John Frusciante has played a number of 1950s Gretsch White Falcons over the years, and this DeArmond Model 2000-loaded single-cut electric guitar with a Melita bridge, Bigsby vibrato and winged headstock logo is currently his main squeeze.
Guitar Player tagged along to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Austin City Limits October 9 concert to get a close look at several guitar from Frusciante’s arsenal.
In addition to the guitarist’s iconic Fender Stratocasters, Fender Telecaster Custom, and Martin 00-15, we spotted this rare bird…
“John used to have a ’55 White Falcon,” says Frusciante’s current guitar tech, Henry Trejo. “That guitar, I believe, was on loan to him from [artist, actor, filmmaker and musician] Vincent Gallo.
“Dave [Lee, Frusciante's former guitar tech] actually found the ’58 that he’s using now.
"In the current set he uses this guitar on two songs: 'Otherside' and 'Californication' [both from 1999's Californication].
“I got this guitar at a truck stop during the By the Way period. No kidding,” recalls Lee.
“I had to meet a guy there because he was driving it down and it was a halfway point. I remember getting the cash and going to a Flying Jay truck stop in Gorman, California, and I felt so weird standing there with tens of thousands of dollars.
“The guy showed up, and he wanted 20 grand for it. And then I saw the guitar and I said, ‘Look, it’s had some refinishing work done.’ And he goes, ‘Oh, let me make a call.’
“He comes back and says, ‘Okay, we’ll take seven.’ Like, that’s quite a drop!”
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