Bartell (guitars): Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
Linting fix Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
|||
| (7 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
== George Harrison == |
== George Harrison == |
||
[[File:Bartell fretless guitars advert - Los Angeles Free Press p.7 - 1967-09-01.jpg|thumb|Bartell fretless guitars and basses advertised in the ''[[Los Angeles Free Press]]'', 1 September 1967, mentioning "[[George Harrison]] got the first guitar..." |alt=Newspaper small ad, reading "You must have heard about them by now, so come on in and see the ... BARTELL FRETLESS GUITARS and FRETLESS BASSES — (George Harrison got the first guitar, maybe if you hurry you can get the second one)/ Al Casy's Music Showroom / 1123 N. Vine, Hollywood / phone 469-3659 / Open 11 A.M. to 6 P.M."]] |
|||
[[George Harrison]] was gifted a Bartell fretless guitar (the first prototype) by Hollywood session player and music shop owner [[Al Casey (rock guitarist)|Al Casey]], whose wife Maxine on 1 August 1967 took it up to [[Blue Jay Way]], where Harrison was staying. Harrison took the guitar back to the UK, where it ended up at [[Abbey Road Studios]]. [[John Lennon]] was intrigued by the Bartell, but he found it difficult to play. They passed it around, then put it in the studio locker in studio 2. In a 6 June 1968 radio interview with [[Kenny Everett]], Harrison referred to it as 'the mad guitar'. Lennon was heard playing it while being interviewed by Everett.<ref name="Eastwood">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=October 21, 2020|title=The Beatles' White Album Fretless Guitar: The Mystery Revealed |url=https://eastwoodguitars.com/blogs/news/the-beatles-mystery-white-album-fretless-guitar-revealed#:~:text=In%20the%20past%20few%20years,on%20the%20'White%20Album'. |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101050036/https://eastwoodguitars.com/blogs/news/the-beatles-mystery-white-album-fretless-guitar-revealed |archive-date=2020-11-01 |access-date=January 3, 2020 |website=[[Eastwood Guitars|Eastwood Worldwide]] }}</ref> |
[[George Harrison]] was gifted a Bartell fretless guitar (the first prototype) by Hollywood session player and music shop owner [[Al Casey (rock guitarist)|Al Casey]], whose wife Maxine on 1 August 1967 took it up to [[Blue Jay Way]], where Harrison was staying. Harrison took the guitar back to the UK, where it ended up at [[Abbey Road Studios]]. [[John Lennon]] was intrigued by the Bartell, but he found it difficult to play. They passed it around, then put it in the studio locker in studio 2. In a 6 June 1968 radio interview with [[Kenny Everett]], Harrison referred to it as 'the mad guitar'. Lennon was heard playing it while being interviewed by Everett.<ref name="Eastwood">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=October 21, 2020|title=The Beatles' White Album Fretless Guitar: The Mystery Revealed |url=https://eastwoodguitars.com/blogs/news/the-beatles-mystery-white-album-fretless-guitar-revealed#:~:text=In%20the%20past%20few%20years,on%20the%20'White%20Album'. |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101050036/https://eastwoodguitars.com/blogs/news/the-beatles-mystery-white-album-fretless-guitar-revealed |archive-date=2020-11-01 |access-date=January 3, 2020 |website=[[Eastwood Guitars|Eastwood Worldwide]] }}</ref> |
||
[[The Beatles]] were recording ''[[The Beatles (album)|The White Album]]'' at the time, |
[[The Beatles]] were recording ''[[The Beatles (album)|The White Album]]'' at the time. Musicologists Kenny Jenkins, of [[Leeds Beckett University]] and Richard Perks, [[University of Kent]], have expressed the opinion that the fretless was used on "[[Happiness Is a Warm Gun]]" and "[[Helter Skelter (song)|Helter Skelter]]", with Perks also suggesting its use on ''[[Savoy Truffle]]''.<ref name="Bonhams">{{cite web |title=George Harrison: A Rare Bartell Fretless Electric Guitar owned by George Harrison, believed made circa 1967, |url=https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25996/lot/184/ |publisher=[[Bonhams]] |access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> When the Beatles split up in 1969, Harrison took the guitar back to [[Friar Park]], where it sat in his collection until 1985. The guitar was then given to its current owner, session musician [[Ray Russell (musician)|Ray Russell]], while recording the film ''[[Water (1985 film)|Water]]''.<ref name="Eastwood" /> |
||
In March 2020, this guitar was shown on the [[BBC Television]] programme ''[[Antiques Roadshow]]'',<ref name="AR">{{Cite episode|title=Battle Abbey 1|series=Antiques Roadshow|series-link=Antiques Roadshow|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000g09r/antiques-roadshow-series-42-battle-abbey-1|access-date=6 March 2020|network=BBC Television|date=1 March 2020|series-no=42|number=1}}</ref><ref name="BBC-51698031">{{cite web |title=Antiques Roadshow values Beatles guitar at £400k |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-51698031 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=9 March 2020 |date=1 March 2020}}</ref> where [[Jon Baddeley]] of [[Bonhams]] said "this is an incredibly rare Beatles guitar with an enviable history, which turns out to be one of the most valuable items ever seen on the show."<ref name="AR" /> It was valued at £300,000 - £400,000 by Baddeley.<ref name="AR" /> The programme included a picture of Harrison with his guitars, in which the Bartell is clearly visible.<ref name="AR" /> |
In March 2020, this guitar was shown on the [[BBC Television]] programme ''[[Antiques Roadshow]]'',<ref name="AR">{{Cite episode|title=Battle Abbey 1|series=Antiques Roadshow|series-link=Antiques Roadshow|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000g09r/antiques-roadshow-series-42-battle-abbey-1|access-date=6 March 2020|network=BBC Television|date=1 March 2020|series-no=42|number=1}}</ref><ref name="BBC-51698031">{{cite web |title=Antiques Roadshow values Beatles guitar at £400k |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-51698031 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=9 March 2020 |date=1 March 2020}}</ref> where [[Jon Baddeley]] of [[Bonhams]] said "this is an incredibly rare Beatles guitar with an enviable history, which turns out to be one of the most valuable items ever seen on the show."<ref name="AR" /> It was valued at £300,000 - £400,000 by Baddeley.<ref name="AR" /> The programme included a picture of Harrison with his guitars, in which the Bartell is clearly visible.<ref name="AR" /> |
||
Despite the |
Despite the higher valuation, the guitar was sold by Bonhams at an October 2020 auction for £237,562 (including [[buyer's premium]]).<ref name="Bonhams" /> |
||
== Other owners == |
== Other owners == |
||
| Line 35: | Line 37: | ||
A [[Twelve-string guitar|twelve-string]] electric Bartell , 'St. George XK12', was owned by [[John Frusciante]].<ref name="GG">{{cite web |title=John Frusciante's 1960s Bartell St. George XK12 |url=https://www.groundguitar.com/john-frusciante-gear/john-frusciantes-1960s-bartell-st-george-xk12/ |website=Ground Guitar |access-date=9 March 2020 |date=25 November 2018}}</ref> The company also made guitars for [[Jimi Hendrix]].<ref name= "AR" /><ref name="PulseBeat">{{cite web |title=1968 Hohner Bartell Black Widow |url=https://www.pulsebeatguitars.com/html/1960s/1968_Hohner_Bartell_Black_Widow.php |website=PulseBeat Guitars |access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref> |
A [[Twelve-string guitar|twelve-string]] electric Bartell , 'St. George XK12', was owned by [[John Frusciante]].<ref name="GG">{{cite web |title=John Frusciante's 1960s Bartell St. George XK12 |url=https://www.groundguitar.com/john-frusciante-gear/john-frusciantes-1960s-bartell-st-george-xk12/ |website=Ground Guitar |access-date=9 March 2020 |date=25 November 2018}}</ref> The company also made guitars for [[Jimi Hendrix]].<ref name= "AR" /><ref name="PulseBeat">{{cite web |title=1968 Hohner Bartell Black Widow |url=https://www.pulsebeatguitars.com/html/1960s/1968_Hohner_Bartell_Black_Widow.php |website=PulseBeat Guitars |access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref> |
||
[[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]] of [[Led Zeppelin]] played a [[Hohner]]-branded Bartell fretless bass during the band's 1972 Australian tour.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jeff Strawman |date=2020-12-07 |title=Hohner XK-250 Fretless Bass |url=http://www.led-zeppelin.org/studio-and-live-gear/1790 |work=Led Zeppelin: Achilles Last Stand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416013725/http://www.led-zeppelin.org/studio-and-live-gear/1790 |archive-date=2021-04-16 |url-status=usurped |quote=''John Paul Jones used the Hohner XK-250 Fretless Bass on the 1972 Australian Tour and some dates on the Summer 1972 US Tour for ''Bron-Y-Aur Stomp |
[[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]] of [[Led Zeppelin]] played a [[Hohner]]-branded Bartell fretless bass during the band's 1972 Australian tour.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jeff Strawman |date=2020-12-07 |title=Hohner XK-250 Fretless Bass |url=http://www.led-zeppelin.org/studio-and-live-gear/1790 |work=Led Zeppelin: Achilles Last Stand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416013725/http://www.led-zeppelin.org/studio-and-live-gear/1790 |archive-date=2021-04-16 |url-status=usurped |quote=''John Paul Jones used the Hohner XK-250 Fretless Bass on the 1972 Australian Tour and some dates on the Summer 1972 US Tour for ''Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=8255.0|title=John Paul Jones mystery bass}}</ref> |
||
== References == |
== References == |
||
Latest revision as of 08:49, 17 December 2024
| Industry | Guitar-making |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 |
| Founders |
|
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Headquarters | , |
.jpg)
Bartell was a Riverside, California-based maker of guitars and basses, founded by Paul Barth and Ted Peckels.[1] The company was active from 1964 to 1969.[1] According to Peckels, approximately 2,000 instruments were made during this period.[1] The company also made instruments for Hohner, St. George, and Lancer.[1]
George Harrison
[edit]
George Harrison was gifted a Bartell fretless guitar (the first prototype) by Hollywood session player and music shop owner Al Casey, whose wife Maxine on 1 August 1967 took it up to Blue Jay Way, where Harrison was staying. Harrison took the guitar back to the UK, where it ended up at Abbey Road Studios. John Lennon was intrigued by the Bartell, but he found it difficult to play. They passed it around, then put it in the studio locker in studio 2. In a 6 June 1968 radio interview with Kenny Everett, Harrison referred to it as 'the mad guitar'. Lennon was heard playing it while being interviewed by Everett.[2]
The Beatles were recording The White Album at the time. Musicologists Kenny Jenkins, of Leeds Beckett University and Richard Perks, University of Kent, have expressed the opinion that the fretless was used on "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and "Helter Skelter", with Perks also suggesting its use on Savoy Truffle.[3] When the Beatles split up in 1969, Harrison took the guitar back to Friar Park, where it sat in his collection until 1985. The guitar was then given to its current owner, session musician Ray Russell, while recording the film Water.[2]
In March 2020, this guitar was shown on the BBC Television programme Antiques Roadshow,[4][5] where Jon Baddeley of Bonhams said "this is an incredibly rare Beatles guitar with an enviable history, which turns out to be one of the most valuable items ever seen on the show."[4] It was valued at £300,000 - £400,000 by Baddeley.[4] The programme included a picture of Harrison with his guitars, in which the Bartell is clearly visible.[4]
Despite the higher valuation, the guitar was sold by Bonhams at an October 2020 auction for £237,562 (including buyer's premium).[3]
Other owners
[edit]A twelve-string electric Bartell , 'St. George XK12', was owned by John Frusciante.[6] The company also made guitars for Jimi Hendrix.[4][7]
John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin played a Hohner-branded Bartell fretless bass during the band's 1972 Australian tour.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Bartell Guitars and Basses". Vintage USA Guitars. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ a b "The Beatles' White Album Fretless Guitar: The Mystery Revealed". Eastwood Worldwide. October 21, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "George Harrison: A Rare Bartell Fretless Electric Guitar owned by George Harrison, believed made circa 1967,". Bonhams. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Battle Abbey 1". Antiques Roadshow. Series 42. Episode 1. 1 March 2020. BBC Television. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Antiques Roadshow values Beatles guitar at £400k". BBC News. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "John Frusciante's 1960s Bartell St. George XK12". Ground Guitar. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "1968 Hohner Bartell Black Widow". PulseBeat Guitars. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ Jeff Strawman (2020-12-07). "Hohner XK-250 Fretless Bass". Led Zeppelin: Achilles Last Stand. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16.
John Paul Jones used the Hohner XK-250 Fretless Bass on the 1972 Australian Tour and some dates on the Summer 1972 US Tour for Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.
- ^ "John Paul Jones mystery bass".
External links
[edit]- Blog post about the reputed first fretless electric bass, made by Bartell