Fender has officially unveiled a faithful replica of Tom Morello’s legendary “Arm The Homeless” guitar, the heavily modified six-string that fueled the groundbreaking sound of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.
After 30 years as the Rage Against the Machine firebrand’s primary instrument, the unique, custom-Frankensteined guitar has been meticulously re-created by Fender. However, the guitar’s market positioning is already sparking controversy among fans.
The “Misfit Toy” Recreated
The original “Arm the Homeless” was an infamous custom order that Morello initially considered the “worst guitar I’d ever played.”
Through years of swapping parts—from a random neck found in a used bin to an array of non-standard electronics, it became the tool that forced Morello to “stop whining, and I’m going to start creating.”
Fender and Morello worked through “20-25 iterations” to nail the feel of the unique neck and replicate the instrument’s idiosyncratic features:
- Custom Electronics: An active EMG 85 bridge humbucker paired with an EMG H single-coil in the neck—a configuration that provided the “springiness” for his distinctive riffs.
- The Killswitch: A durable 3-way toggle switch engineered to withstand the brutal on/off abuse that creates his signature stuttering, rhythmic effects.
- Locking Tremolo: A Gotoh GE1996T double-locking tremolo system, faithfully replicating the unit whose “looseness” Morello used to create his “helicopter sound” and other noise effects.
- Iconic Art: The replica features the hand-scrawled “Arm the Homeless” slogan, the cartoon hippos, and the uncut strings at the hockey-stick headstock. Morello confirmed he’s been “stealth-playing” the final prototype on tour, and zero percent of the audience noticed.
It’s A MIM Priced Like A Custom Shop
While the replica is a technical marvel, its retail price point of approximately $1,699 USD (£1,699 GBP) is raising eyebrows because the instrument is Made In Mexico (MIM).
Me? I’d take a Fender American Ultra 2 Stratocaster over one of these every day of the week and twice on a Sunday.
This price places the Tom Morello signature model alongside, and in some cases above, entry-level Fender Made In America (MIA) instruments. Critics argue that this represents an “American price tag” for a guitar built in the Ensenada, Mexico factory.
Morello, however, rejected the idea of a high-end, American-made Custom Shop version, stating he wanted fans to create their own relic’ing:
“No, I didn’t. Let the relic’ing and road wear be your own. Here it is. Now it’s up to you to let your dog bite it.”
Adding an altruistic dimension, a portion of the proceeds from the guitar’s sale will be donated to charitable organizations, including Covenant House and LA’s Midnight Mission shelter, reflecting the political message scrawled on the guitar’s body.
