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I had little idea that when I first volunteered to give an occasional hour's music training to two adults with learning disabilities that it would develop into The Honeytones. In 2002 I dug my old acoustic guitar out of the attic along with a couple of keyboards. Now we've got as much gear as Status Quo, 10 members, and I've added considerably to my guitar collection. I have a bit of an obsession with pre-war blues (up to 1943) and have managed to collect almost everything that was recorded up to this date. It was the early blues that led to my interest in the guitar. I have to say that I have never had so much fun since the band was formed. There follows some pix of my "Non Honeytone" guitars and also some of the guitarists that I most admire. The background is my favourite car in the world, - 1937 Cord 812 |
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| My first custom acoustic from Brook Guitars. The less kind folk of my aquaintance call it my pimped guitar. It's the largest model they make - J200 size - and the sound is very large to go with it ! | This resonator built in National 'O' style was fitted with a new neck and National cone by Brook Guitars. The relic finish was done by me using a series of chemical treatments normally reserved by gunsmiths. |
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| My gorgeous 1959 Silvertone Espanada. A rock and roll/rockabilly axe par excellence with its original gibson designed P13 pickups. The Honeytones logo is a later addition. | This small bodied 12 string was built by Brook Guitars entirely from koa, a scarce Hawaiian wood with wonderful tonal characteristics. The inlay was inspired by a photograph of Charlie Jordan (see him below). |
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| I re-covered this 1970 100W Roost valve amp and it looks nearly as good as it sounds. no fewer than 9 tubes are used in the amp and the sound is ......... . . pure vintage cool. | A Republic "Highway57" model resonator of parlour size. The relic finish on the body was done by me and is derived from a series of gunsmith chemicals. |
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| My latest baby from the Brook Guitar workshop. This jumbo has a gothic flavour. The gargoyle inlay in mother of pearl on the headstock, ebony pickguard, and heel block were done by Jack Smidmore. The tone is complex and quite extraordinary and this is due to the Brook craftsmen and the150 year old tonewood supplied by Aaron Hix in the USA. Visit both Brook and Aaron's ebay shop on the Links page. | The left hand photo is a 1950 National "Californian" archtop that I own. It is currently at Brook Guitars being restored in the style of the 1937 National Electric Spanish as simulated in the right hand photo. See Memphis Minnie with an original below. |
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| The love of my life, the "trouble and strife", my beautiful wife of nearly 30 years, Trudy | The incomparable Memphis Minnie with her gorgeous 1937 National Electric Spanish. |
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| Django Reinhardt - note the untidy string ends ! | Mississippi John Hurt with Skip James |
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| The incredible Blind Arthur Blake | Mark Knopfler | Robert Johnson | Eddie Lang |
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| Francis "Scrapper" Blackwell | Blind Boy Fuller | Martin Carthy | Blind Willie Johnson |
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| Charley Jordan | Robert Pete Williams | Blind Willie McTell | Blind Lemon Jefferson |
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| Casey Bill Weldon - slide guitarist extraordinaire | Rev Gary Davis, an amazing 2 - finger picker | ||
