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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 3, 2018 18:00:08 GMT
This just turned up on Facebook, I thought it would interest forum members.  Ian's own words... Some new year detective work for old Bristol folk/ blues people. Mark Makin just sent me this photo taken at the Stonehouse Folk Club in 1974. Can anybody identify the player? Calling Keith Warmington? Steve Tilston? By all means share.
Here's the story. Back in 1968 I bought a beautiful National steel guitar from Mike Absalom that had previously been owned by Lisa Turner. The hand rest over the bridge was engraved with the name Don and as, back then, nobody knew anything about the history of National guitars and no books about them had been published, I just assumed somebody called Don was another previous owner.
I played the guitar all through the peak of my country blues obsession years, and it featured throughout my debut album Stereo Death Breakdown (where those of you who've heard the re-mastered CD version - not the lo-fi vinyl original - know it sounds rather wonderful). Eventually, when I took a left turn into, erm, psych folk, for a few years in the early '70s, it wasn't a flexible enough instrument so I had to sell it in order to buy a decent wooden guitar. Story of my life . . .
Whoever I sold it to I can't remember, but apparently it later ended up with The Tremeloes who I was told used it as a stage gimmick on one number, and cut a hole in the top to install a pickup. You can see that in this pic. It was eventually offered back to me with a hole where the pickup had been and the frets completely f***ed, but I was so upset to see it in that state that I didn't consider it. Now I realise I should have done of course, as I'm sure some sort of restoration would have been possible - but as I said, in 1974 nobody yet knew the significance of "Don". I've no idea where it went after that, but I'm pretty certain this pic shows the guy who offered it back to me.
Turned out much later - as anybody who owns Mark Makin's incredible book "Palm Trees, Senoritas & Rocket Ships" will know - that the model Don was the absolute top of the range National ever made: 14 fret neck, ebony fingerboard, nickel silver plating, mother of pearl headstock facing, beautiful engraving and incredibly good sound. Very few were made, and collectors now quite rightly pay telephone numbers for them in good condition (which it was when it left me!)
It would be a special thing after all these years to track it down . . . even so abused. Here it was in happier days with Ian in 1968 --------------------------------------------------------- Shine On Michael |
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Post by bonzo on Jan 3, 2018 18:35:01 GMT
I'll keep my eyes open in the local charity shops!
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Post by creolian on Jan 4, 2018 4:19:16 GMT
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Post by washboardchris on Jan 4, 2018 7:39:13 GMT
I think it's in east Anglia somewhere,I have heard rumors of a Don with a hole in it and a connection to the Tremeloes for some years (cant remember who told me about it,maybe Patric Arbuthnot or Guitar setup wizard Dave Roper, I shall ask around)
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Post by kristo on Jan 4, 2018 9:13:32 GMT
I think it's in east Anglia somewhere,I have heard rumors of a Don with a hole in it and a connection to the Tremeloes for some years (cant remember who told me about it,maybe Patric Arbuthnot or Guitar setup wizard Dave Roper, I shall ask around) There is definitely a Don with a hole in it around here and I know the guy that owns it. I've let him know about this thread. |
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 4, 2018 9:43:26 GMT
Chris & Kristo,
Please do follow this up, it would be amazing to find Ian's guitar. There can't be many Dons with holes in the front in the UK.
Thank you!
Shine On
Michael
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Post by snakehips on Jan 4, 2018 9:47:45 GMT
Sure there can, I've got three !!!!
(eh, only joking !)
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Post by blinddrunk on Jan 4, 2018 12:03:37 GMT
Back in the '90s, I lived in Gt Yarmouth and used to occasionally jam with a guy who owned a beautiful old National that sort of answers the description (I seem to remember he bought it from a car-boot sale for about £15!). I knew nothing about Nationals at that time and, in the light of subsequent knowledge, I've categorised it as a Style O - but it could well have been a Don. There was an ugly hole just abaft the fretboard with a pick-up fitted in it. I suspect it might be the same fellow that Kristo mentioned since I seem to remember he lived out Beccles way.
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Post by washboardchris on Jan 4, 2018 12:54:13 GMT
Hi, I think that that would be Tony Graham who owned Mill Music in Gorlston & was a Oil rig diver.The guy he got it from was a bloke called tubby Tony who bought it on a boot fair & being that the cone was no good and he didnt know where to get a new one he put a plate in the cone well mounted a bridge and put a magnetic pickup on it. Tony Graham got a cone and put it in.
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Post by blinddrunk on Jan 4, 2018 13:24:23 GMT
Hi, I think that that would be Tony Graham who owned Mill Music in Gorlston & was a Oil rig diver.The guy he got it from was a bloke called tubby Tony who bought it on a boot fair & being that the cone was no good and he didnt know where to get a new one he put a plate in the cone well mounted a bridge and put a magnetic pickup on it. Tony Graham got a cone and put it in. I'm sure that we're talking about the same guitar, however, the guy I knew was called Tim - I've long since forgotten his surname. |
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Post by kristo on Jan 4, 2018 13:38:05 GMT
Hi, I think that that would be Tony Graham who owned Mill Music in Gorlston & was a Oil rig diver.The guy he got it from was a bloke called tubby Tony who bought it on a boot fair & being that the cone was no good and he didnt know where to get a new one he put a plate in the cone well mounted a bridge and put a magnetic pickup on it. Tony Graham got a cone and put it in. I'm sure that we're talking about the same guitar, however, the guy I knew was called Tim - I've long since forgotten his surname.
Tim is the guy I know that owns and still gigs his Don.
I'm not sure how often he checks his emails so he might not have seen my message yet....
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Jan 4, 2018 14:21:18 GMT
Tim Aves?....but I'm probably wrong again,,,,,,
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Post by kristo on Jan 5, 2018 10:58:38 GMT
I've just been searching old emails as I remember getting some pictures of the Don last year whilst we were talking about it. I'm not sure it is the same one as the neck inlays are different...........?   |
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 5, 2018 12:28:41 GMT
Kristo, this is very possibly the same guitar. Dons are very rare and it looks to me like the fretboard has been worked on or replaced. Notice there is no binding, Dons have bound fretboards.
This is an amazing find. Can we get in touch with the owner?
Thank you!
Shine On
Michael
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Post by kristo on Jan 5, 2018 12:43:30 GMT
These are the only two others pictures I found. It looks like it is bound......   |
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