Gigantar, the giant guitar, unveiled at the Stone Pony before hitting the road

Gigantar, the 24-foot guitar by sculptor Shannon MacDonald of Howell, rocked the Stone Pony in Asbury Park on Saturday, Jan 14, after an unveiling by Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken of the Smithereens.

Like other big music acts, it hit the road soon after the unveiling was over.

The sculpture is now making stops along the way to the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66, where after an unveiling there by another famous guitarist, Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick, it will be put on permanent display.

More than 100 giant guitar fans braved the windy, mid-'30s weather at the Pony to see it in person. They were allowed to wait inside the club as there was about an hour delay for the big moment, which took place on the grounds of the Stone Pony Summer Stage.

“I think it's wonderful that the Stone Pony with the Smithereens and Shannon put this together,” said Rich Pell of Bradley Beach, who attended the unveiling with his wife Maura. “Hey, it's a little cold but it's all right. It was wonderful. We're thrilled.”

The guitar body is designed in the shape of a Route 66 road sign, and there are six giant strings on both sides.

“We're going to make 13 stops at historical Route 66 landmarks on the way, stop and do a photo op at the landmarks, and then during the week we'll install it in the building,” said Andy Carey of the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66. “Once we get it up we're going to light it up.”

MacDonald gave Babjak a giant guitar pick for the occasion. Babjak jumped up on the flatbed trailer where the guitar was secured and tried to play it.

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“Is it in tune?” Carey asked.

Babjak shook his head no and started to sing “The Barber of Seville.”

The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum, located in Joliet, Ill., is scheduled to open in six to 12 months, Carey said. Visit roadtorock.org for more information.

“When I agreed to do this it was 58 degrees,” Babjak quipped. “I said OK.”

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Gigantar, the giant guitar, unveiled at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park