Morello didn't put much thought into scrawling the words 'Soul Power' onto the guitar, but he's never regretted it either.

"Right away, I committed to this before we had even written a song with Audioslave," he said. "I'm like, Wherever this guitar takes me on that journey, that's where the journey is going to go as a guitarist."

The moniker continued Morello's tradition of honoring folk hero Woodie Guthrie, and it also served as a mantra for his new challenge, joining rock's most notorious rhythm section — himself, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk — with the genre's most compelling singer, Chris Cornell.

In a clever compromise, the guitar is a piece-by-piece reproduction of the monster Morello created with the exception of his calligraphy. You're free to enjoy the guitar's glossy black finish, write your own personal mantra (as he would) or affix the 'Soul Power' decal that will come with it from Fender or any authorized dealer.

After all, the soul is in the player, not the guitar.

As part of their partnership, Morello and Fender are giving away hundreds of guitars to public schools across America and to Wayne Kramer's felon rehabilitation non-profit Jail Guitar Doors.

"My first guitar cost $50, and that $50 saved my life and led me to this room today, as a means of expression, as a mean of liberation, as a means of creativity, it can provide an outlet like nothing else on the planet," he says. "To be able to provide hundreds of guitars to people who would not otherwise have them, there's no telling what repercussions that could have for creating great music or helping people in their lives."

Watch the short QN'A in the player at the top of this page. See the 'Soul Power' guitar in action here.

Photo courtesy of Fender

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