BeestonMick 263 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 After a long break from playing I took up guitar again three years ago. I'm a bit restricted where I live to how loud I can play but it's good in the summer 'cos we all go in my garage and let rip. It's nice to hear the Marshall work. I own 2 x Gibson Les Paul's, a special and a Standard and 2 Fenders, a Graham Coxon signature Telecaster and a Fender American Deluxe HSS Stratocaster. For sound I use a Line-6 30 watt modelling amp and a Marshall Valvestate 80. I have lots of pedals including my favourite Cray Baby. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Annesleyred1865 137 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Only an acoustic though a Takamine G series at the moment , had to let my old Yamaha FG300 from the 70's go. I play and sing at local Folk Open Mike nights mostly Country. I'm pretty much a 3 chord and the truth man (lol) Great enjoyment anyway for me not so my wife who has to suffer the strains and pains of Hank ,Johnny ,Merle and DAC 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 DAC, there's a blast from the past. A great character, good singer of fantastic songs. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeestonMick 263 Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I borrowed an acoustic from a mate but it wasn't long before I bought my own. I bought a cheap Strat copy and a practice amp second hand but they didn't last long. I had just had a few bob from an old pension scheme so I spent it on guitars, at least it keeps it out of the sight of the tax man From what I can tell my investment has gone up in price, especially the LP Standard, so it's as good as an ISA. My son and grandson will have a couple of nice guitars when I pop off. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Smiffy49 590 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Way back in the 70's I used to change guitars quite often and at one time I had a Rickenbacker 360/12. I bought it new and had it imported from the USA via the Carlsbro Sound Centre in Mansfield. I really loved its jingly jangly sound and have always regretting selling it few years later. My new years resolution is to track one down and buy it. Having been away from the music scene for nearly 30 years, anyone any ideas on where to look for one? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeestonMick 263 Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 You can still buy Rickenbacker 360/12's new but they're over £2000, just Google "Rickenbacker 360/12" or "second hand Rickenbacker 360/12". I do most of my guitar shenanigans on Ebay but I always make sure I research my subject first. I guess in the last three years I bought about £4g's worth of guitars on Ebay and they're insured for six. Have a butchers here http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=rickenbacker+360&_sac=1 for example. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Smiffy49 590 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Thanks very much BeestonMick, Some nice examples on there and the current prices are pretty good too, considering I paid around £700 for mine in 1971. I think I would prefer to actually handle and inspect a guitar before buying (having never bought anything on ebay - (to be honest I wouldn't have clue how to) I've found a local store in Lincolnshire who may be able to help me out, they specialise in vintage guitars so it's a case of weighing up old v new. Will keep you posted...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeestonMick 263 Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Cool :-) Don't forget to post pics of any new purchases. (I'll post mine later) I used to be a bit nervy about buying expensive stuff from Ebay but, as I said, I do do a bit of research before buying. I can't say I've had a bad deal to be honest, I've bought stuff from all over the world without an issue although you can't guarantee that of course. I did have a bad experience with UK Mail when I bought a new Strat from the US, I'm sure they'd put it in a dark place and they denied it being at the depot. When I did eventually get it the box had FENDER emblazoned all over it, no wonder there was outside interest. These days I only buy from the UK and tend to pick it up myself so I do at least get my sticky hands on the beastie before I take it away. Actually, I've had some good deals by visiting. If people are selling expensive stuff like Les Paul's they seem to be clearing out. I managed to get a Marshall pedal from one guy for nothing and another gave me a vintage Stratocaster hard case that has to be worth £250 minimum. I started wheeling and dealing two or three years ago and built up my collection with an outlay of about £2000. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeestonMick 263 Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 These are my babies. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Smiffy49 590 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Nice... That's what you call a string quartet ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I don't play, but I always fancied a replica of Rory Gallaghers heavily worn Strat Sunburst. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeestonMick 263 Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Likeadis? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I have touched the original many times when seeing Rory, and strapped on a replica at the Taste Cafe in Cork, Ireland. I attended an exhibition at Harrods a few years ago called Born To Rock. There was about twenty of Rory's guitars, plus others from Free, Jefferson Airplane, and many others. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barclaycon 569 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Great collection of classic guitars. There's a couple of rare guitars that I'd like to own. One is an unusual guitar that I once saw in Jack Brentnall's called a Micro frets. The other one is the guitar Ian Hunter used to play in Mott the Hoople. I believe it's called a Thomas Maltese Surfer. Amazing really that guitars like Strats and Les Paul's are still being made after all this time. I guess it shows that they were great designs. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I saw Rory change a string one handed on that guitar. You couldn't notice a change in his playing. Unbelievable!!!!! The ultimate professional Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeestonMick 263 Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 You couldn't notice a change in his playing Really? Aahh, Jack Brentnall 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 It was done in a flash. It obviously affected his playing momentarily but it didn't detract from the song. He was the absolute master. As I've stated elsewhere on other topics, I've seen nearly every great Rock, pop, blues , glam and metal act since 1959 and NOBODY and I really mean NOBODY comes close to matching Rory's aura and stage presence. Three hour marathons were the norm. See some of his stuff on Utube. Unbelievable. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeestonMick 263 Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Some other stuff I've just read seems to confirm it, but how? I've heard of other guitarists breaking strings and making do until they can swap guitars, you can always play it somewhere else, but changing a string live is unbelievable. One string breaking (normally top E) detunes the guitar so, apart from compensating for that, you have to use both hands to change the string while playing with both hands? I wanna see it. I did see reports where a stage-hand restrung the guitar while Rory kept on playing, I'd also like to see that. @barclaycon: I believe you can still get Microfrets, I seem to remember they got taken over but you can still buy the guitars. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Smiffy49 590 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I don't think all Gibsons & Fenders are made in the USA anymore, but could be wrong about that? Fender Telecasters - Read my post "A Very Strange Event" - on this Forum. Had a lot of good times with a blonde (Telecaster) years ago, she was very highly strung and slept in a box. Sold it years ago, part chop for a lot of band gear etc (as you do).... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 There was something on UTube several years ago, but I can't find it. Look on the official RG website and see what you can find. I used to be a member years ago, but lapsed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 There's also talk of Jimi Hendrix being asked by a reporter at the Isle of Wight Festival "What's it like to be the worlds greatest guitarist " He replied "ask Rory Gallagher" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeestonMick 263 Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 I don't think all Gibsons & Fenders are made in the USA anymore, but could be wrong about that? Yep, they're still made in the USA, Mexico and Japan (as Squier) PRS still make them in the US and Korea but, unlike Fender and Gibson, their 'foreign made' guitars are held in as much esteem as the US made ones. I picked this up from Ebay at the weekend for £160 and no postage. I also saw this on Twitter this morning (and there's a lot more) More at http://www.hutchinsonguitars.com/ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBI 2,351 Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Back in the late '70s I had a Jap Squier Stratocaster and a Mexican Fender Tele, both excellent, well made and great sound for the price. These days I only have my Eko Ranger 12-string, I swapped a mint Vox AC30 for it in 1970, not one of my better decisions. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BeestonMick 263 Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Mmmm, AC30, nice kit! Just to correct my previous post, Fender use the brand name Squier for their Japanese made guitars and the Mexican ones are called Fender with 'made in mexico' on the back of the headstock. Gibson use Epiphone as their 'cheaper' brand and PRS use 'SE' to designate Korean made guitars. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chulla 4,946 Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 I suppose you all know this, that there used to be a guitar maker in Nottingham in the 1950s. The name on the instrument was Ricardo, made, I believe by a person/company called Richards. Only ever saw one, a twin-neck model in the window of a second-hand shop at the top of Canning Circus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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