Guitar with case and strap owned by Vernon Reid

Object Details

Manufactured by

ESP Guitars, Japanese, founded 1975

Ernie Ball, American, founded 1962

Subject of

Living Colour, American, founded 1984

Used by

Vernon Reid, American, born 1958

Description

2021.92.2a: A custom electric guitar manufactured by ESP and owned by Vernon Reid. Reid played the guitar on Living Colour's debut album Vivid.

The guitar has a multicolored swirling pattern with a black colored neck, bridge and pickguard. The colors that make up the pattern on the guitar are green, red, blue, and tan. The pattern continues on the guitar head. Printed on the head in black is “ESP.” The guitar has volume and tone controls on the right side of the body on the pickguard. A color image of a rocket is between two pickups near the neck of the guitar. A strap button is attached to the bottom of the tailpiece. Another strap button is located on the left side of the body of the guitar near the neck.

2021.92.2b: A guitar case owned by Vernon Reid. The case is black with white trim and metal hinges and clasps. The case has a black handle at top. The interior of the case is lined with grey fabric. The interior of the case has a lidded box for storage of additional items at center. Printed in large white letters on the bottom left corner of the front of the case is “ESP.” Handwritten in large white letters on the bottom right corner of the front of the case is “CÜLT ’86.” A green piece of tape is adhered to the right side of the case. Handwritten on the tape in red marker is “Vernon Reid.” A white sticker is adhered to the right side of the case below the green piece of tape. Printed on the sticker in black ink is “CSTCULT ’86,” and a barcode.

2021.92.2c: A key to a guitar case (2021.92.2b). The key is metal. Portions of the key are corroded.

2021.92.2d: A key to a guitar case (2021.92.2b). The key is metal. Portions of the key are corroded.

2021.92.2e: A neck strap owned by Vernon Reid. The strap is black fabric. Printed in gold lettering on one side of the strap is “ERNIE BALL.”

2021.92.2f: Whammy bar owned by Vernon Reid. The bar was found in a guitar case (2021.92.2b) and likely used with a multicolored guitar (2021.92.2a) owned by Vernon Reid. The bar is black and slightly curved. One side is threaded and can be screwed into a guitars body.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Donated by Vernon Reid

1985-1986

Object number

2021.92.2a-f

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Type

guitars

Medium

wood with metal and plastic

Dimensions

H x W x D (2021.92.2a): 39 1/2 × 12 1/2 × 2 3/4 in. (100.3 × 31.8 × 7 cm)

H x W x D (2021.92.2b): 45 × 15 × 4 1/4 in. (114.3 × 38.1 × 10.8 cm)

H x W x D (2021.92.2c): 1 3/8 × 13/16 × 1/16 in. (3.5 × 2 × 0.1 cm)

H x W x D (2021.92.2d): 1 3/8 × 13/16 × 1/16 in. (3.5 × 2 × 0.1 cm)

H x W x D (2021.92.2e): 43 11/16 × 2 3/8 × 1 in. (111 × 6 × 2.5 cm)

H x W x D (2021.92.2f): 6 11/16 × 1 9/16 × 3/16 in. (17 × 4 × 0.5 cm)

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Musical Instruments

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

Composers (Musicians)

Instrumentalists (Musicians)

Musicians

Popular music

Rock and roll (Music)

Singers (Musicians)

Record ID

nmaahc_2021.92.2a-f

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5b3a20cb7-428e-4c97-aa8a-ae1b1dbf6f5b