Thank you for getting me playing 40 years ago! Many greats: The Shadows, Santana, Eric, Ennio.. but The Shadows' songs were always closest to my heart!
Very interesting and enjoyable video. I've just come across what I was actually looking for was could Bruce Welsh play lead? and did he ever play lead call lead in the Shadows on his own bands? do you know please? For example, I had no idea how good a guitarist Joe Brown was. I just said it was great fun and sank and strummed a guitar all but I was wrong. he was brilliant
I have a question for Mr. Balmer - or if anyone could point me in the right direction I'd be eternally grateful.... In one Mr Balmer's Haynes Guitar books, he discusses producing BBC Radio sessions and having young musicians with no idea of intonating guitars, choosing a chord group or key for a song and/or tuning a guitar to the accompanying key of G, for wxample. I'm intrigued. Does anyone know more?
Is it true that Cliff Richard took this guitar back around 61 and had it resprayed to WHITE? Because he paid for it, and it was technically his.? I also have read that Cliff GAVE this guitar back (in white) as payment for recording contributions and Welch had it restored to Fiesta Red. Wonder if this is true.
Dear Paul I came in the wrong way to this. Of course, first off all what I had to do was to complement you for youre excellent playing. Then I could have informed you ever so silent, that the instrument was out of tune.
@@paulbalmer7653 Thank you for the invitation though I don't know what it implies. And I think we live i different countries, so it may be difficult. I live in Denmark not far from Odense, H. C. Andersens hometown. But thanks anyway.
Dear Paul, no I do not have perfect pitch, but have played music more than fifty years and has a very trained ear. I know it is difficult to tune these old instruments. I've heard that back then they put the woodwinds in water to keep them in tune. Anyway I enjoyed the music and the playing very much.
Thank you - I'm struggling a little at 73 but do wish to share some of my 62 years of study. I'm doing these videos in retirement in the spirit of passing some thoughts on. There is still much to learn.
That's an interesting observation. Do you have perfect pitch? The vihuela used is tuned at A415 and has gut strings and frets with wooden pegs. The challenge of achieving 21st century accuracy in pitch for every note is one faced by all early music instrumentalists. We do our best! Sorry if this pitch is not to your taste. I hope you enjoyed the historical context and setting.
All guitars, lutes, pianos etc. are "out of tune" to some extent as their basic tuning is a compromise (c.f. 'Pythagorean Comma') and they go slightly/minutely out of tune as a result of heat transfer by fingers during playing. You might get perfect tuning from a Moog synthesiser etc. or similar electronic contraption, if that is what you desire.
Such an interesting story. You made mention of Buddy Holly and his Strat. Did Hank mention anything about the compatible group in the US called the Ventures? They also started out in the same time period using Fenders.
The story about getting first Strat for the Shadows often mentions hearing James Burton. Bruce has said that the story is bogus. What is interesting is that James Burton had started to endorse Rickenbackers after playing with Rick Nelson. He called his band . . . wait for it ! . . . The Shadows. Disappeared soon after.
The Fender Strats were good guitars but when The Shadows changed to Burns Marvins that was a different ball game. They looked good and sounded good I love the nasel sound its great, I play a Burns Marvin bass in the cabaret band I'm in the best bass guitar I've ever played. Alan Merseyside .
The Shadows stayed with Fenders for most of their career. Even after they switched for a short time to Burns guitars, they soon switched back to Fenders. The rhythm on many of their recordings is an acoustic but Bruce usually used an electric on stage. As far as I know, the only major hit the Shadows had with burns guitars was "The Rise and Fall of Flingle Bunt".
The Fender Strats were the guitars for The Shadows, when they got the matching set they started having tuning problems this went on until 1964 they changed over to Burns guitars. I've always thought that the Burns guitars were far superior than the Fender Strats they played well and they looked good, I play a Burns Marvin bass guitar it's the best bass guitar I've ever played .
Apart from being a brilliant rhythm guitarist from the birth of rock n roll in this country, Bruce Welch is a lovely lovely guy, a true gentleman who always has time for everyone he meets.
Hi my cousin is a guitar teacher for special needs pupils in Surrey. He used to own a white Les Paul "Recording" model which was radically different from any other Les Paul I've ever seen. It had totally different pickups and a couple of "Phase In/Out" switches. It was the most beautiful guitar I've ever played and in all these Les Paul documentaries nobody EVER mentions them. Why is this please? Thanks for some great little videos!
Glad you are enjoying my videos. It seemed a shame not to share my meetings with so many wonderful players. Lester's last les Paul guitar was a white Epiphone. The recording models are interesting and unusual - they represent lester personal take on his guitar.
