Comments on: Q&A

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:11:45 +0000

Reply to klaus Hiltscher:

Mmmmm, maybe in another life on Route 66!

Paul

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:10:11 +0000

Reply to George Biavatti re Style C Banjo:

To be candid George, Banjo's are not in my sphere of expertise an I can't really advise you on your question. Try a banjo site or specialist forum.

Paul

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:06:26 +0000

Reply to Leo re Paul Brett Sinature Aria's.

Hi Leo,

I've seen them selling in vgc for between £750 and £1000. There are very few that come on the market as most people tend to hang onto them. Yes, I signed all the sales tickets and John the quality control ones. You could try advertisng them on EBay with a reserve. A dealer will not offer you retail prices, so maybe either an ebay or a private sale would get a better price.

Hope this helps,

Paul

By: leo

leo — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:33:33 +0000

Hi Paul
Just found your site - think it's great -
I own a matched pair of your Aria PB 30 - a six & a twelve String.
They were bought in 1977/9 and are still in great condition - the six string has been played more and has a few dinks from being on the road but still plays and sounds beautiful - the twelve string has very few marks - they've both been professionally set up and the action particularly on the twelve string is a joy to play.
They both have a fishman's pickup installed with the jackplug through the end pin so the guitar hasn't been altered at all (KGB in the Wirral fitted them).
They're both in the original Aria cases - the cases need new hinges but that's the only damage to them - more interesting is I still have the Paul Brett personal note to purchasers signed by yourself for each guitar and each allen key in it's case - I also have the original "distributed by Gigsville" gaurantees for each guitar and these are both signed by "John T Joyce" - the "T" might be an "F" I can't tell - but I wondered if it might be the same John Joyce who designed them?
I'd not thought of this until I read your article above.
I've had years of enjoyment from these wonderful guitars but am now retired and need to consolidate resources so could you give me an idea of what they might be worth and where I should advertise them? I can send pictures if needed - am also able to have condition verified by KGB luthiers in Wirral.
Thanks
Leo

By: George Biavati

George Biavati — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:37:22 +0000

I have a 4 string Style C Banjo Serial #1496 Written on the back of the original skin is a name with a date of 1934 Any idea what it is worth.

By: klaus hiltscher - affendaddy

klaus hiltscher - affendaddy — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:14:17 +0000

Hi Mr. Brett !

Is it possible that I have seen you in 1973 as backing musician of Chuck Berry ? I found a pic where Chuck stands behind a monitor box with big letters saying PAUL BRETTS SAGE. And who were the other musician beside you and Chuck ?

Greetings from Germany - Klaus Hiltscher/Affendaddy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/khiltscher/4850834650/in/set-72157624631480712/

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:51:42 +0000

Ref: D, Mowen. Magnatone Steels.

Hi,

The reason I didn't mention the Magnatone Steels is that I don't have much knowledge of them. I have most of the important Magnatone guitars however. They also made some great little valve amps that are quite collectable these days too. The steels have not escalated in price and collectability that the guitars have, although I have played a couple of steels and they are very good for the value.

Paul

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:27:27 +0000

re: Patrick & Grace - Lorelei (J.E. Dallas)

Hi Patrick and Grace,

Sorry for the belated reply, been upto my neck in getting articles written.
The guitar is probably Czech or German made. The zero fret gives it away. I vaguely remember seeing the name on a guitar many moons ago, but can't recal where or when. You can try La Bella silk and Steel light gague strings. I use these on all my vintage guitars. They put less tension on the table and are a good compromise between nylon and steel. I'm not too familiar with Dallas distributed instruments, although I know they distributed quite a few brands here and have been around a long time in various shapes and sizes. Have a look at this site http://euroguitars.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=501
It's got lots of info on Dallas and you can leave a question there about the Lorelei brand. Thanks for your kind words on my work for Acoustic Magazine too.

Paul

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:08:13 +0000

Hi Phillip,

Unless you can get originals in vgc it's very difficult to match. Attached is a pic what the originals Klusons were, plastic buttons on a strip. StewMac in the States sell a replacement, three buttons on a strip, either side. They are not an exact replica, as they have improved the design and housed the gears in a metal case. Have a look.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Vintage-style_3-on-Plate_Tuners.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=91436
If these are suitable, don't forget to follow the instruction on the page and check out the measurement of your holes, to see if their strip fits.
Strangely however, have a look at this L00 for sale on GBase. The seller says that he has replacement StewMac tuners. They do not seem to look like the ones they currently have on sale, more like the originals I would say. http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-l-00-1936-large-burst
You can email stewmac and ask them if they have a set that is close to the originals. Click the on the Customer Service/Contact Us button on their site to access their email.

Hope this helps,

Paul

By: Phillip Tanswell

Phillip Tanswell — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:43:16 +0000

Hi Paul,
I`m hoping that you might be able to offer some help/advice.
A couple of years ago I bid for and bought a 1930`s Gibson L 00 on e bay. It was in a very sorry state! It had been in an attic in Birkenhead for 30years with no case; baked in summer, freezing and damp in winter. Hence, all the glued joints were perished; not totally in pieces but with a blowing away of dust it would have been.The plus side was that it disassembled very easily.
The restoration is now well advanced; back in one piece with internal bracing and cracks repaired. The bridge was beyond salvage so a new one has been made with a new internal bridge plate.
The current issue is that the headstock is in a pretty bad way having had bodged machine head fitting in the past. Before Martyn (my luthier, the very excellent Martyn Booth) begins what will be a delicate piece of work, we need to know what modern machine heads would be the most appropriate and in keeping to fit. I think that the originals would have been "3 on a plate" style (?Klusons). I know that in the recent past Gibson did a modern re-issue of the L 00 so would think the heads usde ther might be right.
I have e-mailed Gibson 3 times to no avail (no answer!)
Are you able to help?
Many thanks
Phillip Tanswell