The Unique Guitar Blog: July 2020
These days there are a myriad of guitars and amplifiers manufactured in the Far East or in Pacific Rim countries that aren't just wonderful newbie instruments, but great professional guitars and basses aswell. Of course the United States and European countries are turning out amazing guitars and basses that are even more technologically advanced than ever before. Musical instruments are actually made with computer aided design and CNC tools that give them exceptional tonality.50 years ago there were no computerized tools. Although computers were available they were large enough to fill a room and didn't have much memory. Analysis, development and upgrades in amplifier modeling possess given even a little practice amp some very usable tones that could make a youngster from 1965 envious. Ironically in 1965 most of the amplifiers obtainable were tube amps. For many years since '65, guitarists have sought that warm tube tone and breakup, but in 1965 when a clean sound with plenty of headroom was desired, most low wattage tube amps distorted constantly.
In all honesty a few of the tube amps highlighted in those days were not all that great. The tubes got scorching and frequently burnt out. In addition to that, the standard of 1965's spending budget guitars was "iffy." Some guitars and basses made fifty years ago had been downright unplayable. I was 12 years previous in 1964 when my Dad took me to Can’s Pawn Shop in downtown Cincinnati Ohio to pick out a guitar. The guy at the pawn shop took down a late 1940’s model Harmony Patrician and said, “Right now here is a great guitar. Your kid will need a couple of strings and a pitch pipe to tune it. That will be Twenty dollars.” I took it home on the bus. The strings were most likely a half an inch off the neck at the 12th fret. Those strings were created by the Black Gemstone String Firm. I’m surprised Black Diamond Strings are still available of offering strings, because back those days the strings arrived in only one size; Extra large. They made my fingers sore and stressed the guitars throat.
But I persevered and learned to play basic chords at a local YMCA class. By 1965 I was ready for a power guitar. I obtained as much catalogs as I could find. There was no internet or Musician’s Friend. In those days all we had was Sears and Roebuck, Montgomery Wards, JC Penny’s, Western Auto and Spiegel’s. I had no idea that most of the guitars and amplifiers were made by the same companies’ which were either Chicago Musical Instruments, National-Valco, Kay, Danelectro and some others. And at spotify free imported guitars from Japan were flooding the marketplace too. THEREFORE I was searching and hoping to get a guitar from one of these catalogs. I experienced my sights set upon this dual cutaway solid body Harmony guitar. Imagine my shock when Father took me to a local music store. The seller pulled out three situations that contained three extremely utilized Fender Stratocasters.
One was dark, one was white (at onetime, but yellowed by tobacco smoke) and if I remember correctly the other was nearly purple. I chose the dark one. It acquired a maple throat with a 7.5” radius. The Strat also came with an original tweed case. As I recall it cost $150. I had no clue at the time it had been a 1958 model. I had my electric guitar, but needed an amplifier. We drove off to the neighborhood Western Auto store and purchased a Kay Model 703 amplifier. It had 3 odd tubes, a 35Z5 rectifier tube; a 50L6 model result tube, a 12AU6 preamp tube, 3 instrument inputs and a volume/on/off control and a tone control. I really believe it had a 6” loudspeaker with a transformer attached to the basket. I still have got this amplifier. The loudspeaker was replaced many years ago. From recent specs I think it is put out slightly significantly less than 4 watts. Among my friends rigged it up to change one of the guitar inputs to an exterior speaker input.
