The ShadowMusic Web Community

Here's an interesting pic of John and Cliff with The Shads in the background dated November 3rd 1963 which I'd not seen before. It shows Hank playing a Marvin - but without the top 'horn'; is this a prototype? I'm not an expert on the chronology of the Burns Marvin etc during this period but guess this might be of interest to some!

https://www.mediastorehouse.co.uk/memor ... 23509.html

That's probably his very first session with the group.

I don't think he recorded with the group on that date yet. On the 5th, 8th and 10th of November, 1963, there were recording sessions still with Brian Locking on bass guitar. The tracks recorded during those sessions were for the "Wonderful Life" soundtrack album.

This looks like it could be studio 1 or studio 3. Studio 1 is, of course, massive and it has a window into the control room at floor level as opposed to upstairs as with Studio 2. I'll assume that Studio 3 is likewise set out in a 'conventional' way. A set of postcards of that image seems very reasonable.

I can see Norrie in the background talking to someone.

Hank playing a Marvin - but without the top 'horn'; is this a prototype?

Yes - there were allegedly about thirty prototypes.

It's difficult to see why, so close to the "finished product", this particular instrument lacked the bass side upper bout scratchplate, since that was effectively a Burns trademark by now, but still.

This picture of John is when Cliff and The Shads are welcoming John as the new bassplayer with The Shadows. Other pictures of this session shows Brian "Licorice" Locking handing over the bassguitar to John.

I don't know if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but Bruce appears to be holding two guitars - one on top of the other!

Bill

I think Hank is using a Burns, I thought they started using Burns in 1964. Maybe it's a prototype.

GoldenStreet wrote:I don't know if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but Bruce appears to be holding two guitars - one on top of the other!

Bill

I think that's the mic arrangement for Bruce's acoustic.

Fenderman wrote:I think Hank is using a Burns, I thought they started using Burns in 1964. Maybe it's a prototype.

Yes, it's a Burns Marvin prototype. I can't see the diagonal two-bar handrest over the tremolo plate - although the black plastic trim (which was discussed recently) appears to be there.

Is that Peter Gormley that Norrie is talking to in the background?