John Bailey Guitar - An astonishing Discovery!!!
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 8:51 pm
I'll try and keep this brief - much to say!!!
Jon Garvey, who owned GG's famous Bailey doubleneck between 1984 & 1993 ish directed me to this forum.
In any event, my mother and stepfather Larry (d2007) were teachers at Haverstock school in London, the UK's first Comprehensive and quite a Bohemian place in the 1950's. John Bailey was the woodwork teacher at the time. JB, his wife Maureen, mum and Larry became good pals and were in contact until JB's passing in 2011. Mum is still in contact with Maureen.
Over 50 years ago JB gave my stepfather a guitar. This guitar has variously been hung on a wall or collected dust in a corner ever since but neither Mum nor Larry had any idea what they had.
Knowing that I am a minor league guitar geek mum asked if I could have a look at it, repair it, or perhaps adapt and use it myself (I'm a leftie). I asked her about it and she explained that her friend 'John' made it many years ago. John who? John Bailey, she replies. OMG!
Over the last few days I have been contacting a few people and I gather this is quite a find and a few people know of its existence as John had told them of it over the years.
Cutting to the chase. JB gave Larry what is certainly JB's first ever guitar, made circa 1955.
I questioned mum, are you sure this was his first ever guitar? She thought so. I have managed to contact an old friend of JB who heard him tell of this instrument. Not only is the provenance clear but as to being the very first JB guitar? Well I described it to this friend of JB's who knew it existed and sure enough this NYLON strung acoustic was (I am given to undrstand) the only nylon strung guitar JB ever made, he only made one and it was indeed his first - and now I have been entrusted with it care.
HELP!!!
As a first effort by an inexperienced luthier it is pleasant but perhaps unremarkable. However as the 'first effort' by THE John Bailey, to me at least, that makes it properly special and I need guidance.
1) Although unique and irreplaceable it needs to be insured. So I need valuation help.
2) It is in ok condition for an old girl but it needs the attention of a top flight luthier. Needs a light clean, new strings, and, regardless if I adapt it as a leftie or not, it needs a new nut.
3) Selfishly I'd like to play it and mum doesn't want to sell it but I cannot help but feel that it should be known to the wider audience of Bailey's fans. Perhaps some of you would like to see it? Perhaps some of you might like to play it?
All advice is most welcome. Happy to supply photos and I look forward to your comments.
David
Jon Garvey, who owned GG's famous Bailey doubleneck between 1984 & 1993 ish directed me to this forum.
In any event, my mother and stepfather Larry (d2007) were teachers at Haverstock school in London, the UK's first Comprehensive and quite a Bohemian place in the 1950's. John Bailey was the woodwork teacher at the time. JB, his wife Maureen, mum and Larry became good pals and were in contact until JB's passing in 2011. Mum is still in contact with Maureen.
Over 50 years ago JB gave my stepfather a guitar. This guitar has variously been hung on a wall or collected dust in a corner ever since but neither Mum nor Larry had any idea what they had.
Knowing that I am a minor league guitar geek mum asked if I could have a look at it, repair it, or perhaps adapt and use it myself (I'm a leftie). I asked her about it and she explained that her friend 'John' made it many years ago. John who? John Bailey, she replies. OMG!
Over the last few days I have been contacting a few people and I gather this is quite a find and a few people know of its existence as John had told them of it over the years.
Cutting to the chase. JB gave Larry what is certainly JB's first ever guitar, made circa 1955.
I questioned mum, are you sure this was his first ever guitar? She thought so. I have managed to contact an old friend of JB who heard him tell of this instrument. Not only is the provenance clear but as to being the very first JB guitar? Well I described it to this friend of JB's who knew it existed and sure enough this NYLON strung acoustic was (I am given to undrstand) the only nylon strung guitar JB ever made, he only made one and it was indeed his first - and now I have been entrusted with it care.
HELP!!!
As a first effort by an inexperienced luthier it is pleasant but perhaps unremarkable. However as the 'first effort' by THE John Bailey, to me at least, that makes it properly special and I need guidance.
1) Although unique and irreplaceable it needs to be insured. So I need valuation help.
2) It is in ok condition for an old girl but it needs the attention of a top flight luthier. Needs a light clean, new strings, and, regardless if I adapt it as a leftie or not, it needs a new nut.
3) Selfishly I'd like to play it and mum doesn't want to sell it but I cannot help but feel that it should be known to the wider audience of Bailey's fans. Perhaps some of you would like to see it? Perhaps some of you might like to play it?
All advice is most welcome. Happy to supply photos and I look forward to your comments.
David