Shergold Custom Masquerader 12-string

The Shergold Custom Masquerader 12-string is a 12-string solid body electric guitar from the Masquerader series, produced between 1975 and circa 1981. Unlike most Shergold guitars, guitars from this series had a double cutaway which was more accessible to musicians.

Peter Gabriel has owned a cherry-finished Shergold Custom Masquerader 12-string guitar since the late 1970s. As per a 1977 news report, Peter originally ordered for a custom Shergold - specifically a 12-string version of the Modulator double necked guitar built for ex-Genesis colleague Mike Rutherford. Peter's guitar turns out to be the Masquerader model, rather than the Modulator model originally requested. Peter's Masquerader seems to be a 1977 Shergold "Traditional Custom" variant, with the pickups mounted on a scratchplate and a nailed-on plastic shield logo with the "Custom" label on it.

Live, the Shergold was played by Sid McGinnis on Peter's first solo tour in 1977 through a Marshall stack setup.

Studio-wise, the Shergold guitar appears on Peter's most commercially successful record, So. Guitarist David Rhodes talked about playing the Shergold on "Red Rain" although significantly buried in the mix: with 12-string guitars like the Shergold, he would EQ them to remove the low end so they produce a very tinny sound and take up less space in the mix. Producer Daniel Lanois played the Shergold 12-string on "In Your Eyes" (specifically the chorus & post-chorus melody) and possibly on "This Is The Picture".

To this day the Shergold is still in use (at least) at Peter's Real World Studios.

Sources/further info

 * Enjoy the Music.com Review Magazine on Peter Gabriel's Real World Recording Studio
 * Guitar Player, September 1987
 * 1977 news report of unknown source
 * Peter Gabriel So classic albums documentary
 * Shergold models & variants
 * 1977 Photo of Sid McGinnis playing Peter's Shergold 12-string
 * Daniel Lanois interview with Rick Beato (around 59:30 mark - refers to Peter's 12-string guitar, the Shergold)