Guitar query

[rogera]

Can anyone throw any light on what type of guitar Keith Owen of the Cougars used on "Saturday Nite at the Duck-Pond"?

[JimN]

I think it was a Hofner V3 with toaster pickups (dating from 1961-1962).

Very like this one:

[neil2726]

I think you are right Jim! There's a pic of them on You Tube but sadly no video! That looks like the guitar!

[rogera]

Thanks for that information Jim.

[cockroach]

I had one exactly like that in '67- used to use it as a backup guitar on gigs when I was using a Burns Vibra Artiste as my main guitar.

It didn't really cut it in those days- not really suitable for rock music in that era! It probably would have been more suited to early '60's instrumental stuff..

I also had a Club 40 a few years before that, but I never really liked the sound of those Hofner pickups

That Cougars record was very good though!

[hernando]

I also had a Club 40 a few years before that, but I never really liked the sound of those Hofner pickups

Totally agree!
Once apon a time ... back in the day... I used a Club 50 to play rhythm in a shads tribute duo. The Hofner sounded like a dull electrified banjo.

[ecca]

Did anyone actually use the slide switches ever on the Hofner control panels ?

[cockroach]

Dave- yes! They sounded mostly just like an electric banjo- no sustain at all.

Ecca- Yes- I used the treble switch on most times, but for some Rolling Stoney or Kinks type rhythm sounds or a jazzy tone I also used the bass switch alone or both on together. The rhythm/solo switch didn't get used much- who wanted a quieter sound at age 16 or 17??? EVERYTHING had to be FULL ON!

In those days it was also the early Who era, I could get great feedback sounds which were similar to the intro of I Feel Fine- then I actually used the rhythm /solo switch to get the Pete Townshend fast morse code on-off beeps....

Ahhh...1965 was a good year!

[Billyboygretsch]

Those slider controls were awful. They crackled broke would not slide or became loose. The pick ups made it sound as if you always needed new strings. Didn't keep it long.
I made a Brian May style set up on a spare Vibra artiste blank plate but used mini toggles instead of sliders. They feel easier to get at and more positive than the sliders. Also were easier to solder.

[geoff1711]

I used to play Saturday Night At The Duckpond on a Hofner Galaxy, about 1964 I would think, from memory it played well and sounded good, out rhythm player had the V3, his was bassier, but we got good sounds on anything from the Shads to the Stones via the Beatles and Kinks.

The amps were Linear 30 valve amps and sat on top of two speaker cabs 3 x 2 x 1ft deep loaded with Fane 12" speakers, I used a Copicat as well and our vocalist also plugged his mic in as well, the little square Reslo job.

But I think as youngsters the rivet counting approach to music and kit hadn't really come about, you just played what you had, spare cash went on girls and going out.

Geoff