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Post by Cruachan on Feb 11, 2016 9:48:18 GMT
Ah, ha, at least we can be certain that character fourth from the end is a 'G'. Also, look at the 'L'. I think there is still enough residual painted information to persuade us that's an 'L' to the right of the first 'H'. I'm sticking to my guns; I'm still backing HIGHLIGHTS. Mike (puts pipe and deerstalker away as believes problem is now solved)  |
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Post by philc on Feb 11, 2016 11:48:00 GMT
Hi Phil Looks very nice!! Looking forward to hearing what it sounds like!! S. Coming up shortly Spike once I've learned how to tune it and some chords  Phil |
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Post by sixchannel on Feb 11, 2016 15:56:36 GMT
With that neck and pups, Wonderous Gland would be a good pick!! cheers ian |
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Post by philc on Feb 11, 2016 19:05:21 GMT
Hi Ian, Unfortunataly, The Highlights are not shown in your link but what about this, the plot thickens.  In the case was two paperbacks, unread and signed by the author Graham Forbes to Jonathan Kemp who owned the guitar.   By the way I think we can say now that The Highlights is the name on the case Phil |
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Post by Cruachan on Feb 11, 2016 19:30:19 GMT
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Post by sixchannel on Feb 11, 2016 19:39:11 GMT
Hi Phil
Thats the Baby!!
That link starts with Chapter 13 of that book - title "The Highlights" and the first ref to the actual name is half way down the first page you see -P76.
Cheers
Ian
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Post by philc on Feb 12, 2016 8:41:30 GMT
I have found the previous owners address and email address, I have sent him a message so a reply is awaiting hopefully.
Phil
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Post by philc on Feb 12, 2016 13:24:21 GMT
Here's the reply...oh, by the way the guitar was originally Olympic White, it was stolen from Graham Forbes in 1977 and returned a year later with the paint removed! :- "Hi Phil, Congratulations on owning the 62 Strat! I bought the guitar from Graham Forbes. He was in the Incredible String Band for their last album and has been in various groups since (including The Highlights and Mike Heron from the Incredible String Band and I think he used to guitar in that band) and is an author of various books on rock n roll. When the guitar was sent to Cranes for sale I sent them the receipt for Graham buying the guitar in 1975 so I presume you have that? Please find attached the photo of Graham with the guitar complete with it’s 70s finish prior to the refinish through Cranes. I would have loved to have kept the guitar but I’m a gigging musician not a collector and I just couldn’t justify keeping it. Cheers, Jonathan  |
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Post by kipper on Feb 12, 2016 22:32:17 GMT
what a great story and guitar history. peter
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Post by sixchannel on Feb 13, 2016 7:27:27 GMT
Result, Phil!!!
Very interesting research and its great to know its history.
Cheers
Ian
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Post by philc on Feb 14, 2016 12:18:45 GMT
I assume the guy that stole the guitar in 1977 just wanted a change of colour, people did this sort of thing in the 70's including myself, if only me knew that these guitars would become vintage collectables If this guitar was totally original and in "very good" condition it would be worth around £17k, in mint condition I guess £35k and upwards. Playing a nice guitar or a vintage reissue is great but there's something else involved when playing a real oldie, probably psychological and in many cases nostalgia comes into it Phil |
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Post by allclaphands on Feb 14, 2016 12:53:50 GMT
From the book the history of the Fender Stratocaster of what they cost back in the early 60's
In Britain, the year after the import ban was lifted in 1959, Jennings became the first official distributor of Fender gear, joined by Selmer in 1962. A Jennings catalogue from 1961 pitches the UK list price of the Stratocaster at £147/17s/6d (£147.88; about $400 at the time), and three years later it had crept up to £160/13s/0d (£160.65; nearer $450). By summer 1965, both Selmer and Jennings had been replaced as the British Fender distributor by Arbiter, which continued for many years as the brand’s UK agent.
The price back then would have been a fortune to most young men playing a guitar.
Pete
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Post by philc on Feb 14, 2016 13:05:30 GMT
The price back then would have been a fortune to most young men playing a guitar. Pete I certainly couldn't afford one then, hence my buying a Rapier 33 for 29gns on HP. In 1975 Graham Forbes bought the guitar from a shop in London, I have the receipt for £160, they were still not real collectable at this time. Phil |
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Post by allclaphands on Feb 14, 2016 13:19:13 GMT
The price back then would have been a fortune to most young men playing a guitar. Pete I certainly couldn't afford one then, hence my buying a Rapier 33 for 29gns on HP. In 1975 Graham Forbes bought the guitar from a shop in London, I have the receipt for £160, they were still not real collectable at this time. Phil Amazing Phil the amount of history and information connected to your guitar which as been revealed. From the Seriel number showing 50,000s to 70,000s 1961 60,000s to 90,000s 1962 To the build STRATOCASTER pre-CBS 1954–65 21 frets, small headstock, one string guide, four-screw neckplate, three controls. • Fretted maple neck (maple neck with rosewood fingerboard from 1959); truss-rod adjuster at body end; one string-guide. • Body sunburst or colours. • Three white six-polepiece pickups (bridge pickup angled). • Three controls (volume, two tone) and three-way selector, all on pickguard; jack socket in body face. • Eight-screw white plastic or anodised metal pickguard (11-screw white or tortoiseshell laminated plastic from 1959). • Six-saddle small bridge with through-body stringing or six-pivot bridge/vibrato unit. Some examples with gold-plated hardware (when with blond body unofficially known as Mary Kaye model). Succeeded by STRATOCASTER CBS Sixties |
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Post by philc on Feb 14, 2016 15:00:15 GMT
I have a picture of the guy (his name escapes me for the moment) that dressed Strat necks, he's standing by his bench, there are a few necks on the bench and one in the process of being fret stoned, this is in 1963, my 62 and 63 Strat necks were actually on that bench now long gone I would imagine.
Phil
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Post by allclaphands on Feb 14, 2016 15:35:12 GMT
The build for this type of Strat covered a period from 1954 to 1965 it's interesting to think it would have
been the choice of many artists of that era who used a Strat in America mainly until Hank had one imported
to the UK in 1959
Pete
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Post by philc on Feb 14, 2016 16:04:24 GMT
As we all know, Hank was the main "salesman" so to speak for the Strat over here, If Hank hadn't been around it might possibly have been Buddy Holly had he lived longer but I think with not the same impact, but I think there is no doubt that it would have still made it's mark whatever!
Phil
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Post by allclaphands on Feb 14, 2016 16:26:18 GMT
As we all know, Hank was the main "salesman" so to speak for the Strat over here, If Hank hadn't been around it might possibly have been Buddy Holly had he lived longer but I think with not the same impact, but I think there is no doubt that it would have still made it's mark whatever! Phil Very much so Phil as time as proven and all the different models of it over the following years when I was a teenager the mention of the name Fender Stratocaster was godlike and now years on although I'm well in my 60's I have a the guitars I wish I had back then to play with. Pete |
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Post by philc on Feb 14, 2016 16:48:34 GMT
I first played Shadows tunes in a band in the very early 60's, with my Rapier and with no echo unit!!!.....I couldn't afford one, but I heard the echo's in my head Phil |
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