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FENDER | VINTAGE ADVERTISEMENTS

Fender advertisement (1973)

The Worlds favourite Blending Machine

Fender Amplifiers

1973 advertisement for fender PA systems

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    Fender advertisement (1973) The Worlds favourite Blending Machine

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    Fender Amplifiers - The Naked Truth
    Fender Amplifiers - The Naked Truth
    1972 advert for Fender amplifiers.
    strip a Fender amp down and you'll begin to understand why more of them are sold than all other amps put together
    Fender Amplifiers - The Worlds favourite Recording Machine
    Fender Amplifiers - The Worlds favourite Recording Machine
    Early seventies Fender advert featuring the telecaster guitar but primarily promoting Fender amplifiers
    Fender amps are the number one selling amps in the world. For business and pleasure, turn ...

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    all original 1951 Fender ESQUIRE Blonde with orig. hardshell case

    all original 1951 Fender ESQUIRE Blonde with orig. hardshell case

    Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $89000


    Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
    Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1951 Fender Esquire in its original Blonde finish. It has a great playing neck with good frets. It's all original and includes the original hardshell case, "ashtray" bridge cover and original strap. This Esquire looks great with a lot of natural play wear including many nicks + dings, finish checking and other cosmetic wear. Some of the finish on the top treble of the body was sanded / buffed down to the wood. It... more
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    1964 Fender Stratocaster, Near-Mint, The One??L@@K!!!

    1964 Fender Stratocaster, Near-Mint, The One??L@@K!!!

    Flushing, New York, 113**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $69995

    Uncle Lou here, and you are admiring one of the best ?64 Strats you??ll ever see. It??s from my personal collection and easily one of the most stunning rosewood board Strats in existence, plus it??s got all the goods: 100% original, lightweight, gorgeous sunburst finish (no clown burst), L-series number, spaghetti logo, clay dots, green guard, super hot pickups that read in high 6k range, lots of fret height so it plays as good as it looks & sounds. The overall condition is ridiculous, only ... more
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    1958 Fender Stratocaster ?? 100% Original ?? Ex Joe Bonamassa Owned & Played

    1958 Fender Stratocaster ?? 100% Original ?? Ex Joe Bonamassa Owned & Played

    San Marcos, California, 920**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $56250

    1958 Fender Stratocaster ?? 100% Original ?? Ex-Joe Bonamassa Owned & Played
    3-Tone Sunburst | Maple Neck & Fretboard | Vintage Fender Case
    This is a 100% original 1958 Fender Stratocaster in stunning 3-tone sunburst, previously owned and played by Joe Bonamassa. A true collector's piece with undeniable pedigree and tone
    Finish: Original 3-Tone Sunburst with gorgeous checking and patinaNeck: Maple neck and fretboard, comfortable ??C?? profile ?? easily one of the finest 1958 ... more
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    original 1957 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst w / orig. tweed case

    original 1957 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst w / orig. tweed case

    Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $54900


    Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
    Olivia's Vintage would like to present this early 1957 Fender Stratocaster in its original Sunburst finish. It has a great playing neck with a "V" profile and good frets. All parts are original to this Strat and it is 100% complete along with its original tremolo arm, bridge cover and tweed hardshell case. The neck dates to February 1957, pots dating to January 1957 and the body date of December 1956. The pickup covers and knobs are the earlier "bakelite" ... more
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    1956 Fender Stratocaster

    1956 Fender Stratocaster

    Henderson, Nevada, 890**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $50000

    A wonderful original 1956 Stratocaster. Special in that it was one of the very first Alder bodies by Leo himself. NIce soft "V" figured neck. All original, none original owner w pictures included, plays and sounds like a dream. 7 5 lbs, original tweed case
    WE SHIP WORLDWIDE. Contact us with your full address for a shipping quote
    The shipping price includes full insurance. We only ship on Tuesdays and Saturdays We have a no fee discount
    We buy guitars for top dollar ... more
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    1953 Fender Precision Bass 1 of a kind dream set Untouched w / its Tweed Bassman.

    1953 Fender Precision Bass 1 of a kind dream set Untouched w / its Tweed Bassman.

    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $49995

    This is the ultimate Bass Players dream set to gig with, this all original very earliest production ??Slab?? bodied Pre-CBS Precision Bass w / a fat maple neck w / Leo??s 1st type features in untouched original condition, it has its original See-Thru Butterscotch finish over a very lightweight super grainy Ash body pencil dated to 3 / 23 / 53 by ??Eddie?? in its neck pocket, its also pencil dated 8 / 4 / 53 by ??Gloria?? on its tape inside its control cavity & weighing in at 9 lbs. 10 oz; ... more
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    Fender Esquire 1957 Guitar

    Fender Esquire 1957 Guitar

    Encino, California, 914**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $49000

    This 1957 Fender Esquire is the best guitar I have ever owned. Whomever wound the pickup at the factory in Fullerton had an amazing day. The impedance is about the same as my other Strats and Teles but the sound is totally amazing. The guitar plays extremely well. I am selling this because we are getting ready to retire and move to another state.
    ... more
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    1965 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Rosewood Ilitch Hum Cancelling System & HSC

    1965 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Rosewood Ilitch Hum Cancelling System & HSC

    Mora, Minnesota, 550**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $42999

    Born on Date: 2 August 65 Sunburst with Rosewood with Original Pickups - Bridge pickup painstakingly rewound by Ilitch Electronics - who also supplied the Ilitch Hum Cancelling System hidden in the pickguard. It's a hum free legendary classic bell like crystal clear magical tones. It's also wired for 7 way and can be used as originally setup - 3 way as well. Think Versatility Plus!
    This baby has been Played. Alot. A Whole Lot. Ron Tracy tells it like this: You wore the frets right off this ... more
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    Vintage FENDER 1958 Stratocaster

    Vintage FENDER 1958 Stratocaster

    Encino, California, 914**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $41500

    Thanks for checkin' out this beautiful old Strat! A 66 year old vintage Pre CBS Fender Stratocaster, a creation of the great Leo Fender himself - A true players guitar and real life work-horse!! Feels like butter, plays like a dream, a well seasoned 58 Strat weighing in at a mere 7lbs 5oz, mostly original - plastic knobs and double-lined (1960's) tuners appear not to be. Personally owned since 1992. Here's a real investment that will only appreciate in value as time goes by (unlike the ... more
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    1956 Fender Stratocaster Vintage Guitar One-Piece Ash, Blonde w /  V Neck, Case

    1956 Fender Stratocaster Vintage Guitar One-Piece Ash, Blonde w / V Neck, Case

    Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $41000

    Up for sale, a 1956 Fender Stratocaster in excellent condition, retaining its original Blonde nitro lacquer finish and complete with the original tweed case. Produced early in '56, this Stratocaster embodies everything that makes Fender's Pre-CBS golden era a truly magical time for electric guitars, and specifically for a pioneering, space-age instrument like the Strat. Featuring original pickups, hardware and bakelite plastics, this Stratocaster boasts a particularly resonant one-piece ash ... more
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    1959 Fender High Power Tweed Twin 5F8-A Vintage Tube Amp, 100% Original Circuit

    1959 Fender High Power Tweed Twin 5F8-A Vintage Tube Amp, 100% Original Circuit

    Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $40000

    Up for sale, a 1959 Fender "High Power" Tweed Twin 5F8-A in collector-grade condition and in perfect working order. This Twin features a 100% original circuit, original tweed, and an immaculate control panel, loaded with a pair of era-correct Jensen P12N alnico magnet speakers
    Occupying a very narrow window in Fender's golden age, the 5F8-A Twin was the pinnacle of Tweed era evolution and unmatched in power and headroom, first available in late 1957 and retired by January, 1960. This ... more
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    1959 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Pre-CBS w / HSC

    1959 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Pre-CBS w / HSC

    San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $39995

    1959 Fender Stratocaster In Sunburst Finish
    This Guitar Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
    In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
    Original Finish Shows Lacquer Checking And Cosmetic Playwear Throughout Including Various Dings, Marks, And Scratches Throughout
    New Pickguard Screws, Switch And Tuners
    Both E-String Saddles Replaced
    Made In Fullerton, CA
    Alder Body
    Maple Neck With 7 25" Radius And Black Dot Inlays
    Original Frets In Very Good Condition And ... more
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    1954 Fender Precision Bass Museum Quality w / a Poodle Case 1 of a kind & Minty !

    1954 Fender Precision Bass Museum Quality w / a Poodle Case 1 of a kind & Minty !

    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $39995

    This is the ultimate all original very earliest production ??Contour?? bodied Pre-CBS Precision Bass w / a fat maple neck w / Leo??s 1st type features in untouched original condition, it has its original See-Thru Butterscotch finish over a very lightweight super grainy Ash body pencil dated on a piece of tape inside the control cavity 8 / 54 by ??Caroline?? & its neck pocket is also pencil dated 7 / 54, these 1st issue Fender Contour bodies are stunning, she has a very full sized Maple Neck ... more
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    Vintage 1957 Fender Stratocaster All Original Sunburst Rare Hardtail with OHSC

    Vintage 1957 Fender Stratocaster All Original Sunburst Rare Hardtail with OHSC

    Floresville, Texas, 781**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $37988

    This is the real deal, two owner 1957 Fender Stratocaster hardtail electric guitar, the iconic American made master piece instrument in completely original, unrestored, true vintage condition. It needs nothing at all. It plays and sounds perfectly. The v shape neck is spectacular. The guitar very light weight so you feel the vibration with every strum. Very resonant tone you just can??t replicate. Did you know fenders first guitar they ever reissued was the 1957? That should tell ya something ... more
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    1961 Fender Jazz Bass "Stack Knob" rarest & most desirable Bass in the world !

    1961 Fender Jazz Bass "Stack Knob" rarest & most desirable Bass in the world !

    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $37495

    This is the ultimate all original 1st year of production Pre-CBS ??Stacked Pot?? Jazz Bass w / all the 1st issue features in untouched original condition from its 1 & only original owner, it has its original 3-tone Sunburst finish over a very lightweight Alder body dated 1961 & weighing in at a scant 9 lbs. 4 oz; these early Jazz Basses are ridiculously rare, its ??Unbound?? Slab Rosewood Clay Dot neck has the most figured ??Birdeye?? maple we??ve ever seen on an original ??Stack Knob?? ... more
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    1959 Fender Precision Bass 1 of the 1st Slab Rosewood Ps ever made & Untouched.

    1959 Fender Precision Bass 1 of the 1st Slab Rosewood P's ever made & Untouched.

    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $37495

    This is the ultimate all original & perhaps the very 1st production Pre-CBS Precision Bass w / a "Slab" Rosewood neck w / all early '59 features in untouched original condition, it has its original faded 2 1 / 2-Tone Brunette'burst finish over a very lightweight Alder body dated 3 / 59 & weighing in at a scant 8 lbs. 6 oz; these 1st issue Fender Slab Necks are ridiculously rare as we've never seen another dated prior to 5 / 59, its "Unbound" Rosewood Clay Dot neck is super wide & ... more
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    1957 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst

    1957 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst

    Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $36900


    Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
    Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1957 Fender Stratocaster in its original Sunburst finish. It has a great playing neck with good frets. The original 3-way switch was changed to a 5-way and the volume pot was changed. The pickup windings and wires have all been shielded in copper along with a couple of changed wires and an added ground wire. The plastic backplate is not original and there is no tremolo arm. All other parts are original. The ... more
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    1965 Fender Stratocaster Vintage Guitar Olympic White w /  Case

    1965 Fender Stratocaster Vintage Guitar Olympic White w / Case

    Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $36000

    Up for sale, a 1965 Fender Stratocaster in excellent condition and in perfect working order, finished in original custom color Olympic White and complete with the original hardshell case
    Weighing 7lbs 8oz and offering a very pronounced and bass-rich natural resonance and acoustic bark, this alder-bodied Strat needs no neck shim for optimal neck pitch, with full contact in the pocket between the body and neck
    The gray bobbin pickups all retain their original windings, and via the original... more
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    1956 Fender Precision Bass an untouched 100% original example 1 of a kind & Mint

    1956 Fender Precision Bass an untouched 100% original example 1 of a kind & Mint

    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $34995

    This is the coolest all original very early production Pre-CBS Precision Bass w / a fat maple neck in untouched original condition, it has its original 2-Tone Sunburst finish over a very lightweight super grainy Ash body pencil dated 4 / 56 inside its pickup cavity, these 1st issue Contour Bodied P Basses have always been ??Stings?? fave !, she has a very full sized maple neck w / no pencil date which was common, it??s sporting a very low serial # 09XXX stamped on its original 4-bolt neck plate,... more
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    1961 Fender Precision Bass a stunning ash-body Blonde Slab neck 100% untouched.

    1961 Fender Precision Bass a stunning ash-body Blonde Slab neck 100% untouched.

    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $34995

    This is the ultimate all original very early production Custom Colored Pre-CBS Precision Bass w / a ??Slab?? Rosewood neck w / all early 1960 / 1961 features in untouched original condition, it has its original See-Thru Blonde finish over a very lightweight Ash body dated 12 / 60 in its pickup cavity & weighing in at a scant 8 lbs. 12 oz; these 1st issue Fender Slab Necks are ridiculously rare w / their ??Unbound?? Rosewood Clay Dot fingerboard, is super wide & full sized is pencil dated... more
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    1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass

    1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass The Hagstrom Swede bass, or model HB 903, was only built in small numbers: just 1479 basses shipped between 1971 and 1976. Unlike the current range of Hagstrom guitars, the 1950s-1980s Hagstroms were built in Sweden. This example comes from 1973 and is pretty typical: translucent cherry finish, mahogany body, mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard. It's a really nice bass, beautifully appointed with a very wide tonal range, and a great playing feel. It is relatively heavy though for a mahogany instrument, mostly due to its thick solid body. Very cool bass, and certainly one of the very best basses produced by Hagstrom.

    1973 Shaftesbury 3400

    1973 Shaftesbury 3400 This example of the Shaftesbury 3400 was produced by Japanese manufacturer Matsumoku who made some great quality guitars in the 1970s and 1980s. This is a slightly later example, and has some features not seen on earlier 3400s. Although nice guitars, these are not in the same league as the Gibson Les Paul it was emulating (no set neck, no carved maple top); but they are far better than many of the entry-level Les Paul copies available in the mid-1970s - for example the Shaftesbury 3400 has gold plated hardware, a solid body bound front and back, Maxon brand humbuckers and nice inlaid neck and headstock.

    1971 Epiphone 1802T

    1971 Epiphone 1802T The Epiphone 1802T was the early name given to the Epiphone ET-270 and derived from an existing Aria guitar, also the 1802T. This was the first of the 1970s Epiphone solid bodies made in Japan by Matsumoku.The model evolved somewhat over its short production run: the very earliest examples were very similar to the Aria, sharing the same body shape, hardware, and clear-coated neck with Fender-style headstock with decal logo. By the time it was designated the Epiphone ET-270 it had been upgraded with the classic Epiphone-style headstock, with nice inlaid logo, and Epiphone 'E' motifs on the truss rod cover and scratchplate. This example from 1971 is somewhere in between with the Epiphone-style headstock, but with silk-screened logo, and no 'E's.

    1971 Shaftesbury 3400

    1971 Shaftesbury 3400Shaftesbury was a brand distributed by Rose-Morris in the UK - generally imported guitars from Italy or Japan. This guitar, model 3400 was produced by Matsumoku in Japan, and was one of the earliest Les Paul copy guitars, debuting in the UK in 1969, although the same guitar was also sold as the Univox U1982 'Rhythm and Blues' by Merson in the USA as early as 1968. It was also available in different territories under different marques, most obviously the Aria 5522 (Japan), Jedson Jet 4444 (UK, Dallas Arbiter), with no doubt many more examples worldwide.

    1981 Gibson Victory MVX

    1981 Gibson Victory MV-XThe Gibson Victory MV-X, or Victory 'Multi-Voice' 10, was so-named because of the 10 distinct switch settings: although on first glance this guitar is very much a 'super-strat', with its three-pickup 5-way switch wiring configuration, the original advertising, sounds like... all of 'em underlines that this isn't just a Stratocaster copy, having the sounds of both Gibson humbuckers and Fender single coils available with a flick of a switch. The model was short-lived, with the first instruments shipping from Kalamazoo in Summer of 1981, and the last (excluding any stragglers) leaving Nashville by early 1982. This one was stamped on August 3rd 1981 in Kalamazoo.

    1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogue

    1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogScan of 1970 Epiphone guitar catalogue produced by Rosetti for the UK market. Undated but most likely from mid-late 1970, this was the first UK catalogue to show the new range of Japanese (Matsumoku) Epiphone guitars. Interestingly, these pages show the Epiphone solid bodies with a single-sided Fender-style headstock layout - a feature quickly replaced with a typical two-sided Epiphone headstock almost immediately. Epiphone electric guitars: 9520, 9525; bass guitars: 9521, 9526; acoustic guitars: 6730, 6830, 6834

    A World of Guitars by Rosetti - 1971

    1971 A World of Guitars by Rosetti catalogueScan of 1971 Rosetti catalogue (UK) featuring guitars from from numerous manufacturers worldwide: guitars by Epiphone, Hagstrom, Levin, Hoyer, Egmond, Eros, Moridaira, Kiso-Suzuki, Schaller, and Tatra.

    1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

    1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

    1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

    1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

    1961 Hofner Colorama I

    1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

    1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

    1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

    1960 Hofner Colorama II

    1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

    1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

    1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

    1981 Gibson Marauder

    1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

    1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

    1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

    1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

    1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
    It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

    1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

    1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass Rose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

    1961 Hohner Zambesi

    1961 Hohner Zambesi This very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

    1963 Vox Super Ace

    1963 Vox Super Ace The Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

    1966 Vox New Escort

    1966 Vox New Escort The Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

    1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

    1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin Care Catalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

    1973 Eko Ranger Folk

    1973 Eko Ranger Folk The Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

    1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

    1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar The Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

    1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

    1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

    1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

    1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

    1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

    1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

    1972 Fender Precision bass

    1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

    1967 Vox Stroller

    1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

    1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

    1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

    1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

    1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music