but that’s not quite accurate.
The Montgomery Airline had
a piece of maple running
down the middle flanked
by a fiberglass body, with
the neck held in place by
reinforced steel rather than a
truss rod. The pickups would
have the appearance of
humbuckers but function like
single-coils, giving the guitar
a bright, stark tone.
Made by the Valco Company
and sold via catalog through
Montgomery Ward stores,
Airline was meant to bring
affordable space-age style
guitars to the public. The
red angular version with
humbuckers made most
famous by Jack White
was originally called the
JB Hutto model, after the
blues guitarist who famously
played them. Nowadays
they’re known as either the
“Montgomery Airline” or the
“Jetsons Jr.” if you’re talking
about the Eastwood reissues.
In 1964, you could get
an Airline guitar for $99.
Nowadays, originals go
for thousands. You can
thank White for that, but
other prominent players
include Robert Smith and
the late David Bowie also
contributed. The Eastwood
reissue is more affordable,
but features only one
pickup and a body of solid
mahogany, rather than the
original fiberglass.
White called his Airline a
“hollow piece of plastic,”
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