Bulls Head Bob Oct 2023 - The Story of one special YAMAHA SA2200. The King Bees. Pete Oliver. Geoff Brown. The Craig. Richard Seymore

Hello Brummies, Musos of the 60s, Brummies Abroad and lovers of the greatest time in live music.

My Friends, I am full of joy, because today I reunited a beautiful baby with it's birth father.  It was an emotional moment without the need of a midwife or nappies.

THE BEE'S KNEES

There is a pulsing heart between a chosen instrument and its musician as they meld with each others vibrations, attributing each other with the sound that that combination produces.  Those instruments become cherished 'keepers' or family.

The 60's Brummie guitarist that impressed me most was Pete Oliver he knew everything and could play anything, plus the fact that he was such a nice guy.  He worked for many years working in and owning music shops.  His guitar of choice, his keeper, in the later years of his playing was his blonde Yamaha SA2000 first manufactured in 1978 and although Pete sadly passed away a few years back, his guitar can be found still sounding great in the hands of his son, Rob Oliver.  I too bought a Yamaha and I still have it.

1960's 

THE KING BEES.

GEOFF BROWN meets MRS BROWN

In 1992 YAMAHA released a new model, the SA2200 as a result of legal action with Gibson about the 2000.   The new 2200 had thinner cowhorns than its predecessor I believe, but there was little difference between the two models.   It was in this year that former, The King Bees guitarist Geoff Brown, a 1960's Brummie blues/R&B band of good repute, walked into Jack Woodroffes music emporium, loved the look and feel of the new Yamaha.  It must have been love at first sight.    Geoff then decided to make their relationship special by cutting out a brass truss rod cover, having his name engraved on it and fitting it to the guitar.  Mr and Mrs Brown were one.   After a whirlwind romance they sadly went there separate ways in 1996 when Geoffs eyes were drawn to a younger looking ARP Odyssey Synth to move to and broaden his musical horizons.    

1996.  RICHARD SEYMORE, Birmingham.

"I was out shopping in Birmingham for a guitar, I had £300 and was sure of finding a new or good, second hand guitar for that. I always liked the Back to the Future 'Johnny B Goode' Gibson" . At the guitar shop there were a variety of guitars. Richard spotted and fell in love with the wine red Yamaha but it was double the price of his budget.    A friend said "buy the Yamaha and you'll never need another guitar".   "I called my Dad and he agreed to give me the extra 300 to buy it.  

On close inspection of the guitar I noticed the brass engraved, truss rod cover plate but was too busy admiring the craftsmanship of the guitars construction. I loved it.  Neither I, nor my friends knew who Geoff Brown was.  The shop couldn't tell me either when I went back to pay for the guitar and with the internet in its infancy there wasn't much information available.  

I used it to learn the guitar, countless hours playing along to backing tapes and tabs always wandering who Geoff Brown was?.  When my fingers started to hurt I would put down Mrs Brown and unknowingly play Mr Brown's computer games!".

Some years later.....

After discovering who Geoff Brown was by way of an article written by John Woodhouse on the Brumbeat.net website, Richard was left with the quandary of where to look to find him to see if he had been the guitars previous owner.   He tried a link to Geoffs Myspace page but, alas, some time had passed since the article and Myspace had become defunct.  

In mid September Richard sent an email which plopped into my inbox as I was writing the Oct blog asking if I could help put him in contact with Geoff and I was immediately sucked into this challenge and abandoned what I was writing to concentrate my efforts in trying to resolve his "Guy meets Guitar" story but I only had 12 days to get the whole job done before publishing day.   

John W checked back on his 2019 emails and discovered

another contact address to try, so I fired off a quick email explaining the story not knowing if this was still current and Bingo!    Geoff sent an immediate reply to Richard who was overjoyed to finally find that it was the Geoff Brown who had been the original owner and to answer his questions about the guitars use in other projects that Geoff had been involved in.   (To read the article that Richard read, go to BRUMBEAT.NET, List of Bands and click on the Craig entry.  Geoff has had a remarkable life and is well worth the read.)   

These days Geoff can be found living in Mexico where he is enjoying playing gigs to full houses with his Blues outfit  FROG CITY BLUES.  He said "I played that guitar for several years and I loved it" adding "I hope it still plays well". 

Richard Seymore is currently working and living in China where he still plays occasional gigs but unfortunately Mrs Brown didn't fancy life in the Orient and has remained at home in her Case at Halesowen in the UK awaiting his return.

 A very happy Richard's reply to Geoffs email stated...

"Playing the guitar has connected me to so many amazing people around the world but I didnt think I'd end up connected to you in Mexico via the guitar I learned to play on".

FINALLY.  

This story is remarkable in that it has taken 12 days to communicate with all parties over 4 countries, Mexico, China, Canada and finally bring it all together here in the Bloggery where I added the final words at 0600 this morning, 1 Oct 2023.  It has been made possible by the enthusiasm of the participants to get this story out there and their communal love of music.  Long may it continue.   

Yamaha guitars are brilliant, for some reason the name doesn't have the kudos that Gibson and Fender have but those people who know guitars know better!!

So the blog publishes in 10 minutes when I shall be fast asleep.  I hope you enjoyed it and many thanks for your continued support for the Bulls Head Bob blogspot.

Take care of the one you love.

Bob

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Contact:  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com