br1vittorio wrote:Ciao Dave, many thanks for your detailed answer!
Now I know more about that man....!
You did not tell me anything about my question about the book....I will try a little bit more (being an Aries I do tend to weaken nearly all my temporary "manias") to possibly get it without having to spend a fortune...I did email the english author(the Abbey Road recording engineer) but he did not reply, maybe he has changed his email or he's died and also the other italian author probably will not be able to help me....provided he's still alive!
It remains the impression that Roberto was very sympathetic and stubborn....a good example of a thoroughbred...tuscan man!
I am glad that you had a very nice time in Italy.
Please feel free to ask me all you should wish or need. it will be a pleasure.
All the best
Bruno
The short answer to your question about why he wrote the book and made those claims is, that having bought a Fender Strat, Vox AC30 and Meazzi Echo box, he couldn't make the same sound as the Shadows recordings. He began to do some research and discovered that Hank had owned the Gretsch 6122 and it went from there. I also know of a guy who knew Hank back in Newcastle, who told the story that Hank had said he used the Gretsch on Apache, which to him explained why none of the guys in Newcastle could get the sound. That said and knowing Mr Marvin's sense of humour, he was taking the piss by saying that , as at the time as they were all old musician friends back in the day before the Shadows were famous. We too knew the story and quickly realised that it was said in jest.
Sadly, Roberto took it serously and the book was written and published. I have a copy that Roberto gave to me and signed and there are some useful bits of information in there, but although I had a similar Gretsch guitar and did get very close to the sound, It was never the same sound as those records. Most guitars will sound pretty close through the Vox AC15 or AC 30 as long as it has the EF86 circuit on board.
I hope this gives you some kind of answer to your question.