Q & A with the REAL Owner of the Controversial Hunterburst Guitar!

[krash]

Q & A with the REAL Owner of the Controversial Hunterburst Guitar!

PART 1. The Interview. Part 2. The Pictures Of The REAL Hunterburst!

Just like everyone, I have been fascinated by the "The Steve Hunter Burst / Slash Burst / Pre-A.F.D. Era" by Scott Sheldon". I will keep my side of things out of this since really I don't know shit from shinola. Do I have any ties to this guitar or am I making a profit from this? No. Am I Slash? Who really cares but I do think Slash is way overrated.

I have made contact with the Midwest guy who owns it after reading this from time to time and seeing where it was heading fast. I felt that he needs to get his side of things out to hopefully end the controversy but unfortunately, we know it won't but at least he was able to tell his side of things.

Is he looking to selling it? NO! He loves the guitar and has loved it for a few years so nothing has changed since he has figured out it's true pedigree.

So here's a little more information. He is not originally from the Midwest, he's a transplant from Los Angeles. he does not want to be bugged about the guitar and he does NOT WANT HIS NAME OR PICTURES being used without his authorization on the MCI Music website. He has authorized to have this pictures here to be posted on the MLP but there are not to be used anywhere else.

So no more from me. Let me introduce you to "The Midwest Hunterburst Guy".

1. Let's cut to the chase, What do you think of this whole Hunterburst thread?

MWG = Amusing! Ridiculous! Just sometimes a pain in the ass. It was changing from post to post. Someday's it was yaaa and then WTF? What are these guys smoking. When the truth was too close, it changed day to day.


2. How did you get the "Hunterburst'? Where you a fan of Steve Hunter's and Slash?

MWG =
I saw an ad in the Recycler for a 59' Les Paul repro, owned by Slash, built by Max Baranet. Made a deal with the guy and bought it. I was a big fan of Slash. I sadly never heard of Steve Hunter until the Canter book. I now know he is a true guitar legend. He played the solo's on Aerosmith's Train Kept A Rollin and in my opinion, it doesn't get any better than that!

3. Over the years, did you ever think that you would be the owner of such a controversial guitar?
MWG = Hell no!! It was always a very special guitar to me and I always wondered about ,but never doubted, the Slash connection. There's a book by Danny Sugarman I found in 97' that showed Slash playing my guitar which proved to me that Slash had owned my guitar. My guitar isn't controversial,but there are a few people on the thread that want to go there for their own agendas.

4. Tell us a little about the Hunterburst. How much does it weigh, what's the feel of the guitar and tonal aspects, any marks that stand out, etc.?

MWG = It weighs roughly 10lbs,A bit on the heavy side, feels very comfortably,easy to play, Tone wise, I would have to say it has a beautifully clear distortion.

By far the best sounding guitar I have ever played. As far as mark's, well Slash put a few on the peghead. I call them GNR war wounds. The guitar also has the "infamous mineral streaks". The lead volume pot is a little scratchy, just needs a shot of cleaner.

5. What made you contact Peter Max Baranet about the guitar and when did this happen?

I still have the e-mail. It was just over a year ago I sent pictures and asked Max about my guitar. He replied that he didn't use Quilted tops back then and that he knew for a FACT that Slash NEVER owned one! Well that took me by surprise since I have already seen pictures of Slash with my guitar and a few days later, I found out about a guy name Kris Derrig,on the web, who actually built Slash's main recording guitar. So I just figured he built it and that was it. Boy, was I in for a surprise!!

6. With a guitar with this much exposure, has anyone tried to buy it yet? If so can you share what was the offers?

My first conversation with Scott Sheldon. He offered to buy it from me and I told him it wasn't for sale and after a while he let it go. What I thought was strange about Scott is that he kept telling me that he owned the "Real Hunterburst" which at the time I didn't even know who Steve Hunter was. My thinking at the time was that he must have bought this guitar as the real thing, seen mine, realized he got burned and couldn't get over it. Boy was I in for a surprise!

Max Baranet never offered to buy my guitar. He wanted to help me sell it! He asked me to ship him the guitar (I refused) then he wanted me to sign a contract. (I refused)

We did agreed that he would come to my house and take quality pictures for a magazine, which I thought would be awesome. Still waiting Max! He also said he had spoken with Slash and that he had no interest. No one else has offered to buy it. To be honest, We (Scott, Max & I) had some great conversations about rock music in general. It wasn't always about my guitar.

7. When did you discover the Marc Canter's book Reckless Road? What did it feel like when you saw your guitar on the cover?

After the e-mail with Max. I was searching for info and came across the Cantor book and ordered it. I didn't get the one with my guitar on the cover but I remember the day I got the book.

I immediately got my guitar out and compared the pictures. No Doubt, 100% that was my guitar Slash was playing. How did I feel? To be honest, I felt relieved. You know, when I bought this guitar I had no proof Slash had ever owned it and I literally emptied my saving to buy it.

My drummer and I were mowing lawns at the time (yard stuff).I just had this crazy dream of owning one of Slash's guitars. I used every dollar I had and got this one now called the Hunterburst.

8. When did you discover the thread "The Steve Hunter Burst / Slash Burst / Pre-A.F.D. Era" by Scott Sheldon on the MLP? (thoughts on the thread and what made you reach out to Roman Rist?)

I think Scott had told me about it, I am not really sure. All this has been a whirlwind. As far as the the thread, I echo Steve Hunters sentiments. I loved Roman in those "Who built the Hunterburst" videos. I now consider Roman my true friend.


9. So did you make contact with Scott Sheldon or did he contact you? What happened after this happened?

I received an e-mail with Scott's number and gave him a call. He wanted me to keep this all between us and the rest I will keep close to the chest.

10. So after you made contact with Scott, did he write about it on the MLP? I am not looking for a bashing on him but just the facts after what transpired after talking with Scott Sheldon.

I had sent Scott tons of detailed pics of my guitar hoping he could find out who built it. It just seemed I was giving him everything and soon realized that I wasn't going to get anything out of him.

Maybe a week after our first conversation I saw on the thread the first posting of my guitar. Which was a real bashing. He stated my guitar was poorly built, that Slash didn't play it but thrashed it. It was a real hack job! He later called and I let him have it. He said he wasn't there to promote my guitar. Well we talked a while and he finally agreed to change it and that's where the two Hunterburst guitars thing started.

11. When you were told by Scott that there is another guitar and that yours is NOT the Hunterburst. What did you honestly think?

Like I said earlier, I just thought he got burned on a bad deal or something. Later, I figured he was just blowing off the real one to possibly make me think is wasn't the real one for maybe another reason.

12. So have you had any help to verify that the guitar is indeed the Hunterburst?

Just talked to Howie Hubberman just yesterday, I asked him who built it, he said Max Baranet. I asked him if Steve Hunter owned it, he said yes. I asked him if Slash owned it, he said yes and told me how much Slash paid for it. Sorry, I won't reveal how much. We went in depth with the guitar and he knew all about it including some builder stuff that was done to the guitar and only the people who know this guitar would know.

Steve touched on a few of the stuff on his first response. I will not reveal what they are in order for me to protect the integrity. I also got an e-mail from Steve Hunter congratulating me for owning the "HUNTERBURST". Thanks again Steve!! You are a class act!


13. Any ideas on what you are planning to do with the guitar? Speculations have been made that some here at the MLP are trying to capitalize with you and make money off the guitar. Was any of the Moderators and/or the Administrators involved in making any money off this with you?

First of all. The guitar is not for sale.I've owned this guitar for 16 years. It's still the same guitar it was when I first bought it. Howie gave me some advice and so has Frank Lucido (he was my 10th grade english teacher).To answer the question, no one has contacted me regarding the selling of my guitar! None of the Moderators or the Administrator of the MLP have made any deals or offers to gain any monetary gain from my guitar. It's my guitar and I am not selling it.


15. Mark, overall how are you feeling about this exposure that this has been on the guitar you own?

Overall it's been positive, Just don't FUCK with the real history of my guitar anymore!

16. Do you have any malice towards anyone regarding this?

No man! Life is good! You're talking to the guy who owns the "HUNTERBURST"! So what if someone may have got caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Who really cares if Max wants to deny or admit that he built my guitar. It doesn't matter at this point. It has been confirmed on who DID own it. Not a big deal. The truth will set you free. The truth has been told by the main players and I am thankful for that.


17. So it has been confirmed to you by Steve Hunter that he did own indeed own the guitar on the Reckless Road's book? Yes and I will not post his email but I just want to say again to Steve Hunter, THANK YOU!

18. Is there anything you want to add to this to maybe end the drama on the "The Steve Hunter Burst / Slash Burst / Pre-A.F.D. Era"? Your own words on whatever you want to add to maybe put an end to that thread.

YES, Reread the thread from the beginning, there was absolutely no confusion until my guitar the real Hunterburst showed up. The one and only 'HUNTERBURST" came to town and from that moment the thread went south. Freindships ended, Shit unfolded fast. Accusations that there was 2, then 3 guitars. It was imploding faster than an old Las Vegas casino to make room for a new one.

READ Romans Post, READ Steve Hunters Post! It's BLACK and WHITE, no spin, just the TRUTH!

I want to thank Roman for being honest and straight forward with what he knows and remembered. The Moderators here (BB & Flick) for keeping the thread real. Will for letting me bend his ear off with this & letting me know how cool it is that I own a piece of one our last guitar heroes history and another who is truly a guitar hero for his history too.(Steve Hunter).Thank you El Toro! Marc Canter for keeping some great pictures and releasing the Reckless Roads book. Howie Hubberman for his honesty and clarification. Steve Hunter for congratulating me and confirming it and you Krash for giving me a way to tell my side with your questions. Who the hell are you anyway?

Now, I want to thank Scott Sheldon for starting this it did finally uncovered the real guitar, me and the TRUTH. I also want thank Max for being one cool guitar builder that I had a chance to talk too. How cool is that?

Later guys, Mark

[diceman]

Very cool. Nice guitar. This thread needs some pix of it!

[krash]

Originally Posted by diceman

Very cool. Nice guitar. This thread needs some pix of it!

Finishing the watermarks. Don't want some out there to use it for their advantage. Pictures tonight.

Q & A with the REAL Owner of the Controversial Hunterburst Guitar!

PART 1. The Interview. Part 2. The Pictures Of The REAL Hunterburst!

[StrangerNY]

Cool interview.

Where's the pics?

- D

[krash]

[AXE]

This just gets better and better.
Dave Rude has got to see this !!!

[mrpesca]

Krash is back! Let's see for how long this time. Be nice everybody.

[krash]

[krash]

Originally Posted by mrpesca

Krash is back! Let's see for how long this time. Be nice everybody.

Of course but will be leaving after tonight for awhile. I have some work to finish up.

[FLICKOFLASH]

Originally Posted by AXE

This just gets better and better.
Dave Rude has got to see this !!!

Tell Dave Flicks a big fan !! Dave is a kool guy

[krash]

[krash]

[AXE]

I'm sending the link to DR and FH now...

[krash]

[shotgunlew]

I gotta ask ( im sure I know the answer but you never know ) have you played a guitar that you felt played or sounded better then the hunterburst?

[b-squared]

Thanks, Krash--nice work, buddy.

I hope to get out to Mark's this Spring/Summer for a visit.

I want to compare my R9/R7 to the Hunterburst, for playability and sound quality.

Great interview, Mark!

BB

[krash]

[krash]

[FLICKOFLASH]

Originally Posted by b-squared

Thanks, Krash--nice work, buddy.

I hope to get out to Mark's this Spring/Summer for a visit.

I want to compare my R9/R7 to the Hunterburst, for playability and sound quality.

Great interview, Mark!

BB

Might be kool if you cut some videos

[Sinster]

Originally Posted by krash

LOL I like this one the best..

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by krash

Damn, THAT'S a nice chunk of mahogany!

Thanks for the thread, Krash!

[krash]

[diceman]

Beautiful!

[krash]

[krash]

[krash]

Thank you and good night!

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Thank you so very much, Krash, for getting in touch with MWG and giving him the opportunity to set the record straight. I'm glad this shit is over and that we finally get to see some nice pictures of the guitar, hear thoughts on how it plays and sounds, and enjoy a part of this guy's happiness at having such a piece of rock 'n' roll History. And thanks to the guys from the 80s who helped it all come together along the way.

I was very tired of the BS on the AFD Era/Hunterburst thread, so to see this is a nice relief.

[captcoolaid]

Nice reading! Congrats Mark!

[freakton]

Great work, krash! Mystery solved - period.

Now, regarding the first guitar Kris Derrig built: until yesterday, there was a picture where Scott Sheldon had discovered this guitar in 2006. Those pictures were just taken down off the krisderrig.com website. Here is a link to the post:

The first guitar Kris Derrig built

[freakton]

In fact, the entire krisderrig.com website is now "under construction" as of today. It was up and running yesterday