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Klira Tornado
Here is a rare early 60s guitar I picked up recently - a Klira Tornado.
It has obvious connections with Framus (the pickups)
and Hofner (it is very similar to the Galaxy model).
Dig that crazy Indian restaraunt wallpaper style plastic covering.
Proof that at that time with amps they were thinking record player and with guitars they had accordians in mind. |
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Epiphone Rivoli bass
My 1964 Epiphone Rivoli bass - made in the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo.
I used this as my stand bywhen I had my Precision. I have still got it, in all original condition, plays lovely.
Cheers
Ronnie Carr
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I am enclosing a couple of pictures of a guitar I recently picked up.
This is very similar to George Harrison's first usable electric, the main differences being that this version has a rosewood board rather than maple and has a side entry jack plate (George's had a wide elongated strat type). Early versions (Georges included) had a resonet plastic sign on the top bout. The condition is superb for the year - 1959/60.
In the early 60s this was regarded as close as you could get quality wise to a Fender and was the guitar of choice. It was made by the Delicia Accordian Company and was the Futurama 3 (not to be confused with later Hagstrom guitars of the same name).
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Colour choice as I remember it was red or sunburst and it retailed at 55 guinees which according to the Beatles gear book represents a cost of £780 in today's money and makes a Strat from the same period £2500.
Geoff Parkinson
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Hofner Verithin
I bought this "Hofner Verithin" in 1963 and used it in the band for 3 years, I still have it to this day.
Of all the guitars I have owned or played over the years this one is my favourite.
Its action is the best I have ever come across. I couldn't part with it at any price
Jem Yates |
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Grimshaw GS30
In about 1968 I was looking for a guitar to replace a Vox Lynx which I had been using for a couple of years and went in all the musical instrument shops in Manchester.
I entered A1 Repairs on Oxford Rd, looking for a Gibson but noticed a guitar I had never seen before, it was a Grimshaw GS30, which did look like a Les Paul.
At £85 (I think) second hand it was no cheaper than a current Gibson or Fender quality guitar. I was never main stream and the thought of owning something different and maybe obscure did raise my interest, after some time trying it I was smitten and bought it. They allowed £25 for the Vox and I paid cash for the balance.
I had music/guitar lessons in the early sixties and was requested by the tutor to buy a copy of "Emile Grimshaw Plectrum Guitar Method" so I just had to buy the guitar.
Its rarety and great sound always attracted lots of attention from other guitarist.
I still have both the Tutor book and the guitar along with lots of other Grimshaw guitars which can be seen on www.grimshawguitars.co.uk
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George Harrison's guitar
Brian Higham, manager of barrats of manchester at one of the most exciting periods in Manchester music, writes:
"I knew that the Beatles were in town because I had taken some gear the day before to the props department at Granada studio's. The props guy said they were due the next day.
The next morning around 10 o'clock a car pulls up outside the shop (Barratts Of Manchester) and out gets this guy dressed in an off white Mack style thing with leather buttons on it (very 60s).
As he came in to the shop I recognized him as being the Beatles roadie, Neil Aspinall (the other roadie was a great guy Mal Evans).
He was carrying one of those beige Selmer guitar cases. Anyway he walked up to the counter where one of the staff said "Can I be of some help to you?" (more probably "wad-ya want mate?" ).
He asked to speak to Brian Higham so the member of staff said who shall I say it is,his somewhat terse reply (that's Neil) was tell him "It's the Beatles".
CLICK HERE to read rest of this story (plus more pics of the Maton) |
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I have the Hofner bass (Selmer 500/3 brunette) and case shown in photo with Eric Haydock at Blackpool, when he was with Kirk Daniel and the Deltas.
The guitar is at this time on loan to the local
museum until end Nov 2006.
This Hofner bass was given as a present to a fan after a gig at Willenhall (West Mids) in the spring of 1964 - exact date not yet determined.
John Gibbs
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| Hofner Club 60 |
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Special memories
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Any way the guy asked could he leave a message. I said sure he then said "tell John that Elvis Presley died this morning".
It didn't break on the news till 12,oclock lunchtime. I knew before the rest of the world. Thats why I wrote it on the back of the scratchplate which I didn't find till some years later in a briefcase that I always used to carry.
Brian Higham |
The pic on the left is the reverse side of the original scratch off John Farrar's thinline tele. On the Barratts window pic you will see it is pearloid, on the other pic its black (I had that made by Ted Lee).
When I stayed with John in 1977 I changed them over.
As you can see it reads:
"John Farrar 75-76-77. Palm pedal 2-3. 77, ELVIS DIED. "
I took the call at John's house at 10-45. Some guy rang to tell John but they were in Vegas for a few days and I was house sitting.
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| THE BEST GUITAR I EVER OWNED
I first learned to play guitar on a 16 quid Rosetti, bought from Reno's
on Oxford Road in 1958.
In 1961, I was in the Friendship pub in Oldham where a group, I can't
remember their name, was playing. Their lead guitarist was Jeff Walker
who had recently acquired a Burns VibraArtist, I was hooked, I liked the
sound and the design of the guitar, so much later, after saving the deposit
I was down to Johnny Roadhouse, also on Oxford Road, where I signed up to buy the Burns, the cash price at the time was 75 guineas (£78.75) including the (butty box) case.
What a fabulous guitar, it had the thinnest neck I have ever come across
on any guitar, the action was low as was frets.
There were three volume
and three tone controls, a lead/rhythm switch, three way pickup selector
switch. In all a first class guitar at about half the price of a Fender or Gibson.
I later bought a Vox AC 30 amp and a Watkins Copycat echo unit and all
three did the business in the group Tony and the Senators.
Ah, happy days.
Bert Ashton |
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| Phil Coggan (ex Lee Wade and The Wild Ones) talks about his guitars |
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My first guitar was a Watkins Rapier 33, for it's price in 1962/3 £33 it was'nt at all bad, although the tremolo spring wasn't strong enough for heavier gauge strings.
My second guitar (right) a Fender 'Regal' was as far as I know made by Harmony although the name was not shown anywhere on the guitar and I have not seen another one like it.
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This guitar I bought new in 1965. I played these two guitars in a band called The Ten Commandments.
The Fender 'Regal' was traded in for Burns 'Marvin' I wasn't too pleased with this, one of it's faults was its tremolo was too sloppy.
This was traded in for a Gibson SG standard with P90 'bar of soap' pickups.
I played this one when I was with Lee Wade and the Wild Ones, and later The Wild Ones.
Hendrix was here and I wanted a Strat. I got to know a guy that had one and persuaded him to swap! This was in 1966. |
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The guitar (above) was made in Jan.63 No.95554. I added extra switches etc.in the 70s, not a good thing to do! but you must remember that in those days a sixties Strat was not looked upon like it is today.
Anyway, I''ve taken them of and put the guitar back almost as it was.
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This guitar I used from1966 up until a few years ago when I quit playing in bands.It's my baby and I would'nt sell it for any price.
Phil Coggan |
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If you are looking for some info on 1960s guitars, check out this website - excellent info!!!
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"My 1st electric guitar was a Hofner which I bought around 65 & had it painted Psychedelic in 68!"
Malcolm Thompson
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"When I found out that a friend of mine, Geoffrey Proffitt, who was working and earning money at the time, had actually bought a guitar and amplifier, no less than a Lucky Seven, a white electric guitar, and a Watkins Dominator amplifier "with Tremolo", I almost died.
I'd been going around the guitar shops on Oxford Road Manchester for months, drooling at these wonderful instruments with great names like "The Gibson Les Paul" and "The Fender Stratocaster". They were all very expensive at the time, at around £100 each, but a dream for me to fantasize about all the same.
Geoff very generously let me borrow his outfit for a weekend and once again I thought the neighbours would like to hear my progress on this lovely setup ... of course they didn't again, but I was hooked and all thought of me becoming an architect went out of the window, I wanted to be a Rock Guitarist from that moment on. "
Eric Stewart
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It's 1962 and a miserable Saturday morning. Here I am queuing up outside a local record shop with my mates. Once inside, I notice, on the counter there is a huge pile of records and the woman behind the counter is dealing them out like cards.
When I get to the front of the queue, I have a copy of "Please Please Me" thrust at me, however that is not why I am here.
"Have you got Green Onions, by Booker T and the M.G's please?" I ask.
She looks at me in disbelief and trudges into the back of the shop to retrieve a copy.
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