That Was The Year... 1971

Decimalisation, Lawsuits & Sleighrides

JEAN LARRIVÉE MOVES AWAY FROM

making classical guitars and builds his first small steel-string dreadnoughts from his new commercial premises. These early models feature X-bracing, distinctive shaping and maple leaf style inlays, but it was his resolve to use his knowledge on successful classical guitar bracing that was to become the major breakthrough for distinctive sounds. He declares it was “success through ignorance.”

WELCOME TO THE WORLD TO

Ricky Martin, Dido, Gary Barlow, Paul McGuigan (Oasis), Mary J. Blige, Alison Krauss, Richard Ashcroft, Lisa Lopes, Nathan Morris & Michael McCary (Boyz II Men), Missy Elliott, Kevin Scott Richardson (Backstreet Boys), Dolores O’Riordan, Kid Rock, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) and Jonathan Davis (Korn). Leaving the planet are Jim Morrison, Duane Allman, Louis Armstrong and Igor Stravinsky.

THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST, HOSTED bY

Bob Harris, debuts on BBC2 and neatly opens the door for predominantly album based bands. Perfect timing then for Yes with The Yes Album, Focus - Moving Waves, Mountain - Nantucket Sleighride, Caravan - In The Land Of Grey And Pink, Jethro Tull - Aqualung and Led Zeppelin with their fourth album. Prog rules the airwaves!

GRETSCH DECIDES TO DISCONTINUE ITS

Duo-Jet 6128. Introduced way back in 1953 this pleasing singlecut body design has sadly finally fallen out of fashion. It’s the loss of a truly classic guitar with its bound maple topped mahogany body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard and pearloid block inlays. The two exposed DeArmond pickups were controlled by the usual Gretsch electronics and master volume. Available in black or sparkle (aka Silver-Jet) finishes.

THE UK AND IRELAND SWITCH TO DECIMAL

currency; the Open University broadcasts begin on BBC TV and on Blue Peter a time capsule is buried, destined to be opened during the show’s first episode of 2000. Greenpeace is born out of the ‘Don’t Make A Wave Committee’ and negotiations for Britain’s EEC membership finally get under way.

NEW bANDS INCLUDE ROXY MUSIC,

The Eagles, and New York Dolls; Robert Moog produces the amazing MiniMoog; London hosts the first Hard Rock Cafe; George Harrison reaches number one with My Sweet Lord but is taken to the high court for plagiarism against the Chiffons’ He’s So Fine.

IbANEZ ENTERS ITS ‘FAITHFUL

reproductions’ era’(aka the Lawsuit years) manufacturing clones of popular Fender, Gibson and Rickenbacker solid electric models. But while this year’s catalogue is stuffed with well known designs the firm’s 1910 model actually displays a little originality. This twincut semi offers unusual cutaway shaping with a distinctive vibrato tailpiece and scratchplate.