Slash: Derrig vs Max - The AFD Period

[FLICKOFLASH]

It is also well known fact that Slash also had the MAX 1959 Replica during the same period in 1985-86 as Guns and Roses used to rehearse in a nearby complex to Max Guitars Hollywood in 1985 and Slash personally knew Max and saw him often enough but had never met Kris...ever!

Rumor - Slash knew Kris personally - False he never met the guy!

Only Alan Niven knew Kris and Jim Foote and saw them both in the MW shop.

Alan Niven had been scouting for a guitar for Slash around the same time as Slash had been already been talking to MAX about his guitar problems, these two events were going on about the same time. The Welcome to the Jungle footage - their earliest video - Slash is indeed playing the MAX with black Alnico II pickups and 59 Top hat knobs show that he had the MAX in the early days, you need to know what what to look for. (see below for details)

Slash went to Max with the problem first, then Alan went to Jim Foote. He was not geting the tone he desired with other guitars. According to MAX, he lent Slash his only guitar (a MAX 59 Sunburst - curly top replica) which at the time had real 59 PAFs and real 1959 hardware - which eventually, all MAX got back from Slash was a box of parts from that guitar and some cash, Slash used the Alnico IIs on both guitars and did not want the vintage parts at the time due to his budget restraints.

Guitars

It is possible that Slash got the MAX guitar early enough to have used it on AFD and there are sources that tell us that he did in fact use the MAX on some of the AFD. He did have both guitars in his possession during the 87 AFD Tour and he used both guitars during the 1st year.

Alan Niven had the Derrig in Slash's hands sometime before Slash got the Max,it had the Alnico IIs already in them. Slash preferred these pickups and sometime later that year he pulled the PAFs out of the MAX and switched them to the Alnico IIs that he had in the Derrig already.

Even Slash has contradicted himself (perhaps on purpose) in a number of interviews about these 2 guitars in the past, as a number of us suspect that his endorsements prevent him from talking about these 2 guitars in depth anymore. Plus the fact he can't talk about Max because he is still alive and wants to keep him out of the limelight with his endorsers.

It is pointless to debate the case in any one direction as Slash loves both of them and they are BOTH equally significant guitars.



GNR VIDEOS
GUITARS SLASH USED

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE - IS THE 1984 MAX GUITAR - (2 DOUBLE BLACK ALNICO II PICKUPS) THE CURLY FADED FLAMETOP - 59 GOLD TOP HAT KNOBS

SWEET CHILD OF MINE - IS A (87) PLAIN TOP GIBSON LES PAUL - DOUBLE BLACK ALNICO II - 3 PIECE PLAIN FADED TOP

PARADISE CITY - 87 GIBSON LES PAUL PLAIN TOP - DOUBLE BLACK ALNICO II PICKUPS - 59 KNOBS

DONT CRY - 1987 GIBSON LES PAUL PLAIN TOP - 1 ZEBRA PICKUP - 1 DOUBLE BLACK - 59 GOLD TOP HATS - THE ONE HE THREW OFF THE CLIFF IS SAID TO STILL BE AROUND SOMEWHERE...

LIVE AND LET LIVE - 1987 GIBSON LES PAUL GOLD TOP - ALNICO II DOUBLE BLACKS - 80'S SPEC NECK PROFILE

NOVEMBER RAIN - JOE PERRY'S 1959 TOBACCO SUNBURST 1959 LES PAUL - HE LATER GAVE BACK TO JOE FOR HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY

YESTERDAYS - IS THE MAX GUITAR - (2 DOUBLE BLACK ALNICO II - HIGHLY FLAMED CURLY TOP ) - 1959 KNOBS

DEAD HORSE - A VARIETY OF DOUBLE NECKS /BLACK ES- 1275 THE 87 PLAIN TOP / 87 GOLD TOP / BC RICH MOCKINGBIRD

GARDEN OF EDEN - 87 GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM -SLASH SPEC CUSTOM - COMPLETE WITH GRAFFITI !

ESTRANGED - THE RED 87 GUILD DOUBLENECK ACOUSTIC 12/ ELECTRIC 6 -CUSTOM MADE FO SLASH

SINCE I DONT HAVE YOU - THE 1985 DERRIG - REVERSE CHEVRON FLAMETOP - ZEBRA ALNICO II - AT THIS TIME SPORTED 59 TOP HATS - NOT REFLECTOR KNOBS

LIVE AT THE RITZ 88 CONCERT (USES BOTH REPLICAS) - THE 1985 DERRIG - FOR THE 1st FOUR SONGS - CHANGES TO THE MAX DURING MY MICHELLE - CHANGES BACK TO THE DERRIG - WTTJ - BACK TO THE MAX - NIGHT TRAIN / PARADISE CITY -BACK TO THE DERRIG - KNOCKING HD

Slash’s Derrig 1958 Les Paul Style Replica

Despite the photo title (1959 Les Paul Replica), Slash's "main" guitar used on the Guns and Roses recordings is a Derrig 1958 Les Paul Style Replica sporting 60's "reflector" knobs and Seymour Duncan Alnico II Zebra pickups with a reverse chevron waavy flamed maple top. The guitar was built in 1984-85 by Kris Derrig working for Jim Foote of MusicWorks - Redondo Beach, Ca. Kris was hired by Jim to build guitars for various individuals from 1983 - 1987.

This guitar was one of the few guitars Kris made that was not a customer ordered guitar at the time. Kris was finishing up the guitar (to fund more car restoration cash for his pet project - the Red 1967 Tempest Convertible / GTO Conversion), more about this car on the biography page.

According to Slash ( November 2005 Vintage Guitar Interview ) - Guns and Roses were in the studio in 1985 recording the Appetite For Destruction Album - according to Slash, he did not have a guitar that was cutting it for him at the time (he was using the BC Rich and was not getting the tone he desired). Alan Niven - the band’s manager came to Jim about getting Slash a guitar for the recording, Jim agreed to let Alan take the guitar to Slash to try out, eventually it would become the "main" guitar that Slash used to record the Appetite for Destruction album.

Kris used whatever parts were available to him at the time (customers usually supplied parts for Kris) so he went to Jim to ask what kind of pickups were to be used in the guitar that would later be the infamous Slash guitar.

Jim Foote has noted that he used Seymour Duncan (Alnico IIs ) pickups as his preference fand should not only be credited for the Alnico II pickups in Slash’s guitar, but many other guitars of celebrities and musicians alike.

There are pictures of the guitar in an old photo album of Jim's before it went out the door to Slash, and a framed picture as well hovering around the shop somewhere. There are also many gold/platinum records on the wall presented to Jim Foote/ MusicWorks from Guns and Roses and others.

There is also a "shrine" to Kris in the MW tool room as well, Kris's tools and templates are still very much intact that he used to make these guitars which are still there to this day.




The very first guitar Kris ever made was built as a Cherry Sunburst 1960 "Les Paul Style" replica guitar, pictured above. (Circa 1978)

The guitar was built approximately in mid 1978, pot codes indicate 78/08 its construction is made of a Curly Eastern Maple top with a solid one piece mahogany body and a one piece mahogany neck. The guitar has 1970's Gibson Pat. sticker pickups and original 1959 gold Top knobs.

"Kris's very first guitar bearing his name features a flamed maple binding, abalone fret marker dots and mahogany back-plates and a Brazilian rosewood fretboard."

Upon close inspection of this guitar, it is very clear that this was his first attempt at building a guitar, as the interior routes show several rough cavity routing errors. The guitar weighs approx. 9.5 lbs, has a slim taper 1960’s style neck and the dimensions are not exact to original specifications. All the same its a great early example of his work.

The guitar has been well preserved over the years with a fair amount of finish checking and some minor player wear. The exact provenance after it left Kris’s possession is unknown on this particular guitar.

During this time from 1978 - 1983 in Atlanta, it is believed that Kris built approximately 10-12 replica "Les Paul Style" guitars, most of them bearing another well known logo. The guitar pictured above is the only one known in existence to bear his surname.

"A very rare" example of a Derrig "Les Paul Style" guitar bearing his name" as all other guitars had another well known logo.



DERRIG 1958 LES PAUL REPLICA - #1 OF 3 - POSSIBLY ONE THE LAST MADE
The 1958 Derrig Replica pictured below was recently acquired by MCi Music as a collection piece. It was made by Kris at Music Works in the fall and winter of 1985-86. It was the second of 3 guitars purchased by it's original owner from Kris. The guitar was probably finished in December of 1985 of January 1986.

Materials for the guitar were purchased all from local sources in Southern California. Kris aquired all of the wood through Jim Foote and the serial number corresponds to the day the wood was purchased for the top.

Kris chose to use Seymour Duncan pickups in the replica. There is a 59 in the neck and an Alinco II in the brige position. The controls are from Dimarzio and the date codes also correspond to late 1985. The bridge is a nashville style with orig, tune-o-matic mounting studs. Kris installed this bridge at the owners request. The tuners are black Kluson style tuners. At the time the guitar was built they were one of the better alternatives to using old tuners that could hold tune well.

At first glance the guitar is very striking bearing an almost uncanny resembalance to some of Kris's other work he completed in the mid 80's working for Jim Foote. The guitar is well balanced in both sound and feel and weighs approx 9.0 lbs.

DERRIG 1958 LES PAUL REPLICA - #1 OF 3 - POSSIBLY ONE THE LAST MADE
The 1958 Derrig Replica pictured below was recently acquired by MCi Music as a collection piece. It was made by Kris at Music Works in the fall and winter of 1985-86. It was the second of 3 guitars purchased by it's original owner from Kris. The guitar was probably finished in December of 1985 of January 1986.

[FrankiePRS]

Interesting reading. Thanks!

[Big Mike]

I've had some discussions with an associate of foot's about the Derrig's. Apparently they were really something special.

[Darkburst]

Cool post!

[Hackubus]

Great read! Thanks a bunch.

[Southbay Ampworks]

Dang, you quoted me a lot in this story, Flick.

[FLICKOFLASH]

Originally Posted by Southbay Ampworks

Dang, you quoted me a lot in this story, Flick.

http://krisderrig.com/page1.aspx

[Lousyatit]

I have a friend that knew Kris when he(Kris) was living in Atlanta. He had two of Kris's guitars at different times. The one that I played was a little off. It could not have passed for the real thing.

[Southbay Ampworks]

Originally Posted by FLICKOFLASH

KRISDERRIG.COM

Ok, then they quoted me a bunch. One of my best friends is Jim Foote of MusicWorks, where Kris did most of his luthiery work. I also know Alan Niven,and I've seen the picture book of guitars Foote still has that shows several of Kris's guitar creations and pics of the guitar that Slash used.

Contrary to many stories on the net and those who don't know the real players first hand, Max did not, nor did he ever have a burst ready for Slash to play in time for AFD. Since replicas are a "cease & desist" order type thing for Gibson's legal team, they were always clouded in mystery, and no names of the makers of these replicas were given out. The same still applies in most cases, by the way.

Max/Peter Barret might have made Slash a guitar like this later on but it wasn't ready in time for AFD, that's for certain. Slash has purposely referred to "the guy in Redondo Beach" who made the guitar he used on that album. Max lived in Hollywood. Music Works used to be in Redondo Beach, on Artesia Blvd. Now it's in Lawndale, on Artesia Blvd. So to end that confusion, I asked Foote & Niven about this five years ago, to straighten out this whole mess.

As Foote and Niven remember it, Slash had a guitar that wasn't working out. Slash asked Niven to find him a guitar that would. He knew Foote, who had Derrig living outside his shop in an RV, working on his muscle car to restore. He built these guitars to fund that project, period. Niven approached Foote, who got Derrig involved who had just finished the LP replica. It didn't have any pickups. Derrig came in and asked Foote what he had, Foote said these are popular and I recommend them. That's how it got the Alnico Pro II Seymour Duncan pickups in the guitar.

Slash tried it, liked it, Niven bought it for Slash. It was used on the album, Max showed up later.

[Darkburst]

Here's another pic of the Max:


Close Up:

[PoorMan]

I have a friend who is pretty tight with Adam Day (Slash's tech). I don't have a timeline but apparently Slash uses a Korina V for a vast majority of his leads.

[zeppelin13]

nice i love slash hes a kick ass guitarist

[Darkburst]

More Derrig shots:

[Southbay Ampworks]

Originally Posted by Darkburst

More Derrig shots:

That's the Derrig guitar in the book of pics Jim Foote has at MusicWorks in Lawndale, CA. which were taken after it was made. I'm going there later today, anyone want me to take pics of the pics in the book? Thanks Brian!

[Darkburst]

I'd love more pics Jim!

[Southbay Ampworks]

Woke up with a head cold yesterday, so I didn't go to MusicWorks, but I'll probably go this week. I'll see what I can get for ya.

[max luthier]

i knew Slash before GnR got signed .. i knew most of the LA bands and hung out with them at the clubs ..

GnR used to rehearse in some garage/rehearsal rooms behind my shop in LA .. Slash did not have ANY les pauls when he came to me in person and asked if i had one he could try .. the only one i had was my personal one which i let him take for the recording sessions .. it had real PAF's which he used for at least two weeks .. he asked if he could buy the guitar without the PAF's and vintage parts and i sold it to him ..

it's as simple as that ..

i have to say that it really irks me when people try to sound so knowledgeable and authoritative about things they know nothing of .. you weren't there, i was .. end of story .. i won't be responding to any further comments.

[Southbay Ampworks]

Max Luthier...Well, my guess is that if you are the real Max aka Peter Baranet, then you were drinking a lot then, too, cuz you're wrong and you know it. Slash has said "the guy in Redondo Beach" in interviews when asked about who built the Les Paul used on the AFD sessions and the Les Paul used was the Derrig, according to Alan Niven, their manager. You weren't ever building guitars in Redondo Beach by your own admission, so that pretty much takes you out of it right there. And if you don't know that Alan Niven was GnR's manager, that's kinda suspect, dont you think?

Long story short, and from Alan Niven & Jim Foote, who I talked to directly about this, and in some detail for 1/2 hour on this subject only (sober, 5 years ago), you weren't around with any guitars in time for AFD. Afterwards you showed up, yes, but not at the time AFD was recorded. Alan Niven doesn't know who you are, by the way. I would think he might, and you might know him if "you were there".

You have taken credit for the Derrig replica guitar and the tone of it on AFD for years, and I think it sucks. So you'll excuse me if I just smile and shake my head at you, cuz if Slash said it was "the guy in Redondo Beach" and Alan Niven says it was made by Kris Derrig , who worked out of Redondo Beach, that pretty much leaves you out of it...unless you have a separate identity and died back in the late 80's.

Frankly, I think you ought to be ashamed of yourself. And no, I haven't been drinking...and I wouldn't post on such a subject unless I had done my research with the folks involved. As a matter of fact, I'm going to MusicWorks this week to take photos of the Derrig Les Paul in question that are in Jim's scrapbook. I believe this picture here is the article referencing Alan Niven, the guitar, and Slash saying Alan bought it and brought it to him to use for AFD.



Slash Guitar Page - Slash's 1959 Les Paul Replica

[FLICKOFLASH]

why can't both stories be true I recall the Max story even back in the 80's & the Derrig much later on. I recall Slash being so down & out most of his gear was in pawn & he had to barrow stuff to record. Maybe Max you can have Slash respond directly

[BCRGreg]

If this IS Max, my money's on him.

I wasn't out in L.A. back then, but when I first met Slash in 1987 at Hammerjack's, he had two Les Pauls with him...the 87 and the Derrig. I played both, and the Derrig had a damn fine spank to it. He mentioned Max to me after looking around and leaning in (like we all have!), and told me that Max made the best Les Pauls and he had played Max's personal one.

No dog in this hunt for me, just supporting Mr. Baranet. He's good folks.

[Southbay Ampworks]

Greg, I have no dog in this hunt, either, but after all the speculation, stories and outlandish claims I'd read on the net, I just wanted to know. I've met Alan Niven only 6 times, and we never discussed this until I brought it up to him & Foote when there was a quiet moment at Foote's shop in 2002.

I've played some Max built guitars and they're fine instruments, no doubt. He did the same thing most LP replica builders did back in the day such as using old fingerboards with the old (correct) inlays, hide glue, etc. His Gibson logos and Les Paul scripts weren't as subdued as they should have been for a real burst IMO (check the pics of a Max headstock), always looking too new, bright, or cut just a bit different than what I see on my vintage Gibsons (I base this on my two 61 SG's, a 68 LP Custom, and my two buddy's 59 & 60 Burst I've played) and others. There have been two Max's (purported by the owners) sent to MusicWorks in the last year, and I came down and checked them out. Other than the telltale logo things I noted above, they were pretty damn close, so I'm not bagging on the man's luthiery skills, or his build quality.

But when you have a guy like Jim Foote, Alan Niven and interviews with Slash all discuss this AFD LP replica thing without any changes from the original stuff Slash said, or what Niven said, you have to wonder if the three of them got together and said this to protect Max, or if it happened the way they said and it was the Derrig replica guitar. I mean, Kris Derrig is long gone, he's not going to gain any glory from this. Jim Foote didn't build it, so he's not getting any glory from it. Alan Niven isn't working with Velvet Revolver (he was asked, by the way) or GnR any more, so he's got nothing to gain from telling a fable, either.

So knowing all those guys have nothing to gain, what good reason do they have to lie? On the other hand, Max was building replicas and had something to gain, and unless you knew the players involved or talked to them, who was going to know any differently from what Max told them? No one, right?

I guess you've got a point, though, Flick. Maybe if you can get Slash to comment with Alan, Foote & Max all together in the same room, maybe someone can sort it out once and for all. I know Foote has a gold or platinum record on the wall, given to him by Niven for that album, IIRC. He has about a dozen on it from various artists from the 80's, BTW, but I'm pretty sure the one for AFD is up there, too. If he had nothing to do with this landmark guitar oriented album of GnR, then I'm hard pressed to figure out why he's got a gold record up there.

My money is on the Niven/Foote/Slash version, as they have nothing to gain from this, which has to be a an overriding consideration, IMO.

[Darkburst]

Yeah, unless you get all those guys in a room to talk about it's going to be hard to get a definitive answer. I have seen video and pictures of Slash using the Derrig and the Max replicas live from the early AFD tour. It seems the Derrig is is favorite for recording by the pics I posted from recording of Libertad.

[El Toro]

Since I was there, I know Max made it. I played it, Slash played it. We had it in Guitars R Us after he changed pick ups. Max is the real deal and you, SBG, ...

[Darkburst]

Come on guys, let's not get into name calling. Max or El Toro, if you can post a sort of timeline or series of events of Slash's guitars used for recording AFD we'd all be happy to read it. There's a lot of conflicting info of these guitars in Slash's interviews.

Max, if you have any other pictures of your guitar that Slash uses please share them here. The best pic I could find was the one up at post #10.

[El Toro]

Darkburst,;

I never thought twice about the timeline as it occurred. Slash was always in GRUS and who would have thought that AFD was going to be that big.

He was just another guy at the time. We were all in bands struggling to survive. Max made awesome stuff around the corner, but I couldn't afford any of it (I was relegated to BC Rich and Jackson freebies).

Slash couldn't afford the PAF's so he put in Seymours and we wanked around with it in the store one day. I never thought it was a big deal.

Oddly enough, Robbin Crosby had a Derrig that a friend of mine probably still owns. I haven't seen it, but he got it all stripped of parts in the early 90's when Robbin was hurting.

I'm out for an appointment. If I remember more, I'll post later.

Jim Torgeson

[FLICKOFLASH]

Originally Posted by BCRGreg

If this IS Max, my money's on him.

I wasn't out in L.A. back then, but when I first met Slash in 1987 at Hammerjack's, he had two Les Pauls with him...the 87 and the Derrig. I played both, and the Derrig had a damn fine spank to it. He mentioned Max to me after looking around and leaning in (like we all have!), and told me that Max made the best Les Pauls and he had played Max's personal one.

No dog in this hunt for me, just supporting Mr. Baranet. He's good folks.

I confirm it's Max & again my thought which was used on the album Slash might not even be sure of .. maybe both... & there is reasons Slash maybe wishy washy on his answers
.. want my thought which guitar is best ? The Max without even a thought ( the raw materials used) , which has more value that is debatable

[Southbay Ampworks]

I went and saw Jim Foote for lunch. Here’s the skinny.

From start to finish:
Derrig had built the guitar already when the AFD sessions started. It was in the display window of MusicWorks. Alan Niven came in and said that Slash was using a BC Rich guitar for the AFD sessions that wasn’t cutting it for the tone, etc.

Alan asked Jim if he had anything he could try. Jim said he didn’t have much, but there was a Les Paul in the window that was built by Derrig. Alan asked to check it out. Jim put Alnico II SD pickups in it, & sent it off with Alan for Slash to try. The guitar never came back, but Alan came back and wrote them a check for it AFTER the AFD sessions were over. He said Slash loved it, it was perfect for the AFD sessions. End of story, except he eventually got a 2nd Derrig from another source, Foote declined to say who.

Obviously after that the Max showed up. There are a couple of telltale things that point to Max being the second guitar here.

As far as anyone can tell, Slash had never tried Alnico II SD’s before, but he knew enough to ask for them to swap out the PAF’s in Max’s guitar to lower the price. So how did he know about them? Crystal ball? Doubt it. Also Slash had no cash, due to various reasons (fill in the blanks on that one). Alan had to buy the guitar, but he only paid for it after it was used on the AFD sessions and said he wanted to keep it. If Slash already had the MAX guitar and it was the one used, then why did Alan come get the Derrig? No reason, right?

Check the liner notes on the AFD album. Foote can’t remember if he’s mentioned as Jim Foote, MusicWorks, or both, but he’s given credit in the liner notes. If he didn’t supply the guitar used, what’s he doing in the liner notes for thanks?

Check the pics I have of Foote’s gold & platinum records presented to him for the sales of 500k, and 1 million albums. Why would Alan get him gold records for AFD if he wasn’t involved somehow? I’m sure if Max had one presented to him, he could snap a pic, and post it, too. Here are Foote's.

Gold & Platinum record pics:
http://southbayampworks.com/derrigsl...g&precords.jpg

Gold closeup:
http://southbayampworks.com/derrigsl...oldcloseup.jpg

Platinum closeup:
http://southbayampworks.com/derrigsl...latcloseup.jpg


Check the Guitar One interview with Slash from April 2004. He had the interviewer call Foote to get all the details about the Derrig before he went to print. Keep in mind that Slash asked the interviewer to contact Foote about the particulars on the guitar...not Max...why is that?:

"My regular recording guitar is a handmade Les Paul Standard copy, which I've had since Appetite...There's a guy who made an amazing 1959 copy that's better than anything Gibson can make. Unfortunately, he's no longer alive. But I have a couple of those, and they're my main guitars."

[Note: In the mid-80's, Alan Nevin, then manager of GN'R contacted friend Jim Foote, owner of the MusicWorks guitar shop in California, about Slash's problems finding a good sound in the studio. Foote introduced Slash to Kris Derrig, a luthier who built Les Paul replicas. The guitarist experimented with the instrument, and made it his main tool. The custom piece is s replica of a 1958 Les Paul with a mahogany body and neck, a top capped with flame maple, and a fretboard constructed of Brazilian rosewood. Pickups are Seymour Duncan Alnico II's]

http://southbayampworks.com/derrigsl...aysderrig1.jpg

So, now that I've presented what I think to be pretty damned credible statements, evidence, information, pics, interviews and such. Exactly what do El Toro, Max or anyone else have to disprove it?

Look forward to seeing your provenance, or proof, Peter. And what's with the name calling, El Toro? Frankly, I just want to put an end to the hype, speculation and misinformation that's been put out there for years on this subject. If there's something to prove what I've posted is wrong, which based on Jim Foote, Alan Nevin and Slash's comments I'm finding hard to believe, let's see it.

In short, put your proof where everyone can check it out. I did.

[HolyGrail]

Originally Posted by max luthier

hi 'Ampworks' .. i could tell when i first read your post that you had some unspoken agenda .. you were too obviously determined to squeeze me out of the SLASH/Max/Derrig story ..

i see in a later post where you come clean .. "You have taken credit for the Derrig replica guitar and the tone of it on AFD for years, and I think it sucks." .. so this is your beef ..

i have never said that it was only my guitar and not Derrig's .. i have never detracted from Kris' guitar in any way .. all i maintain is that my guitar was there too and was definitely used in the recording sessions ..

you missed my point earlier when i stated that Alan Niven's name doesn't appear in any of the interviews back in the day .. obviously i know who Alan is .. and i have talked to him on the phone as well (though according to you Alan doesn't even know who I am) .. he called me several times to authenticate another guitar he thought was mine ..

the point is, this Alan Niven/Jim Foote story has only recently become popular .. why did they wait almost 20 years to speak up? .. is there an attempt to rewrite history here? .. would it benefit anyone to do so? .. have you noticed the proliferation of this story on the net?

i have never made a sale to a SLASH/GnR fan .. my clients are lawyers, doctors, bankers, successful business men and a few successful musicians .. my guitars have always been way too expensive for your typical rock and roller .. i don't get any benefit from this story either way ..

but, i do see people trying to write me out of the picture and that's not going to happen ..

if you want to try to tell me that SLASH did not come to my shop and ask for a Les Paul to use for recording AFD, which i subsequently gave him and he eventually purchased, then i will have to continue to tell you that you don't know what you are talking about ..

the fact is he picked it up two days before going in to the studio to record AFD .. now, if you ask me when he got the Derrig i would have to say i don't know .. you can be the expert on that ..

there are many reasons why this story is confusing .. also, everybody involved has something to gain by leaving me out of the picture, including myself !!! .. think about it ..

best regards, max

Max ~

I don't think you need to defend yourself or prove anything to anyone . The people that matter know the truth .

I support you 110% , as does Flick .

Nuff said !

[plaintop]

I'm not sure what I can add here, but I will say that I always thought and had heard that he used the Derrig on AFD. And that the guitar was often mistaken for a Max. I have a rag (somewhere) here from that era clearly showing the Derrig with verbiage stating that it's a Max.

There probably aren't many people who have ever played either one of these early replicas. Having held and played a Derrig made guitar, I will say that it was a very hot and aggressive sounding Les Paul, very indicative of the AFD tone. Not a vintage 'burst tone really, which I would relate more to a Max replica. I'm not siding with anyone here, but the Derrig was without question involved during that early period.

[Southbay Ampworks]

Hi "Max"...nope, I'm just providing proof that Derrig was a player in this and you weren't. Looks like when it comes to putting up or shutting up...well...I guess "see ya!" pretty much sums it up. I believe you have proved my point now. You have no proof, no firsthand people there, nor the backup of any of the people associated with the sessions. And if you do, you can't prove or document any of it.

A couple of clarifications are due:

1) That Guitar One article states that Slash met Kris. Didn't happen, he never met him. Alan got the guitar, it was loaded with pickups, and went out the door, never to be seen again.

2) The MAX guitar was used on the AFD videos for MTV, etc. NOT on the AFD recording sessions.

3) As near as I can tell from online discussions, you have never, ever admitted publicly to the Derrig being there for AFD sessions. If you have, point me to that article and I'll retract that statement.

4) I guess you're going to gloss over the Guitar One interview, and focus on the gold & platinum records. Good move, that way you don't have to answer any direct questions. Alan & Foote say your guitar wasn't there, not the gold records.

5) Also, Alan doesn't know you by MAX, Slash's replica builder, or Peter Baranet. This was as of five years ago. If you've made contact since then, great, but it hadn't happened by 2002/2003, when I got Alan & Jim's side of the story.

No one is trying to re-write history here, just trying to set it straight from the tales told by you to benefit...you. Alan came & got the guitar after the AFD sessions started. If yours were there 2 days before they started, and the one used, then, as I've said previously, there would not be any need for the Derrig. You've got some big holes to fill in on your story, sir.

Once again, MAX, aka Peter Baranet, please show me what you've got for proof. At this point, it looks like you're running away from a valid discussion that questions your integrity, with some backup from people that were there that provides some qualifications to discredit you.

All I'm trying to do is set aside the fairy tale, and provide the truth. I'm pretty certain I have it, and you were never a player until later, and have used Derrig's reputation and skills to improve your own reputation, and bottom line.