Hollywood, CA (September 1, 2020) — Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today launched the Tim Armstrong Anniversary Hellcat in celebration of ten years of partnership with Grammy® Award-winning punk rock legend, Tim Armstrong. The signature anniversary acoustic guitar is the latest in a series of collaborations between the world’s leading guitar brand and one of today’s most genre-defining and iconic players in that space. Now, fans around the world can play this special anniversary Tim Armstrong edition while learning Rancid songs like “Fall Back Down”, “Ruby Soho” and “Time Bomb” on Fender Play, the complete learning app for guitar, bass and ukulele.
The Tim Armstrong Anniversary Hellcat is faithfully based on Armstrong’s own instrument originally from the 1960s – the Fender concert-style acoustic he always turned to for songwriting inspiration. It features upgraded modern specs including a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, maple “C” shape neck, high quality onboard electronics, gold hardware and Tim’s signature “Hellcat and double skulls” inlay. This gloss black finish guitar also boasts a Fishman® Preamp with tuner to give peerless amplified acoustic performance. Watch Tim in action on his Anniversary Hellcat performing two great hits including “East Bay Night”, which was performed bayside at the Albany Bulb with Matt Freeman, Tim’s childhood best friend and founding member of Operation Ivy and Rancid. In addition, “Telegraph Avenue”, which was performed at the exact address by Tim on his own as a throwback to his days of living and busking on Telegraph.
“Tim Armstrong is one of punks’ true guitar greats,” said Billy Martinez, VP Acoustic & Squier Divisions. “He has been an integral part in shaping the sound of American punk rock in the 1990s and his legacy is a true testament to his achievements as a guitarist. It is with huge pleasure for Fender to have worked with Tim for ten years and what better way to celebrate than by introducing our best-ever Hellcat to-date.”
“The Tim Armstrong Anniversary Hellcat is the culmination of a decade of great work with Fender,” said Tim Armstrong. “This model is very loyal to the original guitar I’ve had since I was a teenager and it played a starring role in many of my albums, shows and songwriting sessions. I can’t wait to see what it can do and inspire in the hands of other players around the world.”
Born in Oakland, California, Tim Armstrong is best known as the singer and guitarist of influential ska punk band Operation Ivy and American punk band Rancid which he formed in 1991. He spent the decade at the forefront of a burgeoning American punk rock scene, spawning platinum-selling albums including …And Out Come the Wolves and his achievements did not stop there. Armstrong has since proved his mettle as an industry-leading and genre-defying songwriter having written with the likes of P!NK, Joe Walsh and Jimmy Cliff (with whom he even won a Grammy® Award for Best Reggae Album) and established himself as a well-respected producer and independent record label owner.
In true tradition, the Fender Artist Signature Series honors iconic musicians through product progression and storytelling, creating instruments inspired by the unique specifications of the world’s greatest guitarists and bassists. Fender discusses the all-new Tim Armstrong Anniversary Hellcat specs and all details in an episode of Fender’s serialized social video series: Fender Demos. Fender Demos is an educational video series focused on providing a deep dive into Fender’s newest products. The series focuses on showcasing not only the key features and benefits, but also the sonic quality of Fender’s instruments, amplifiers and pedals. In addition to product demos, the series also provides valuable beginner, intermediate and advanced tone tips, set-up and maintenance guides and insights to getting the most out of your Fender gear.
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