Guitar Spotting

[Billyboygretsch]

In the second episode of Cilla there was a clip showing the session men in the studio. One of the guitars was a double cut Gretsch looked like a Country Gent. There was another on the right of the Gretsch which looked a bit like a black Gibon Les Paul but I couldn't make it out in time and unfortunately didn't record the program so can't check. Anyone notice it ?

[Uncle Fiesta]

That clip can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57oGcUUBg1E

This series has led to a bit of discussion on Pistonheads; as it's a car form, the D-reg Jag was noticed straight away, as was the FB Vauxhall Victor driven by Bobby had a crudely modified number plate - the suffix letter (probably a 'B') was obscured. Also the differently-coloured roof, and the different grille, mark it out as a later model (1964, the year of the B suffix, was the last year they made the FB).

And at the water cooler in the first episode? Drinking from paper cones in 1963 - very avant garde.

Someone else pointed out that the above studio sequence featured microphones in very modern-looking shock mounts, and I noticed the double-bass player was using a bow ... yet we could clearly hear it being plucked.

Some one else wondered whether the other aspiring singer named as Betty Marsden was supposed to be the actress from Corrie. No that was Betty Driver, who was a big band singer in the 30's and 40's.

There was a comedy actress called Betty Marsden who strangely enough came from Liverpool, but would have been much too old to audition for Brian Epstein in 1963, so I wonder where the scriptwriters got that name from?

No matter, whatever the howlers, the best thing about the series is the star. Sheridan's singing is spot on - and as an actress she continues to get better and better.

[Billyboygretsch - I've just watched the first studio sequence of Episode 2 again; if you can pause at 26:51 you'll see the guitar in question clearly. No, it's not a Les Paul! Looks a bit like an Italia - if it is one that's ok, it looks suitably retro!]

Couple of other points: nice to see a 'minimalist' drum kit with just the one hanging tom, very authentic. But surely Abbey Road Studios would have had a grand piano not an upright?

[dave robinson]

That clip can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57oGcUUBg1E

This series has led to a bit of discussion on Pistonheads; as it's a car form, the D-reg Jag was noticed straight away, as was the FB Vauxhall Victor driven by Bobby had a crudely modified number plate - the suffix letter (probably a 'B') was obscured. Also the differently-coloured roof, and the different grille, mark it out as a later model (1964, the year of the B suffix, was the last year they made the FB).

And at the water cooler in the first episode? Drinking from paper cones in 1963 - very avant garde.

Someone else pointed out that the above studio sequence featured microphones in very modern-looking shock mounts, and I noticed the double-bass player was using a bow ... yet we could clearly hear it being plucked.

Some one else wondered whether the other aspiring singer named as Betty Marsden was supposed to be the actress from Corrie. No that was Betty Driver, who was a big band singer in the 30's and 40's.

There was a comedy actress called Betty Marsden who strangely enough came from Liverpool, but would have been much too old to audition for Brian Epstein in 1963, so I wonder where the scriptwriters got that name from?

No matter, whatever the howlers, the best thing about the series is the star. Sheridan's singing is spot on - and as an actress she continues to get better and better.

It was BERYL Marsden Steve.

[Uncle Fiesta]

It was BERYL Marsden Steve.

Aha! her details can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_Marsden

[JimN]

The guitar which looks a bit like an Italia (for good reason) and has also been described as like a Les Paul Custom is probably a Hagstrom P-46. Never officially imported to the UK, it dates from the late fifties.

Here's a pic of one in a different finish; you can see that it is the forerunner of the Strat-shaped Hagstroms which were sold in the UK as Futuramas, with many of the same components:



A few made their way to Britain. Roxy Music used one on a well-known LP sleeve.

However, it is also possible that the guitar used in the film is an Italia, because one Italia (Asian-made) model is a close replica of the P-46:



The guitar was also seen in the "Rory Storm & The Hurricanes" scenes, as was the Hagstrom-made Futurama bass in ice blue.

[Uncle Fiesta]

No I think you're right Jim, it is a Hagstrom.

Another thing that's just occurred to me; would Cilla have called Mr Epstein and Mr Martin by their first names?

[dusty fretz]

Those early Hagstrom semi-solids were indeed available here, being imported by distributor/retailer Rose-Morris during the early '60s, while other outlets included Bell Music of mail order catalogue fame. They were a bit on the pricey side and so didn't prove too popular, which makes the four-pickup EDP46 a somewhat less obvious choice as a representative beat group guitar in this programme.

[Billyboygretsch]

Saw this on Internet may be of interst

[dave robinson]

I think you will find 1965 may have been when they changed from end of year to Mid year or something. I had a Morris Oxford estate with a "c" reg later in the year "d"reg emerged. "E" reg really suffered with the number of registrations. Anyway this spotting stuff is all good fun. Gonna watch Cilla again. Real Anorak or Anarak stuff here. Keep it coming. Can anyone remember being on a tram in London. I can remember going down the Kingsway tunnel on one with my dad

Thanks for pointing that out Bill, I knew I'd seen a 'D' reg in '66, one of my mates bought a new Cortina GT in red with a gold stripe along the body and that was a 'D' in late '65.

[dave robinson]

Re what Bill said about missing the identity of some of those guitars, I have each episode saved on the recorder, so whilst I've got the place to myself I'll have a look and freeze the bits where they appear.