For the love of Ibanez Guitars and Basses

 As we are still in the middle of the festive season and today being the 26th, generally termed as Boxing Day around a lot of the world - I felt it was time to add a little something to my long running blog. 😀

Many years ago, I did some features on the Peavey T Series and on Peter Cook, the guitar maker, as well as some other informative mini features. So, as I have a little time over the holiday, I have decided to do something on one of my favourite names, Ibanez.

In the late 70s, in the shop I worked at, there were all sorts, which I have probably detailed in other posts - Gibson, Fender, Peavey, Guild, Shergold, Aria, Ovation, along with Grimshaw, Hofner, CMI, CSL, Kimbara, Hondo II and various others - a guitar or bass for every budget.

I had my favourites, obviously Peavey and some specials/one offs and various others but Ibanez just seemed to stand out, for me.

We had some of the earlier copies - Strat, Tele, Les Paul, Precision, there was even an Ampeg Dan Armstrong See-Through guitar but they had moved on from that era and there was the Artist and Musician establishing themselves.

They were just so well made, well thought out and really nice to handle and to play. 

So, over the next few posts I shall share my love of Ibanez.

Just so you know. . . . I also have a love of classic Aria.

Back soon.

Cheers.😎

OK. . . . just went to preview and hit the google links thing. . . not sure how to remove, at this stage so will post with them still in and try not to make the same mistake again. Sorreeeee.

Another Ned Callan Bass.

 These images were very kindly sent to me by a reader.

A nice looking Ned Callan Bass.

It has crazing on the finish but almost all of them have some finish marks.

The tuners are not original but I think they add quit a lot to the appearance, as well, I'm sure, keeping the old fella in tune.

I have a Ned Callan Custom Bass, serial number 773. I bought it

second hand from a shop in Liverpool around 1976. It still sounds good. I

used it when I was in A Formal Sigh. You may still find some of our

recordings on YouTube; they are fast disappearing. Here's one: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zECWkrmkEJs

Cheers. 😊

Marillion and Cutting Crew at De Montfort Hall, Leicester.

 Hi to all out there! 😎

Another twenty thousand visitors after my last post, so if you were one of them and it was your first time visit, Welcome. 

I have been meaning to put this post up for ages, since the end of May, so here we go today.

I was one of the lucky ones to get a weekend ticket for the Marillion event at the De Montfort hall, Leicester. There were so many nationalities there, from all areas of the globe - all very enthusiastic fans and the atmosphere was electric.

Musically, I have quite a broad taste in music and my Spotify listings cover many unassociated genres, Bach to Bad Company, Satriani to Enya, Level 42 to Skam, Pink Floyd to UB40, ELO to Hendrix. . . . you get the drift.

Currently listening to Yogi Lang, Finally George, Jadis, etc.

Marillion came into my life with their now, very famous single. I don't think I need to name it, as if you are reading this, you would know! LOL! 

Cutting Crew did exactly the same, with their famous single, which led me to buy the album. . . . on vinyl, of course.

So, back to the De Montfort. Activity in the wings and the house lights coming down, the audience roared! Cutting Crew, as a three piece. How is this going to work? Amazingly well!! They were beyond brilliant. Tight, crisp, vibrant and confident. I loved every second of it. At the end. . . . a huge roar from the crowd.

On came Marillion, to another huge roar and they performed brilliantly.

Musical talent was abundant, with a sprinkling of banter and comedy from Hogarth, following his powerful vocals.

The full house cheers came from fans from the UK, USA, Australia, Austria, France, Canada and more other countries than I can remember. There was a shout out from the stage, "anyone from" and countries were named and replies of "Yes" echoed back. Magic.👍

What a great night!

The next evening, for me, was even more exciting - there was just a very powerful buzz, that you could almost grasp with your hands.

Wouldn't have missed it for the world!

There are many images on line of the whole thing but I was lucky enough to be sent some pics of Cutting Crew, taken from the wings. 

Many thanks to Steve Child for these close up shots.

All the best.

Cheers. 😊

Flat Eric, Guitar and Bass Blog 755000 visits!!

 It took me just over 15 years to achieve what some blogs achieve in a year and in some cases in a month or a week!!

That said, it's a real milestone for me. . . . just over three quarters of a million views in 15 years and 3 months. Thanks to all who have ever dropped in and thanks to all the regular viewers.

Cheers. 😎👍👍👍

The more eagle eyed amongst you, would say it's longer than that but I didn't really get started until April 2010, the first 3 posts were more of a trial run. 👍

So, next goal is One Million!! Keep on reading!!

If you wanted to go back to the first actual posts, read and click on Newer Posts, you could work your way through it, in the order it was written. . . . . if you have a lot of time!! 

First Post

Happy Reading

Cheers. 😎

Val Reeve

 Hi to all out there.

I have received some very sad news.

I have been informed by a family member that Val Reeve has passed away.

Val was very much involved in Reeve Guitars and in her own words, it was sometimes hard work, meeting delivery deadlines and keeping up with demand but overall there was always an air of excitement - a sort of hidden electricity as each new creation was crafted together in a single garage.

I have no idea exactly how many instruments were made it total but taking into account the work with/for Alligator, it must have run into a fair amount that Ges, Mick and Val were involved with.

I have met Val and kept in touch by email for years, updating her with the latest find, with perhaps an artist related ownership - she was always excited in her response. We even tried to organise a photoshoot in her garden, with my twin and headless but various things got in the way, including the pandemic, and it never happened.

She was a lovely woman, very young in her attitude, with a twinkle in her eyes. Talking to her face to face, you could just sense the enthusiasm as she recounted the stories, remembered many key points and the highs and the lows but essentially the sheer joy of what they did. She made a lovely cup of tea and was very generous with the biscuits. Just a wonderful person, it was a privilege to have known her. 

Many thanks to Val for her constant involvement in what I posted, she will be missed by me and I'm sure many others, X

A lot that I shared from the blog with Val is in the link below, along with many emails that she sent, expanding on the stories in her own words, that I have included in the posts.

Reeve Guitars and Basses

Norman, with his Reeve Headless Bass and Desmond Decker.

Another contact, Norman, with a great story about his Reeve Bass and two Reeve Guitars.

The story in his own words. 😎

In 1984, lived in Tooting London and wanted a new bass guitar.  I have no idea how it all came about but a mate of mine from Clapham and another from Putney decided we were going to have guitars made from scratch.  Two guitars with loads of switches and beautiful woodwork and a black headless bass.  We set off to Luton to a lovely cottage and was greeted by a very lovely woman named Val.  So warm, so friendly an accommodating.  From memory, Ges was quiet but absolutely loved what he doing.  Mick was very energetic and full of loads of wonderful ideas.  After our first meet, they packed us off to go away and come back with our designs.  I drew the body shape of my bass on the back of wallpaper.

I think we were all back within a week with our various shapes, sizes, colours and pickup positions and active controls which I think was still relatively new back then.  There would be mad discussions mainly directed by Mick while Val filled us up with tea and biscuits.  Ges and Mick were so excited about making these three guitars, almost even more than we were.  Two of us were touring with Desmond Dekker at the time.  One of my mates used his guitar in a band called Screaming Target, who later became Big Audio Dynamite, who later became Dreadzone.  I remember him selling his guitar to a music shop to buy a Gibson or something.  They were absolutely raving about it, and couldn’t get it out his hands fast enough.  I think he later regretted it.

We made a few trips the check on the progress and watch our babies grow and grow into full maturity.  All three were a work of art.  I can’t remember how much I paid but I could not believe how inexpensive it was for the time effort and care they put in.  Unbelievable.

I still have my bass, it stands in the corner of my living room, so I’m actually looking at it every day.  I  It’s very similar to your black headless bass except the back of the top edge runs longer than the bottom creating a kind of shark appearance without a top fin.

Happy days J

 There is another image with Norman and Desmond Decker, playing a Peavey T-40, which he also loved. 

"I know what you mean, Norman" 😉

Cheers. 😎

Violin Bass and Double Neck Bass. More from Reeve Guitars.

 Reeve fans or just fans of unusual custom guitars and basses. . .  Hi. 😎

These images were sent to me by another Reeve owner who I lost touch with for a while (my fault) but I was in touch again, a few weeks ago.

A fretted and fretless bass, with a signature Reeve look about it and a very nice looking Violin Bass. 

More quality work from Ges and Mick.

The more I come across, the more I marvel at the output and quality that came out if a brick garage, at the side of the house. Amazing!!

Cheers. 😉

100 Best Guitar Blogs and Websites in 2025

 Hi to all out there 😀

After all these years - fame, at last. LOL. 😁

It seems I am listed under number 50, in The Best 100 Guitar Blogs and Websites 2025. WOW!

100 Best Guitar Blogs and Websites in 2025

Well worth a look, there are some great Blogs and Websites that I have never come across before.

Back with more images of Reeve instruments.

Cheers. 😊😊