BULLS HEAD BOB. DEC 2012. BOB'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT GUIDE. FENTON WEIL GUITARS. TIPTON AT CHRISTMAS.

Welcome Brummies, Brummies Abroad, Ladies, Gentlemen,Teenagers and even the odd Jock!  My Christmas thoughts also offer a warm embrace to my friends in 'fringe areas of sexuality' too so Hooray!!  It´s Christmas and I love you all. 

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Buying the right present is always a daunting affair and especially

if it involves buying a musical instrument.  You´ve probably been hinting to the missus what you´d like in your stocking but just in case you hadn´t thought about what you´d like here´s a hint or two:

THE FENDER GOLDCASTER
If you´re a Tele person this guitar is the one for you, it is the only gold guitar ever made and is yours for One Million of your British pounds.  I bet it´s a real nightmare removing fingerprints from the body, my mate Oggie would love to own it just for the sake of cleaning it.

If you find that the Goldcaster doesn´t fit into your household budget, you could always suggest having an ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE

It looks like a PRS but when you flip the guitar over you will be astounded to see it´s constructed of Carbon Fibre and will only set you back 6000 pounds.
I have no idea if it sounds good but it can go from 0 to 120 notes an hour
in 8 seconds.   I can't imagine anyone seriously wanting one of these. 

EARLY GUITARS UPDATE
This is the 'other side' of the Good guitar coin.  Last month I featured guitars that could be found in the music shops of GB during the early 60´s.

There was however one glaring omission because I forgot to include one of the ugliest and worst of guitar brands that were available to us musicians, it was a very short lived company, the guitar make being,  FENTON WEIL.   This was a London based guitar manufacturer/importer who had earlier had a short partnership as Burns-Weil.  I think it fair to say that there are a couple of similarities in
the small bodied Burns sonic range.  

Anyway there was a short range of guitars and they were all horrible beyond belief, I don´t know how I forgot to include these guitars designed probably by Mr Magoo.

If you happened to have owned one of these horrors and wish to re-visit your nightmare
take a trip to www.vintagehofner.co.uk
who have some fine pictures of most of the FENTON WEIL range on their lovely website which is always a pleasure to visit.

The headstock on this is bigger than the body. Oh what a dreadful thing it is.   I knew a bassist who used one of these - well he was bass player after all.   

There are probably some folk who are possibly drooling over the thought of owning one of these early guitars but, before you drool your life and your savings away, let me say this, ''There were only a few solid body guitars in the shops for us to choose from and even then the majority of us musicians with only half a brain, gave this make a sharp swerve''.

LITERATURE
I was given a few books last Christmas including one that I thought I'd pass on to you.  Without fear of being proven wrong let me tell you that this is definitely the WORST book ever writtten.  It is absolutely dreadful, so if you were thinking of buying something for someone you don't particularly like, but HAVE to buy a present for them, then get them this:

You won't regret it - BUT they will!!

OGGIES CARD
It wouldn´t be Christmas here on the blog without Oggies card but this year he said he wanted to avoid naked women and wanted something to show what Christmas in the Black Country is like.  So here´s a picture of Tipton at Christmas, they know how to throw a party there alright.

FLYING WITH YOUR GUITAR?
Well Brian Nicholls has done it again.  He just sent me a nice story and here it is, we all like a winner.

A musician named Dave Carroll recently had difficulty with United Airlines.

United apparently damaged Daves treasured Taylor guitar worth 2500 pounds

during a flight and Dave spent 9 months trying to get United to pay for damages caused by baggage handlers to his custom Taylor guitar.  During his final exchange with the United customer services manager, he stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video for YouTube exposing their lack of co-operation.   The Manager replied ''Good luck with that one pal''.

So he posted a retaliatory video on YouTube.  The video has since received over six million hits.  United Airlines contacted the musician and attempted settlement in exchange for pulling the video.  Naturally his response was
''Good luck with that one pal''.

Taylor guitars sent the musician 2 new custom Taylors in appreciation for the product recognition from the video that has led to a sharp increase in orders.

Here's the video and it just goes to show that a great song speaks volumes:

http://youtu.be/5YGc4zOqozo

AND FINALLY:
The planned Blue Plaque for Mothers at Erdington seems to have been put on the back burner for a while but I shall try and bring you any news that may be forthcoming soon.

Myself and the Boogie Band shall be gigging this weekend so I may bump into one or two of you.  The day after I´m going up to Manchester to spend the festive season with my beautiful daughter.    So it only leaves me to wish all you folks a Merry Christmas from myself, Mrs Bob and the Gang at the boozer and to say thanks to those who have helped contribute to this blog during the past 12 months and lastly of course a big thankyou to all the readers.   

Take Care
Bob

copyright: Bullsheadbob
contact:   Bobsbullocks@GMail.com