If You Love Rock ‘N’ Roll then Check Out the Epiphone Joan Jett Olympic Special
This bare bones vintage-style solidbody is a fresh canvass for your own sonic signature.
While staying true to her unique rock ‘n’ roll vision Joan Jett has remained a role model for countless musicians since the ‘70s. Breaking down doors in the early days with the Runaways, Jett went on to form the Blackhearts in 1979 – the band with whom she continues to tour.
Bolstered by their anthemic number one single “I Love Rock 'n' Roll” the Blackhearts went on to achieve multiplatinum success and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
A bona fide icon of rock ‘n’ roll, Jett has now been honored by Epiphone in the form of the Joan Jett Olympic Special signature electric guitar.
Based on one of Jett’s favorite stage guitars, the Epiphone Joan Jett Olympic Special features a solid mahogany body and neck with a 22-fret, dot inlay Indian Laurel fingerboard.
A single PowerHammer PRO pickup delivers classic rock ‘n’ roll tone in spades and is simply wired to a high-quality CTS pot for volume control. A handy two-way kill-switch allows for stuttering effects and muting.
Hardware includes tough die cast tuners and an adjustable, sustain-enhancing wraparound bridge. Nickel-plated hardware and an Aged Classic White finish complete the guitar’s retro look.
With its classic, understated design this back-to-basics rock machine is lightweight but hits heavy.
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“What attracted me to guitar was just being able to make that kind of noise and have control over it,” says Jett. “The point is to make it your vision and voice. Being true to your music is really about owning who you are. My guitars have become an extension of who I am.
“I want girls and guys everywhere to be fearless about picking up a guitar. Anyone can play rock ‘n’ roll and make it authentic.”
Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar World, Guitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.