Bruce's Decision to Play a Stratocaster

[GoldenStreet]

Maybe they changed to tortoiseshell plates instead of the white ones because people might have got the Shads confused with the Fentones!!

... or the Beach Boys!!!

[Uncle Fiesta]

On Precisions, standard colours such as black and sunburst came with tortoiseshell scratchplates, custom colours with white.

(It's thought Jet's Fiesta Red one with a torty was the result of a mistake in the factory.)

Strats were different, white was standard on all colours, but perhaps torty was an optional extra.

[dave robinson]

Back then when Jet had the red P Bass there were bands in and around Sheffield using the same model and same colour P Bass, it was normal to see fiesta red with tortoiseshell pick-guards at that time, so for me there is no mistake at Fender - they were built that way intentionally. It was shortly after that when the Jazz Bass appeared on the scene in the same colours. Here in the UK, one rarely saw a Fender bass without a tort pick-guard until the seventies at least - and I saw hundreds of bands with P Basses in red, sunburst or white and the odd one with a sonic blue finish with a white plate at that time as we were on the road playing gigs along side them.

[JimN]

...when Jet had the red P Bass there were bands in and around Sheffield using the same model and same colour P Bass, it was normal to see fiesta red with tortoiseshell pick-guards ... no mistake at Fender - they were built that way intentionally ... the Jazz Bass appeared on the scene in the same colours. Here in the UK, one rarely saw a Fender bass without a tort pick-guard until the seventies at least ... the odd one with a sonic blue finish with a white plate at that time ...

Correct. The tortoiseshell pickguard was introduced in the late fifties as the sole replacement for the anodised aluminium 'plate. The three-ply white (mint-green) was brought in at least a year later for certain colours only. In the UK, as Robbo says, that tended to be limited to Sonic Blue. I have seeen a sixties FR PB with a white pickguard, but suspect that it was a re-finish.

In general, of the few colours imported to the UK by Jennings and Selmer, the sunburst, Fiesta Red and Olympic White models had 'shell plates and Sonic Blue had white versions.

Tortoiseshell:

http://www.scottymoore.net/ep64PBass.html

White on Sonic Blue:



JN

[GoldenStreet]

I was wondering about the lighting of that familiar Decca EP cover picture at the Cavern... the back wall is a fetching shade of blue as well!

Bill

[GoldenStreet]

A picture from The Shadows By Themselves. Jet's PB would appear to be the red one.

Bill

JHPB.JPG

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[shadows_guitarist]

Another cool rare picture from an even rarer book ! I remember back in the old forum there was a thread about a picture of the group and Cliff sitting in what was thought to be an airport (prob. 1961) and Jet or Hank holding a maple neck Strat which appeared to be white! Probably a little bit off topic, but there were some interesting discussions about that picture. If anyone has it, can you please post it.

[cockroach]

I noticed whilst on Google that Bruce's early guitar used with the band was a 1936 Vega Electravox model- there are pictures of this model guitar and also Bruce and the boys. The horseshoe magnet type pickup was also used on Rickenbachers (as it was spelt then) and other instruments including lap steel guitars (which is where it was first used)

This was an early electric guitar model and was apparently on sale a few months before the Gibson ES 150 ('Charlie Christian' model)

Interesting stuff...

[JimN]

I noticed ... that Bruce's early guitar ... was a 1936 Vega Electravox model ... The horseshoe magnet type pickup was also used on Rickenbachers (as it was spelt then) and other instruments including lap steel guitars (which is where it was first used). This was an early electric guitar model and was apparently on sale a few months before the Gibson ES 150 ('Charlie Christian' model)
Interesting stuff...

Rickenbacker supplied Vega with the pickup. Charlie Christian was pictured with the same model guitar as Bruce's, as well as a Vega amplifier, presumably just before he bought his first Gibson (ES150), reputedly with the help of Les Paul.



JN

[cockroach]

JimN

There's an interesting clip on YouTube where Eddie Peabody (and some other players) demonstrates a lap steel, mandolin, banjo, and guitar (actually a 4 string tenor) which are all fixed by adjustable stands to a table (with a cover cloth- probably covers up the amp or amps underneath)

All four instruments have that same horseshoe pickup fitted....

He calls the device the Electraphone...

Got to hand it to the Yanks, they were first with so many ideas and innovations...

Nearest the UK had back then as regards ideas for seeking loudness for stringed instruments in the '30's was probably Emil Grimshaw with his double backed banjos and guitars- similar idea to the Maccaferri with internal soundbox, and of course there were the metal bodied Nationals- saw a clip of Max Miller playing one on stage..). Don't recall ever hearing about anyone experimenting with electrification of guitars etc in the UK back then?

The French, Swiss and Germans had pickups and amps by about early-mid '40's and there were electric lap steels and amps in many countries including here in Australia (I once played a gig with a older guy who played Hawaiian lap steel- he still had his Rickenbacher bakelite job which he bought new in 1939...and Bill May of Maton guitars made his first two pickup archtop in 1946..) I think there may have been a British version of the Rickenbacher lap steel?

The early history of electric guitars etc is summat I find fascinating!