NGD: Back to the '70's!

HarrySeven

Laydeez and Gentlemen...straight from the pages of Bell's Catalogue, I give you...



Made in Japan, from only the finest plywood, it's...a 1974 Columbus N82!

PhilKing

I had a N85 (the LP copy), back in 1971.  Toured Germany with it and a Fender Musicmaster.

hobbio

If it's straight of of the pages of that particular catalogue then surely it's a N82?

Also, did you get the waterproof case for only £3.50 extra?

I love that thing btw. How well does it play and what's it sound like?

Jack_

Forecast says the weather is going to get colder again this weekend, so good timing, it's good to be prepared.

HarrySeven

hobbio said:

If it's straight of of the pages of that particular catalogue then surely it's a N82?

Also, did you get the waterproof case for only £3.50 extra?

I love that thing btw. How well does it play and what's it sound like?

Well spotted, Sir!

Sadly, no - the seller (yes, I actually bought it today) didn't have the original case.

Re. playability - the frets are pretty knackered, it has strings from the '70's still on it and the action leaves much to be desired, but we'll see...

HarrySeven

Jack_ said:

Forecast says the weather is going to get colder again this weekend, so good timing, it's good to be prepared.

Heathen! 

Moominpapa

Those guitar shapes  ...  I feel like I've seen them before .... in a dream

mart

Moominpapa said:

Those guitar shapes  ...  I feel like I've seen them before .... in a dream

They’re the different John Mayer signature PRS models.

Philly_Q

Did you pay more than £56.85 for it (minus waterproof cover)?

I remember those Bell's catalogues.  Even in the 1970s they looked like they were from the 1950s.

HarrySeven

Philly_Q said:

Did you pay more than £56.85 for it (minus waterproof cover)?

I remember those Bell's catalogues.  Even in the 1970s they looked like they were from the 1950s.

Far less than that!

Re. Bell's - check it out here.

Moominpapa

I like that the model FT 2T had 'responsive electrics'. Imagine how disappointing your electric guitar would be with unresponsive electrics.

Funkfingers

Zarquon's knees! Three-way pickup selector switch of non-standard dimensions. Irreplaceable!

How many shekels did one pay for the privilege of ownership.

Bigsby

HarrySeven said:

Re. Bell's - check it out here.

Thanks for the link - that took me back.  

A West One No 3440 was my first guitar, ordered from Bell's. I should've spent more time trying to play the damn thing and less time looking at the catalogue and wondering what I'd buy next. GAS has been around a long time!

Philly_Q

HarrySeven said:

Re. Bell's - check it out here.

It's silly, but I got a real buzz out of seeing that "01" phone number.

thegummy

They've went to the extra expense of adding a truss rod cover

impmann

That’s a great reminder of how much easier new players have it today.
You could gig an affinity Squier. I doubt you could gig that...

NeilMcG

thegummy said:

They've went to the extra expense of adding a truss rod cover

Placed off-centre as a sheer display of luthiery skill...

richardhomer

impmann said:

That’s a great reminder of how much easier new players have it today.
You could gig an affinity Squier. I doubt you could gig that...

In quality terms the gap between that and a Fender of the same period is probably about the same as an Affinity and a modern US guitar....

I have a great affection for 70s copies - they were ubiquitous when I was learning to play. Most were playable enough - and most importantly of all - they looked like the guitars people on Top of The Pops played.

Sporky

I would like to point out that plywood is an excellent engineering material for a wide variety of applications.

HarrySeven

richardhomer said:

I have a great affection for 70s copies - they were ubiquitous when I was learning to play. Most were playable enough - and most importantly of all - they looked like the guitars people on Top of The Pops played.

Unsurprisingly, I’m with you on that.

However, comparing entry-level guitars then and now is (to some degree) apples and pears - the vast range available now (from ‘Burswood’ super-cheapies to say, Squier Affinity level) is probably much more diverse (and generally of much higher quality) due to modern construction methods and materials.

Your average Woolworths/Teisco job, Kay K32 Strat copy or Satellite Les Paul could be made playable and still have a certain charm today, but on average, I’d say they don’t come close.

57Deluxe

I still have 2 consecutive years of the Bells Catalogue in the loft... The hours and hours I daydreamed pawing them wishing and wondering...