Funnily enough he'd just come back from the pub when he sold it to me... but he was kindness itself to a nobody guitar player. Well I know he was about to make a sale, but the coffee was surplus to commercial requirements. It did take a while to re-string (Ernie Ball 8's on the 12 and whatever I had...

Anybody remember this duo from the folk clubs in the early 70s? John Brown and Mike Draper purveyed an esoteric mix of romantic songs influenced by music-hall, played on a multitude of instruments including a phonofiddle, with incredibly funny introductions by John. They also sold posters of their s...

Hi Gordon Well, it was a long time ago. Even Cynth disagrees on the details, but my memory, of course, is the gold standard... you still paid more than you sold it for (but I wasn't to know that!). I had no idea how to price a guitar, but factored in the refret, being a stingy bugger. Hats off to Mr...

I found somebody asking about Gordon's doubleneck on a blog, and tried to reply unsuccessfully - "my identity could not be verified". So I thought, with "Duvet's" discovery of the very first Bailey, and with interest in John's work apparently increasing since his death, that I'd ...

Yes - I've now dyed my hair to match Gordon's. The pink shirt's gone too. That pic was Greenbelt Festival 1986, and the doubleneck was used as a backup to a Roland guitar synth and a Lowden acoustic which I'm gigging with tomorrow.

Sounds like a result, Duvet!

Don't forget to post some photos.

Gordon -

Just to reply about the Bailey Doubleneck - the pickups should indeed be the same. I did swap the bridge pickups around when I had it, so you could always reverse the procedure if it's still playable...

Jon

I heard the Flecktones at their only English gig a few years ago. Magic.

Gordon Giltrap and Béla Fleck ... now there's a dream team!

Thanks Gordon. Your comments about Bert's "imperfections" remind me (and I suspect you too) of the early Shadows recordings. It was always slightly disappointing when they were on TV at the London Palladium because Hank didn't do the fluffed notes and accidental twangs. I'm told that all t...

One real downside of this is that we (ie the public) become increasingly accustomed to polished perfection rather than individual quirky human talent. Think back to any of the great (and maybe not great but favourite) acts of the past. Imagine a world where Bob Dylan or the Incredible String Band we...

But maybe singing live whilst being thrown will come back into fashion, resulting in something between singing and women's tennis: I'm a survivor EAAHRCH! I'm not gon' give up EAAHRCH! I'm not gon' stop UNNNNH! I'm gon' work harder EAAHRCH! I'm a survivor YACCCCH! ("Game, first song to Miss Bey...

So when Gordon's being tossed around the stage by Beyoncé we know he's actually miming to a Bert Weedon track, right?

I missed this post until now - sad news indeed. I phoned John a few years ago, on the strength of having owned the famous doubleneck for a few years. Not only was he evidently pleased to hear from an owner of one of his instruments, but chatted for a good while about his days in London, with people ...

Well, that was rather good, despite the strange proliferation of intervals (shorten the first band's set, then double the interval ... wot's that all about?). Great to renew your acquaintance, Gordon and Hilary, and the sax players enjoyed it. Julian was knocked out that you remembered having your p...