars sign. At their new location is where Jim (El Toro), worked for them.
Onto the HUNTER BURST;
Steve was a regular in all our shops.
I would do work for him, Max would do work for him, and Howie would sell him gear.
Steve had been getting more into Strats and one day came into the store with this burst.
It was by far the prettiest burst I had ever seen. Most of the 50s I had seen were more plaintops.
This thing was just stunning!
Many hours were spent drooling over this burst and not just by myself. At night after Howie would leave, I'd pull it down.
And what a beauty it is!
Max and I parted ways for now, although he frequented the shop.
At this time, I built a studio Apt in the back of the shop and moved in.
Howie and Albert were bugging me to get on Sunset, as they were still in the original location.
I rented the front 1/3d of my shop to them to help out with overhead.
While good in many aspects it also hurt me. For one they put up a Guitars R US sign and now people thought I worked for them, and they sure liked to convey that idea.
Eventually I said get your own damn store and they moved a couple of doors down on sunset, and I put up the Rist Guitars sign. At their new location is where Jim (El Toro), worked for them.
Onto the HUNTER BURST;
Steve was a regular in all our shops.
I would do work for him, Max would do work for him, and Howie would sell him gear.
Steve had been getting more into Strats and one day came into the store with this burst.
It was by far the prettiest burst I had ever seen. Most of the 50s I had seen were more plaintops.
This thing was just stunning!
Many hours were spent drooling over this burst and not just by myself. At night after Howie would leave, I'd pull it down.
And what a beauty it is!
Roman Rist 
Slash: Derrig vs Max - The AFD Period
Personally thanking (FLICKOFLASH) for posting my "Derrig vs Max - The AFD Period" information from my website
and launching the debate publically on July 20, 2007 - which has made this thread the most popular thread on MLP Forum site with over 40,000 hits to date and counting!
Based on public information and 2 years of facts collected from books and first hand accounts
APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION
TIMELINE
BAND SIGNED TO GEFFEN – MARCH 26, 1986
SOUND CITY STUDIOS TRACK COMPLETION
JUNE 4 & 5 1986
“The Hunter Burst” used on the sound city tracks starts Slash’s obsession for another Les Paul after he sold the guitar the following month on Saturday July 13, 1986
July 21st – September 13th 1986 – 6-8 Live shows – All with the Red BC Rich Warlock
September 20 1986 – December 21, 1986 – Black Jackson Super Strat enters the picture
RUMBO STUDIO DATES
(Booked August 1st but delayed until Monday December 2 1986
Monday December 2, 1986 – GNR enters Rumbo Studios to commence recording the initial scratch tracks for AFD – Studio log dates
Friday December 20, 1986 - Basic tracks completed in 3 weeks – According to Slash he only had the Red BC Rich Warlock / Black Jackson Super Strat / 1961 SG (The SG was used on “My Michelle” and later he smashed the SG guitar sending it through the van windshield for some amusement)
Alan Niven during this time hunting around for a Les Paul at Slash’s request to find another Les Paul to use on the lead tracks for , and goes to Jim Foote at MusicWorks to get a guitar and Jim replies “ the only one he’s got is the one in the window that Kris made as told by Jim Foote
Friday December 20, 1986 – He receives the Derrig LP on the last day of the Rumbo Studios recording date as told by Slash in his bio.
Saturday December 21, 1986 - Take 1 Studios – booked by Alan after getting the Derrig for Slash - They go back and quickly complete the final lead guitar tracks with the Derrig before the Christmas as Take 1 closed for the entire holiday period until Wednesday the 1st of January 1987
Monday night - December 23, 1986 – photographed playing the Derrig at the Cat House – EP Live like a Suicide EP release party
Tuesday December 24, 1986 - Take 1 Studios – final studio date for Slash completed the lead guitar tracks
Hi folks!
However, it is time I revealed all.
However, it is time I revealed all.
Earlier in the thread I said I would spill the beans AFTER the votes reached 200.
I didn't say how long after, though.
Well it is time. please excuse me if this is a long read.
First off, thank you all so very, very, much for your votes!!! It means a lot to me to have so many of you think I built the hunterburst
Let us now put the hunterburst thread to rest.
I will tell the true story as witnessed by my own eyes
Way back, I opened the door to this Pandora's box, by saying on the AFD thread, that I had seen The long lost Hunterburst.
I had first seen a video where slash states to having a sunburst formerly owned by Steve Hunter. He states this guitar as being a reissue. Maybe this is because of his relationship with the "big boys". It was, after all, an endorsement video shot in Guitar Center for a Slash model.
This guitar IS the Hunterburst. There is only one. There are not multiple "hunterbursts".
Whatever others may speculate, there is only one.
Let us define what the Hunterburst is to alleviate any confusion caused by this full of twists and turns thread.
Definition;
Hunterburst;
The Les Paul Replica, that was built for Steve Hunter, and that had passed hands to Slash of Guns and Roses through Howard Hubberman at Image/Guitars R Us which was located at 7414 Sunset Blvd, in Hollywod Ca.
This was the guitar that Slash used before GNR released AFD.This guitar was to become immortalized in the Marc Canter book "Reckless Roads"
It was then, now, and forever, will be known as the Hunterburst
That is what the Hunterburst is in definition. This is not open to interpretation, speculation or twisting of the truth.
There is only one guitar. It went from the builder to Steve Hunter, to Howie Hubberman, to Slash, and now reside in the hands of it's current owner who wishes to remain anonymous, and resides in the midwest. Moving on to the story;
Way back, I with my own eyes, had seen Steve Hunter come into the store with this burst and sell it to Howie.
At the time I was told that this was a refinished, retopped, real burst. I can only speculate that someone was, just for the heck of it, pulling my leg. When I had posted in the AFD thread this info, I believed it to be true. At the time it did not matter WHAT the guitar was. I had no idea that Slash, GNR, and The Hunterburst itself, would become so famous.
Well it is time. please excuse me if this is a long read.
First off, thank you all so very, very, much for your votes!!! It means a lot to me to have so many of you think I built the hunterburst
Let us now put the hunterburst thread to rest.
I will tell the true story as witnessed by my own eyes
Way back, I opened the door to this Pandora's box, by saying on the AFD thread, that I had seen The long lost Hunterburst.
I had first seen a video where slash states to having a sunburst formerly owned by Steve Hunter. He states this guitar as being a reissue. Maybe this is because of his relationship with the "big boys". It was, after all, an endorsement video shot in Guitar Center for a Slash model.
This guitar IS the Hunterburst. There is only one. There are not multiple "hunterbursts".
Whatever others may speculate, there is only one.
Let us define what the Hunterburst is to alleviate any confusion caused by this full of twists and turns thread.
Definition;
Hunterburst;
The Les Paul Replica, that was built for Steve Hunter, and that had passed hands to Slash of Guns and Roses through Howard Hubberman at Image/Guitars R Us which was located at 7414 Sunset Blvd, in Hollywod Ca.
This was the guitar that Slash used before GNR released AFD.This guitar was to become immortalized in the Marc Canter book "Reckless Roads"
It was then, now, and forever, will be known as the Hunterburst
That is what the Hunterburst is in definition. This is not open to interpretation, speculation or twisting of the truth.
There is only one guitar. It went from the builder to Steve Hunter, to Howie Hubberman, to Slash, and now reside in the hands of it's current owner who wishes to remain anonymous, and resides in the midwest. Moving on to the story;
Way back, I with my own eyes, had seen Steve Hunter come into the store with this burst and sell it to Howie.
At the time I was told that this was a refinished, retopped, real burst. I can only speculate that someone was, just for the heck of it, pulling my leg. When I had posted in the AFD thread this info, I believed it to be true. At the time it did not matter WHAT the guitar was. I had no idea that Slash, GNR, and The Hunterburst itself, would become so famous.
Scott Sheldon showed up one day with some guitars as I had previously stated in the AFD thread.He presented the guitar as the long lost Hunterburst, which had been refinished and professionally restored. I can only speculate if Scott in his heart believed this to be true, or not.
Only he knows the truth of that. What was true for me at that time, was what I had been told, which was, THIS was the very same guitar that I had seen go to Slash so very long ago.This seemed Plausible, as it is possible that the mineral streaks and quilt pattern could change some what as the top was recarved, resanded etc.Scott and I had discussed the possibility that this in fact might not actually be the Hunterburst, and if that was the case, the incredible exposure of this thread might flush out the real Hunterburst.
Well, it did!
As a result of this thread, the real owner sent me an email with pictures. After comparing the photos of the guitar with the photos in the book, along with my own recollection of what the guitar looked like, I was now convinced without a shadow of a doubt!!
100 percent confirmation!
The midwest guitar was in fact the one, the only, Hunterbust as covered in my earlier definition.The guitar that Sheldon owns/owned, and is in the pictures and videos on this thread, is not the Hunterburst, and I have no idea as to the origin of the instrument. I have opened this instrument up and examined It . It is not an early replica era example, by any of the builders at the time. (circa 78 to early 80s) It is too perfect. The routes are such that a sophisticated, talented replica builder would do today.
Back then, Max and I did not even use templates!!!!!!!
This is my opinion and should not be misinterpreted as fact, but it would not surprise me if the guitar that Sheldon has, was built in the last few years. It is a beautiful guitar, and I would be proud to own and play it, but unfortunately it is not the Hunterburst.
Facts;
I did not build the Hunterburst, although I thank you for your votes.
I did build for Steve, but not the hunterburst
Peter Baranet did build for Steve a Burst at Image guitars . ( just one)
This occurred before I arrived on the scene. Both he and Steve have verified this.
From all of my own investigation I have come to the conclusion that Peter built the Hunterburst as Howie Hubberman has stated.
If he wants to confirm this it is up to him alone. The guitar in the midwest is the only Hunterbust.
This is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
The END!
Only he knows the truth of that. What was true for me at that time, was what I had been told, which was, THIS was the very same guitar that I had seen go to Slash so very long ago.This seemed Plausible, as it is possible that the mineral streaks and quilt pattern could change some what as the top was recarved, resanded etc.Scott and I had discussed the possibility that this in fact might not actually be the Hunterburst, and if that was the case, the incredible exposure of this thread might flush out the real Hunterburst.
Well, it did!
As a result of this thread, the real owner sent me an email with pictures. After comparing the photos of the guitar with the photos in the book, along with my own recollection of what the guitar looked like, I was now convinced without a shadow of a doubt!!
100 percent confirmation!
The midwest guitar was in fact the one, the only, Hunterbust as covered in my earlier definition.The guitar that Sheldon owns/owned, and is in the pictures and videos on this thread, is not the Hunterburst, and I have no idea as to the origin of the instrument. I have opened this instrument up and examined It . It is not an early replica era example, by any of the builders at the time. (circa 78 to early 80s) It is too perfect. The routes are such that a sophisticated, talented replica builder would do today.
Back then, Max and I did not even use templates!!!!!!!
This is my opinion and should not be misinterpreted as fact, but it would not surprise me if the guitar that Sheldon has, was built in the last few years. It is a beautiful guitar, and I would be proud to own and play it, but unfortunately it is not the Hunterburst.
Facts;
I did not build the Hunterburst, although I thank you for your votes.
I did build for Steve, but not the hunterburst
Peter Baranet did build for Steve a Burst at Image guitars . ( just one)
This occurred before I arrived on the scene. Both he and Steve have verified this.
From all of my own investigation I have come to the conclusion that Peter built the Hunterburst as Howie Hubberman has stated.
If he wants to confirm this it is up to him alone. The guitar in the midwest is the only Hunterbust.
This is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
The END!
Roman Rist