Marchis Telecaster Thinline. . . . . .

Yes. . . . . I know I said I was going to do the Jaydee Twin Neck

but I am very close to being able to have some input from it's

original owner, so I thought just for a change, I would do one

of the guitars.

I took these images some time ago, as at the time, I was trying to

track down a tone knob and a tuner ferrule, which I now have.

Thanks Jon!

That aside, I pick this up from time to time, as it's really nice to play

and has some very sweet tones.

Notes from Jon:

Marchis then. I've come across references to the brand a couple of

times but I'm fairly sure yours is the first one I've actually seen.

A bit of Googling doesn't pin the brand down to a country - there

are Marchis owners in the US & Ireland.

As far as the guitar itself is concerned, a rifle through a few online

catalogues finds versions of the Thinline very similar to yours in

Ibanez catalogues between 1973-75, Greco from 73 through to the

80s, and Aria Pro from 1977.

Clearly both Fujigen & Matsumoku built them, most of them have

differences & peculiarities, mostly in neck construction that yours doesn't.

The early catalogues show them with head-end adjustment & truss rod

covers, both the big chrome type & the small white arrowhead style

common at the time.

Later versions are aesthetically more accurate and feature variously bullet

adjusters, skunk stripe/head end plugs and one-piece necks, but the only

one I've found which appears to have a similar neck to yours is from a

1974 Greco catalogue:

If you can get pics of other bits (TRC, tuners, pots, back of pups etc) that

might confirm this - or indicate that it was from one of the other 20-or-so

factories which we don't have a comprehensive catalogue archive for!

A "Something different" instrument - can't say I have ever seen another.
I will post up some images with the ferrule and tone knob in place, at
some point in the future.

One of my Westone Rail basses, one of my Roadsters, one of my Arias
and one of my Peaveys, have found new homes, all with happy owners.
What goes round. . . . . . . . :)

I am managing to separate some of my twins, as I now feel it's time to let
some of them go, so it's not a huge wrench, as I still have one of the twin.

Anyway, enough of ones that have gone, hopefully I will be back next
time with the Jaydee.

Cheers. :)

Joe Bonamassa, like his style. . . . . .

Sunday morning - clocks went forward today.

I have been quite busy, so my entries haven't been as frequent
but things are getting back to normal and I'll get back to the collection
next week.
Next time featuring a unique Jaydee Twin Neck - over 30 years old and
still very much a head turner.

So, this morning will be just a short post - out for Sunday lunch. Mmmm!

Came across this the other day. . . . . . . . . .



I am a big fan of Joe Bonamassa - but Joe, you have way too many
amplifiers. . . . . . the guitar collection is about right!!! :) :) :)

I don't quite have that many but I wouldn't have to add a lot to
get up to that number!! I still have a long way to go, it's just finding
the time - looking back over the last 11 months I have now got my
teeth into the blog, with the Peter Cook feature taking many posts
to complete.
This will take you back to April, last year. http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html

If you come into this blog and want to see the latest post, just click on
the script, right at the top of the page "Flat Eric's Bass & Guitar Collection"
and it will take you to the page.

See you next week.

Cheers. :)

Ovation Magnum III. . . . . . . .

Hi. Spring has arrived - I think!

Sun is out today and the birds are singing.

On this side of the world, things are OK, at the moment but
on the other side - first New Zealand and now Japan.
In the world of today, we can see things as they happen.
What a shock to see all that water - picking up houses and
cars, like they were toys.
Not good.

Anyway, as promised - Ovation Magnum III

Charlie Kaman died recently, at the end of January, so I thought

it would be fitting to do another one of my Ovation instruments.

Charlie was the Founder of Ovation and a little bit about him

is listed on the Ovation web site.

http://www.ovationguitars.com/whyovation/kamans_story

I have already done the Breadwinner and Viper - this time it's

an Ovation Magnum III Bass.

This is essentially a Magnum 1, with a different body shape,

mono only and without the large pick-up surround, which is

so handy to rest your thumb on, in various positions, in order

to get different tones from the strings.
Just look at the size of that bridge!!
Because of the bridge, a lot of strings fall short, as they do
on mine, although it doesn't seemed to deaden the tone.
On my Magnum I, there is a string extender on the "E". Handy!

It plays very nicely and has some good sounds, when blending

the two pick-ups.

Most people think that with such a large pick-up in the neck

position, it must be very powerful with a deep thick sound.

No, not really. It is that large, as each string has it's own coil.

This explains all about the pick-ups

http://www.ovationtribute.com/Catalogues/Magnum%20Bass%20Owner%20Manual/Magnum%20Bass%20Owner%20Manual.html

There aren't a lot of these around, in the UK and I have never

seen a PF, in this country - which is the even more rare,

single pick-up version.
These aren't mine but are included for reference.

Knowing how the pick-up sounds, I can see that in the central

position, it would make a lot of sense.

The Magnum III nice bass - balances well, some good sounds
and definitely something a bit different.

As I have mentioned, I also have a cracking Magnum 1, which
I have to confess, I have played more than the III - something very "
Old School" about it and that is a bit different!

I shall come to that one soon.

I think I am finally getting to grips with my NAS - Noah's Ark Syndrome
and have sold one half of some of my pairs, as well as some of the
onesthat I rarely play anymore.

The basses get an outing on rotation but some of the guitars only come
out every 6 or 7 months and even then only get to see the light for half
an hour, or so.

Talking of rotation. . . . . this pair went out again at the weekend.

The Odyssey went out last weekend with the Yamaha SB500 but
I forgot to get a shot of them.
So, some are going - It's not really a case of not liking them, more
I've played them, enjoyed them and now it's time to move on.
One thing is for sure, the Odysseys will be staying!

This means. . . . . . . I'll be keeping my eye out for something a bit
unusual??? :) :) :)

Next time I will do the story of Alan's Axis and a couple of other
things.

If you would like to get in touch with me, questions you may have
or something that you think I would find interesting, I would love
to hear from you.

contactflateric@gmail.comCheers. :)

If you have found my blog by entering on this page, click below
and it will take you to the latest entryhttp://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.com/

*************************************************************************************************UPDATE August 22nd 2012  For Ovation Magnum String Lengths
Go Here:

Ovation Magnum String Lengths

If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the 
latest post, go here:
Latest post. 

Quick Hello and an Axis update!

Hi to all out there.

Just a quick post - time has flown by this week.

I will be doing my Magnum III next time, honest!

I have also sorted out an electrical issue on my '78 Yamaha SB500,
at last - so may be gigging it on Saturday! Yippeee!
After much mucking around with the original pots, I gave up and
fitted new ones, So much better! Looking forward to taking it out again!

I have also had some very nice e.mails, including one from Alan Clarke,
who said he was happy for me to use his name, in connection with his
Axis Guitar, which has had a very interesting history.
I shall come to that next week.

So, that's it - short and sweet.

See you next week, when hopefully, I'll have a bit more time.

Cheers. :)

Peavey T-40 "Red", Gordy, '72 Jazz, Greco fan, Spring clear-out and Peter Frampton. . .

Friday again!

What a week, or two!!
My Red T-40 "Old Red" found a new home and these are
some of the pics - just thought they were so nice, I would
share them.





I've had some great e.mails recently, including someone who has
found a Gordy "Fretless" - boy, that must be rare!!
Part of the content was about the electronics, so I took a couple
of shots for illustration.





A bit more complicated than a Fender Jazz!!!


While we are on the subject of Fender Jazz. . . . . . . .
A friend of mine has had one from new and over the years, the
neck pick-up has got worse.
It's a long story but basically, the decision was to go for a set
of Wizard "Sixty Fours".
In a word, Brilliant! Sounds superb, he is very pleased with the result.



I also had an e.mail from a Beatles fan, in MD USA, who loved
the Greco PMB. Hi - Nice to hear from you. :)
Will try those strings!!

By nature, collectors. . . . . collect things and at some point there
has to a bit of a change/clear-out and Spring seems like a good
time to do it.
A few have found new homes and there are a few more that will
be moving on but in doing that, I am able to put my efforts into
finding some of the ones I have not had. . . . . . Yet!!

I have been quite busy with various things, so this is just a small
post for today - I was going to do my Magnum III but I picked
up the wrong memory stick!! Will do that one next week.

And finally. . . . . . .
I have been a life-long fan of Peter Frampton and this week I
managed to see him live, at a wonderful venue - The Assembly
in Leamington Spa - a truly magical night, loved it to bits!
He played exactly what the audience wanted, backed by
a terrific band, including Stanley Sheldon, who was on the
live album.
Peter's appearance may have changed over the years but he
still has that magic as a musician, player and entertainer.
An absolutely brilliant night.





Back next week, as I said - Magnum III.

Cheers. :)