From Guitar World · · 1m 20s
How a cheap Fernandes copy became Green Day's signature sound
Billie Joe Armstrong's blue guitar has been with him since age 12 and defined the band's distortion.
In brief
Billie Joe Armstrong's blue guitar has been with him since age 12 and defined the band's distortion. Armstrong's cheap Fernandes Stratocaster copy, bought at age 12, created Green Day's instantly identifiable distortion sound through Dookie and beyond. Originally reported by Guitar World.
Blue is Green Day's icon
Armstrong's modified Fernandes guitar is as synonymous with the band as Basket Case or American Idiot. Fans instantly recognize it when he brings it out.
“When we're playing some of the older songs, as soon as I bring it out, people identify immediately what's about to come”
His mom bought it in 1985
Armstrong got the guitar at age 12 from his teacher George Cole. He wanted a Stratocaster but got a cheap light blue Fernandes copy instead.
“I've had this guitar [since] I was about 12 years old. My mom bought it for me”
Personalized to the extreme
The guitar has a photo of 13-year-old Armstrong on the back doing his best Mick Mars impression. Stickers and ex-girlfriends' photos are inside.
“I think there's a couple of ex-girlfriends' pictures inside of here and stuff like that. So [it's] the ultimate punk rock guitar”
Blue defined the Dookie sound
Armstrong insisted on playing Blue for their 1994 major label debut. Its deep distortion through modified Marshall Plexis created something instantly identifiable.
“I was really adamant about playing Blue because I just felt like it was such a part of my sound for my whole life”
He moved on but Blue stayed
By 1997's Nimrod, Armstrong switched to Gibson Les Pauls and Juniors. But Blue remains close to his heart, connecting him to every Green Day show.
“It's weird to have a bond with a wooden instrument. It reminds me of my past”
A ghost that never leaves
Despite collecting many guitars, Armstrong can't escape Blue. He says he tries to run away from it subconsciously, but it shows up everywhere he goes.
“Maybe subconsciously, like I try to run away from 'Blue', but 'Blue' just happens to show up everywhere I go”
The takeaway
Armstrong's cheap Fernandes Stratocaster copy, bought at age 12, created Green Day's instantly identifiable distortion sound through Dookie and beyond.
