About the Maker:
Norik Renson is known as guitar technician and runs his shop since the '80, Renson Guitars located in Studio City, North Hollywood, CA. His client list is like the who's who of L.A. guitar players. He was guitar technician among others for Kenny Loggins.
He built also some guitars in the '80. One customer was Carl Verheyen. Carl is a member of that elite (and shrinking) group of musicians known as “session guitarists.” Super-qualified pickers, they’re the hired guns brought in for the most demanding and important recording dates. In the ’80s, he had a few hotrodded Strats with hum buckerss, some stunt guitars with Floyd Rose vibratos built by Norik Renson.
About the Guitar:
This guitar comes from the liquidation of the Record Plant. According to one of the guitar technicians, Norik had built this guitar around 1989 (or earlier) and it was played by Carl Verheyen for a while and then ended up in "the Plant". The three Barolini pickups really make this a loud guitar.
In a recent interview with Wolf Marshall pubished in Vintage Guitar magazine April 2011 , Carl Verheyen remembers:
"At first, the Strat was harder to chord when I had to stretch because of the difference in fretboard scale. My first custom guitar was made with a Gibson 24¾” scale by Dale Fortune. It was cool, but didn’t sound like the longer 25½” scale. I like to play a Strat through Vox AC30s, and I really need those harmonics and that sparkle.
In the ’80s, I had a few hotrodded Strats with humbuckers, some stunt guitars with Floyd Rose vibratos built by Norik Renson. I used one on The Crow. But since the mid ’80s it’s mostly been a true Strat."
Even if Carl has switched to true Strats, this guitar remains a great guitar.
Update :
Meeting with Carl Verheyen at Rocklab 30 April 2024.
Carl was in Luxembourg for a Guitar Clinic and a show on the Floor. It was the right time to make him meet one of his old friends, he played in the 1980s. Carl started playing guitar at the age of 11 and has lived from his craft ever since. He is best known as the guitarist for Supertramp since 1985. His musicologist knowledge as well as his performance techniques are simply outstanding. This allows him to play all styles of music, including jazz, country, and rock, with the same ease. That enabled him to pursue three distinct musical careers, one as a session musician, one as a band member, and one where he is the band leader of his outfit. The latter permits him to find his own expression. During Rocklab’s Guitar Clinic, you could learn all of this.
As I mentioned before, it was also the occasion for him to meet one of his guitars from the past, a Norik Renson Stratocaster. Norik Renson is renowned as a guitar technician and has been operating his shop, Renson Guitars, since the 1980s, situated in Studio City, North Hollywood, CA. His client list is like the who's who of L.A. guitar players. He was the guitar technician for Kenny Loggins, among others.
He also built some guitars in the 1980s. Carl was one of the customers. Carl is a member of a select and diminishing group of musicians known as "session guitarists". They are highly qualified pickers who are brought in for the most demanding and important recording dates. Carl had a few Strats with humbuckers and some stunt guitars with Floyd Rose vibratos built by Norik Renson during the 1980s. This instrument originates from the liquidation of the Record Plant.
According to one of the guitar technicians, Norik had built this guitar around 1989 (or earlier) and it was played by Carl Verheyen for a while before ended up in "the Plant". The three Barolini pickups really make this guitar a loud one. During the meeting, Carl confirmed that this particular guitar was constructed for his personal use. He took some pictures of the guitar to show Norik that his guitars are still around.
In an interview with Wolf Marshall pubished in Vintage Guitar magazine in April 2011, Carl Verheyen remembers:
"At first, the Strat was harder to chord when I had to stretch because of the difference in fretboard scale. My first custom guitar was made with a Gibson 24¾” scale by Dale Fortune. It was cool, but didn’t sound like the longer 25½” scale. I like to play a Strat through Vox AC30s, and I really need those harmonics and that sparkle.
In the ’80s, I had a few hotrodded Strats with humbuckers, some stunt guitars with Floyd Rose vibratos built by Norik Renson. I used one on The Crow. But since the mid ’80s it’s mostly been a true Strat."
Despite Carl's transition to authentic Strats, this guitar remains a remarkable instrument. It also allowed me to meet a highly professional and laid-back musician. A great experience !Meeting with Carl Verheyen at Rocklab.
Carl was in Luxembourg for a Guitar Clinic and a show on the Floor. It was the right time to make him meet one of his old friends, he played in the 1980s. Carl started playing guitar at the age of 11 and has lived from his craft ever since. He is best known as the guitarist for Supertramp since 1985. His musicologist knowledge as well as his performance techniques are simply outstanding. This allows him to play all styles of music, including jazz, country, and rock, with the same ease. That enabled him to pursue three distinct musical careers, one as a session musician, one as a band member, and one where he is the band leader of his outfit. The latter permits him to find his own expression. During Rocklab’s Guitar Clinic, you could learn all of this.
As I mentioned before, it was also the occasion for him to meet one of his guitars from the past, a Norik Renson Stratocaster. Norik Renson is renowned as a guitar technician and has been operating his shop, Renson Guitars, since the 1980s, situated in Studio City, North Hollywood, CA. His client list is like the who's who of L.A. guitar players. He was the guitar technician for Kenny Loggins, among others.
He also built some guitars in the 1980s. Carl was one of the customers. Carl is a member of a select and diminishing group of musicians known as "session guitarists". They are highly qualified pickers who are brought in for the most demanding and important recording dates. Carl had a few Strats with humbuckers and some stunt guitars with Floyd Rose vibratos built by Norik Renson during the 1980s. This instrument originates from the liquidation of the Record Plant.
According to one of the guitar technicians, Norik had built this guitar around 1989 (or earlier) and it was played by Carl Verheyen for a while before ended up in "the Plant". The three Barolini pickups really make this guitar a loud one. During the meeting, Carl confirmed that this particular guitar was constructed for his personal use. He took some pictures of the guitar to show Norik that his guitars are still around.
In an interview with Wolf Marshall pubished in Vintage Guitar magazine in April 2011, Carl Verheyen remembers:
"At first, the Strat was harder to chord when I had to stretch because of the difference in fretboard scale. My first custom guitar was made with a Gibson 24¾” scale by Dale Fortune. It was cool, but didn’t sound like the longer 25½” scale. I like to play a Strat through Vox AC30s, and I really need those harmonics and that sparkle.
In the ’80s, I had a few hotrodded Strats with humbuckers, some stunt guitars with Floyd Rose vibratos built by Norik Renson. I used one on The Crow. But since the mid ’80s it’s mostly been a true Strat."
Despite Carl's transition to authentic Strats, this guitar remains a remarkable instrument. It also allowed me to meet a highly professional and laid-back musician. A great experience !
