They Might Be Giants "Chessmaster" replica

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 6:34 pm

Check out this video made by a guy who built a replica of John Flansburg's Chessmaster guitar (Link)

John playing the original Chessmaster circa 1992

[youtube][/youtube]
reverse engineering the body from a photograph.

Finished "Chessmaster II"

John Flansburg autographs "Chessmaster II"

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 7:19 pm

this was one of the first songs that got me interested in the guitar, they put the chords on the screen (A7, C#m7, Bm7, E7) in the video... which I thought was unbelievably cool at the time. song sounds like summit that should have been in sesame street... one of these kids is doing his own thing ...etc

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 8:21 pm

UGLY guitar. But great video and story.

speedfish · Post by **speedfish** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 9:39 pm

Wow! Very cool.

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:13 am

The thing that makes it ugly is the telecaster neck. Put another neck and headstock that fits that type of design and it could be ok.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:27 pm

dezb1 wrote:they put the chords on the screen (A7, C#m7, Bm7, E7) in the video... which I thought was unbelievably cool at the time. sounds like summit that should have been in sesame street

Always loved as a kid how Blur's tape/CD liner notes where they put the lyrics would have the chords over them like a songbook.

Code: Select all

A
He thinks he's educated, airs those family shares

C#m7   Bm7           C#m7    Bm7
Will protect him that we'll respect him

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:42 am

That's frickin trippy..

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:55 am

Hard to imagine anyone obsessing over such an ugly guitar. No accounting for taste.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:11 pm

Maybe I'm thick, but why is it called Chessmaster? Doesn't look very chessey to me.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 5:14 pm

BacchusPaul wrote:Maybe I'm thick, but why is it called Chessmaster? Doesn't look very chessey to me.

From the TMBG website:

"Chessmaster is the name of the guitar. It's because it looks like a rook, according to Flansburgh."

[youtube][/youtube]

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 5:27 pm

SO CRAZY

MrJamesBrown · Post by **MrJamesBrown** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:50 pm

Hurts my eyes.