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VOX | INSIDE THE JMI VOX FACTORY

Inside the Vox guitar factory 1965/66

Building Vox guitars at the JMI Dartford plants (UK) - a recollection by factory employee Tony Russell

I received an email from Tony Russell in Western Australia, in December 2014, looking for parts for a Vox Ace he assembled himself whilst working in JMI's two plants making Vox guitars in Dartford, UK. Tony was kind enough to answer a few questions, and tell his story…

So how did you start out at JMI

Like many kids of the post war era I finished school at the age of 15 with ambitions to be like the many up-and-coming rock and roll stars of that time. It was 1964. My father played a little guitar and my gran was an accomplished pianist, so I guess some of this rubbed off on a young, impressionable would-be, if he could-be. As it was, I did have a guitar at this time, it was a crappy acoustic which cost fifteen pounds; it was a piece of absolute junk, with strings about a half inch from the fret board. Dad brought me tickets to see the Shadows at the local Odeon theatre, from that moment on I was hooked on electric guitars, and Hank Marvin will always be my guitar hero. After a couple of low paid, low ambition jobs, I answered an ad in the local paper for guitar production makers at a place called Jennings Musical Industries in Dartford Kent. It was a turn up at factory to be interviewed on the day type of scenario. Although I had no idea how to make a guitar I applied anyway and got the job. I think I started at JMI in June 1965. I would have been 16 years of age. I started off at the Dartford Road plant, sweeping floors, and tidying the work stations of the guitar makers who were all young, and like me all wanted to be rock stars.

I loved this place, I was a small part of this enormous growing entertainment industry. I used to watch with fascination the guys making the guitars, and asked to be able to get more involved in this process, which was granted.

What do you remember about Unity Works?

I seem to recall about 5 work stations, the final part was the fretting area which was at the far end of the assembly area. The factory was far bigger than shown in the film, the work station area would have been about 10 metres long, and then about 10 metres up to the fretting area. Around 10 staff were working on the guitar line altogether. To the left of this were test and new product development rooms, I think a lot of the staff used to catch a few winks in these out of bounds rooms! Soon I was screwing the necks of the guitars onto the bodies of the various models. I was working at my own work station, and it was at this station that you ate your lunch and had morning tea.

The amplifier section was off limit to us and filled about half of the building, however I used to have a bit of a look from time to time. I remember the Vox Foundation Bass amp with the enormous 18 inch speaker which would make your trousers flap if you stood in front of it when cranked up.

What about guitar construction?

I was shown how to fret guitars and I became quite good at this; it was whatever guitar was being made that day, this would be dependent on what components had arrived to complete any given model, I could fret anything that was given to me, from memory about three of us could fret guitars. I fretted about 10 a day. I remember being given the fretting duties for a model called the Vox Soundcaster, which was the company’s high end model with three pickups, tremolo, and fancy fittings; with a price to match. It was supposed to be up against the Fender Strat, but fat chance of that, even though it was a good guitar with good quality timbers, reasonable pickups etc, it would never win that market segment.

A lot of the components came from Italy, necks etc, and I think a lot of the bodies came in unpainted and were painted at JMI, it’s all a bit foggy.

As I mentioned earlier we always ate our lunch at our work stations, and my Mum used to pack me banana sandwiches which I loved. Sadly, so did Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, who on several occasions would come in to JMI and, sit down next to me at my work station and share/pinch, my sandwiches, I distinctly remember him saying to me one day, before I could hide, did your Mum make you banana sandwiches today. Bugger!!

I have lost count of all the famous faces who came to visit JMI, most were there to pick up free amps and guitars as the publicity this gave the company after the groups used it on TV was priceless. It’s funny but these famous people of the day meant nothing to me, all I was interested in was my pay at the end of the week and keeping my hormones in control. However I can remember a few: Wayne Fontana, Burt Weedon, The Hollies, The Stones The Pretty Things, The Undertakers, and I was told that the Beatles had called in, but I cannot verify that.

And you were allowed to build your own instruments?

I made the Ace at work. It was made from slightly damaged components, which we could take home. I still have it, it’s a bit battered but I will never sell it, as I made it in a time when music was music and you really did have to learn to play, which I still do, thankfully, at the age of 65. I also made a Symphonic bass from these reject bits, but have no idea what happened to it, sadly.

And you were involved in a few one-off projects

One day I was asked to assemble a Vox Phantom, not the tear drop model but the model with the body angles. I found out it was supposedly going to Rolling Stones. I cheekily put my initials under the scratch plate on the wood. I guess there would be a fair few with these weird initials inside and people trying to make out who this strange person may have been. Another time I was called into the bosses office and was presented with a box of components to make a Vox Soundcaster. Unusually, all the hardware was gold plated and the tremolo knob was in ivory, all very flash, I asked who it was for but was told to mind my own business, and to just get on with it and make it perfectly, which I did. When it was finished, which took two days, it went into the flashiest guitar case I had ever seen. Two weeks later I was again called into the bosses office and he said to me, and I quote, ‘when you leave the factory tonight if there are any members of the press outside and you talk to them you are fired’. I was shocked and upset, not knowing what the hell I had done, which of course was nothing. Several months later, at our Christmas booze up I asked the boss who the guitar was for; as he had had a few drinks he capitulated and said it was for Prince Charles; the company was trying to get the Royal Charter symbol on their products. I wrote to Prince Charles in the 1980’s to enquire what had happened to the guitar and the palace wrote back, very interested in its history, but would not comment further. I still have that letter, and cherish it. The guitar is probably safe under one of the royal beds, after Charlie found out after one practice lesson that steel strings can make the royal fingers sore!!

Another product I helped with the development of was the first 5 string bass guitar made in England [actually just after the US-built Fender Bass V was launched in 1965, although these were probably not yet available in the UK] It was made for the bass player of the Hollies at the West Street factory, that we moved to. I put the components together, and then strung it. I had nothing to do with the electrics or the testing, I remember that it looked like a standard Symphonic bass, just with five strings. It was a dark sunburst in colour. I remember playing it through a small amp and everybody thinking it was far too revolutionary for the time. The biggest issue with it was the gauge of the strings for the bottom end. Rotosound would have made these locally at their Blackfen factory. This was another company on the cutting edge of music development; Vox products were being used all over the world and the place was pumping, but Rotosound made me an offer I could not refuse and I went to work for the Howe family and became a string maker, and I loved this work as well.

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Vox guitars for sale

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Phantom Guitarworks (Vox) Limited Edition Teardrop Hollowbody #10 of 20

Phantom Guitarworks (Vox) Limited Edition Teardrop Hollowbody #10 of 20

Ashburn, Virginia, 201**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1898

This Limited Edition Phantom (Vox) Hollowbody Teardrop guitar is in mint unplayed condition. It is #10 of only 20 made. All Phantom®, Teardrop® and MandoGuitars® are hand-assembled in the United States of America with foreign and domestic parts
The bookmatched flame maple top pattern in the see-through red finish does not show up too well in photos but it's stunning in person.
... more
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PANaramic EKO Vox Electric Hollow body Guitar vintage used w /  Road Runner case

PANaramic EKO Vox Electric Hollow body Guitar vintage used w / Road Runner case

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

$880

Hi This is very nice 60es Rarest and hard to fined PANaramic guitar ,one of the first production of hollow body's of Vox factory .This is an AUTHENTIC and ORIGINAL Vox Eko cooperation made in ITALY product with AUTHENTIC and ORIGINAL electronics, 5 tuners (6 one D tuner is klasson tip substitution) and Original good working pickups on it. This is old guitar with multiple scratches digs and finish cracks all over ,but NOTHING series Electronics and hardware works just fine, The frets are very ... more
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Vox Bobcat S66 Semi Hollowbody Electric Guitar Vintage Sunburst

Vox Bobcat S66 Semi Hollowbody Electric Guitar Vintage Sunburst

New Bern, North Carolina, 285**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$575

For sale is an almost mint Vox Bobcat S66 with a sunburst finish. Very nice guitar at a great price!


SPECIFICATIONS:

Body: Maple

Center block: Spruce

Neck: Mahogany

Fingerboard: Ebony

Scale: 25??

Nut width: 1 69??

Peg: Grover open gear

Pickup: VOX S66 single coil pickup x 3

Control: VOLUME X 3, TONE X 1

... more
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Vintage 1960s Govox Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar Guitorgan Sunburst w /  Case

Vintage 1960's Govox Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar Guitorgan Sunburst w / Case

Columbus Grove, Ohio, 458**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$51

We purchased this at auction. we did a google search and this is what we found.
Description Taken From Cream city music Brookfield Wi
What makes this guitar special: One of only 22 made, this USA made Govox is an extremely rare piece. Considered by many to be one of the earliest versions of a ??Guitorgan??, these were manufactured prior to the introduction of the actual Guitorgan, by a separate entity. A quick online search will yield video of Chuck Hess playing one of the first off the ... more
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Rare Vox V-MK3 (Mark-III) Guitar (w /  quirk) - Seafoam Blue, w /  Bar & Strap

Rare Vox V-MK3 (Mark-III) Guitar (w / quirk) - Seafoam Blue, w / Bar & Strap

Aurora, Colorado, 800**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$699

Mint condition!
Aftermarket back plate and trem arm, but they fit
This is *not* one of the Vox minis they're selling
Full-sized
Only about 7lbs too!
The "quirk" is that the neck pickup doesn't work. I'm not a techie so I don't know what it would be. Still sounds great though! And can send sound samples if wanted
This guitar is rare, and mine might be the only Seafoam Blue one out there
Will include the Ernie Ball strap and tremolo arm (whammy bar)
Message me with ... more
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Vintage! 1968 Vox Mando Guitar 12-String Electric Mandolin Sunburst + OHSC

Vintage! 1968 Vox Mando Guitar 12-String Electric Mandolin Sunburst + OHSC

Thousand Oaks, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2495



Vintage! 1968 Vox Mando Guitar 12-String Electric Mandolin Sunburst + OHSC

Google us! Lovies Guitar Shop
Lovies Guitars is excited to offer up this 1968 Vox 12-String Electric Mandolin Guitar with a Sunburst Finish! One of the quirkier instruments to emerge from the JMI / Vox operation in the 1960's (And that's saying something!) The Mando-Guitar never really caught on in a big way but remains a very cool and quite functional oddity. The Mando-Guitar is an double-strung octave... more
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VOX BC-V90B

VOX BC-V90B

Parrottsville, Tennessee, 378**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$725

This Vox BC-V90B electric guitar is a great addition to any musician's collection. With its sleek design and high-quality sound, it's sure to impress. Made by the trusted brand Vox, this guitar is built to last
The model VOX BC-V90B is a classic choice for any guitar enthusiast. Its electric format provides a unique and powerful sound that is perfect for any genre of music. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, this guitar is sure to satisfy
VOX / BC-V90B Jet Black ... more
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Vintage VOX Style Teardrop Guitar Case * Great Shape *

Vintage VOX Style Teardrop Guitar Case * Great Shape *

Bellingham, Washington, 982**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$125

Vintage VOX Style Teardrop Guitar Case
Used, looks and feels older, but good shape ( See Pictures )!
Dimensions:
41 1 / 4 inches long
16 inches wide at the lowest bout
3 1 / 4 inches deep without lid closed.
AS-IS - No Returns
Please ask any questions you have before purchasing.
We are happy to answer any questions.
We will only ship to your eBay address,
please change address before purchase, if necessary.
Items will ship in 1-3 days
Everything pictured... more
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VINTAGE 1960s Vox Meteor Electric Guitar, Red - made in Italy With Ohsc

VINTAGE 1960's Vox Meteor Electric Guitar, Red - made in Italy With Ohsc

Spring Hill, Florida, 346**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$676

VINTAGE 1960's Vox Meteor Electric Guitar, Red - made in Italy With Ohsc Good condition sounds and plays great. The pickguard has shrunk Cool little vintage '60s guitar. Includes the original vox hardshell case. Will ship FedEx ground fully insured with tracking shipping to the lower 48 states only. No Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam or po boxes. International shipping provided by eBay global
... more
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Vintage VOX Spitfire  Electric Guitar - USED

Vintage VOX Spitfire Electric Guitar - USED

Spencerport, New York, 145**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1049

Up for grabs:
Vintage VOX Spitfire Electric Guitar - USED
COOL FSA FIND
PLEASE ASK FIRST ABOUT INTL SHIPMENTS AND WE DO NOT LOWER VALUES. NEW Please inquire about international shipments before you buy, please! We cannot ship everywhere due to box size limits
All guitars ship insured FEDEX, international shipments must meet country specific size limitations and shipping constraints and we will not lower the value for customs and may not ship the same day, we have our handling ... more
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Vox 60s Vintage Mark VI Teardrop Style Guitar - (Used)

Vox 60's Vintage Mark VI Teardrop Style Guitar - (Used)

Kokomo, Indiana, 469**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2800

This vintage 60's Vox guitar is in good condition for it's age. There are several finish imperfections including a missing chip that is about 1 / 4 inch (see pictures). Pick marks and normal wear is evident from general use. The vibrato arm is included but is missing a spring and the fastening hardware. The guitar has been set up in our shop with new strings. The action is set to play fast and easy. The intonation is true up and down the neck. The truss rod functions properly. There is minimal ... more
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Vintage 1963 VOX Ace Electric Guitar

Vintage 1963 VOX Ace Electric Guitar

Gurnee, Illinois, 600**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$570

Vintage 1963 VOX Ace Electric Guitar
Item # 57474-1This guitar is a survivor restoration project. it is almost complete except for the tuners. The bridge pickup doesn't work but the neck pickup does. Probably an easy fix but I did not take it apart. Has some finish checking but for 61 years old it looks really good. Pretty rare this guitar was not offered in the United States. Selling as is. Please have a good look at the pictures. I'm happy to answer any questions concerning this guitar. ... more
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Vintage 1960s Vox Mark XII 12-String Electric Guitar Owned by Steve Earle

Vintage 1960's Vox Mark XII 12-String Electric Guitar Owned by Steve Earle

Bigfork, Montana, 599**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4499

This listing is for a
Vintage 1960's Vox Mark XII 12-String Electric Guitar Owned / Played by Steve Earle
Italian made Vox from the mid 60's, it was owned and played by one of my favorite artists: Steve Earle!
This 12 string guitar features a teardrop shape, 3 tone sunburst and 3 single coil pickups
Steve used this on El Corazon (my 2nd favorite Steve Earle record) and whenever he used an electric 12 string on a record or play live
The guitar has finish checking through out as ... more
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Vintage Vox TEAR DROP  Guitar Case Slip Cover BLACK

Vintage Vox TEAR DROP Guitar Case Slip Cover BLACK

Kaufman, Texas, 751**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$120

good working condition 46x4x17 bottom46x4x6 top... more
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00 Vox Mark lll Guitar

'00 Vox Mark lll Guitar

Fredericksburg, Texas, 786**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4490

Welcome to Street Dreams in Texas as we celebrate our 25th year in the classic and muscle car business. We also sell rare and hard to find rock and roll memorabilia. We are happy to offer one of those rare items. This is a '00 Vox Mark lll in this original zebra finish by Kevin Smith. Only three of these were done with this finish, this is #2 of only 3. This guitar features an alder body, thin C shaped maple neck with a 12" radius Rosewood fingerboard and medium jumbo frets, 25 5" scale ... more
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Vintage Early 80s Vox Custom 24 Guitar Model 3001-All Original-Excellent!

Vintage Early 80s Vox Custom 24 Guitar Model 3001-All Original-Excellent!

Bigfork, Montana, 599**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1999

This listing is for a
Vintage Early 80s Vox Custom 24 Guitar Model 3001
This rare Vox was made from 1982-1985 in very limited quantities
In addition to being rare, this is an excellent playing Vox that appears to be completely original as well
Excellent vintage condition with a few small marks here and there, but for its age, overall very, very, clean
Comes as pictured with original case
If you are a Vox collector, this is one that does not come around in this type of ... more
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2022 Vox Bobcat V90B

2022 Vox Bobcat V90B

Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 547**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$849

Up for sale is this fantastic Bobcat from Vox. This guitar has incredible sustain and resonance thanks to the full size semi-hollow body and the p90 single coils. These pickups have a glassier tone to them, more similar to a Jazzmaster than a P90 Les Paul. The black hardware is a very cool aesthetic and the factory Bigsby actually holds tuning quite well. Action is low and fast without buzzing, just a great guitar


This one is in near-mint condition aside from a finish crack ... more
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Vox Bobcat V90 Black 194744499364 OB

Vox Bobcat V90 Black 194744499364 OB

Kansas City, Missouri, 641**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1120

... more
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Vox Apollo V266 Vintage Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar w /  OHSC ?? Used

Vox Apollo V266 Vintage Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar w / OHSC ?? Used

Brookfield, Connecticut, 068**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1600

1967 / 1968 VOX Apollo V266 Hollowbody Guitar in exceptional condition with the original case! All electronics are working perfectly!
The Vox Apollo was offered in the 1967 ??Vox, It??s Whats Happening?? and the 1968 ??The Sound That Travels With the Stars?? catalogs. This semi acoustic, single pickup guitar features a single florentine (pointed) cutaway and a number of onboard battery operated special effects
The 1968 US Vox catalog described the Apollo guitar as follows:
??A ... more
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1967-68 Vox Bossman Hollowbody Electric Guitar Cherry Red w /  Original Case V265

1967-68 Vox Bossman Hollowbody Electric Guitar Cherry Red w / Original Case V265

La Crescenta, California, 912**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1250

1967-68 EKO Vox Bossman V265 Hollowbody Electric Guitar in Cherry Red for sale. Nice condition for its age! Plays when plugged in but its pickup is non-original so the built-in effect's electronics need some work. The pickguards and nameplate are also not present. Original hardshell case included, which is in remarkably clean shape. Solid neck, still straight with no loosening issues. Nice patina all around. Great guitar, she's almost there! Offered for local pick up, but shipping may be ... more
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Find more Vox guitars for sale at vintageguitarsforsale.co

There are 2 comments on this article so far. Add your comment

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IAN NEWITT Comment left 18th January 2016 20:08:18 reply
I REMEMBER WORKING FOR G PLAN [FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS ]IN HIGH WYCOMBE BUCKS IN THE LATE 60s EARLY 70s MAKING VOX GUITARS. I REMEMBER A NOTICE ON THE FACTORY NOTICE BOARD, ASKING FOR SOMEONE WITH A MUSICAL EAR, FOR THE BASIC SETTING OF THEM.....MEMORIES.
David Petersen Comment left 10th November 2015 21:09:43 reply
Thanks Tony - fascinating, and confirms several apocryphal stories about Vox guitars (parts from Italy finally assembled in Britain etc ) for which there's little other documented support. As writer (in collaboration with Dick Denney and Derek Underdown) of a history of the company, I'm always keen to see authentic "shop floor" material like this. I'd be interested in your opinion of The Vox Story (2nd Edition), Ch 1 - 7, which I've recently posted on my Shere Sound facebook page.

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1963 Vox Super AceThe 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 EscortThe 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 CareCatalog 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 FolkThe 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 guitarThe 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

1959 Hofner Committee

1959 Hofner CommitteeThe Hofner Committee was a truly beautiful guitar produced in Germany, primarily for the UK market. It was a large bodied (initially 17 1/2") guitar with a carved spruce top, available as an acoustic or electric guitar. By the early sixties the carved top was replaced with a laminate, and although still a very fine guitar, the earlier carved top examples, with frondose headstock (like the example shown here) are far more highly prized amongst musicians and vintage guitar collectors.

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins TennesseanThe Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean, or model 6119 was Gretsch's best selling hollow body of the 1960s. This wonderfully faded example from 1965 was originally Dark Cherry Red, but has turned a mid-orange brown. The original color, however, can be seen underneath the pickup surrounds. 1965 specs: maple body, two-piece neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and Hi-Lo 'Tron single coil pickups. Nickel plated Gretsch Bigsby tailpiece.

1965 Gretsch 'For the Spectacular Sound of the Times' guitar and amp catalog

1965 Gretsch catalogThe 1965 Gretsch catalog, or catalog #32, featured 10 hollow body electric guitars, including the newly launched Gretsch Viking; four solid body electrics, including the Astro Jet - making it's only catalog appearance; just one bass, the single pickup PX6070; nine acoustics and 12 tube amplifiers. Pride of place went to the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman that adorned both the front and back covers. 24 pages, six of which are in full color.

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret ends

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret endsLoose frets are especially problematic in certain old guitars, but are generally very easy to fix. You'll be amazed at the difference you can make with just a few tools, a bit of knowledge, and a little time. Fixing loose frets can eliminate fret buzz, remove sharp fret ends, and greatly improve the tone of any guitar. If your luthier bill will be greater than the value of your guitar, definitely time to have a go yourself!

1966 Hagstrom 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog (Merson USA)

1966 Hagstrom guitar catalogHagstrom guitars were distributed in the mid-1960s United States by Merson of USA. This eight page 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog, printed in two-colors contained six solid body electrics, three solid body basses, two electric acoustic guitars, two electric acoustic basses and five acoustics.

1965 Hofner President

1965 Hofner PresidentThe President was produced by Hofner in Bubenreuth, Germany, specifically for Selmer, who distributed the brand in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other commonwealth nations. The President was a hollow body electric acoustic, available as a full body or thinline, and with blonde or brunette finish. It was a great playing guitar that sold fairly well in the second half of the 1950s, throughout the 1960s, and into the very early 1970s. The example shown here is a full-body depth guitar in blonde - and as a 1965 guitar, one of the last to feature the rounded Venetian cutaway. From late 1965 until 1972, the President sported a sharp Florentine cut. Naturally, such an electric acoustic suggests jazz and blues, but many of the original British Hofner President players were part of the rock 'n roll, skiffle and beat scenes of the late 50s and early 60s.

1963 1964 Fender catalog

Fender 1963 catalogue"The Choice of Professional and Student Musicians Everywhere" This eight page catalogue was included as an insert in the 1963 annual "school music" issue of Downbeat magazine (September 1963). As well as keyboards and pedal steels, this catalog contains seven guitars, three basses and ten amplifiers - from student guitars such as the Musicmaster and Duotone to professional models like the new Jaguar.