"He remarked, 'Why this unappealing guitar? It appears poorly designed.' Bon Iver dismissed a valuable 1960s Martin in favor of an affordable, disdained Ibanez, previously rejected by a rehab center, for his latest album."
In the studio production of Bon Iver's latest album, SABLE, fABLE, an unexpected acoustic guitar emerged victorious during the recording of "Speyside." Remarkably, a budget electro-acoustic Ibanez V70CE trumpeted over a vintage 1960s Martin, surprising even the seasoned guitarists involved.
Driving this unconventional choice was Justin Vernon's (aka Bon Iver) pursuit of replicating the intimate sound of his 2021 iPhone demo for "Speyside." He wanted listeners to feel as if they were immersed in the music, experiencing the song as if they were "inside the guitar."
In search of the optimal instrument to achieve this aim, Vernon ventured to Willy's Guitars in Minnesota, where he eventually selected a '60s Martin guitar, expressing his conviction, "This song's important; we've got to get the right guitar for it."
However, in the studio, a unique experiment was undertaken to ensure the ideal stereo effect. Co-producer Wyatt Overman installed dedicated pickups in the treble and bass sides of a cheap throwaway electro-acoustic Ibanez V70CE, initially intended solely for testing. The decision was made to modify the Martin guitar in the same manner. Ultimately, it was the Ibanez that stood out, as the Martin failed to evoke the same enthusiasm.
"We had to bring it with us because it's the only guitar that sounded like this, for some reason," said Vernon. Co-producer Jim-E Stack echoed his sentiments, stating, "I can't ever imagine you playing this song without it."
While the album features a guest spot from five-string Strandberg player Jacob Collier and showcases pedal steel prominently as "the most beautiful musical instrument humans have constructed," it is the humble Ibanez V70CE that steals the show on "Speyside."
- Justin Vernon, prioritizing the replication of an intimate sound from his 2021 iPhone demo for "Speyside," sought a suitable guitar and ended up selecting a '60s Martin guitar at Willy's Guitars in Minnesota.
- In the studio production, a dedicated pickup was installed in both treble and bass sides of a cheap electro-acoustic Ibanez V70CE for testing purposes, and the same modification was made to the Martin guitar.
- Unexpectedly, the Ibanez V70CE emerged as the standout instrument in the studio, outperforming the vintage 1960s Martin guitar.
- Co-producer Wyatt Overman and Justin Vernon both acknowledged the significance of the Ibanez V70CE on "Speyside," with Vernon stating, "We had to bring it with us because it's the only guitar that sounded like this, for some reason."
- Despite the presence of a guest spot from five-string Strandberg player Jacob Collier and prominent pedal steel use throughout the album, it is the humble Ibanez V70CE that steals the show on "Speyside."
