Fly Guitars updates
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1974 Gibson L-9S Ripper
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 Although a few were completed in 1973, 1974 was the first year the Gibson Ripper bass was shipped in any numbers. It was one of the first new designs by Bill Lawrence who came to Gibson in the early 1970s. Early examples, like this, have a wider slab body, without the sculptured bevelling of later Rippers, but are essentially the same in other respects. The Ripper was in sharp contrast to the short scale 'muddy' mahogany basses that had dominated Gibsons output of the previous decade, and was immediately sucessful. Have a listen to the soundclips of this bass, through several vintage amplifiers.
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1961 Gibson EB3
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 A 1961 Gibson EB3 bass. 1961 was the first year of EB3 production, and the year Gibson first used the classic SG shape. Like the SG guitars, the EB3 was built at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo. Early EB3s are characterised by their chunky necks, wide-spaced controls, nickel hardware and bakelite neck pickup cover. Have a listen to the soundclips of this bass, through several vintage amplifiers.
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1966 Gibson EB0
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 Profile of a 1966 Gibson EB0 bass. The EB0, like it's big brother the EB3, is something of a 1960s classic; the construction (short scale, mahogany body, set mahogany neck), and the famous Gibson EB humbucker positioned at the neck, gave a deep rumble that perfectly suited the musical environment of the early-mid sixties. But by the early-mid seventies things were going long-scale and maple... Nonetheless, this is a finely built instrument, capable of some terrific sounds that really suit certain musical situations. Have a listen to the soundclips of this bass, through various vintage amplifiers.
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1972 Gibson EB3L
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 A closer look at a 1972 Gibson EB3L. In 1972, Gibson completely redesigned the EB series of basses, giving them maple necks, far more substantial bodies, and redesigned circuitry. This included moving the front pickup away from the neck, and towards the middle of the body. The result was a fine playing bass; less boomy than its's 1960s predecessor, and more durable too. Have a listen to the EB3L soundclips
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Gibson EB2 and Epiphone Rivoli circuit information
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 Schematic and simplified wiring illustration for the 1960s single pickup Gibson EB2 and Epiphone Rivoli bass guitars. The original EB2 and Rivoli basses were very similar indeed, both being made side by side in Gibson's Kalamazoo plant in Michigan, USA. Differences were purely cosmetic, and electronically they were identical: a Gibson EB humbucker, one volume control, one tone control, and a baritone push button switch.
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Interview: Jack Casady
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 Fly Guitars is delighted to feature an interview with a bass legend, Jack Casady. He talks about how he started out, and his influences, but as always, the focus is on his gear. Jack was famous for his customised instruments. There's a section on his early Fender Jazz basses, Guild Starfire basses, his Alembic number one, and of course the development of his own Epiphone Jack Casady Signature bass. In seven parts.
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Older updates here
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Vintage Guitar Website updates
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1963 Vox Shadow
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 The Vox Shadow was produced in the very early 1960s as a result of JMIs endorsement by UK band the Shadows. Guitarist Hank Marvin was one of the most respected players in the country, playing one of the earliest Japanese guitars, the Guyatone (sometimes branded Antoria) LG50, and later a Fiesta red Fender Stratocaster. This early example of the Shadow is effectively a copy of the forementioned LG50; despite being pretty basic, this model must have caused a lot of interest in the days before US guitars were routinely imported into the UK. Shortly afterwards the Shadow was redesigned along the lines of Hanks new Stratocaster; compare this Vox to a later 1963 Strat-styled Vox Shadow.
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1972 Gibson showcase brochures
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 In 1972 Gibson produced a series of 'Guitar of the Month' brochures, each dedicated to one of their high end models, the Les Paul Recording guitar, L5-CES, ES-175D, Super 400-CES, ES-355TD-SV and
Byrdland. Each brochure was a single sheet folded into four panels, with details of the instruments themselves, their features, musical purpose, and a little history behind the development of each guitar. Only the Les Paul Recording was a new model; the others were all well established in the Gibson line. Follow the link to see scans and further information on these leaflets and other Gibson guitar catalogues from the CMI and Norlin periods.
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1961 Vox Stroller
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 The earliest versions of the Vox Stroller were actually copies of an early Japanese electric guitar, the Guyatone (also sold under the brand Antoria) LG50. These Strollers, although short-lived did undergo a few changes before taking on the more familiar Strat influenced style of many mid-sixties UK-built Vox guitars. The biggest difference between early and late LG50-style Strollers (and the two pickup version, the Shadow) was the larger pickup, a shade longer, but noticeably wider used in the very first Vox guitars. Compare this early Vox to a 1963 Stroller with the later V1 pickup. For more information about Vox guitar pickups in general, see the Vox guitar pickups page.
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How to sell a vintage guitar online
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 In the current financial climate, selling an old guitar; perhaps one that's been hanging around in a cupboard, unplayed and unloved, might seem like a good idea. But with some guitars seemingly worth nothing, and others worth tens of thousands, it can be very hard for the average person to know what to do. So how do you know whether that old guitar has any value? And what's the best way to sell it? We answer some of these questions in a three-part series How to sell a vintage guitar online. Part 1: Identifying the guitar is very important; you need to know what you are selling, and this article gives some tips especially if the instrument has few markings. Part 2, Finding out what your guitar is worth gives some ideas on approximate valuation, whilst part 3, Advertising your guitar for sale deals with good practise in creating a listing. The best time to sell your guitar is not when you are forced into it, but we hope this series will help you realise your guitars value, whilst making sure the guitar goes to a home where it is genuinely appreciated.
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VintageGuitar Blog, Nov 2012: Classic basses, vintage amps
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 All fans of late 1970s Gibson guitars know about the RD Artist series of active electric guitars; a joint enterprise between two Norlin-owned companies: Gibson, and synthesizer-manufacturer Moog. But this collaboration went further than guitars; designers from the two companies also produced a superb range of solid state amplifiers, the LAB series, consisting of five guitar amplifiers, three bass amplifiers, and one keyboard amplifier. Well-respected, but today, largely ignored. This post looks at the RD Artist and the 100w LABseries L2 bass amp working together. What a combination.
But we also step back 5 years earlier, to a then-new British bass amplifier, the all-valve WEM Dominator bass MK1. Another 15 inch speaker, but this time just 15 watts. Full of dirty valve snarl, this could not be more different from the RD/LABseries L2 combination that would follow a few short years later.
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Older updates here
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