What guitar and pickups did Rich Fifield used when recording with the group The Astronauts back in the sixties?
Recently I got a letter from Bill Wardwell who is a friend of Rich Fifield and he send along this information. Rich was the lead guitarist for the group The Astronauts back in the early 60 s. In 1964 The Astronauts were playing around the University of Colorado and recording for RCA records. Guitar Player Magazine featured Rich s playing on their Legends of Guitar CD series. The Astronauts reunited and played in 1988 and 89 in Boulder, Colorado. They last performed together in 1987. Rich told Bill that while playing Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Mustangs and Stratocasters in concert, all of their recordings were done with Jazzmasters, Dual Showman Amps and Fender Reverb units. In fact Leo Fender personally loaned them the first Reverb unit (ever) which he was building for Dick Dale so they could use it on their first album for RCA. Rich used a 1961 Olympic White Jazzmaster which can be seen on album covers. Here are some of their albums to look for: Rockin with the Astronauts RCA #183 Surfin w
