Noblesville, Indiana
Kevin Heffernan

Metal, wood, leather, glass
ca. 2016
Length: 29 in
Strings – Lutes – Guitars

This is a most unique Steampunk guitar, with its combination of vintage parts from old cars, vintage equipment, a metal Route 66 sign as the pickguard, a G.E. badge, old meter, glass ball, leather,  and even a built-in ignition with key that works as a kill switch.  The most notable artifact is a big V8 hood ornament with a red pearlescent eye.  It also has a highly flamed maple neck with arrow carving on the volute.

Master builder Kevin Heffernan of Center Stage Vintage Guitars in Indiana has sold his guitars to musical artists such as blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, Brad Paisley, Jim Irsay and has jammed with members of  The Who and Santana.

Steampunk is a specific art form that was recognized and identified with the phrase ‘Steampunk’ in the 1980s. It was coined ‘Steampunk’ by science fiction author Kevin Wayne Jeter who also wrote the first cyberpunk novel ‘Dr. Adder.’  Jeter has written and published many books in this genre, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, and Warner Bros. ‘Blade Runner.’  Nevertheless, many scholars remind us that the concept of the ‘Steampunk’ existed in literature decades before the term was coined, especially when reading the visionary stories of authors HG Wells, Jules Verne, and Mary Shelley, back in the 1800s.