GUITARS I HAVE KNOWN
(and loved)
My first guitar, built by my father in 1958. He fitted a cheap microphone across the sound hole. My first electric guitar. I still have this today. My second guitar was this Rosetti single pickup cello guitar. The fingerboard was completely flat and it was a bit of a pig to play.
My first brand new guitar, a Futurama 3, probably the first strat copy ever. Made in Czechoslovakia. Bought from Universal Music in Hatfield 9th August 1961 and cost £45 I bought my first "good" guitar, a Gretsch Tennessean on 4th January 1964 from Universal Music in Hatfield, it cost £147. A few days later on 12th January George Harrison used a Gretsch Tennessean for the first time on "Sunday Night at The London Palladium. I was quite pleased.
I'd always wanted a Rickenbacker 12 string like George Harrison. On the 12th February 1968. I finally bought one from PAN Musical Instruments in Shaftsbury Avenue, London. THE RICKENBACKER 1993 SAGA Pete Townsend with what would become my 1993 A short while after selling my Rickenbacker 1993, I purchased a second hand FENDER X11, This I never really got on with and sold it after a few months In 1968 I decided it was time for a change, so I sold my Gretsch Tennessean and bought a second hand Gibson Cherry 335. My Gibson SG Standard No.007360 (1967) bought in 1970 and replaced the Gibson 335. Left in it's original condition with Gibson Vibrato (The arm was missing so the one you see was made by my father).I had it resprayed white and a Bigsby Vibrato fitted in the mid seventies. Above how it looks today. My 1963 Fender Stratocaster No. L14322. I purchased this in 1976 from a friend of mine called Alan Shacklock (A member of the band Babe Ruth). It originally had a rosewood neck but Alan had a Maple Neck fitted in 1972, hence the large headstock. He also had individual micro switches fitted for each pickup. After I had bought the guitar I had it resprayed and a new scratchplate fitted and removed one of the tone controls leaving it with just one volume and one tone. I always found the control knob nearest the srings got in the way. Photo on the left from 1976 and Right how it looked before I dismantled it and sold it in parts.
My Washburns
1981 Washburn Eagle No. 811641. 1985 Washburn Tour 24 No 520298.I had GL Pickups fitted a few years ago.
1982 Monteray Studio Custom No. 825306 Unusal in the fact that as well as an under the bridge tranducer this guitar had a magnetic pick up which can just be seen in the 21st fret.
Hohner electric 12 string. No.C205587. A Korean built model which was inexpensive but an excellent guitar. It has an out of phase control which makes it sound like a Rickenbacker.
My recently acquired Rickenbacker 360/12v64 (Just Like George's)
I took a gamble and bourght a strat neck from e.bay. I intended to replace the neck on my 1963 strat. but I ended up buying a new body and then new gold hardware and wilkinson electrics from those good people at AXESRUS.COM. I finished it off with one of Rick Parfit's facelifts. 1990s Sigma SDR-28 Acoustic Guitar No. 91020534 made in Korea under license from Martin. Amazing sound considering the cost.
I'd always wanted a Martin 00028 ever since I saw Lonnie Donegan play one at the first concert I ever attended. Finsbury Park Empire 14th February 1958.
A Yasuma Acoustic guitar bought in 1972
My first 12 String guitar. This was my first six string acoustic guitar, an Eko Ranger. Quite cheap but sounded good and I used it extensively on the "Octopus" album. Aquired in April 2015. This is a 2010 Japanese built 62 reissue Fender Telecaster Number U019117 Aquired in August 2018. This is a Gretsch Electromatic G5422tg. My current collection as at 2020 |