Oh Dear - A very sad story

guitars4you

ICBM said:

guitars4you said:

It is never going to be original again (depends who is selling it !!!!!!!!!!!) but could consider another change to the fingerboard back to rosewood to put some credibility back into it

Alvin Lee Big Red tribute conversion?

always been a bit of a TYA fan and that went through my mind the 2nd I hear about it

equalsql

Gagaryn said:

Whatever you do, please make sure that nobody has inadvertently damaged the serial number while removing a sticker... 

Bugger.. I just spat out my tea! Lol!!

richardhomer

equalsql said:

Gagaryn said:

Whatever you do, please make sure that nobody has inadvertently damaged the serial number while removing a sticker... 

Bugger.. I just spat out my tea! Lol!!

This - quite rightly - is set to become the new forum ‘in joke’

AlexC

Didn’t John Birch try and make a replica Red Special for Brian May once? Which May then threw to the back of the stage during a gig (it was playing up), missing Roger Taylor’s head by inches. So the story goes.

Octafish

Sounds like John Birch was the original Cleartone Convertions.

guitars4you

guitarfishbay said:

Guitars are tools at the end of the day.  They did the mods because that's what they wanted at the time.

totally agree and had very little value around the period many such mods were been carried out

I'm picking up an early 60's ES345 in a few days time, that @SteveRobinson has been renovating  for me - The previous owner, probably with a compass, scratched his name on the rear of the headstock

Bridgehouse

richardhomer said:

equalsql said:

Gagaryn said:

Whatever you do, please make sure that nobody has inadvertently damaged the serial number while removing a sticker... 

Bugger.. I just spat out my tea! Lol!!

This - quite rightly - is set to become the new forum ‘in joke’

Collings

I had a 62 Strat that JB had refinished the neck on which included lacquering the rw fingerboard. I had it stripped off straight away. 

I remember during the late 70s his guitars being quite sort after and i knew a number of players that used then rather than a Gibson or Fender. Musical Exchanges in Birmingham on Broad St always had loads. I did try one briefly myself but it was just so heavy it was impossible to gig with. I remember swapping it for a Tokai strat as i wanted a strat but all the Fenders i tried were rubbish.

I think John Diggins form JayDee worked for John Birch before setting up on his own and he made some cracking guitars including an SG for Angus Young and a Gretsch type for Malcolm.

guitars4you

Collings said:

I had a 62 Strat that JB had refinished the neck on which included lacquering the rw fingerboard. I had it stripped off straight away. 

I remember during the late 70s his guitars being quite sort after and i new a number of players that used then rather than a Gibson or Fender. Musical Exchanges in Birmingham on Broad St always had loads. I did try one briefly myself but it was just so heavy it was impossible to gig with. I remember swapping it for a Tokai strat as i wanted a strat but all the Fenders i trief were rubbish.

I think John Diggins form JayDee worked for John Birch before setting up on his own and he made some cracking guitars including an SG for Angus Young and a Gretsch type for Malcolm.

yes John Diggins worked for JB in his early days - JayDee is still going and I believe his lad(s) work with him now

guitars4you

Further update - I've just had contact with someone who has actually seen this instrument today, or in the last day or so, along with my comments on FB - It sounds worse than my initial reporting - his comments below

Yeah I've seen it (oh my eyes) and played it. Along with the 6 volume tone knobs its got 3 red micro switches ( but massive ones). It's got metal caps covering where the tail piece studs were. Three pickups that looked forced into the body. Lots of extra scratch plates everywhere and one bent tuner.

Paul_C

guitars4you said:

Further update - I've just had contact with someone who has actually seen this instrument today, or in the last day or so, along with my comments on FB - It sounds worse than my initial reporting - his comments below

Yeah I've seen it (oh my eyes) and played it. Along with the 6 volume tone knobs its got 3 red micro switches ( but massive ones). It's got metal caps covering where the tail piece studs were. Three pickups that looked forced into the body. Lots of extra scratch plates everywhere and one bent tuner.

That sounds like something that @HarrySeven would love to own.

Gassage

guitars4you said:

Further update - I've just had contact with someone who has actually seen this instrument today, or in the last day or so, along with my comments on FB - It sounds worse than my initial reporting - his comments below

Yeah I've seen it (oh my eyes) and played it. Along with the 6 volume tone knobs its got 3 red micro switches ( but massive ones). It's got metal caps covering where the tail piece studs were. Three pickups that looked forced into the body. Lots of extra scratch plates everywhere and one bent tuner.

Bit harsh

i always liked Dave Hill

Bridgehouse

guitars4you said:

micro switches ( but massive ones)

WezV

Gassage said:

guitars4you said:

Further update - I've just had contact with someone who has actually seen this instrument today, or in the last day or so, along with my comments on FB - It sounds worse than my initial reporting - his comments below

Yeah I've seen it (oh my eyes) and played it. Along with the 6 volume tone knobs its got 3 red micro switches ( but massive ones). It's got metal caps covering where the tail piece studs were. Three pickups that looked forced into the body. Lots of extra scratch plates everywhere and one bent tuner.

Bit harsh

i always liked Dave Hill

You know, when I got my JB I was told it used to belong to Dave Hill.  I don’t think that affects the value in any way

guitars4you

WezV said:

Gassage said:

guitars4you said:

Further update - I've just had contact with someone who has actually seen this instrument today, or in the last day or so, along with my comments on FB - It sounds worse than my initial reporting - his comments below

Yeah I've seen it (oh my eyes) and played it. Along with the 6 volume tone knobs its got 3 red micro switches ( but massive ones). It's got metal caps covering where the tail piece studs were. Three pickups that looked forced into the body. Lots of extra scratch plates everywhere and one bent tuner.

Bit harsh

i always liked Dave Hill

You know, when I got my JB I was told it used to belong to Dave Hill.  I don’t think that affects the value in any way

I heard Noddy or Dave took his old SG in to JB for some work to be carried out on it, back in the early 70's - When he got it back he could not believe it - Lok wot you dun, he said

Gassage

WezV said:

Gassage said:

guitars4you said:

Further update - I've just had contact with someone who has actually seen this instrument today, or in the last day or so, along with my comments on FB - It sounds worse than my initial reporting - his comments below

Yeah I've seen it (oh my eyes) and played it. Along with the 6 volume tone knobs its got 3 red micro switches ( but massive ones). It's got metal caps covering where the tail piece studs were. Three pickups that looked forced into the body. Lots of extra scratch plates everywhere and one bent tuner.

Bit harsh

i always liked Dave Hill

You know, when I got my JB I was told it used to belong to Dave Hill.  I don’t think that affects the value in any way

He was in that jam place in the Jewellery quarter the other night. 

IvisonGuitars

guitars4you said:

Collings said:

I had a 62 Strat that JB had refinished the neck on which included lacquering the rw fingerboard. I had it stripped off straight away. 

I remember during the late 70s his guitars being quite sort after and i new a number of players that used then rather than a Gibson or Fender. Musical Exchanges in Birmingham on Broad St always had loads. I did try one briefly myself but it was just so heavy it was impossible to gig with. I remember swapping it for a Tokai strat as i wanted a strat but all the Fenders i trief were rubbish.

I think John Diggins form JayDee worked for John Birch before setting up on his own and he made some cracking guitars including an SG for Angus Young and a Gretsch type for Malcolm.

yes John Diggins worked for JB in his early days - JayDee is still going and I believe his lad(s) work with him now

Yes they do, fine luthiers all 3, although John himself only does a few days a week there now.

Gassage

guitars4you said:

WezV said:

Gassage said:

guitars4you said:

Further update - I've just had contact with someone who has actually seen this instrument today, or in the last day or so, along with my comments on FB - It sounds worse than my initial reporting - his comments below

Yeah I've seen it (oh my eyes) and played it. Along with the 6 volume tone knobs its got 3 red micro switches ( but massive ones). It's got metal caps covering where the tail piece studs were. Three pickups that looked forced into the body. Lots of extra scratch plates everywhere and one bent tuner.

Bit harsh

i always liked Dave Hill

You know, when I got my JB I was told it used to belong to Dave Hill.  I don’t think that affects the value in any way

I heard Noddy or Dave took his old SG in to JB for some work to be carried out on it, back in the early 70's - When he got it back he could not believe it - Lok wot you dun, he said

It wasn’t his guitar, it belonged to his parents 

mamma weer all crazy ...

equalsql

Another thumbs up for Dave Hill, lovely fella.

Back in the 70's John Birch pickups and guitars were considered very highly amongst us young players. The rhythm guitarist in my band back then had some Birch pups fitted into his flying V and they were monster!

I'm surprised that there isn't some financial value to the John Birch 'mojo' nowadays..

WezV

equalsql said:

I'm suprised that there isn't some financial value to the John Birch 'mojo' nowadays..

there is.