Guitars in Films TV etc
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 8:08 amAnother thread about the guitars used in the various films reminded me of the following:
About 8 years ago I used to drive through the south coast seaport of Newhaven on a regular basis. My route took me through a small industrial estate and I caught site of a billboard which was advertising musical gear for sale. On this day I decided to have a look. I found a door and inside was a guitar dealers establishment. I was the only customer so after buying some bits and pieces, I got chatting to the salesman, who was likeable lad, and quite happy to chat with an old codger like me. He had some nice Fender models and perhaps, noting my interest, he asked if I would like to see upstairs.
He led me upstairs, and in this room I saw a wide range of guitars and bass guitars, which at first site looked brill, but on closer inspection looked too good to be true. I noted in particular 2/3 Watkins Rapiers - the 2, 3 and 4 pick-up models with that dodgy vibrato arm. Also some hofners and rickenbackers, guilds, gretch's.
The guy explained that they were all film and tv props which were hired to film production companies - some were real old guitars which had been restored to look new, and some were props. So if a tv company was making a programme about say, the Yardbirds or the Pretty Things in 1964/5, the correct style of guitar or bass guitar could be used by the actors in the film. To use real vintage guitars was not practical cos they are nearly all in collections and would cost a fortune to insure!.
After all would your average punter be able to tell the difference? I know some people (me included) do like to spot errors in films!
Never been back, and annoyingly can't recall their trading name.
Kindest regards,
Christopher
About 8 years ago I used to drive through the south coast seaport of Newhaven on a regular basis. My route took me through a small industrial estate and I caught site of a billboard which was advertising musical gear for sale. On this day I decided to have a look. I found a door and inside was a guitar dealers establishment. I was the only customer so after buying some bits and pieces, I got chatting to the salesman, who was likeable lad, and quite happy to chat with an old codger like me. He had some nice Fender models and perhaps, noting my interest, he asked if I would like to see upstairs.
He led me upstairs, and in this room I saw a wide range of guitars and bass guitars, which at first site looked brill, but on closer inspection looked too good to be true. I noted in particular 2/3 Watkins Rapiers - the 2, 3 and 4 pick-up models with that dodgy vibrato arm. Also some hofners and rickenbackers, guilds, gretch's.
The guy explained that they were all film and tv props which were hired to film production companies - some were real old guitars which had been restored to look new, and some were props. So if a tv company was making a programme about say, the Yardbirds or the Pretty Things in 1964/5, the correct style of guitar or bass guitar could be used by the actors in the film. To use real vintage guitars was not practical cos they are nearly all in collections and would cost a fortune to insure!.
After all would your average punter be able to tell the difference? I know some people (me included) do like to spot errors in films!
Never been back, and annoyingly can't recall their trading name.
Kindest regards,
Christopher