The Guitar Collection

The Guitar Collection of Guy Mackenzie

Guestbook

Thanks for visiting The Guitar Collection!

If you would like to leave a comment for the Guestbook contact me: guy@theguitarcollection.org.uk

Meteor and Grimshaw Guitars

Date: 6th January 2013
Name: Eric
Number: 229

Grimshaw Guitars

Hi Guy

I know you have an interest in the Meteor and other quirky guitars, so I thought I would send you this photo. They were both purchased from Grimshaw in 1983 and 1984. The one one the left was purchased 1984 and made to special customer order. The Meteor on the right was bought off the shelf in 1983! I think this guitar was made up from a body which had been lying around since early 1960s which they put a contemporary neck and hardware to and sold it as a new guitar.

By 1984 Grimshaw was in its last throws as a company and they did seem to make more specials and very few production instruments, most of the business being done at this time was repairs etc to all makes. There are many one off guitars from the 1980s which are very interesting and they just keep turning up, one interesting guitar from 1982 recently appeared in Latvia of all places.

I am going to put some more photos of the two attached guitars on the web site www.grimshawguitars.co.uk as soon as I can get round to it and also some history from the owner who still (and has for 30 years) plays these two guitars in a semi pro band, quite amazing.

Keep in touch
Eric

Teisco

Date: 8th November 2012
Name: Guest
Number: 228

Hi

Did the Teisco SS4L come with different company badges on the headstock? Or was it just Teisco?

Thanks,
PS – Very nice SS4L by the way..let me know if you ever want to sell it.

Guy's Response:

Thanks for your message. Yes the SS4L was marketed under different brand names and, apart from others, was sold in the UK as an Orbit 4.

It’s unlikely that I’ll ever sell it but they do come up for sale occasionally on ebay.

All the best,
Guy.

My Dallas accoustic found in a skip covered in industrial filth!

Date: 8th November 2012
Name: Julie
Number: 227

Dallas Acoustic 12 String Guitars

Hi Guy

Click on the image to the right for a larger version.

Hope you are well and have found some guitar bargains to add to your collection.

Just thought I’d tell you I’ve found another Dallas 12 string identical to mine that I sent you photos of last June which I found in a skip, that you thought rare. The new one is not in such good condition as mine, but the seller said it was very rare as you thought of mine. There is no serial numbers on these guitars, but I now know the model number of these guitars which has been scrubbed out on my guitar before my ownership probably before it was thrown in the skip! So the model number of the new guitar is 9404 MIJ, and I assume its the same on my guitar because they are identical down to the smallest details.

In the sellers written sales blurb he refers to a third identical guitar he knew of that sold in a private auction for £330. So that’s three of these odd 12 string Dallas acoustics that are known of now, and I now own two:-)

Regards Julie

Guy's Response:

Hi Julie,

I’ve done some research on your Dallas 12 strings but we’re a bit hampered by the fact that neither I nor the experts I know, know much or anything at all about accoustics! But hopefully someone reading this may be able to help.

But we understood that John E. Dallas operated as a company until about 1966 when he joined forces with Ivor Arbiter to form Dallas Arbiter which carried on, (until the demise of Hayman) importing Fender and selling of the remainder of Vox, in about 1975.

As far as we knew the Dallas name disapeared until about 10 years ago when it was successfully revived by Jim Dunlop. After 1975 Arbiter took over the importing of Fender and became CBS Arbiter.

If this is correct where does it date your 12 strings? Certainly the mid 60’s was the time for folk/12 strings etc but yours seem to have metal Japanese tuners and we’d have expected plastic buttons.

So we think, with reservations, that the mid 1960’s was when yours were made but there may be someone out there who knows differently and that, despite everything, there were some accoustic instruments manufactured in the late 70’s or 80’s using the Dallas brand name. If you find out anything else do let me know!

All the best,
Guy.

Fenton Weill Dualtone

Date: 6th November 2012
Name: Dave
Number: 226

Morning Guy

Click on the images for larger versions.

I’m getting ready to move for the 15th time and I was surveying all my worldly goods that I can’t be without. It was only last year I found out that my dear old first electric guitar was a Dallas branded Fenton Weill Dualtone, in fact I do apologize if it was you that informed me through a guitar site.

I read your piece on the gallery today and I still can’t believe that they were made in 1962 because that was only four years before I bought when I was fourteen. It seemed so worn already and yet I’ve been playing it on and off from its original condition for the last 45 years!!!!

When I move and release some cash, should I have it restored? What’s your opinion? I kind of think I should leave it forever the same with all the memories, but it would be nice if the E’s wouldn’t slip off the frets!

Thanks for your site it’s great to see all the guitars.

Kind regards,
Dave

Ye Old Fenton Weill Guitars

Date: 31st October 2012
Name: Dennis
Number: 225

Hi Guy,

Thought I’d share a short story on my Fenton Weill electric guitar. In the early 60’s I was learning how to play an acoustic guitar, a small 4 member band came out of England and drove us crazy in the USA with their music and long hair. That band was called the Beatles and I talked my parents into getting me an electric guitar (future Rock Star). As I was very young at the time, my parents made the purchase of a Fenton Weill electric guitar. A couple of years later my parents divorced and I ended up 3000 miles away from my guitar. My father kept the guitar for 43 years inside the hard case and I saw it three times.

The last time was in August of this year when my father past away at nearly 91 years old. I now have my Fenton Weill electric guitar at my home and coupled it with a Marshall (MG100DFX) amp. I took the time to have the guitar checked out to insure there was no problems. It has two “pickups” and looks very much like the red guitar you have listed in the guest book. The hard case has the blue velvet interior and is in very good shape.

Best Regards,
Dennis

Mystery Burns Guitar

Date: 28th October 2012
Name: John
Number: 224

Hi Guy,

Having looked enviously at your wonderful collection on your website, I thought that you might be able to help me as you are obviously something of an expert.

I am trying to find out what a Burns guitar I owned in about 1956 to 1961 is called. It had a very small neat body, 2 pick-ups and quite a long headstock. It played like a dream. If you have any ideas please let me know and once more congratulations on your collection.

I would hate to think of the number of guitars that have been through my hands over the years and the value of some of them today!

Kind regards,
John.

Guy's Response:

Hi John,

Thanks for your message and kind comments on my collection.

From your description ,the guitar you remember is a Burns Sonic which would have been manufactured between 1960-4 and cost £52 new.

Just for the record, Jim Burns started trading as Ormston Burns Ltd (initially from his rented flat at 131 Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill) in November 1959.

Certainly I’m sure that many people can relate to your comments on the guitars you once owned!

All the best,
Guy.

Brunswick electric guitar

Date: 28th October 2012
Name: Rob
Number: 223

Hi Guy,

I recently bought a Brunswick electric guitar A red strat copy.

I know that Brunswich import cheap accoustic guitars but no one knows anything about this electric.

Any ideas or do you know anyone who could shed any light on this?

Thanks,
Rob.

Guy's Response:

Hi Rob,

Brunswick is a brand name of importers Barnes & Mullins which they started using in about the mid 80’s. Your guitar was built in Korea but unfortunately, as of now, I’m unable to date it. I understand that they don’t sell guitars under this brand name any more.

I hope this helps,

All the best,
Guy.

Antoria

Date: 27th October 2012
Name: David
Number: 222

Hi,

Very interesting site and gallery which I found while researching Antoria. My first electric in 1972 was a second hand Antoria which I never found out much about but had 2 pick-ups and was therefore a 992 and cost £14.50. Unlike yours it was powder blue and had the pick-up selectors on the other side where yours says “Antoria”. It had been fitted with a Bigsby vibrato which made me think it was an expensive guitar. Don’t remember it being so Bison-y but it was long time ago!

I always struggled to get a good tone out of it but then I didn’t have very good amp either. No longer have it and would like to replace it but until today, when I saw you website, I’d never seen one in 35 years…

I’m also keen to get hold of a Vox White Shadow. I just think the shape is brilliant. As you say ,odd that its red–I’ve actually seen then in white with black hardware which looks quite cool but I’d really like a metallic blue one.

Anyway, as I say, its interesting to see all these unsung guitars..

Regards,
David.

Guy's Response:

Hi David,

Thanks for your message and comments. It was interesting to read your memories of your Antoria which must have looked cool with a Bigsby!

I absolutely agree with you on the shape of the Vox White shadow – that was exactly the reason I bought mine! And I like the headstock shape too. Best of luck in your search for a metallic blue one – please send me a picture if you manage to get hold of one.

All the best,
Guy.

Fenton Weill Mono tone

Date: 24th October 2012
Name: Matt
Number: 221

Click on the images for larger versions.

Hi Guy,

Interesting stuff! But I’m not totally convinced. There has been some additional chiseling to get the single pickup to fit, as the bar on the back stands proud, but no indication of similar work to the bridge pickup pocket, and the scratchplate looks spot on, with its bevelled edge and the material it is made from. No sign of any mini guard applied to it though.

Either way, I’ve just put a pair of better looking knobs on it, and have been enjoying playing it!

Matt

Fenton Weill Mono tone

Date: 2nd October 2012
Name: Matt
Number: 220

Hi Guy

I couldn’t resist any longer, so I gently popped the FW apart.

Indeed she was routed for two . . . why the neck pickup hole has had further work done I’m not really sure. The puzzling bit is that the scratchplate looks pretty original to me (complete with bevelled edge), despite the component changes, and the amended bridge and tailpiece. No sign of the standard FW tailpiece ever being fitted either though? The pocket behind the bridge might suggest that there was once a string retainer there, but that area is under the scratchplate?

Ho hum, but she plays and sounds lovely despite the DIY.

The frets looks quite wide, but some of the tangs are under the neck varnish. Pickup puts out 6.56 on my meter. It’s much tidier in there than inside the Burns-Weill I have to say, the body routing in that has to be seen to be believed!

Matt

Guy's Response:

Hi Matt

Sorry its taken so long to get back to you but I finally caught up with Paul Day over last weekend.

Paul’s conclusion, in brief, is that FW never did a factory single pick up Dual tone and as it was routed for two pick-ups he believes that it was originally a 2 pick up model which has been modified – probably quite early in its life. However he wonders if there is any sign of a mini scratch plate (ie. marks on the scratchplate, different colouring underneath where it might have been etc) then quite possibly it was “factory” built as every Dual tone was completed with a mini scratchplate.

Paul also reminded me to tell you that the reason the routing was so basic on the BWs’ was because Jim Burns didn’t own a router at that time!

All the best,
Guy.

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