FUTURAMA 3 Guitar 1959/60 ?

[keithmantle]

Hi All, i have just become the proud owner of one of these iconic guitars (George Harrison), anyone know what year it is Serial No is1574 also i would like a trem cover for it, all help would be gratefully recieved, Keith, photos available if you send a email address

[neil2726]

Fond memories of the Futuramas. I had a blue Futurama II deluxe and our lead player a Futurama 3. The 3 gave lots of trouble with those 3 rocker switches but at the time they were our Fenders! Pic of them in "Register Your Band Name" section under The Breakers. Sadly we parted with both in the mid 60s.

[almano]

Hi Keith, I seem to remember that I had a red "Strat" style Futurama with a white pick guard around the 1963 period. It had a similar sort of shape to the Burns Vista Sonic (i.e., the upper cutaway was not very deep at all) and I have a vague idea it was three pick ups with white rocker switch pick up selections.

Unfortunately the memorie's vague with guitars around that era - but I do recollect having a 'three pick up' and a 'two pick up' couple of Futurama's around about that time. Hopefully I have actually remembered right with the description of your Futurama - if it is the one I'm thinking of, it had a very nice action and "feel" for guitars of the day.

It's nice to hear of those old Futurama's coming back into favour again - I don't think the same can be said however for the old Broadways and Lucky 7's of the early sixties!

Cheers,

Alan.

[noelford]

Around 1961ish my mate and myself used to catch the bus to Coventry, just to go to the music shop (Paynes) and press our noses to the window, lusting after the Futurama displayed there. I keep an eye open on eBay for that particular model, with an eye to adding one to my vintage collection. I've never played one, though – can you give us a run-down on how it plays, Keith?

[Iain Purdon]

It's nice to hear of those old Futurama's coming back into favour again - I don't think the same can be said however for the old Broadways and Lucky 7's of the early sixties!

True, I wouldn't want one now but my early attempts at being Bruce were all made on Lucky 7. One advantage was that I developed a very strong left hand and well-padded fingertips trying to hold down the chord shapes on its unforgiving neck!
Iain

[Mikey]

Back in 1966 I had a Futurama III identical to the one in this pic. For some insane reason I swapped it for a tankful of tropical fish!

[Apache1]

Futurama 111 close up.jpg

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This is the Futurama 111 that I remember 1959/1960

[Keith Bateman]

Here's a couple of pics of me with mine circa 1963. In the group pic you'll see the rhythm guitarist has the Futrama 11 model.

It served me well at the time and looked the part. Having sold the guitar in 1968, I bought another about 10 years ago for old time's sake. It was awful!!

Keith

[Mikey]

I've seen ones like those owned by Keith and John but I can assure you mine was quite definitely a Futurama III. I remember something about it having the "patented King Neck" or somesuch which was a type of truss-rod (I think) which I have since read was actually very good at ensuring a straight neck. Yes, they weren't brilliant but most of us didn't know that until we experienced more superior instruments. I actually thought the bridge pickup sound was good, especially for rock, really "clangy" but I only ever played it through my Grampian Vibromajor amp.
The Futurama II and III De Luxe models had that a sort of silver "cheese grater" covering on the pickguard.
Happy days!

[Mikey]

[quote="these iconic guitars (George Harrison),[/quote]
According to Mo Foster's book "17 Watts" and other references the guitar George had was actually a Neoton Grazioso. I think there was quite a bit of "rebadging" going on around that time so please don't shoot the messenger!