Author Topic: John Birch Guitars (Read 209 times)

georgie_boy · « **on:** April 25, 2007, 03:11:56 AM »

Hi All
I am helping someone to research John Birch and his company which was based in Birmingham England.
I used to have a twin neck 5 and 10 string bass that he built back in the mid 70's for me. This guitar is now for sale at Songbirdmusic in Toronto Canada. It can be seen under the basses for sale page 2. Have a look! you will be impressed by the over the top design.
If you have any pictures or facts, or indeed anything on John Birch and his employees (jaydee and Arthur Baker--both of whom I knew personally) then please contact me at my e-mail address (in my profile) or indeed in this forum.
My friend is also looking for a second hand Magnum x pickup if anyone can help.
Thanks to you all

George

keavin · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2007, 03:25:53 AM »

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=John+Birch+Guitars&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

georgie_boy · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2007, 08:20:12 AM »

Thanks Keavin.
Yeah we've got most of the normal stuff, it's now just the special stuff that we're looking for.
Did you check out my twin neck??

George

keavin · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2007, 08:52:47 AM »

keavin · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2007, 08:58:14 AM »

27 Knobs!!!......what the Hell doe's this puppy do?.....Launch Rockets Too???

georgie_boy · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2007, 10:50:12 AM »

Thanks for the pics Keavin.
I designed every single bit of that beast.
Did you check out the headstock with my name in MOP?
When I had this baby made for me, she was originally WHITE. She started to yellow after a few months, so JB re done her in the greenburst as it is now known.
I even designed the inlays/purfling/horns/cutaways-------everything!; and everything had a function.

Thanks for posting the pic Keavin-I'm not too bright at all that-but?
If you can Keavin---can you show the heads with the name on??
My one claim to fame

??

Thanks ol' buddy

George

grateful · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2007, 01:06:01 AM »

Here you go George! How did this compare to an Alembic?

Mark

georgie_boy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2007, 04:31:01 AM »

Well Keavin
She did about everything you wanted------except make the breakfast in the morning.

Mark-Thanks for posting the pic.
Being passive, it's difficult to compare this with my Series1.
Let's just say, I'm sticking with the Series.

George

keavin · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2007, 07:52:24 AM »

COOOOOOL!!!!

tbrannon · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2007, 11:05:24 AM »

George-

You mind giving us an idea what all them knobs do? That's a heap o' controls for an all passive bass.

Very cool BTW. If I had cash laying around, I'd be itching for one.

georgie_boy · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2007, 05:55:22 AM »

Sure Toby and Keavin-and everyone who is curious!!
Let's look first at the gold Pots
For each neck, there is a master volume(nearest the P/ups) then; 3 volumes and 3 tones------(one for each p/up.)
Multiply this by 2 and you have all the Pots.
The 3 way Strat style selectors under each p/up allowed for the selection of channel assignment for each p/up. Remember that this was a stereo bass and could be played either monaural or in stereo ( 2 jacks). Pushing the switch forward, sent the signal to the bass amp/settings and then, evidement if the switch went to the rear setting, then it went to the treble settings or other amp if you had one. Now multiply that by 2!!

The little coloured switches would put THAT particular p/up out of phase with another selected one So---you could select which p/up was out of phase relative to another.
Multiply all that by 2 as well!!
Then we had a neck selector!
One of the most beautiful things I remember about the instrument was------if both necks were selected through the selector switch, and I played on the 5 string neck, then the 10 string would sing in sympathy with it!! Turn the volume full off on the 5 string and you could hear these daunting wailing tones quietly in the backgroung from the 10 string.
That should about cover it all I think!!??
Why did I sell her???
Well-I'm 5ft 6 and that puppy weighed around 17.5 lbs.----get my drift?

I bet through the RIGHT amp/cab system, then my ex puppy will blow your face off.
OK she needs a little repair after 32 years-so do I!!
I can guarentee that when I desisigned her and played her, There was NO BETTER PASSIVE BASS around in the UK than Her

Then The WICKERSHAMS came into my life--Bah!!

God praise the Wickershams-----and JB/JayDee as well. They have been such innovators in our lives.

G

georgie_boy · « **Reply #11 on:** May 01, 2007, 05:58:27 AM »

Forgot to say, that the strat style selectors when in the centre position was an OFF setting

georgie_boy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 01, 2007, 06:09:08 AM »

OH!! and by the way---if I had cash lying around, I'd buy her back in a minute!!
Unfotunately, at the moment, I'm unemployed-------great eh? for a guy with 3 university degrees.
JAYDEE guitars (John Diggins & son) would do the refurb-----He did a lot of the original design with myself, and he remembers me and the bass SO WELL (his own words).
Let's be honest guys----They were building WORLD CLASS guitars way back then!

I know for a fact, cause JB & JD were offering me active circuits in instruments even then, but at that time, I was of the old Passive school----May the good Lord have mercy on my soul.
We all learn and--regret!

G