Hank's Gear: In a nut shell.. Which guitar for which year ?

[Nabuco]

Hi to you all people from Shadow Community !
I'm new here at the forum, and i would like to ask some questions for people with the most of knowledge.

I've been playing Hank's and the Shads stuff since i was 14 years old, and i've been always intrigued with the fact that the band and Hank used a lot of different guitars to get that trademark tone of the original early records. We all know he played the 34346 '59 Strat for the earlier stuff, but i don't have too much of information on the other instruments. What i'm trying to point out is:

1º In which numbers, on studio, did he use the '61 JMI Red Strat with the Rosewood fingerboard ? Because there's debate about the fact if he used this one on the whole Out of the Shadows album and the Singles of 1962, or if he also used the '59 Strat some times.

2º In what numbers (also on studio) did he used the not-so-famous White Strat ? They were probably '63 models, so i'm guessing Shazam, by the tone of it, but dunno about the rest.

3º When, during the sessions of the Dance with the Shadows album, they started using the Burns for good ? There are songs on this album with him using the White Strat ?

4º And in what numbers did he used the Sunburst Strat in the 70's ? That guitar is like a 'question mark', not too much information about it on the internet.

Thanks, folks ! Sorry, if i'm being too over the top with the topic.

[iefje]

On the "Dance With The Shadows" album, there are three tracks, which were recorded in early August, 1963 at the Jubilee Theatre in Blackpool, when Brian Locking was still in the line-up: "Blue Shadows", "Dakota" and "French Dressing". I guess those were the ones where Hank still used his white Strat. The other eleven tracks were recorded in early 1964 with John Rostill in the line-up and were all played on Burns guitars. Hank and Bruce's Burns guitars were stolen from a van in 1971 or 1972, when Marvin, Welch & Farrar were performing somewhere in England (other members probably know the exact venue). Hank bought himself a white Strat and used it throughout the majority of the 1970's until late 1980/early 1981, when he returned to a 1958 Strat. Hank has had his white Strat sprayed black in about 1974 or 1975 and for a while had two Gibson humbuckers fitted, before reverting to the more common Fender pickups in 1976/1977. He gave the guitar to his son Ben in the 1990's, who also modified it and probably still has it. Other members, please add or correct my information on the specifications of these guitars, if necessary!

[AlanMcKillop]

Not sure about Bruce's Burns being stolen, I'm sure he still has his original. Hank's certainly was along with a couple of Martin acoustics and maybe some others, Stuart Duffy will confirm.

[Paul Childs]

Not sure about Bruce's Burns being stolen, I'm sure he still has his original. Hank's certainly was along with a couple of Martin acoustics and maybe some others, Stuart Duffy will confirm.

Bruce's Burns couldn't have been stolen because he featured it in Guitarist magazine in later years during the 90s.
I believe I read somewhere that at the time when Hank's Burns was stolen, 34346 was also in the van but luckily not touched.

[Nabuco]

Thanks for the info, guys ! Really, i always thought that the tone on "French Dressing" would be from a Strat. Then i saw pictures of the White one, and the dates i've read here in some topics seem to coincide.
I also thought that "The High and the Mighty" have the sound of a Strat, but it's not ! Very odd situation...

I've also read somewhere that "Tales of a Raggy Tramline" was recorded with the 34346, but i think it's the only tune on the Out of the Shadows album that features this guitar.
There's a distinctive difference in the sound of this song (using middle pickup) with the sound of South of the Border (also on middle pickup).

[MeBHank]

Apparently 34346 was still being used for recordings after the matching Fenders (with rosewood fingerboards) had arrived. It seems that, for presentation purposes, the Shadows used matching AC30s on stage whilst using but used different amplifiers in the studio. This is supported by the fact that in 1960 they were given multiple sets of "TV Front" AC34 amplifiers (not AC30/4, as later models were classified). It is common knowledge that Hank was already using a Top Boost unit on stage in 1961, a time when we still hear an EF86-equipped amplifier being used in the studio. Wonderful Land is a prime example. The same type of amplifier may have been used until as late as April 1962: Cosy certainly isn't a Top Boost amp. My ears tell me that the change in Hank's amplifier sound seemed to occur at around the same time that Jet left the Shadows and Licorice joined. Anyway, my point is that it would make sense that they would also have guitars for use primarily on stage. Colin Pryce-Jones has told me he noticed that, once the matching Fenders were being used, the Shadows always had polished, pristine condition instruments for stage use. Would those same stage guitars have been used for everyday use, practise and recording? Perhaps not.

I believe the biggest changes we hear throughout the years are because of the changes in amplifiers. I think any detectable difference in sound due to fingerboard woods is negligible.

All IMO.

J

[hansaustria]

Apparently 34346 was still being used for recordings after the matching Fenders (with rosewood fingerboards) had arrived. It seems that, for presentation purposes, the Shadows used matching AC30s on stage whilst using but used different amplifiers in the studio. This is supported by the fact that in 1960 they were given multiple sets of "TV Front" AC34 amplifiers (not AC30/4, as later models were classified). It is common knowledge that Hank was already using a Top Boost unit on stage in 1961, a time when we still hear an EF86-equipped amplifier being used in the studio. Wonderful Land is a prime example. The same type of amplifier may have been used until as late as April 1962: Cosy certainly isn't a Top Boost amp. My ears tell me that the change in Hank's amplifier sound seemed to occur at around the same time that Jet left the Shadows and Licorice joined. Anyway, my point is that it would make sense that they would also have guitars for use primarily on stage. Colin Pryce-Jones has told me he noticed that, once the matching Fenders were being used, the Shadows always had polished, pristine condition instruments for stage use. Would those same stage guitars have been used for everyday use, practise and recording? Perhaps not.

I believe the biggest changes we hear throughout the years are because of the changes in amplifiers. I think any detectable difference in sound due to fingerboard woods is negligible.

All IMO.

J

According to other trustful sources - the AC 30 6 / TB was used first time mid 62 ! And " French Dressing " / rec. Date 4/8 / 63- on a Burns. Same with TFYL and Blue Shadows !

Hans

[Hank2k]

Colin Pryce-Jones has told me he noticed that, once the matching Fenders were being used, the Shadows always had polished, pristine condition instruments for stage use. Would those same stage guitars have been used for everyday use, practise and recording? Perhaps not.

Thats interesting Justin, so do you or any members think the guitars they used on stage were more like props owned by JMI or whoever who gave them to them for photoshoots and gigs etc?

[padmat78]

Apparently 34346 was still being used for recordings after the matching Fenders (with rosewood fingerboards) had arrived.J

It is an obvious fact...

[padmat78]

[I believe the biggest changes we hear throughout the years are because of the changes in amplifiers. I think any detectable difference in sound due to fingerboard woods is negligible.

All IMO.

J[/quote]

It's an obvious fact to