Arthur,s Musical Journey: Roy Buchanan - His last session (1988)

zondag 6 september 2020

Roy Buchanan - His last session (1988)

When Fritz Bros first opened in 1988, Roy Buchanan, the legendary guitarist, was our partner. He was tragically killed soon after the initial marketing of the Roy Buchanan signature “Bluesmaster” guitar. This was a great loss not only to us but to his family and the world of music.

This is the last known video of Roy Buchanan and Roy is on fire showing off his new guitar known as the Blues Master by The Fritz Brothers. This is the very raw and uncut version of Custom Made.

Roy Buchanan is one of Me most influential Tele players who ever lived according to everyone. His playing turned the heads of listeners in many styles including, R&B, Metal, Rock, and Country. He is considered a master by his peers and fans. I am and always have been a huge Roy fan, and had the ultimate honor of being able to design and build him his signature guitar in 1987. Working together, we developed his guitar, the “Bluesmaster.” (The Fritz Brothers)

He was looking for something unavailable at the time, so 1 had to invent the features he wanted in a Tele style instrument, Roy bent a lot at the nut and had very strong fingers causing string breakage, as well as tuning problems with conventional nut materials. So I came up with the patented stainless nut to eliminate those problems. It really worked. It even increased the sustain of the guitar for more steel like smoothness. (The Fritz Brothers)

Roy did not enjoy his new guitar for long. Just as his career seemed to be on the upswing once more, tragedy struck on August 14, 1988, when Buchanan was picked up by police in Fairfax, VA, for public intoxication. Shortly after being arrested and placed in a holding cell, a policeman performed a routine check on Buchanan and was shocked to discover that he had hung himself in his cell