My thanks to Alan Lovell of The Swinging Blue Jeans for forwarding this letter from Alan Jay.

Alan Jay writes:-

I haven’t played guitars for many years but here is a picture of me Back in the Day in the early 1960s with my Watkins Rapier.

Later on I went solo as a comic but recently did some guest spots at my Club, The Edgeford, Matlock, Derbys. I wish I’d never sold the Watkins Rapier…

Best wishes
Alan Jay.

Hi again Guy.

Thanks for getting back to me so soon. I appreciate your help very much. Yes, I’m happy to send you some pictures of my Masquerader. It’s a wonderful guitar.

I bought it a year or so, off of a chap who’s selling a huge collection (140+) of mainly British vintage instruments. Gordon Smiths, Deacons, Breadwinners, Luthier built, etc. He was in the right place, right time in the ’70’s.

Firstly, here’s a photo of the masquerader from the Shergold archive site. I’ve messaged them also, to find out exactly whether it is indeed one of the 1st 10 made, as claimed?

This guitar has a curved shaped headstock. Whereas my one has a squared off headstock.

It went well with the double neck 12/6 (which I recently sold), and the ’98 Status Groove 5 string active bass. A UK threesome. The 12/6 was a Lump, and in need of a bit too much work. It had an Ivory nut! And it was Stereo, too. It’s currently up for sale on gumtree for even more money?? Good luck to the chap.

Thanks once more for your help with the blue burst.

Kind regards
John

Hello Guy. How do you do?

Great website and a fantastic collection you have.

I’m John. A bit of a collector, myself.

This guitar, I bought second hand, in Bristol, a couple of years back. It might not be your sort of thing, but I wondered if you could shed any light on it’s provenance, rarity, and value? It’s my prettiest guitar, by a mile. (I do also own a rare black Masquerader, which, I can see is your thing).

Obviously, I’m aware it’s Korean, and from 2003. I’ve contacted Epiphone, who denied all knowledge of it?? They put me onto Gibson Europe, who admitted it was one of theirs, but, curiously, refused to give me production numbers? You’d think they would give this information happily? As Marshall do, for instance.

I suspect it’s from a very limited paint shop run of about 100 ? What do you think? It’s called ‘Blue burst’, as opposed to the more common Pelham blue. The only other pictures of similar guitars I can find online are the original gumtree ad where I bought it, and a similarly stumped chap in Canada who’s also got one.

Be good to hear your opinion?

Much obliged
John.

Hello Guy

I left a message on your YouTube channel (Guitar Files #1 Guyatone LG50) on how I acquired what I think to be a Guyatone LG-40 from a skip in the early 70s.

When I look at the photo on your front page I see the exact same guitar as this one (before the black repaint and the bridge change over). From your message I did note that the fret markers were rectangular and not round. Although they are now missing and need to be renewed you can still see the outlines clearly.

This is the only photo I have seen elsewhere as all of the others I’ve seen are the twin pick-up version. Mine was originally this exact colour with the same white pick guard which has unfortunately been lost over the years.

I enclose some photos that I took today of the parts I have. I am hoping to refurbish it and finish it off to at least a playable standard during this winter as it was last played i the 80s after the bridge was changed over.

I was based in the South East for years but I am now retired and living in South Wales. Would love to pop in and see your collection at some point on my travels

Cheers
John.

Note: Russ Field was the guitarist with Showaddywaddy (until 1985) who played the Blue Moon Guitar in 1980!

Hi Russ,

It was very nice to speak to you today!

Here is the link to my website:- www.theguitarcollection.org.uk and on the Home page are links to my personal Facebook page, my Guitar Collection Facebook page and my Instagram page – all have pics of the Blue Moon guitar. In addition there is a link to my new You Tube video channel which I set up to feature some of my guitars & basses being played live & interviews – it’s still work in progress! But the channel includes “The Guitar Collection (my appearance) on BBC TV’s Antiques Road Trip” which features the Blue Moon guitar.

You will find the Blue Moon Guitar in the “Galleries” on my website, The “Archive page” and the “Historic Guitars” page where there is also a link to Paul Day’s appearance with the Blue Moon Guitar on BBC TV’s The History of the Guitar.

Lots of other guitars featured too! Have fun and enjoy the motor racing!

All the best,
Guy (Mackenzie)

Russ’s response:

Dear Guy,

Likewise I very much enjoyed our conversation!

Sorry I was unable to supply you with any further information about the Blue Moon Guitar but as I recall it was only used for promotional purposes with the exception of our own televised ‘Showaddywaddyshow’ www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHiXmx4w1qo

Have looked at the various links on your website and there are lots of interesting (and unusual) instruments and interviews to savour!

I noticed on one photo a Burns Artist – my first ‘proper’ guitar was a 1960 Burns Sonic which I sold many years ago but found an identical one on Ebay to replace it.

Some time ago I decided while my memory is still reasonably intact to list all my previous musical instruments over the years but the one I have always regretted selling was my stop-tail early 1960’s Gibson ES345 TDSV which I am determined to replace if the correct model ever comes up for sale.

With best wishes and please call in to see us if you are ever journeying this far North!

With best wishes,
Russ.

Hi Guy

Me again, Lars here! I know a really good guitarist who’d love to play your guitars – his name is Simon Jones. I don’t know whether you know him but he’s a friend of Paul Day and I’ll send you his contact details if you’d like to contact him.

Flying around as usual!

Catch up soon!
Lars.

Hi Guy

I’ve recently met an amazing blues/rock guitarist called Kris Barras – here in Torbay! And, believe it or not ,he’s a cage fighter as well!!

I feel that you should interview him and ask him to play some of his guitars – what do you think?

All the best,
Lars.

Hi There

I notice you have one unknown les paul guitar. Does it happen to be hollow and have metal gold knobs?

What do you know about it as I appear to have one that either myself or my brother has owned for about 40 years or so.

Regards
Paul

Dear Guy (if I may),

I write to say what a wonderful collection you have. I was drawn to it by the John Bailey guitar.

My interest in it is that I knew John a bit back in the ‘60s. I was an enthusiastic bluegrass auto harp and guitar picker at the time in Sevenoaks, Kent. I saw the guitar when it was first owned by Andy Townend, the prodigious mandolin/fiddle and guitar picker for whom the guitar was built, and with whom I played Bluegrass for 5 years in a school boy band. We also played some swing and jazz which is what the Bailey guitar was used for as I recall.

Do you ever sell your guitars because I would be interested in this one if you do.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes
Peter

Hi Guy,

I never realised till I saw one of your recent posts on Facebook, that you had basses as well as guitars.

If you’d ever like to do some you tube videos of your basses being played, I’d be up for that! No money involved – just a bit of fun as I’ve never heard or seen some of the early basses you own – let alone played them!

Just let me know either way,
Regards,
David Greenaway