Spinal Tap A to Zed

Guitars: Nigel's collection, as seen in DiBergi's film, is impressive. "They're like people to me." In a 1984 interview, he said his collection consisted of 112 guitars, mandolins and basses, including two Strat-style Tom Andersons, a 1946 herringbone Martin D-28, Guild 12-string, Gibson Chet Atkins Solidbody Classic, two 1958 Flying V's ("they're like birds"), custom-made Tele, Gretsch Chet Atkins, Hofner Verythin, a rare Kafinetti, and the one and only Marshall NT stack 6-string. During Tap's 1992 tour, Nigel took 50 guitar stands and 150 guitars on the road, including 28 acoustics and 35 Strats. (GW) As viewers of "This is Spinal Tap" know, some of the guitars are so delicate they cannot even be pointed at. The guitar that can hold its sustain even when unplugged is Nigel's 1959 Sunburst; the guitar he's playing when he needs a bit of a push from Moke to stand during a performance is his 1955 Les Paul Gold Top with stock pickups. He has since concluded that guitar is too heavy. "That's what happened in the film-not that it ever happened before or after-when I fell down and couldn't get up again." (GW) As for David's guitar history, he started out with a Big Ben, the same nylon-stringed instrument with which Nigel began his musical training. David acquired his second guitar, a four-string tenor by the German maker Nibbleng, at age 12 or 13, but he sanded the Kingston Trio photo from the side out of embarrassment. His first electric guitar was a JimElectro, and he now also owns Les Paul Deluxe, white Gibson SG, Fender Telecaster (decorated with adhesive tape), and Gibson J-160 (purchased in 1965). (HS) On the commentary of the Special Edition DVD, Nigel said he had sold off some of his guitars and given others to charity. See also Big Ben; Fender 6-String Bass; Hair-popping; Jazz Odyssey; Mandolin; Picks; Solos; Violin; The Who; Yardbirds.