Vixen ad circa 1985

 Here's a JB Player USA ad from around 1985. This is unfortunately the highest resolution I can find.

All of the guitars pictured here are American-made. This was just before they made it big. JBP would continue to be represented by the band afterwards, though these custom builds would be eschewed in favor of mass-production models coming from South Korea.

Janet Gardner poses with a black Explorer in the top left, and a metallic magenta Strat copy in all other photos.

Pia Maiocco (who didn't stick around long) Has two Jazz-style basses--one in red and black, and one "murdered out".

Jan Kuehnemund has another Explorer--this one in pelham blue with a custom print. Also seen is her custom-built Mercury, with what appear to be Lace Dually Visionary humbuckers. If this is the case then those are incredibly early examples thereof. However, they could simply be some other blade humbucker type, as this guitar was around by at least 1984, if not sooner.

As always I am accepting submissions of any more stuff from this era. If anyone has a higher-res copy of this poster please send it in.

Brochure circa 1983

These photos were sourced from an archived eBay auction. This brochure was printed around 1983 and included as "case candy". Anyone who has this or a similar brochure is invited to share higher-quality scans.

Exterior with phone number, address, and artist roster

Front cover, featuring Steve Bartek of Oingo Boingo. He holds a Mercury in his hands.

The artist roster. Bob Mothersbaugh's last name is hilariously misspelled. Vixen, at the time of this ad, was still a small local band. This was before their appearance in Hardbodies.

The inside of the brochure, with a model lineup and prices. Both the Buick and Mercury are shown with Motherbucker triple-coil pickups, each coil with its own on/off/phase reverse switch. It should be noted that Steve Bartek was photographed with Buicks but never played one onstage. He was, however, seen with a Mercury. Jan Kuehnemund of Vixen played a Mercury as well, at least until 1985. I can't find any photos of anyone other than Bob Mothersbaugh using a Buick, despite the listed names. This is the only photographic evidence I can find of the Buick Bass. Gayle Erickson of Vixen is similarly elusive. She left before the Hardbodies filming.