Slash shilling guitars for Volkswagen
Buy a Volkswagen, get a guitar. It's the automaker from Wolfsburg's new promotion in which the lease or purchase of select Volkswagens will score you a custom V-dubified axe from First Act guitars that can be plugged into your car's stereo. Here we have the first commercial for the promotion that features a modern god of guitar rock, Slash from Guns N' Roses fame. The commercial is done with the usual simple Volkswagen production values, white backdrop, Slash center stage with guitar in hand, and two towers that contain three VW Rabbits stocked atop one another. Slash's guitar is plugged directly into the top Rabbit on one of the towers, which has its doors open to project the solo being played the great one. Unfortunately the solo is just a random riff, not the solo from Welcome to the Jungle or anything. Axle would probably have a fit if his work were being used to sell cars. More commercials are also in the pipeline that feature John Mayer and Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnell from Spinal Tap).
[Source: YouTube]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Edsel @ Oct 4th 2006 5:05PM
Very iPod-esque production. I'm betting this will be a very successful promotion for VW. Hats off to the Ad agency responsible, well done.
Jellodyne @ Oct 4th 2006 5:06PM
First a crash, now Slash -- what will those VW ad guys think of next?
farris @ Oct 4th 2006 5:41PM
Jellodyne, maybe "Cash"
or a lovely "Sash"
or they might even throw you a car-buying "Bash"
okay, ill stop.
Jon @ Oct 4th 2006 6:54PM
Nigel Tuffnel is a God! I can't wait for the video! I saw him at the Buddhokhan in 87 and he's great!
whofan @ Oct 4th 2006 7:28PM
First Act $100 Walmart guitar. That really makes me want to buy a Volkswagon.
A free Ipod with a plugin base would have worked better for them.
Slash is a cock sukin fag @ Oct 4th 2006 9:31PM
#5: you are right. They should have given an IPOD and not a guitar as everyone could use an ipod where not eveyrone can use a guitar.
Edsel @ Oct 5th 2006 7:55AM
(#6) But this promotion strikes at the very "Walter Mitty" heart of every 17>30 year old. A "free" guitar means no obligation to learn, just hack then toss/sell if the novelty wears off.
Anyone can learn to play an iPod.
Dan @ Oct 9th 2006 1:36AM
Actually, from what I read this is a better guitar than the $100 Wal-Mart piece of junk. First Act is trying to go more upscale, which is why they are involved in the promotion. Apparently, this guitar has some amp modeling circuitry in it like the Line 6 guitars, so it actually can be plugged right into the car's sound system and sound pretty good.
Kevin Eckhart @ Oct 9th 2006 8:20PM
I'm a VW dealer - I've played for about 15 years and own 6 guitars (my current favorite is my Gibson LP). I liked this guitar so much that I ordered an extra for me (really!!!). Before you kick it around -go to a VW dealer who has it plugged into a car with premium sound and play a couple riffs. It's a very novel idea - it is VERY playable (See Slash's Demo - and later Mayer's and Nigel's).
I'd rather listen to this as a car commercial than someone screaming "Tent Sale" anyday.
VW has always sponsored music because it's who they are - and it speaks well to their customer. Hey - if you buy the car and don't want the guitar just lemme know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jimmy @ Oct 13th 2006 4:13PM
does anyone have the guitar tabs for this commercial
Dan @ Oct 13th 2006 4:46PM
Yea- that solo is awesome- ive been looking for tabs for it but i cant find it.
nick @ Oct 13th 2006 6:45PM
Yea bout the tabs. I've just been listening to this over adn over and I think I have a glimpse of how to play it (cuz NOBODY can play it like SLASH!!). Just email me and I can try to tab it out for yuhs. Later.
- NIck
nick @ Oct 14th 2006 1:24AM
oh yeah, my address is nickstabs@yahoo.com ( yup, I just created it today...well yesterday to all you NON-nocturnal people) : #
- Nick
patricia vega @ Oct 14th 2006 11:04PM
I love Slash. I think this commercial is very sexy and cool! I don't know if Slash drives a VW but I want a VW now. Slash made the VW look very attractive. Great advertisment.
nick @ Oct 22nd 2006 10:20PM
Hey nick here,
So for those of you who got my tab, if you coudld provide some feedback, I'd appreciate it. It was my first tab and wanna know if I should continue or not. You can post here or email me. Thanks.
- Nick
nick @ Oct 23rd 2006 2:28AM
FYI I don't have the John Mayer tab and am not going to create the John Mayer Tab......been getting a few emails and just wanna clear that up. Tell you what, if James Hetfield or Kirk Hammet (since Dimebag is gone) come out with a First AID VW ad, than I will tab it. Until then, Slash is the only one I've done. Sorry.
dcdude @ Oct 31st 2006 6:16PM
Great ads, hadn't really thought about the custome First Acts before, but those looked pretty sweet. I want to try one.
nick @ Nov 26th 2006 3:08PM
i have tabs for all 3,
they aren't exact but they sound great, so yeah
i think the slash tab is exact,
just email me or look for tabs on sites like
ultimate-guitar.com
i will post them there
it might be a while, cuz i dont have them on my computer yet, and i dont know when i will have an oppurtunity
sikk_nick@yahoo.com