The next instalment from Val Reeve.
Off we go again!
After the excitement of the eighties, things began to quieten down
and we settled into a routine of making instruments and also began to
do a lot of repairs.
Eventually we were doing all the guitar repairs for a music shop in
Dunstable.
The recession was beginning to bite and orders began to dry up.
Our accountant told us it was time now to revert back to 'hobby status'.
We had tried but it was no longer viable to run Reeve Guitars as a
business so Ges (the only one who was working full-time in Reeve Guitars)
had to find a job and we went back to how it had been originally, working
evenings and weekends.
In the late nineties, my son, Michael wanted a guitar made.
This was a break through, Michael had always considered that nothing
could better his Les Paul!!
The consequent result of a gleaming white guitar was totally superb.
Michael and Mike had worked closely, Michael explaining exactly what
he required and with Mike's considerable electronic expertise,
the guitar could produce every sound that Michael wanted and of course,
the bodywork created by Ges was second to none.
The ultimate praise came when Michael said the Reeve Guitar was far
superior to his Les Paul!
More about Reeve next time.
Cheers. :)
Val continues with the Reeve Story.
"Hi Eric
Hope you have had a good week.
Anyway, on with the story.
During this period Ges just could not cope with working
full time and the amount of guitar work coming in so he
decided to try to make Reeve Guitars a full time business.
At that time it certainly looked as though Reeve Guitars
could be a going concern.
I had the unenviable task of preparing the accounts ready
for audit when the accountant took over.
I drew the short straw yet again!
Mick was still teaching and keeping a low profile but the
long school holidays were a bonus, and I also had the the
school holidays.
Totally out of the blue, we were contacted by a guy in
America who expressed interest in buying instruments on
a regular basis.
He had obviously been monitoring our progress through
the regular reviews in the music magazines.
He had also contacted an amplification firm in this
country with a view to them making and shipping out
amps to America.
Our first reaction was of disbelief, quickly followed by a
wildly excited "This is It"!!! Obviously we had to check
that he was bona fide.
The Overseas Branch of our local Bank were brilliant
and ran a check on this guy.
Apparently he had financial backing and everything
seemed ok.
Although on one visit from an adviser from the Bank's
Overseas Branch , I was told that we should not as much
as purchase a screw until the finances were completely
watertight.
Of course, with deadlines already being given that was
not possible and full production went ahead.
Ges and Mick were working flat out because all these
instruments were custom built.
I was in contact with a shipping company who had
supplied me with prices on packing and shipping out
the instruments and I also had a lot of contact with the
amplification firm.
Gradually we began to get very anxious as the money
had not been transferred and despite repeated phone
calls to America when we were assured it would be
happening very soon, loud warning bells began to ring.
The amplification firm were also very worried and they
sent a representative to America to check out the situation.
I was in contact with the Overseas Branch of our Bank and
it was the Bank, through their sources in America, who
notified me that this guy's financial backers had withdrawn.
And that was it! The Dream was over.
Although we had about a dozen bodies ready, we were ok
because over time, these were used in the making of other
instruments.
I dont believe the amplification firm were so lucky."
So, it seems that Reeve could have gone international but
unfortunately, it wasn't to be.
Back with more of the Reeve Guitar story, along with some
more images.
Any Reeve owners out there??
Drop me a line.
Contact me here
Cheers. :)
Another long delay - Sorry about that - loads on, at
the moment! :)
The next part of the story, which Val sent to me a few
weeks ago, I put down onto a memory stick, which I have
left behind, somewhere!!
Think I know where it is, so no panic.
In the meantime, some more picks of Reeve.
The one below is my first Reeve - "Mr Lee"
Val has sent me some more from her archive, including
this one, which Ges called Patchwork Guitar, as it was
used as a demo for all the timbers he could offer.
Bit of a Brian May looking trem, there which brings me
to the "mystery guitar", shown below the Patchwork.
This is a bit of a mystery to me and Val.
She can't remember if Ges built this Brian May Red Special
or if it was just in for repairs, as there are no shots of the
rest of it or the head.
I have tried to look for signature details on this - is it a Burns,
or a Guild? I don't think so - any comments, would be very
welcome, from those in the know.
This is another one that Val sent to me - a very 80's take on
a Strat - one pick-up in the "screaming position" and one
control, Volume!
Loud or off!! :)
I'll be back in a couple of days, honest. . . Promise!!!
Any Reeve Guitars out there?
I'm going to do a complete gallery of the ones that
owners have sent me, at the end of this feature.
Back soon.
Cheers. :)
