here by popular demand: a thread about Brian's guitars would be great,
if our fine patient and learned Guitar Connoisseurs would be willing to enlighten us some.
here's a photo to start things off, from one of the 1964 Ready Steady Go appearances.
i've got it labelled as july 1964; the good Nico states that on that show all they played was It's All Over Now.


- 1964 (possibly july), by Dezo Hoffman, courtesy of Vox12String

isnt it a early vox guitar?

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

it's a Vox 12-string - i've heard it must have been a prototype,
but i don't remember what it is about it that doesn't match the specs of the model that was marketed.

the "museum" section on the Vox site only has guitars from 1967, but ... well, here it is:
[www.voxamps.co.uk]

thats a prototype sure...i think it from wether 1962 or 1966
called Phantom Mark III

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

sorry built in 1964 Phantom "Teardrop" Mark III

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

i thought the Phantom Mark III was a six-string.

here's some background, from [www.hillmanweb.com] - i hope it's accurate:

Vox is one of the most complex and mis-understood manufacturers in musical instrument history - and the story still continues today. Vox, at one time was one of the largest musical instrument companies in the world and their products were utilized by almost every major music group during the nineteen sixties and on to the present. From The Shadows to Lawrence Welk, The Beatles to U2, Vox is the "voice" of generations of musicians worldwide.

The first Vox guitars were produced in 1961 and it did not take long for Vox to make its mark in guitar history. In late 1962, Vox introduced what seemed at the time to be a totally unconventional instrument, the Vox Phantom Guitar. With its unusual offset trapezoid body, the Phantom soon became the chosen instrument of many groups of the era, including the Hollies and the Dave Clark Five.

Soon after, a guitar that was originally called the Phantom mkIII was introduced, but because of its rounder “lute” like shape, it and later variants were often referred to as the Teardrop.

The most famous user of this guitar was Rolling Stones founder, Brain Jones who made use of it on many recordings sessions and shows in the mid 1960’s. Never afraid of innovation, Vox then went on to produce the Mando guitar, a short-scale 12 string model used by George Harrison.

These guitars made music history, but there is no need to invent time travel to own one. They are available today, hand crafted and built in the USA, made from North American hardwoods with maple necks and rosewood fretboards. The pickups have alnico magnets for a unique vintage sound. The pickup covers, pickup rings, knobs, and switch plates, have been remanufactured for the original look of the highly-collectable Vox guitars but with many improvements.

yes ...but there was a prototype 12 string.
the prototype mark has a straighter body.

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

same information on a site with some photos to illustrate:
[www.voxamps.co.uk]

yes ...but what guitar should it be ?
imo its a 1964 Phantom "Teardrop" Mark III prototype 12 string.

perhaps we have to wait for mathjis :-)

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

>> perhaps we have to wait for Mathjis <<

probably wise. :E
meanwhile, here's a halfway-decent shot of Brian with his six-string Phantom:


- Ready Steady Go 1965 (probably jan 15th; courtesy of Keno)

yeah thats his real ix-string Phantom prototype :-)

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

and my favourite shot of Brian: the Alexandra Palace All Night Rave, june 26th 1964,
and [discreet edit!] that's a Gretsch he's got there. (thanks gentlemen!)


- by John Hopkins

thanks & praises, Brian, and love & light



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2009-07-28 22:29 by with sssoul.

is it an early starfire?

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

i don't know, TeleK.
in case it helps any, on page 76 of Rolling With the Stones,
there's a shot from 1963 where Keith's playing it; you can see the tailpiece real clearly.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-24 23:32 by with sssoul.

it looks like a Gretsch to me

llaushin:

an early gretsch falcon?

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

okay, so here are some details about vintage Gretsch models:
[www.provide.net]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-24 23:32 by with sssoul.

Yes, that's the same Gretsch Brian used in the Stones' first televised appearance in December of '63, when they played I Wanna Be Your Man. It was Brian's preferred guitar before making the switch to the Vox Teardrop sometime in the summer of '64. BJ's Gretsch supposedly was light green in color. Where could it be now? Maybe Keith knows . . .

sure enough - thanks Neptune! do you know what model it is?
in any case, here's your prize:


- De Lane Lea Studios, oct 7th 1963, by Gus Coral

so what's Brian playing in this one?


- the Crawdaddy Club 1963 by Dezo Hoffman



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-24 23:33 by with sssoul.

perhaps a framus or hofner?

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

Sorry sssoul, I couldn't tell you which model Gretsch that is. Thanks for the pic. That's a classic shot of Brian and Keith working out their weaving magic in the early days. It's too bad that good things always have to come to an end . . .

ahh but Neptune - they've given us the music forever.
this is part of the hugely astounding thing the Rolling Stones have done,
that we all too easily take for granted: they not only created this magnificent avalanche of splendid music,
but they've kept their balance and not lost heart, and made sure we can find the music everywhere.
hear it for a thousand miles! that's power & glory, baby. the Rolling Stones.

ahem. back to Brian's guitars, right



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-24 23:34 by with sssoul.

off-topic, but I love that shirt keith is wearing in the RSG '65 shot. It showed up on one of the guitar threads, too... This might be sacrilege around here, but I think I prefer his style pre-"gypsy".

The Gretsch is a 6118. Gretsch just re-issued these pretty recently.
The other guitarist in my band just got one. They sound pretty good.
I haven't tried his out yet, though. The color is actually a very light green.
For more info on his Vox guitars, go to the Vox website. You'll find info
on his teardrops, Bill's Wyman bass, and great info on Vox anmps.
Someone asked about the amps on the NME '68 gig. You'll find all the info
on the amps there. It's a great website.

ohh thank you, TomK - i found these nice clear shots of the 6118 re-issue:
[gretsch.for.sell.monsite.wanadoo.fr]

and can i ask more specifically you're finding all this cool information on the Vox site?
what i'm finding there is probably fine for people who are already real familiar with the instruments/amps, but isn't real forthcoming for simple folk like me.
this is the site i'm looking at: [www.voxamps.co.uk]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-24 23:34 by with sssoul.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2005-11-05 22:07 by King Bee.

My error.
The Vox page i'm talking about is www.voxshowroom.com

FIREBIRD


FIREBIRD NON REVERSE




Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008-03-21 13:31 by King Bee.