The Guitar Collection of Guy Mackenzie
With electrics by Alan Wootton and body by a carpenters shop in Hastings, this bass dates from between 1959-1963 and is one of possibly around 20-30 instruments built after Jim Burns left Supersound (but originally designed with his assistance in late 1958). Brian Davis of Dave Edmunds’ band, the Raiders, used one of these in 1963.
For more information about this bass guitar see the Historic Guitars page.
For more about Supersound see the Story of Supersound website.
Built by Jim Burns with electrics by Alan Wootton and dating from early autumn 1958, this is the oldest surviving UK commercially built solid electric bass and almost identical to the first bass made for Teddy Wadmore of the Ted Taylor Four and used by him on TV’s Jack Jackson show in that year. Check the Historic Guitars page for an extensive write up. For more information about Supersound see the Story of Supersound website.
Jim Burns interview in 1994 on YouTube
And last but not least, here’s the Supersound Single Cutaway Bass in action:
Built by Jim Burns with electrics by Alan Wootton and dating from early autumn 1958, this is the oldest surviving UK commercially built solid electric guitar. Almost certainly similar to the guitar used by Bob Rodgers of the Ted Taylor Four on TV’s Jack Jackson show in that year. Check the Historic Guitars page for an extensive write up. For more information about Supersound see the Story of Supersound website.
Introduced on April 25th 1959 by Dallas Arbiter, with “screwed on” Framus pick up and “add on” controls, this was the UK’s 3rd (after Supersound and Burns Weill) commercially built solid electric guitar and was test marketed in small quantities. See a picture of a young Kevin Watkins: www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/history.htm
Watch Phil Walker play the Dallas Tuxedo at The Guitar Collection YouTube Channel:
Built in Japan by Guyatone and marketed in the UK by Rose Morris this starter guitar dates from the early 60s and was previously owned by Camborne’s first lady of R ‘n’ R and sold to me with her matching Selmer Little Giant amp!
Dating from 1961/2 and described as a semi-accoustic(!) this British made guitar combines Dallas Tuxedo styling with early Vox neck, adjustable bridge, Fenton Weill electrics and retailed for £13-7/- (£13.35p).
This classic guitar dates from about 1959, was built in Japan and retailed for £25-7-6d. Also branded as Antoria, this was a first guitar for British musicians such as Hank Marvin, Marty Wilde and Jeff Beck.
See this Guyatone LG50 played live on YouTube!
Or watch Simon Jones play this similar LG50, restored by Paul Day:
Model 135E built in Germany in June ’59 and retailed for £74-4-6d. with distributors Besson and model Aristone name on the chrome scratchplate. Famously used by British bassists like Jet Harris, “Liquorice” Locking, Heinz and later 5/149&150 by… Bill Wyman.
Ace bass player David Greenaway plays and gives his verdict on the vintage Framus Star Bass at The Guitar Collection YouTube Channel:
Guitar was built in Germany c. 1963 almost certainly by Klira (similar to Klira Bahama) for retailers/distributors Voss-Musik and features a “flat” neck and buttons and switches to die for! Didn’t Alexis Komer use an early Voss electric?
Guitar dates from c.1965, built in Japan and, almost certainly, originally branded “Futurama” – although the logo is long gone. It features the acclaimed gold foil pickups made famous by both Ry Cooder and Elvis Costello. Cost in Japan in 1965? 70,000 Yen.
