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EssentialTension

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    Upside down guitars and headstock socks

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by EssentialTension

    12 hours ago, tauzero said:

     

    Surely he means "Watkins Rapier" (my brother had the Rapier 33 guitar). The website link gives a bit of a clue.

     

    But the name Wilson was also used ... see here:

     

    http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/

     

    "In the late 60's the decision was made to split the guitars away from the amps as a separate company and the name Wilson was adopted. Wilson was the maiden name of the brothers' mother."

     

    Wilson Rapier Bass:

    fa9b3a9e4383775ebd06ffe5f783398d.jpg

     

    Upside down guitars and headstock socks

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by EssentialTension

    [quote]

     

    A Message from Andy McCluskey of OMD (previously Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark )

    Andy recently wrote to me about his experiences with his first guitar, a Wilson Rapier Bass :

    " Hi Reg,
    I have just visited your fantastic website. Don't know why I never checked it out before.
    I was having a discussion today with someone in my studio about why I play bass with the strings upside down even though I am right handed. I told them that it was because my first bass was a left handed Wilson Rapier that I bought in a second hand shop in Birkenhead in 1975. It was the only one I could afford ( I was 16 at the time). It cost me £32.
    I was trying to describe it.. Bright red/ long scale/ giant headstock
    looking unlike any modern bass. I typed  Wilson Rapier into a search engine and there was your site! My bass looked like a red version of the black one at the bottom of your bass page.
    I played it for four years, recorded my first single with it. "Electricity"
    on Factory records. I was in "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark' (later called OMD). And then at our first gig in London in 1979 at the Aklam Hall some bugger stole it from the dressing room. I could not find another like it so I've played a Fender Jazz (right hand strung upside down) ever since.. I guess I liked it because it's narrow neck reminded me of the Rapier.
    Maybe one day I will find another one for sale. ( he did - I sold him one of mine!!...)
    Keep up the good work.
    All the best..
    Andy McCluskey "

    http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/mp3downloads.htm

     

    [/quote]

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