58Bassman

On 19/08/2020 at 19:10, SuperSeagull said:

Is that the Audition amp that had little clips each side holding the head to the cab? The music dept of my school had one and I recall carrying it across the playground when the clips gave way and the speaker cab fell off. Still worked though with two guitars and a bass plugged in!

Learned very early on to detach head from cab via the clips for moving around to 'gigs' which of course is code for a mates house or local church hall!

60s/70s Woolies Music-o-rama

If you not already members - join the Bell Music Facebook group where you can download PDFs of nearly ALL the Catalogues!

https://tinyurl.com/y2e6dnou

So glad this thread has appeared as for ages I have asked after memories of ABC/BELLS and other shops local.

My first guitar (AVON SG) came from ABC in Esher when the shop was right at the end of the High Street circa 1973. I remember my nose stuck to the window on a Sunday morning peering in at all the goodies and there for £45 was a shiny SG on the wall  - see pic1. Paper round and  Saturday jobs secured it. I had to wait another 4 months for an Amp which was an Audition from Woolworths in Kingston Market  - £30 (pic3). A few months later, I got a Wah pedal from ABC in Addlestone in a New Year Sale for £7.50. The SG lasted until I sold it to put the money together for a New Old Stock '73 Fender Strat hardtail from Jon King Sounds in Kingston that was next to Riverside Organ Studios by the Station. I got the Strat in another Sale for £195. I have the Wah, Amp and Strat still.

ABC Addlestone was a bit of a grim shop TBH, but chock full of stuff. (The original Andertons store in Hayden Place Guildford was on similar lines). I remember an older lad who lived next to me and who played a bit with some local bands told the story of a guy who needed a Bass at last minute notice for a late Sat night gig and casually went piissed and doped from the notorious Pub next to Addlestone station up to the shop and just put his fist through the window and liberated one out the display!   Happy days!