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FENDER | CATALOGS | 1970 | FRONT COVER

1970 Fender guitar, bass and amp catalog - page 1

ELECTRIC GUITARS / STEEL GUITARS / AMPLIFIERS / BANJOS / ACCESSORIES

1970 Fender guitar and bass catalog - front cover. The guitar shown is a Fender Competition Mustang (shown on page 9) - one of 13 electric guitars included in the 96 pages of this catalog.

1970 Fender guitar and bass catalog - front cover
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Vintage Fender guitars for sale

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Vintage 1969 Fender P Precision bass, Original!

Vintage 1969 Fender P Precision bass, Original!

Little Falls, New Jersey, 074**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7655

Here is a beautiful example of a great solid Vintage P-bass! Tunes excellent, action is very low, plenty of life on the frets! This thing plays and feels beautifully! Sounds thunderous, P-Bass , Vintage tone! Pickups were replaced, as the original ones were intermittent, but they are included. I just ended up with too many basses, and have to unload some! Comes with original case (somebody before me stamped their band name I would guess).
... more
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1967-1970 Fender Stratocaster / Telecaster Guitar Case Vintage

1967-1970 Fender Stratocaster / Telecaster Guitar Case Vintage

Iola, Wisconsin, 549**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1100

Vintage 1967-1970 Fender Guitar Case. In excellent condition for its age, with some wonderful patina that comes with the age I tried to capture the overall condition the best I could in the photos, including any wear
All original, all latches and hardware work as they should. Everything closes nicely and lines up well. This has spent most of its life in a closet, and has been preserved quite well. It has no funny smells to it, and has been stored in a climate controlled, smoke free ... more
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1969 Fender Jazz Bass rare all original last of the 60s great Post-CBS basses !

1969 Fender Jazz Bass rare all original last of the 60's great Post-CBS basses !

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

$7995

Just in is a really clean & original 1969 Fender Jazz Bass w / all the right features, its has its original Sunburst finish over a lightweight Alder body, its White Bound & Block inlaid 4-bolt Rosewood Neck is super clean w / perfect logo & frets, its white block inlays have faded to almost see-thru over time, its ink date stamp is that typical odd set of #??s dating it to 1969 & she has pot date codes from the 42nd week of 1966, its original Tortoise-shell pickgard pulls this ... more
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1971 Fender Precision Bass (modified)

1971 Fender Precision Bass (modified)

Franklin, Virginia, 238**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4200

1971 Fender Precision Bass with many modifications
-Schaller tuners and Badass bridge installed
-Fretboard has been scalloped on the high register
-Pick guard changed and 74 pickups installed
-possibly refretted with jumbo frets
All frets are high and big with almost no wear
All this work was done years ago
I bought it exactly this way over 20 years ago
I haven't done anything but had one pick up repaired to 74 factory spec about the same time i bought it
Very... more
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1971 FENDER JAZZ  BASS BRIDGE USA Original Vintage

1971 FENDER JAZZ BASS BRIDGE USA Original Vintage

Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$425

1971 FENDER JAZZ BASS BRIDGE USA Original Vintage
Very Good + Condition. With original mounting screws
There's a slight bend near the head of the E String intonation screw that doesn't effect use
Shipped Fully Insured!... more
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Fender 1969-1970 Competition Mustang Guitar Daphne Blue W /  Original Case Cobain

Fender 1969-1970 Competition Mustang Guitar Daphne Blue W / Original Case Cobain

Los Angeles, California, 900**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6500

All Original 1969-1970 Fender Competition Mustang made famous by Kurt Cobain and recently sold for the most out of any guitar ever. It??s been stored away for years now, over 10 years at least. There are very detailed pictures and in the sun so you can really see everything clearly. There??s some dings and smaller scratches on it, check the photos, normal for a Guitar of this age. Priced lower than other all original similar models to sell, value right now is closer to $9k

Original ... more
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Vintage 1969 Fender Jaguar Green Sparkle w /  Original Hardshell Case

Vintage 1969 Fender Jaguar Green Sparkle w / Original Hardshell Case

New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5499

Vintage original 1969 Fender Jaguar in a KILLER Green Sparkle Refinish
This baby has the classic vintage tone of a 1960s Jaguar with the look to match
Neck is straight and plays with a good low action with no buzz or issues. Rosewood fretboard in excellent condition and so are the frets. Nice block inlays - a feature we dig
Original Jaguar pickups are warm and organic sounding. Tremolo works great and guitar stays well in tune
Guitar is all original with the exception of ... more
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1969 Fender Jazzmaster 6 String Sunburst Electric Guitar -

1969 Fender Jazzmaster 6 String Sunburst Electric Guitar -

New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$9500

This 1969 Fender Jazzmaster is a rare gem for any guitar enthusiast. With its solid alder body and multicolor sunburst finish, it's a right-handed electric guitar that will blow your mind away. The 6-string configuration and Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster model make it a must-have for any serious guitar collector

This was my uncles guitar who had lightly played the guitar from time to time. He was a serious collector and knew everything there was about guitars. This item is ... more
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1970 Fender Competition Mustang Vintage Guitar Competition Burgundy, 100%

1970 Fender Competition Mustang Vintage Guitar Competition Burgundy, 100%

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

$8500

Up for sale, a 1970 Fender Competition Mustang in collector-grade condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Finished in Competition Burgundy (Lake Placid Blue with racing stripe), this Mustang has been sparingly played over the past half century. This rare example also features the shorter of the two scale lengths offered on the Mustang, measuring 22 1 / 2"
Smooth and clear-sounding acoustically, this Mustang is authoritative and snappy via the pair ... more
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Vintage 1971 Fender Stratocaster 250K pot

Vintage 1971 Fender Stratocaster 250K pot

Coldwater, Michigan, 490**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$179

Vintage 1971 Stratocaster 250K pot ( 137-7147 ), in Good Working condition See my other listings for Vintage pots I have many others if needed contact me
... more
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Vintage 1971 Fender 4 Bolt  Stratocaster Electric Guitar Refinished

Vintage 1971 Fender 4 Bolt Stratocaster Electric Guitar Refinished

Cleveland, Ohio, 441**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7500

Here is a 1971 4 bolt Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, made in the USA. The serial # is 3212XX. This cool guitar has an old refinish. It's in good condition for its age with some wear, nicks, dings, and scratches. The bridge is the newer style and is original to the guitar. The plastic parts and pickups are original. The pickup numbers are 7331. The neck date is 22Aug71B. The pots date 137-7014. The volume may not be original. It still has the 3 way switch. The neck was over sprayed and ... more
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1969 / 70 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst

1969 / 70 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst

Nazareth, Pennsylvania, 180**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$16999

Up for sale is this beautiful 1969 Fender Stratocaster
Quick Details
Year 1969 / 70 neck plate
Color Sunburst
Weight 8 02lbs
Nut Width 1 59??
Depth at 1st Fret 0 88??
Depth at 12th Fret 0 94??
Case Original Hard case w / candy and original owners name engrave ashtray cover
Serial # 281302
Description
Just in is this beautiful 1969 / 70 Stratocaster. We label it 69 / 70 because every part of the guitar dates to 1969 except the neckplate which is the ... more
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1971 Fender Precision Bass B Nut Width Sunburst w /  Vintage DiMarzio Pickup, OHSC

1971 Fender Precision Bass B Nut Width Sunburst w / Vintage DiMarzio Pickup, OHSC

Woodbury, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7500

1971 Fender Precision Bass ??B?? Nut Width Sienna Sunburst w / Vintage DiMarzio Pickup, OG Hard Case
For sale is a vintage 1971 Fender P-Bass, featuring a dark rosewood fretboard and a rare "B" nut width (1-5 / 8 " ), endowing it with the playability of a neck that??s easier to get your hand around. It makes the neck feel somewhat closer to the neck found on a Jazz bass. This beauty shows authentic cosmetic wear, which only adds character. The finish, a classic Sienna Sunburst, has ... more
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1969 Fender Precision Bass Lake Placid Blue Metallic Refin CBS w / Bag

1969 Fender Precision Bass Lake Placid Blue Metallic Refin CBS w / Bag

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

$4995

1969 Fender Precision Bass
Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Some Cosmetic Playwear Throughout Including Various Small Dings, Marks And Scratches
Professional Nitrocellulose Lacquer Body Refinish In Lake Placid Blue Metallic With Ambered Top Coat
Body Crack Beneath Pickguard As Shown (See Photos)
Fathead Sustain Plate On Back Of Headstock
Replaced 1980's Brass Bridge
Replacement Gold Anodized Pickguard
Later Pickups... more
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1969 Fender Stratocaster Vintage Guitar Sunburst w /  Case

1969 Fender Stratocaster Vintage Guitar Sunburst w / Case

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

$14000

Up for sale, a 1969 Fender Stratocaster in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. 100% original save for a five-way pickup selector and bone nut, this alder-bodied Strat has all the hallmarks of a late ?60s example, including a four-bolt neck plate, large headstock with block logo, and gray bobbin pickups
The guitar has a very lively natural acoustic tone, with a smoothness and treble detail that translates well through the pickups. The ... more
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1971 Fender Coronado II Vintage Hollowbody Guitar Sonic Blue w /  Case

1971 Fender Coronado II Vintage Hollowbody Guitar Sonic Blue w / Case

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

$5500

Up for sale, a 1971 Fender Coronado II in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, finished in custom color Sonic Blue nitro lacquer and complete with the original Victoria Luggage hardshell case. Hailing from the very end of the Coronado's production run, this rare custom color example has some of the model's most desirable features, with a Dynamic Vibrato tailpiece and Mustang-style bridge with barrel saddles
This Coronado is featherweight at 6lbs 7oz with a fully ... more
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1970 24" student scale Fender musicmaster rosewood  Guitar neck,

1970 24" student scale Fender musicmaster rosewood Guitar neck,

Livermore, California, 945**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1000

American made 1970 24" student scale Fender musicmaster rosewood Guitar neck, with nut and string tree, no tuners
stamped 16 408 1090
... more
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1969 Fender Custom (Maverick) Vintage Offset Electric Guitar Sunburst 100%

1969 Fender Custom (Maverick) Vintage Offset Electric Guitar Sunburst 100%

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

$5500

Up for sale, a 1969 Fender Custom in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with a vintage hardshell case. One of Fender's shortest lived and most storied models of the late '60s, the Custom (first christened the "Maverick " ) was produced in particularly small quantities, with only 600-800 guitars crafted between 1969-71
At the behest of parent company CBS, Fender stringed instruments product manager Virgilio "Babe" Simoni was tasked with finding a use for... more
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1969 Fender Competition Red Mustang Guitar All Original w /  Case  (Vintage)

1969 Fender Competition Red Mustang Guitar All Original w / Case (Vintage)

Stone Park, Illinois, 601**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4190

Actual item pictured. Guitar is in good to very good condition. Looks like it??s been modified. Pickups and tuners are not original. Also, pickboard was drilled for a kill switch but not installed. Paint is in very good condition considering the age. No crazing but does have a few dings and rash. If you need any further pictures don??t hesitate to ask.
... more
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Vintage 1971 Fender Precision Bass Modified Ocean Turquoise with OHSC

Vintage 1971 Fender Precision Bass Modified Ocean Turquoise with OHSC

Santa Monica, California, 904**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4000

[contenteditable]{ pointer-events: none; }The 70's were a funky time, and funky times brought funky mods, which led to funky basses like this funk machine!  Here we have a heavily modified vintage Fender Precision Bass   There is a lot going on with it .we've done all the digging we could, and are presenting with as much info as possible   Here's the scoop:
This instrument began life in 1970 as an Ocean Turquoise P Bass   That's when the body was built - and we say 1970 because that's ... 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