JP Guitars La Tarasca

Circa 1998

SN: 1006

This guitar was built for and owned by Howard Leese the lead guitarist of Heart and more recently Bad Co. It was custom built in Seattle by Jack Pimentel of JP Guitars, an amazing craftsman. It’s like a hollowed Les Paul - a maple-mahogany-maple sandwich with an f-hole.

The guitar is semi-hollowbody, there are chambers under the figured maple top. It also has a book-matched flamed carved maple arched back, like a jazz guitar. The headstock has a beautiful maple overlay with the luthier’s signature and logo inlayed, with maple purfling surrounding. The neck is mahogany with an ebony fingerboard, beautiful inlays and maple purfling.

Craftsmanship is evident everywhere on this guitar. Even the control cavity cover is carved mahogany that mates perfectly in place. This is a rock-solid guitar that will not disappoint.The pups are believed to be Duncan Becks. The electronics were recently maintained so all connections are clean.

It plays beautifully and sounds amazing, as you would expect. This guitar comes with the original brown Les Paul-style hardshell case, still adorned with painter’s tape labeled HML in Mr. Leese’s logo, the luthier’s logo, and the guitar’s name: ‘La Tarasca’.

In its earlier years, this guitar went on tour to Australia with Howard while he was playing with Paul Rodgers and touring with Alice Cooper. The guitar shows no signs of wear-and-tear from its illustrious past and is ready to rock on. It is a very resonant and toneful guitar that a true player will appreciate.