The Tom Petty NEWMAN Guitar

In looking through Ted’s notes, I ran across his recollection of how the Tom Petty Walnut NEWMAN used in the “Stop dragging my heart around” and “Woman in Love” video came to be. Jeff Smith

“This Florida band from Gainesville originally called "Mudcrutch" with Mike Campbell sharing on guitar, Stan Lynch on drums and Ron Blair on bass along with Tom Petty. Tom was a big Stones fan and played Telecasters. So anyway, he invited me up to his hotel room and we talked while he ate a cheeseburger and swigged cognac. I told him of my many adventures with Keith and the Stones and my designing both the 5 and 6 string Keith Richards model electric guitars with Neck-Thru construction similar to a Gibson Firebird which intrigued Tom. He was a Firebird fan and also used a Gibson flying V so he liked the idea. Tom bit on the bait, as well as he should have being an avid Stones fan. Mike Campbell who shared Tom's enthusiasm of fine guitars was also onboard to start the build. I had made life-long friends I felt and we never lost touch after I delivered Tom's guitar of walnut with broken hearts inlaid with pearl on an ebony fingerboard in honor of the band's moniker, "The Heartbreakers". It was well received and used by Mike on several recordings of their albums as well as Tom on special projects, not to be risked on the road in live shows. However, if Mike had not borrowed it for some recording one day, it would have burned up in Tom's house fire. This was one time Tom did not complain about Mike's borrowing guitars.” TNJ