Tag Archives: vintage and rare

Halkan´s Rockhouse Stockholm Guitar Shop Tour

August 2, 2016

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Halkan´s Rockhouse is located in the heart of the beautiful swedish town, Stockholm. We recently went to visit Jan Hallquisth and his staff in his shop. Halkans Rock House is long time supporter of Vintage & Rare and is one of the very first shops to be on V&R. The shop has a great inventory with lots of vintage guitars, basses, amps and effects. They also do repairs. So if you are in the market of a fine vintage instrument, this is a shop to keep on your gear radar. Please see the shop tour vid and pics from that visit.

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Def Leppard and their guitar harem

November 24, 2014

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Def Leppard is a band known to most people, not at least guitar-enthusiasts due to the bands unique sound of playful melodies and powerful guitar riffs and solos. Rising to prominence in the early to mid 1980s the band was part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, however the bands sound is not so easily contained by specific genres, and Def Leppard can with no doubt in their voices claim to have a sound completely unto themselves. This is in no part due to the hard workmanship of the various guitarists that have blessed the band with their talents through out the years. Currently the role of main guitarist of Def Leppard is shared between two people; Vivian Campbell and Phill Collen. Front singer and founder Joe Elliot also provides guitar from time to time and so does bassplayer Rick Savage, but currently the real guitar talent resides with Campbell and Collen.

Both guitarists have more than two decades of experience behind them, and as during their extensive time of playing guitar at a highly professional level have both gone through a host of guitars of different kinds, brands and wild looks. Campbell appears to perhaps be the more populist or classicists guitar player of the two in regards to brand as he have a long history of playing mostly Gibson Les pauls guitars, however for extended periods of time Campbell have instead favoured playing on the number of custom made guitars he have made for him or have come by during his years of playing, including a three-colour (pink, red and yellow) Rand guitar, handmade by Rand Havener and a guitar built for him by luthier Buddy Blaze. These instruments was however more featured during his time with DIO and Whitesnake, while his Les Pauls have come more into play once again during his time at Def Leppard.

Phill Collen on the other hand uses the less popular Jackson Guitar brand almost exclusively. Formerly known for being one of the most exquisite brands when it came to custom made heavy metal guitars the brand have fallen out of favour since the 1990s, and a now a subsidiary of Fender Guitars. Collen still stands by them however and for almost all of his recording and turing work he exclusively uses Jackson guitars, and more specifically PC1 models. Some of them are modded to suit particular needs while other are left more or less in the state they were in when first bought. Collen having have a unique and self sure sounds for many years, and though his talent and personal flavour is part of this, some of this is also due to the way that his PC1s are equipped. All of them feature Dimarzio which is not unusual in any way, however the fact that almost all of his guitars are also fitted with Floyd Rose Sustainer pickups and the fact that most of them also feature Floyd Rose tremolos makes them stand out from other Jackson PC1s.

In every way a truly iconic band with a unique sound, Def Leppard continues to play and deliver fantastical songs with great splendour, in no small part due to their fantastic and hugely talented guitarist, and for that we are very grateful!

For more on Def Leppard, visit their website here.
For more Premier Guitar videos, visit their youtube channel here.

And don’t forget to visit Vintage & Rare on the other parts of the web:
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Walter Trout Charity Auction – Pedals With A Cause

April 3, 2014

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Pedals With A Cause is the world´s first fundraising community for pedal manufacturers from all over the world, coming together and donating pedals for great causes. And Vintage & Rare is so proud to be a part of this!

The first auction being held, is a fundraiser for blues guitarist Walter Trout who is in urgent need of a liver transplant. We are very sad to hear about the condition of our dear friend and have decided to be a part of the Pedal With A Cause eBay auction, to raise funds for Walter in this critical time.

With the support of 17 pedal manufacturers from all over the world, we have now gathered 20 amazing pedals. All 20 pedals are being listed as one single auction! So here is your chance to grab 20 incredible pedals in one go and support a great cause.

We need your support for this very worthy cause, so go check out the auction right here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walter-Trout-Charity-Pedal-Auction-20-pedals-from-17-manufacturers-/261440442008

Note that the auction ends on Monday the 7th of April.

Read more on our website or facebook.

Support Walter Trout

Support Walter Trout

 

 

 

Guitars The Museum

March 24, 2014

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Wow! Have you guys been planning your next holiday? Cause we here at Vintage & Rare sure have! We are going to Umeå. The university town in northern Sweden, has become the home of one of the world’s finest vintage guitar collections. The Museum house a live venue, a music store, a recording studio, a photo studio and a restaurant. Behind the great idea is brothers Samuel and Michael Åhdén. They have been collecting one of the world’s finest privately owned collection of guitars since the 1960’s. And now the whole world has a chance to see it. Go check out the exhibition of electric guitars, basses, amps and music accessories at ‘Guitars The Museum’ in Umeå. We here at Vintage & Rare are definitely going to pay it a visit very soon!

Everybody here wants you – Jeff Buckley documentary

February 12, 2014

| Author: Vintage & Rare

We recently stumbled across this great documentary, Everybody Here Wants You, about the life of Jeff Buckley. It was made by BBC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1pO9d1uPJc

Born in Anaheim, California, Jeff Buckley was raised around music, his mother being a professional cellist and pianist.
He was introduced to bands such as Queen and Led Zeppelin by his stepfather. At age 12 he decided to become a musician and he received his first professional guitar. He spent years afterwards playing many styles in different bands until he was contacted by his father’s former manager with an offer to help him record his first demo of original songs. Thus he recorded his only studio album: Grace.

The next 2 years he toured to promote his album and in 1996 he stopped at some point, planning to record his second album. The album was never finished as he died on the 29th of May 1997, drowning in Wolf Rive Harbour after a spontaneous swim.

Vintage & Rare had the opportunity of making a transaction possible together with Chelsea Guitars, for Jeff Buckley’s Fender Telecaster from 1983, so this documentary means a lot to us, especially because that guitar is featured in it.
Here is a Video about the guitar:

James Hetfield from Metallica visits Guitar Center in San Francisco

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Our friends over at Guitar World recently made this great video with Metallica frontman James Hetfield visiting Guitar Center in San Francisco. At Vintage and Rare we are Metallica fans, so it was a great experience for us to hear James sharing his stories. We hope it will be the same for you.

James Hetfield shared a lot of stories, varying from his first cover band, first professional instrument, all the way to his decision to become a musician and his career with all its consequences.

He also talks about his new ESP Iron Cross signature model, getting quite deep into its technical details and also plays a few riffs during the video.

For more details about his New ESP signature model please go to espguitars.com.

For more videos from Guitar Center visit their YouTube Channel.

Nick Hopkin Drums Interview with owner Nick Hopkin

August 29, 2012

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Nick Hopkin, funder of Nick Hopkin Drums took the time to answer our questions. After several years touring in Europe as a drummer, Nick started Nick Hopkin Drums… from a hobbie to a full time job, he tells us the story of his company.

Could you please tell us about Nick Hopkin Drums? Where are you located?
I’m an independent drum shop specialising in classic and vintage drums. Located in Wales, UK, I ship worldwide with customers in USA, Canada, Australia and Europe so far. I sell Full kits, snare drums, stands, pedals, cymbals, spares… you name it really.  1940’s-1980’s.American – Ludwig, Slingerland, Gretsch, Rogers; English – Premier, Beverley, Ajax, Olympic; European – Trixon, Sonor ASBA, and lots more. I at least clean all the drums that come through my shop. Some need a complete refurbishment. Original fittings and parts are replaced as required. I also sell Remo drum heads including pre-international sized for pre-1968 premier drums.

What initially motivated you to set up an online drum shop, and when was that?
I started restoring a 1960’s Premier set in red glitter some years ago and began attending drum fairs and reading lots of books and articles online about vintage drums.  I soon outgrew my garage and needed a workshop; I outgrew that within 3 months and so opened a shop! Its something I’ve always wanted to do, and it all just kind of happened. People heard what I was doing and got behind me; other dealers offered me spare parts and advice and it quickly grew into a fully fledged business. Its still very early days and I have lots of ideas and plans, but small steps at the moment.

Are you a musician yourself? If so, when did you start to play, what styles/genres. Are you still active in bands and other projects?
As a child i always banged pots and pans. I have memories of drumming along to The Dave Clark Five’s ‘Bits n pieces’ on  tupperware tubs, filled with a few marbles and covered with greaseproof paper and sellotape… the heads never lasted long! I played snare drum in primary school and progressed to lead drummer in the Boys Brigade marching band  aged 12 and then onto my first kit, a 1960′s Premier in red sparkle with a matching Royal Ace snare. It won my heart and I still have it now. I spent my teens and twenties playing in numerous bands – pop, funk, jazz, metal – playing thousands of gigs across the UK and Europe. I stopped playing in bands 10 years ago, and until about a year ago have been recording and producing my own music and releasing it online. I sometimes play in my local church on a Sunday and take along the latest kit to come in!

What do you consider the biggest challenge for drum dealers today?
Quality. So many vintage kits appear on auction sites, but they’ve been adapted over the years with newer parts;they often have extra holes or the original wrap has been painted or removed. Its hard to pick up classic drums that are both original and in good, playable condition.

How do you choose what products to carry?
The market is open to all brands – some people prefer American, some English, some European; some buy only from a particular era, so I try and buy across the board. I try to stock the classic English and American snare drums and good quality drum kits. As a rule, I stock drums that are in good condition structurally; wrap and chrome can be cleaned and polished to look new again, but drum shells with too many extra holes or structural damage are a no. Occasionally I re-wrap the drums.

What is the coolest drum set you’ve ever sold? A great story to share?
I recently sold an early 70’s Hayman Vibrasonic set to legendary British drummer Steve White (Style Council, Paul Weller, Oasis, etc). I’ve just acquired a Premier Projector kit in a custom black glitter (22,10,12,13,14,16) which was made for Nigel Glockler of Heavy Rock band Saxon, in near mint condition. A great story?  A lady in America bought a 10” Ludwig tom in champagne sparkle for her husband last month as a birthday surprise…he’d been looking for one for 3 years! I wish I’d been there to see the look on his face.

Do you have any personal favorite drums in your shop? If so, why is said drum your favorite?
I fall in love with pretty much every drum I buy, but have to let them go (most of the time!). I adore a 70’s Slingerland ‘Buddy Rich’ wooden snare drum with TDr strainer; Kit wise I’m currently torn between the 70’s Ludwig Super Classic in 24,13,16 and the 60’s Gretsch round badge in 22,13,16…both kits go out as studio hires, so I have the chance to play them at lunchtimes! The 70s niles badge COB snare drums are pretty nice too!

Given that this is for a blog, what role has technology (the internet, your website, etc.) played in the success of your business?
It has been invaluable. Presently, 90% of my sales are done online. I realised a full e-commerce website which offered worldwide shipping was important from the beginning, if my business was going to be successful. I’ve been fortunate enough to be featured on popular drumming websites and on specialist sites such as Vintage & Rare; along with sites such as facebook, twitter and linkedin, I’ve been able to develop a positive online presence for my business. The many drumming forums have enabled me to connect and communicate with the worlwide drumming community.

Is there a general trend to the people who purchase from you, in terms of how skilled or experienced they are?
No, it’s right across the spectrum from beginners to professionals. I try to educate young players and show them that they can by a vintage kit that looks and sounds stunning, often for less than a mid range modern kit. Vintage English drum kits are very affordable at the moment, and with quality shells and die cast hoops, they sound great!

What advice would you give to somebody looking to purchase a drumkit from you?
Decide on what drum sizes you prefer and what your budget is, and take it from there. I recently read an interview with a famous drummer who said that all the classic kits were 20 or 22” bass drum with 13” tom and 16” floor tom; this wasn’t a mistake! Tonally, those sizes complement each other. Despite the modern trend to add smaller toms and larger floor toms, I think the 4 piece set up will always remain a best seller.

How do you see the international vintage drum market today?
Its very exciting, as I constantly come across kits and snares that have been stored for 40 plus years and are in great condition. Thanks to the internet and specialist sites such as Vintage & Rare and my own website, vintage drum kits are easier for customers to buy.

Are your drums especially common among musicians playing a certain genre or style?
I think that a classic drum kit will sound good within any style or genre of music. Head choice, drum sizes and tuning play the key roles in adapting to different styles. Taking Gretsch as an example, vintage Gretsch drums can be heard on most of the great jazz recordings, all The Rolling Stones’ records (Charlie Watts), and on the new Feeder and Take That records (Karl Brazil). Unlike guitars and amplifiers which have distinct sounds associated with particular genres and eras of music, I think the sound of a vintage drum kit is timeless.

Any famous last words?
Don’t you just love the smell of a vintage drum when you first take the head off….

Website – www.nickhopkindrums.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nickhopkindrums
Twitter – https://twitter.com/NickHopkinDrums
LinkedIn – uk.linkedin.com/in/nickhopkindrums

Guest blog: 1971 Gibson SG Inspires Both Online and Off

August 24, 2012

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Have you heard of Figment?

It’s an online game where users can create their own, non-existing bands with whole albums with track lists, album covers, and long descriptions of how this band would sound – if it was real! The most creative and interesting bands and albums get the most fans and attention, and are rewarded with ‘lucres’, the Figment game money users can buy stuff with.

On Figment, it’s “All bands, no music“.

Figment decided to give their users a challenge and promised a bucket full of lucres for the winner:

“We’ve noticed that many of our players are musicians in real life.  We’ve also noticed that many of you are great writers, who can easily and concisely write about your love of music, real and fake.  So for our first Figment Challenge we’re looking for one player who owns a vintage instrument and is willing to write about why they love that instrument, and how playing it has inspired the bands they create on Figment.”

The winner of the challenge is formerwageslave aka Remy Brecht.  He owns this 1971 Gibson SG:

Here is the article he won the challenge with:

’71 Gibson SG Inspires Both Online and Off
by Remy Brecht

I am the proud owner of a Gibson SG 200/250 from around ’71-’72. I bought it for $180 down in Memphis, TN from a FedEx employee sometime in the late 90′s, though I wish I had thought to ask him more about the instrument’s history at the time. He either didn’t realize what he had or didn’t fully appreciate its well-worn appearance, and had it “restored” at some point in the form of drowning it in a thick coat of shiny white paint. Nevertheless, it still has its rubber knobs and plastic switches, its “Les Paul Custom” tag on the headstock, its single coil pickups hidden by black plastic covers with “Gibson” in raised cursive lettering. The latter is perhaps my favorite detail about the guitar. Since then, this SG has been my main axe through countless projects and cities, from alternative rock cover bands in Memphis to industrial rock in Indiana, from feedback noise experiments in Las Vegas to digital hardcore punk in Detroit. My blood has soaked into the fretboard on numerous occasions, and there are plenty of new dents in its weathered but still rock-solid body.

Sadly, however, I don’t always have time to sit down and record ideas for songs… or entirely new bands, for that matter. When I discovered Figment ( http://www.figment.cc ), the immersive online game dedicated to creating painstakingly realistic fake bands, I knew I had found the perfect outlet for my excess creativity. On Figment, users can create the bands of their dreams, writing their back stories and member bios, designing their logos, and creating albums complete with cover art, track lists, credits, and descriptions. Other Figment users then “buy” and “listen” to these non-existent albums to increase their position on the Hot Albums chart. There are also frequent challenges with real prizes and famous music industry judges, including concept album and album cover design contests.

One of my main bands on Figment is the mythical stoner/doom group Vorpal Queen. My vintage SG is a constant source of inspiration when coming up with songs and albums for VQ, especially since one of their main influences is Black Sabbath. Tony Iommi has his own line of SGs that bear his name, and owning an instrument from that same family of guitars (and one that dates back to the days of such classic Sabbath records as Paranoid and Masters of Reality!) helps me channel those heady, haze-filled days of nascent heavy metal. Considering the SG’s narrow neck with strings set hand-crampingly close together, the heavy chunk of maple that is its body, I have a deeper appreciation for players such as Iommi who were able to play them back then with such speed and finesse– not an easy task compared to the lighter, faster guitars available today. The SG’s weight, the way each note rings through the entire body… these things stick in my mind when imagining new chapters of dark sludge for The Queen!

Figment bands of mine:

Vorpal Queen – http://www.figment.cc/bands/2528/vorpal-queen.fig
Lucifer and the Long Pigs – http://www.figment.cc/bands/2491/lucifer-and-the-long-pigs.fig

Real bands of mine:
The Restless Shades – http://www.facebook.com/therestlessshades
Phallus Uber Alles – http://www.facebook.com/phallusuberalles

Famous Vinyls Covers: Guestblog by Vinylstall.com

August 23, 2012

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Vinyl records have been popular during most of the 20th century. These recordings are played using a record player called phonograph. Vinyl recordings are once a favorite in the entertainment media. Over the years, the music industry has innovated and produced modern technology from cassette tapes to CDs and digital music players. Old types of music recorded on vinyl are now being revived with the integration of musical instruments. Audiophiles are into vinyl record collection because they love this vintage music format. Even the new generation musicians and music lovers are becoming interested in this old time disc recording.

Vinyl record enthusiasts have never ceased using and collecting this form of music medium. In fact, some artists and small label companies release their music using vinyl. DJs also play and spin these records in the clubs and bars because of the good sound quality. Vinyl has survived the innovation of technology and has influenced the music industry over the years. During the middle to the late years of the 20th century, there are a lot of famous vinyl covers that have been produced and distributed in the market. How can we forget the famous cover of the Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers? Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by the legendary Beatles has been considered the best cover of all times. For decades, label companies have also integrated famous instruments on their vinyl record covers.

During the vinyl record era, covers are very significant to express the theme of the artist’s songs. Some use their personal profiles and pictures or musical instruments like guitars, piano and saxophones.

Instruments featured in Vinyl Record Covers:

a. One of the most acclaimed albums during the 50’s is the Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins. The award winning album was recorded and released in 1956 by Prestige Records and was considered the best albums issued by this recording company. The cover shows a man playing his saxophone in a blue background. It is a jazz album containing five tracks, three of which are Johnny Rollins’ compositions.

b. Another remarkable vinyl record cover is the album “Eric Clapton Slow hand” by Eric Clapton. This album includes lyrics of all songs and some art clips and photos. The front cover photo shows neck, turning keys and head of a guitar. A body of the guitar being strummed by a man is illustrated in the back cover. The album was produced in 1977 by Glyn Johns.

c. Jerry Lee Lewis also known as “The Killer” pioneered rock and roll music through a distinctive style in piano playing. His album “Who’s gonna play this old piano” released in 1972  contains eleven tracks including the hit songs “She’s Reachin For My Mind” and “Who’s gonna play this old piano”. The vinyl record cover shows an old grand piano with some lyric sheets on top of it.

Vinyl record covers were of great help to market and sell albums. The concept depends on the genre and the performer’s type of music. Most of the covers show profiles and pictures of the singer or bands. Covers for vinyl records also show musical instruments used by performers. Albums with famous musical instruments like guitars, pianos and saxophones are incorporated in the back or front cover of the musician’s album.

Vinyl is one of the greatest medium in the music industry. There is a need for us to protect and promote vinyl records to preserve the music of the past generation. You can find rare vinyl records for sale online, with the free vinyl search on http://www.vinylstall.com/

How much is my musical instrument worth?

August 18, 2012

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Do you have an instrument that you would like to have an appraisal for? You’ve come to the right place.

Vintage & Rare.com now offers the opportunity to get a professional appraisal for your instruments.
We will provide you with a Certificate of Authenticity which represents a valuable document about the actual value, date and origins of your instrument. Remember your musical instrument might be a precious investment.

Vintage & Rare is the premier site in regards to trading of vintage and custom instruments in the world, we are proud to
offer this service to everyone who needs it.

We offer the following services:
–  40 € for appraisal from pictures: send an email to nicolai@vintageandrare.com attaching up to 5 pictures, detailed
description of changes and repairs and payment information. We will send you via email a pdf document as well as a phisical copy via regular postal service.

– Detailed appraisals from photos: The fee may be higher for appraisals that recquire 10 or more pictures.
Please contact Nicolai Schneekloth at +45/22720077  to discuss it.

– We can also provide a thorough appraisal including an hands-on examination of all the components of your instruments.
The fee is 180 €. Call +45/22720077 or email to book an appointment.

If you’re selling or buying an instrument don’t hesitate to contact us and let us help you get the best deal.