by JimN » 25 Feb 2011, 13:42
Hmmm... so many topics...
It is true that the (American) Rooftop Singers had the main USA and UK hit with the 1920s song Walk Right In, but I'm not sure that they appeared on British television. The Kestrels (a vocal group) did a UK cover of the record and I'm fairly sure that it was they who appeared on "Thank Your Lucky Stars", miming to their record and accompanied by a session guitarist "playing" a 12-string jumbo, clad in a check shirt. It was the first time I'd ever heard of a 12-string guitar - and Brian Matthew made much of the new, vital, sound of the instrument.
There weren't all that many quality 12-strings about at the time, of course, though the big American companies were busy gearing up for this obvious new market. Gibson and (supremely) Guild got in quickest, though Martin did produce a model and even Fender got there eventually. The second-rank USA companies (Harmony, etc) also got in on the act. Over here in Europe, the acoustic 12-string was immensely popular (The Seekers contributed to that with their hit records) and most of the second-rank manufacturers scrambled for a spot: Eko, Hofner, Framus and others. The Framus 12-string jumbo models were equipped with tailpieces and adjustable bridges, making them potentially very playable and a cut above their immediate rivals.
The difficulty of getting hold of a quality American 12-string acoustic lent these European makers a certain extra credibility - especially when John Lennon used a Framus for things like You've Got To Hide Your Love Away. However, I'm not aware that The Seekers ever used a Framus. As far as I can recall, they used (Australian) Maton guitars, just as Frank Ifield had done before them.
I have never owned a 12-string acoustic (though I'm working on it), but I did have a Danelectro Bellzouki model in the sixties and bought a Fender Electric XII in 1979 (and still have it).
If I get an acoustic, it'll have to be a good'un... I fancy a Guild... the Rolls-Royce of acoustic 12-string guitars.
JN
Last edited by
JimN on 25 Feb 2011, 19:46, edited 1 time in total.