Question for members from the U.K.

[hansmoust]

Hello folks,

Since we have some 'older' folks from the U.K. hang out here, I was hoping that some might be able to help me with this.

Attached is a photo taken in a music store in the U.K. around 1965/1966. I think I know which store it is, but I need a confirmation from a third party.

The lay out of the store is pretty specific, so I was wondering if any of you UK members recognize the place.

Also, does anyone recognize himself in the photo?

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Wee Davy]

I'm certainly the right age but I don't recognise the store.
I do remember wearing checked hipsters like the guy front left though .

 

[adorshki]

Can't help with the original question, but it seems to me that the guy on the far right looks like George Harrison?
Would that help to corroborate your "guess"?
Is there one of your "neat stories" there, after this is answered?

 

[southernGuild]

That does look like a long, lean, and young version of 'George' alright.
Great photo. I like the named cabinets there. "Martin, Guild, Harmony, Gretsch, Gibson, Fender....' Very cool.
I hope someone here can assist you further, and we get the rest of the story.

 

[hansmoust]

Can't help with the original question, but it seems to me that the guy on the far right looks like George Harrison?
Would that help to corroborate your "guess"?

Hello Al,

By 1965/1966 George Harrison would not have been able to visit a music store without being bothered by fans.

Is there one of your "neat stories" there, after this is answered?

Not sure if it would be exiting for everybody but my question is actually part of a search for 'provenance' re. a rare Guild guitar.
At this point I'm not sure if it will get me anywhere but it's fun trying to figure these things out.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[adorshki]

Hello Al,
By 1965/1966 George Harrison would not have been able to visit a music store without being bothered by fans.

Oh yes, I know that, but I was wondering if perhaps it was some kind of un-promoted invitation only event, possibly even at one of Brian Epstein's music stores, thus explaining the absence of rabid fans.
Didn't want to clutter up your thread with only a guess about that being the location. :wink:

 

[bluesypicky]

Promo venue for the Vox AC30?

 

[walrus]

In 1965/66, that cloudy haze that appears to be a "person" in the front of the store could have been George on an acid trip...

walrus

 

[adorshki]

In 1965/66, that cloudy haze that appears to be a "person" in the front of the store could have been George on an acid trip...
walrus

Or maybe Dr. Robert in an early version of an infomercial?:
"YOU too can be a glowing apparition!"

 

[12 string]

It looks like I can see a Gibson B-45 12 in there and maybe some other 12ers.

Sorry I can't help.

 

[gilded]

I think I see some Epiphones on the back wall (Sheratons). I saw the B45-12, too. I see two Guild Dreads (center raised headstocks under Gretsch/Gibson names, probably D35/40-ish guitars0, plus lots of names on the walls; Ludwig, Rogers, Edgeware (?), Burns, Guild, Harmony, Gretsch, Gibson, Fender, Hofner, Epiphone, Rickenbacker and Ampeg!

The Vox looks like a Tan AC30. I'm not good enough to tell you if it has top-boost or not. The speakers are facing the camera.

One would think that a store that carried 'everything American' back then, would be a pretty posh store, indeed.

HH

 

[hansmoust]

In 1965/66, that cloudy haze that appears to be a "person" in the front of the store could have been George on an acid trip...

walrus

Actually, that 'person' is George, but I blurred the photo on purpose, because the question is really about the store!

I also posted this question on the Gretsch pages but it looks like nobody there wants to admit that he's over sixty and I did not get any response so far!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[12 string]

... nobody there wants to admit that he's over sixty and I did not get any response so far!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

LTG stands for Let's Talk Geezers!

' Strang

 

[hansmoust]

I also posted this question on the Gretsch pages but it looks like nobody there wants to admit that he's over sixty and I did not get any response so far!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

.........or do you think that there might be some truth to the saying that 'if you remember the '60s you weren't there!'

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[adorshki]

Actually, that 'person' is George, but I blurred the photo on purpose, because the question is really about the store!

SO even though I'm not a UK Resident then or now, it would seem my guess about it possibly being some kind of invitation only event may have a grain of truth? By extension, if it was one Brian Epstein's NEMS stores, that could explain the George connection and the ability to have kept the rabid fan factor to a minimum?
It could also explain Gilded's "posh indeed" comment.
Supporting that hypothesis, I seem to recall in Hunter Davies' The Beatles, one store was described as a being in a big square building and that room seems to fit the description.
Granted my recollections have been a bit unreliable recently, but I read that book before I met Dr. Robert. eaceful:

Does that help?

 

[hansmoust]

SO even though I'm not a UK Resident then or now, it would seem my guess about it possibly being some kind of invitation only event may have a grain of truth? By extension, if it was one Brian Epstein's NEMS stores, that could explain the George connection and the ability to have kept the rabid fan factor to a minimum?

Does that help?

Sorry adorski, but we're drifting away from what I'm trying to find out. It's probably my own fault by 'admitting it was George', but there's more than one George in the world. It was kind of a funny coincidence and that's why I mentioned it.

So........no, it's not in one of Brian Epstein's stores; I know that much. But really, the reason why I blurred out the person in the front is that I didn't want people to guess what the location was. I'm looking for someone who recognizes the place,because he has been there in the past.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[southernGuild]

Ahhhh perhaps 'George' Barnes? Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:distant: