|
|
Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Hi,
Since 3 days, I'm in contact with a nice guy in UK called Anders.
He was looking for information about his guitar because the label is missing.
I've told him that it's a Dlx Balladeer but I'm not sure on the date...
Something is surprising me on this guitar.
It doesn't have the usual dot inlay at 15th fret but a diamond and there's another dot inlay at the 17th fret.
So there's a total of 9 inlays vs 8 usually and it seems not to be a 3 pieces top.
Could it be a very early model???
Anders would like to sell his guitar so, if you're interested, LOOK AT THIS PAGE.
J :)
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The inlay pattern is correct for the period. As far as I recall the DB gained fingerboard binding probably around the time of the GC Deluxe Balladeer, but didn't get the extra inlays, Tupp or Moody will correct me if I'm wrong. Eventualy the Deluxe Balladeer morphed into the Legend and the Custom Balladeer filled the gap it left. The 2 piece top would suggest a later model, probably 68/69. I have a 3-piece top version, also for sale. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15665
Location: SoCal | The DB got the bound fingerboard in about 1970, about the same time as it got the textured bowl and the winged bridge (that's how it appears in the 1970 catalog). In the 1972 catalog it was officially the Legend and had the same fingerboard inlays as the Glen Campbell models. Also, 1970 was the time that the bracing changed from the X bracing to the VT system.
Also, if he looks inside the guitar at the neck block, he should see the guitar's serial number. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | They changed to 2 peice tops somewhere late 1968. Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Thanks for your replies.
J :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | Hi to all the interested folks on this fine forum. BIG thank you to Jerome for all his assistence and help. Feels like home already... Put the kettle on, I've got some buscuits.
The early Ovation Balladeer Deluxe is my acoustic for the last 24/25 odd years. I think it was 1981 or there abouts when I bought it. The poor thing had, by what I was told, been in a small scale domestic flood. I was told this was why there were some cracks to the varnish finish, which have remained more or less the same over the last quarter of a century. The label was still in it when I took possession but was falling off, so I removed it after about 2 years. I think I might still have it, but I have moved so many times since then, I can't locate it. I seem to recall it was a small, rectangular paper design. NO - I can't recall whether the serial number was red, but I'm fairly certain it was a very, very low number.
I have, earlier today, collected the guitar from a local, gifted Luthier and flamenco player. He has had an extending mirror inside the bowl and I can report - there is NO serial number on the triangular jointed neck, anywhere. He is meant to be drawing a sketch of the bracing arrangment but I fear he's forgotten and is off to Spain tomorrow... I/We might have to wait for a few weeks until he comes back.
I thought the date might be either VERY early or a Jan/Feb 1967 build. I seem to recall I did read a FEW were built with two piece tops in 1966 and/or 1967. It does have Grovers and I thought the other ID marks - hole, binding etc - were correct. I did note the extra DOT and it has edged fret markers and NO neck button for strap on the underside.
The other thing I think might be of interest is the inside. Although no serial number seems to be present you can see the hammer indentations around the inside junction where the neck joins the bowl. I guess this was some sort of "tuning" (LMAO). This is the earliest Ovation I've ever come across, although I've only EVER seen 3 early ones, and none had these internal marks on them to such enxtent. It is also a fraction over 6 inches deep - and that's using a spirit level. Does this help, or dirty the already murky waters...?
I will take some more photo's and post them up. My local Luthier artisan has cleaned up the fretboard, sorted out the frets a bit and set it up properly again. It now plays a lot better.
I'm considering selling the guitar as I am raising funds to start my own video production company and very £ is going to count. Although I hardly play now, I do feel the idea of selling it strange.
I look forward to having my Ovation education extended... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Without an exact serial number you won't get any closer to the date of manufacture than you are now. 3 digits in red ink would make it very early. Every Ovation I've seen of this vintage has had a 3-piece top. The really early ones had a much larger neck-rod cover. Not sure when that changed but it would be very low numbers. Sam might have a better informed guess. 3 digits plus a letter prefix would mean mid 68 to early 70. 4 digits no letter is late 67 to mid 68. My Deluxe Balladeer is a 3-piece top and is serial number 2094. The number is on the label and stamped onto the neck block. It's hardly conclusive, but 2 piece tops generally indicate later production.
Did you find this guitar in the UK? Pre-1970 Ovations are rare as hell over here. I've only seen a handful outside of the USA, and most of them have been mine. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | 3 piece tops went well into the s/n 2000 range. If I had to guess I would say that this is an A- or B- series 3 digits. I have seen quite a few of those that did NOT have numbers stamped on the neck block. Also some that stamped 2xxx but the label said A-xxx. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | The extra inlay is still a mystery for me because I never seen something like that before and I haven't found anything in my documents!!!
I hope that we will have more information about that unusual feature.
I don't like to feel ignorant... :D :D :D
J :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Jerome, I see what you mean about the inlay pattern, it is different to the usual Deluxe Balladeer pattern. This pattern was used on the early Legend which by this time was pretty much a Deluxe Balladeer with a different name. There's one on page 8 "Acoustic Guitar Features" of the 1972 orange catalog on your website. I think that inlay pattern and no fingerboard binding would place this particular guitar around 1969 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | The bridge, two piece top, fretboard dot config are the same as the Lifton edition. Although his example looks a bit nicer then my one, I have found ( ;) - like you ALL didn't know already) an example the same on the Ovation Gallery site and it says 1968. I now have another question, or 2...
In the specification information it states the body binding, meaning the black/white edging to the body is 5-ply. I will upload better pictures, but my example seems to be 8-ply. There are 4x black and 4x white, the 1st 2 of each are very thin and the 2nd 2 of each are bigger.
The inside neck heel strut is also painted a matt black.
The Full length of the guitar is - 41 inches/ 104cm in length. The neck is 41mm at the nut, height (with spirit level flat) 6" + 1/8th inch/ 15.6cm and 39.8cm wide at lower, 25.6cm narrow waist.
I also noticed that in the 1968 Deluxe Brochure - the example seems to be a 2 piece...?
I'm off to bed night - all this excite has kept me up past my bed time. I'm not as young as I like to think I am ;) - Enjoying the train of enquiry - it's a real detective story. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | The 8-ply binding is standard. For some reason they called it 5-ply but they are all 8-ply. Neck blocks painted black is also standard. The 2 piece top became standard sometime in 1968. First on the Deluxe and the Josh White, then later on the Standard. Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | I've done a bit more reading up and some further physical examination of the Deluxe. I'll try an internal mirror in a few days... Does anyone want to tell me what pattern the internal bracing will be for an early (66), mid (67) or later DL should, or could be? I've read the online stuff that Jerome and Dave/Gallary have. Just wantedm to know beforehand what the other likely options would be. Then once we have a picture it'll be clearer. I did get the above neck nut measure measurement wrong, but the bowl depth and overall length figures are OK - and I will post pictures later in week - bit busy at present. Does anyone know of a 2nd hand case that would fit the extra deep bowl? I figure a STANDARD DL one MIGHT still be a tight fit? Don't want to shell out for one to find it's too small. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Should be A braced. Any deep bowl Ovation case will fit. The original was either Lifton or Gieb. Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Tupperware:
Should be A braced. Any deep bowl Ovation case will fit. The original was either Lifton or Gieb. Dave A Braced? Ol' Tupp appears to be suffering from temporary Dyslexia or Dementia, or probably both. Until the early 70's all 6 string, steel string Ovations had a slightly modified Martin type X brace. The main differences being the lack of a bridge plate and the angle of the transverse bars. Mine, and a few others I've come across from this period have only the 2 main "X" struts, no transverse bars, but most have 3 bars between the main struts. Some models, but not the Baladeers went to the VT pattern around 1970-ish. The A pattern came in a few years later on the Custom Legend. Variation in bracing patterns on Ovations of this era is pretty much irrellevant in terms of dating.
He's right about the cases though. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Um, well, yes you are correct sir X brace it is ... I'm not dyslexic, I knew the letter was on the left side of the keyboard somewhere.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | OK - I have more news from the Brighton Balladeer Deluxe Mystery.
I have skillfully managed to gaffer (let's hear a BIG HURRRAY for GAFFER tape!) Taper a small makeup compact, with mirror to a dental tool I had laying around (that's another story ;) ). I have placed a small flourescent light into the bowl and inspected the inside myself. I even have a few photo's were the results can be seen as the mirror is a decent size.
The result is - it's an Ovation X brace! Not an A as Tupperware said it should be. Damnit it :(
So, I got online and then spoke to JHS, Leeds, UK - outstanding customer services they have there, I highly recommend them, especially Nathan. He has looked at a few reference sources they have up there and informed me the FIRST Balladeer Deluxe guitars did have Ovation X bracing first version with the three additional braces on the lower part. This was then developed and only later became a Ovation A version. This would, in itself, place it in the early part of the production period but...
The bowl is a good bit bigger at just over 6 inches and the extra fret DOT marker BUT... Not only does my Deluxe have the earlier X bracing but it's an EARLY X brace pattern I am informed. It does not have the additional 3 braces and looks the same as the one in the PATENT drawing. It has a simple, roughly 1 inch square piece of ply secured over the very centre of the X brace. UNLIKE the patent drawing it is NOT rounded off, only rough. My Deluxe doesn't have the same external heel arrangement as the PATENT, but original step down version due to the deeper bowls on the ealy versions. Seems JHS are going to mail my photo's and other info to US Factory for Head of Production and probably Bill himself - I am honoured indeed. It's raining off and on outside at present. Once it's brightened up I will take some more photo's outside and sendn these and the internal images up for Jerome to do his MAGIC with . I have to say that the OVATION fans and staff all seem REALLY nice, friendly and helpful types - big THANKS to ALL. It reminds me of the Apple Macintosh/ Mac OS "community" which I'm part of.
Glenn - I might well be interested in that case, very kind of you to offer. I would feel better if it was in a HARD CASE now I know more about what I have. When you say SE Penn in your profile - is that US or UK or where? It'll make a difference to the cost. I also need to check that there's enough extra depth to the case for this guitar? I'm sure there will be, you all seem to know your onions here. Thanks again. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I believe this is what you are talking about:
This is the x-brace intersection on a 1968 GC Deluxe Balladeer. Single cross brace, 2 piece top, no number on neck block, A-xxx series.
Yes you and Temp are correct, the Deluxe Balladeer is X braced.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | To Paul Templeman - Sorry for delay in answering an earlier question you asked. I did buy this guitar in the UK actually. I bought it off a bloke who had been in the States and, if I recall correctly, was part Canadian. He was selling up and moving to the Continent, France I think. I recall he played OK. It was my first really good acoustic and I've kept it very since. Unlike my Hofner VeriThin Semi which I sold and wish I still had :( Where in UK are you? Near enough to Brighton for me to drop by to show you it? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | Tupperware (Dave?) - thats the chap. It does look a lot like that. I still don't recall a LETTER in the serial number, though it is some time back. When I looked at the old labels in the reference links the Bloomfield one seemed to ring bells but they aren't that different over such a long time ago etc... How come a later model had an earlier brace config then?
I guess I might be here for a specific purpose - researching my Deluxe. I will probably still sell it, but I might buy another more recent one 2nd hand and stick around. I have found myself playing the thing again and enjoying trying to remember the stuff I used to be able to do. I even got a blister :( - I haven't had one of those from playing in many a year ;) I mention this as I sense I'M the TEMP...? I have, truth be told, forgotten so much I couldn't gig, but you never know. Busking in Brighton probably makes more then IT does these days. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | LMAO Glenn - sounds a bit MAD mate, no wonder your lady "her indoors" has been on your case about it. I should speak, our place is bigger but it's also full of "stuff". We look likely candidates for a TV make-over show. Luckily I've digitised most my CHOONS, so the records aren't missed as much as the books, online just isn't the same. I've got a good mental image of your trailer in my mind though. I can imagine making a SHORT about you for Channel 4 - Alternative Lifestyles and Obessions season. You could play the soundtrack tune ;) Top Offer though and THANKS. I guess I'll need one to ensure SHE gets safely to HER new home (sic) when/should I sell her. I'm beginning to feel like I've cheat on my lady and slept with another woman. I wouldn't care but the Delux only makes it out into sunshine a few times a year for last 7 years odd. It's a shame really I know, hence why I got thinking about it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by HiPhi:
Tupperware (Dave?) - thats the chap. It does look a lot like that. I still don't recall a LETTER in the serial number, though it is some time back. When I looked at the old labels in the reference links the Bloomfield one seemed to ring bells but they aren't that different over such a long time ago etc... How come a later model had an earlier brace config then?
I guess I might be here for a specific purpose - researching my Deluxe. I will probably still sell it, but I might buy another more recent one 2nd hand and stick around. I have found myself playing the thing again and enjoying trying to remember the stuff I used to be able to do. I even got a blister :( - I haven't had one of those from playing in many a year ;) I mention this as I sense I'M the TEMP...? I have, truth be told, forgotten so much I couldn't gig, but you never know. Busking in Brighton probably makes more then IT does these days. Sorry for the confusion. You need a line up card around here sometimes. I tend to use a lot of abbreviations and accronyms due to CTS (Carpel Tunnel Syndrome)
Temp is Paul Templemen. I'm Dave, sometimes known as Tupperware but people confuse me with the other guy named StandingOvation who has that Ovation Gallery website. StandingO (there I go again) used to post here but somewhere around the 5000 count be got booted off for offending the christians and Cliff's choice of favorite BYA. Ooops, sorry, that's Barn Yard Animal. SO makes an occasional cameo. Then there is Moody, not to be confused with MWoody. Sometime I type too fast and it's MMoody or WWoody. They sort it out amongst them selves W's pop up again in the form of Wabbits (aka Waskels) and Jeff W's and CWK's etc. Basically the W key on my computer is completely worn out.
Anyway, I have two words of advice. 1) Don't go way. Stick around here. Honestly we are not a bad bunch at all. Temp and Schroeder do well representing the Island. 2) Don't get rid of your Deluxe Balladeer and get a newer one. You will be very disapointed. Those old Shiny Bowls are like magic. Just ask StandingOvation.
Cheers, Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 629
Location: Houston, Texas | Dave, don't be so modest.
You even offend the agnostics and atheists.
:D :D :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | . . . but not as much as the christians . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | ^ what about the Gnostics, Hindus, Muslims, Toaist and Buddhists? Didn't Cat Stevens, sorry, Yusuf Islam own an Ovation at some point...? I'm fairly THICK SKINNED myself and not easily offended, although I was far from happy when Maggie got re-elected. I can be a bit of a troll myself at times and my sense of humour can sometimes offend. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | StandingOvation used to piss on them all, didn't matter. The only ones he never gave a hastle to were the lesbians. Not sure why. He had this matrix table like the ones you use to find the milage between 2 cities (before they had computers, I guess). Columns for every faith and rows for every sexual preference and perversion. He'd match up the intersection of a row and column and if someone fit into that box he would go at them mercilessly. We had a member (nice enough guy) who just happened to be a jew with a foot fetish. StandingO sent the poor bastard home in tears. It was really pathetic.
Maggie? Sorry, have to admit I have no idea who that is. If it's something outside the USA, sadly most of use neither know or care about it.
Hey, back to your guitar. I'm curious about that bowl depth. Please contact Paul Templemen, he's got this more-or-less official measuement technique that should be used to compare all bowl depths without experimental error.
Bye, Dave
PS - Please don't sell your guiar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . who just happened to be a jew with a foot fetish . ."
I remember THAT guy!!
StandingO accused him of paying "retail" for women's shoes, and we never heard from him again.
"Ditto" on having Templeman measure the bowl depth for you.
Tho' plan on having the guitar thoroughly cleaned afterwards. . .
Whilst the technique is more-or-less "accurate" . . . it sure as hell ain't pretty.
I also concur.
Don't Sell. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | I placed it on a large flat table and placed a spirit level on top and a steel ruler vertically against the bottom to measure it. After I did that I did the same with the guitar ;) The annoying thing was the guitar beat me and it's got less wood in then I did. The picture shows my technique and train of thought. TEMP did not let me know where he was in UK. Although a quick Google shows a PT up in Sunderland doing what sound like a good job at the Ropery...? Is this he? Is Temp a "mackem"? Originally I was a "Cod Head" or "Monkey Hanger" <- which ever you prefer ;) If he is in NE England - it's unlikely he'll be doing it as I seldom get up that end of the country. Where are you Temp NE, SE, NW or SW...? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Temp's a Geordie. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | Maggie = Margaret Thatcher - aka The Iron lady , although there are a few other, less nice, alternative names for her. Before anyone asks, I'm NOT Ben Elton! I know what you're thinking now, who is Ben Elton? Google is my answer. I'll try not to deviate so much from the Balladeer. Some forum admin mods and users can get upset when the thread structure falls apart. As the newbie around these parts, I don't know how I stand on this point of etiquette here? I can chat for England. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The only thread around here that had any "structure" was the one used at Witko's last sex-change in Amsterdam . . . but that one unraveled too . . .
Veering from the topic around here is NOT tolerated by ANY means. Failure to comply is quite ugly.
How ARE you with llamas, by the way?? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5330
Location: Cicero, NY | "Structure" must be an English word. It's certainly not in the OFC lingo. The only time you see that used around here is when it's preceeded by "lack of". |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Hey! THIS guy's a SickPuppy! :
I like him ALREADY!!
Keep your calendar "clear" for next May.
Yer comin' t'Connecticut!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | I'm affraid I might have to sell the DLX as I filmed a couple of gigs during the month long, Brighton May Festival this year, both events inside. One was a music event, very good local band called - The Mountain Firework Company http://www.themountainfireworkcompany.com/main.htm
and a comedy show by a mate. When I got to review the footage I noticed I've got a dreaded DEAD PIXEL on my Canon XM1 which is my 2nd event camera. The only way I can afford to get another one 2nd hand is to sell some stuff. The LAST thing I needed was to buy another camera and still only have 2 fully working, broadcastable ones to show for it. I'm doing this on a REAL shoestring. The Balladeer is not the only thing I'm prepared to sacriface, it seems I might have to film a few weddings and engagement parties to fund my ideas. I still don't really know what I might expect to get for the "old girl"? Someone I know who gets nice kit GIVEN to him by companies has promised to loan me some sort of lower value Strat (sorry if that's seen as swearing around here). This would enable me to input into Apples GarbageBand and relearn what I've forgotten. As I help him out on Apple problems and he didn't buy it, I might take him up on the offer. I could then use proceeds of DLX sale for an eBay'd replacement 3x CCD, MiniDV camera. I'll try to avoid selling her, I've managed to get by 3 or 4 times before after thinking about it I guess. It depends on how much I might get. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by HiPhi:
Although a quick Google shows a PT up in Sunderland doing what sound like a good job at the Ropery...? Is this he? Is Temp a "mackem"? Originally I was a "Cod Head" or "Monkey Hanger" <- which ever you prefer ;) If he is in NE England - it's unlikely he'll be doing it as I seldom get up that end of the country. Where are you Temp NE, SE, NW or SW...? That was me. My venue management days are long gone and I don't miss them in the slightest. And no I'm not a Makem, I just happened to work in Sunderland for a for a while. Cliff is almost right, I would be referred to as a Sand Dancer, which is not quite a Geordie. I currently reside in a quaint little village, somewhere in County Durham.
My unique and accurate bowl measurement technique only works on supershallows, at least until the skin grafts heal. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | Sand Dancer eh. that's South Shields isn't it? I moved down south from Wallsend in 1986, used to live in Teesside adn hartlepool and when I was much, much younger, I used to go up to Sunderland Mecca for the ROCK nights there and headbang away. It was funny but your name did ring a bell with me, hence why I Google'd you - excuse the expression. The Ropery is all I could see, apart from MELT? You not connected with The Ropery now then P? Although I've never been there, I have heard very NICE things said about it as a venue. It sounds like a perfect gig for a few bands I know, especially including TheMFC ^ see above. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Cliff is almost right . ."
. . and I'm almost left.
Keep the guitar. Screw the camera.
Just go frame-by-frame and "paint-in" the dead pixel in post-production.
Matt&Trey would be proud . . .
(VERY nice website on the FireworksCo., btw!!!) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | The website was done as a favour to the band I believe - "off the backof a digital lorry". The company that did it was Eigth Day I think - they seem to get some high profile accounts. The band have a good local and regional following and the website is a perfect mirror of what they are like as a bunch of guys. I only recently went to see them and they were really good. Brighton is FULL of good bands actually - I LOVE living here in Brighton - it is so varied and the weather has to be about the best in the UK. I have to say that I thought Newcastle especially, was looking very much smarter when last I was up 2005.
You don't notice the DEAD PIXEL really, unless you're filming indoors or a dark background. I do still have to get another DV camera though - post prod will only do for so long. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | You can now see how I did the bowl measurement here:
Bowl Measurement Technique http://www.ovationfanclub.com/photos/HiPhi_66301_Bowl%20Depth.jpg
^ seemed a fairly logical solution to a lateral thinking like me. I don't know about you lot but I think best - flat on my flat. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Here's an "assist" :
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | I'm out of here guys - have a good night/day/evening - I'll check in tomorrow at some point. Nice chatting. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by HiPhi:
Sand Dancer eh. that's South Shields isn't it? I moved down south from Wallsend in 1986, used to live in Teesside adn hartlepool and when I was much, much younger, I used to go up to Sunderland Mecca for the ROCK nights there and headbang away. It was funny but your name did ring a bell with me, hence why I Google'd you - excuse the expression. The Ropery is all I could see, apart from MELT? You not connected with The Ropery now then P? Although I've never been there, I have heard very NICE things said about it as a venue. It sounds like a perfect gig for a few bands I know, especially including TheMFC ^ see above. Yep, South Shields it is. I got done with the Ropery a few years ago, it was a great venue that actually made a difference at one point, but isn't anymore. Sunderland is still a good breeding ground for new bands and quite a few Makem bands are signing deals right now. The Futureheads are a Sunderland band, who are apparently destined for greatness.
I'm pretty well known in my neck of the woods as a musician and gig promoter, so that might explain why the name rang a bell especially if you still have connections up here. It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | This might explain why I recognise your name, I guess you were promoting for a good bit then...? I still think there's another reason why it's triggering past memory synapses.
I recently discovered an old band I used to roadie for in the NE is STILL together - a bunch of ProgRockers called - GLACIER - from Billingham. I don't surpose you know them and that's where I recognise your name? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Don't think so, I didn't take the right kind of drugs to get interested in prog rock. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | He was too busy tacking-up DollyParton posters on his ceiling . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Brighton, East Sussex. UK | Originally posted by cliff:
He was too busy tacking-up DollyParton posters on his ceiling . . . I wonder where on the poster he put the thumb tacks? Just as well it was only the poster he had hanging over him...? If it was actually Dolly Parton it would be like the beginning of - Mission Impossible - movie, the part where the Heroic Midget (Tom Cruise) has to FREE Climb the massive overhang... What an image I have in my mind now - Cue the MI theme tune on an old Philips Compact Cassette player.
:cool:
I can now see a trail of CHALK hand marks all the way up her most difficult path of ascent, the North Face Cleavage Gully and a big pile of plectrums that had fallen out his youthfully eager pockets as he made the hard climb. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Cheap shot Cliffy. Actually back then it would have been posters of Nicolette Larson and Linda Ronstadt, both of whom were comparatively challenged in the dirty pillows/Devil's dumplings department. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3615
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Good thing about the "search" function. Thanks to Miles & Al. But I digress......
I received my Josh White, circa 1968, #1831 stamped on the neckblock. The bracing reveals one X-brace, & one crossbrace under the fretboard extension. That's it. May be why the top is tipping in, front of the 5-point bridge. Apparently lost its label somewhere along its journey. Should it, or could it, be replaced, just for yuks? |
|
| |
Early Dlx Balladeer Shiny Bowl!!