Built in the UK with Electrics by Fenton Weill and body by the Darkins factory this guitar dates from 1962 and was described at the time as a “solid guitar for the advanced player”. It has now been expertly restored by the Guitar Guru himself…Paul Day!
Antoria 330/335 Copy
Dating from the early 1970s, built in Japan and imported by J.T.Coppock of Leeds this is a great looking and high quality instrument and rare today especially with single coil pick-ups.
Aria 2010 Gold Rush (World Cup) Guitar
This Limited Edition guitar is very playable with a standard scale neck and portable too with a built in one watt amp and 10″ speaker. Built with the collaboration of FIFA this compact instrument features a headstock in the shape of a boot and in line tuners tuners to represent the boot’s studs!
Burns Weill Fenton
Built during the 1959 partnership of Jim Burns (who built the bodies) and Henry Weill (who provided the electrics) this rare early example, with rosewood fingerboard, was the Burns Weill budget model which retailed for £35. The styling was based on the Guyatone LG50 (which was also branded as Antoria and Star).
Dallas Tuxedo Bass
Dating from c.1959/60 and built in the UK by Dallas Arbiter this was the UK’s first “mass produced” electric bass guitar. This was also a first instrument for bass guitar legends like Mo Foster and Bill Wyman (who converted his to “fretless”) and they both still own their Tuxedos…Bill Wyman’s is on display at his “Sticky Fingers” restaurant.
This Dallas Tuxedo Bass features in the following videos at The Guitar Collection YouTube Channel:
David Greenaway plays the Dallas Tuxedo Bass
Plus: See how the Dallas Tuxedo Bass compares to the Burns Weill Super Streamline:
Musima Rellog
Dating from possibly as early as 1958, this east German built Musima with Rellog pickups was one of the earliest solid body electric guitars to be offered for sale in the UK. This example has a non standard c.1963 Fenton Weill vibrato tailpiece. One of these guitars was famously used by UK blues legend Alexis Korner!
Baldwin Vibraslim Bass
In September 1965 Jim Burns & partners sold Ormston Burns to the American Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. for £250,000. This rare Vibraslim is the same as the previous Burns Vibraslim with the controls in the pick guard. It retailed for £133 and, in 1966, was replaced with the “scroll head” version with body mounted controls.
Watch David Greenaway play the Baldwin Vibraslim Bass at The Guitar Collection YouTube Channel!
This bass also stars in the second Bass Wars video! David Greenaway plays Guy’s Baldwin Vibraslim and Grimshaw Short Scale – watch the video to see his verdict:
Watkins Rapier Deluxe
Watkins Rapier Deluxe. The first Watkins guitars with US style Supro style body and 3 a side headstock, the Rapier Deluxe, were sold in the summer of 1959 (not as stated elsewhere in either 1957/8!) about 6 weeks after the launch of the Dallas Tuxedo. This early second generation example with a Fender style headstock and a serial no. of 80 dates from probably 1960.
Check out Phil Walker playing this Watkins Rapier Deluxe at The Guitar Collection YouTube Channel:
Arbiter Bass
Arbiter bass. Dating from the late 1970s, this solid body SG style bass was built in Japan and marketed by Arbiter in the UK. Famously, a white example was used by Francis Charlton bass player of the cult band “Jilted John” (led by John Shuttleworth) – remember the immortal phrase “Gordon is a Moron”?!
Watch David Greenaway play the Arbiter Bass at The Guitar Collection YouTube Channel!
Unknown Les Paul
Unknown “Les Paul”. This Les Paul style guitar is unbranded and was the favourite guitar (of several) of my late friend, Martin Bellamy, and may have been supplied by Bells of Surbition. With gold hardware, a bound hollow body and Teisco tuners it probably dates from late 1960s/early 1970s. Any further help in identifying it will be appreciated!
Phil Walker plays this mystery Les Paul style guitar at The Guitar Collection YouTube Channel: