That Was The Year... 1947 Combos, Jumbos & Archtops

FENDER’S PRINCETON 26 COMBO

gets an upgrade as the 8-inch Utah field coil speaker is replaced by a fixed magnet type

Jensen for improved tone and response. It’s a positive move for this most basic of amplifiers that has two inputs but no controls at all or even an on-off switch so anything has to be an improvement. The earliest models are part of the ‘Woodie’ series, so called because the cabinet is polished wood. The front features vertical chrome strips and the grille cloth varies in colour.

MARTIN GUITARS PRODUCES THE LAST D-28

to feature Herringbone body binding and marquetry. Their stock of this purfling, manufactured in pre–World War II Germany, has finally run out and there is no alternative American source. As of now all style 28 guitars are presented with alternating black and white celluloid binding as used on their archtop C–2 model. This last D-28 features quarter-sawn Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Cuban mahogany neck, red spruce top and an ebony fretboard.

IN AMERICA THE DEMAND FOR CARS OUTSTRIPS

the nation’s ability to supply, so British car manufacturers take the initiative and export favoured makes like MG, Hillman and Austin, thus helping the post-war UK economy and providing much needed jobs. In Westminster Abbey the marriage takes place between Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, who now becomes the Duke of Edinburgh.

THE COLD WAR BEGINS AS THE SUPER POWERS

of the USA and the USSR become aware of their influence and dominance over much of the rest of the world. The Palestine Special Committee of the United Nations recommends the area should be divided into two separate states with one Arab and the other Jewish. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is created along with the Communist Information Bureau.

A BUSY YEAR FOR THE STORK BRINGING IN...

Steve Howe, Carlos Santana, David Bowie, Roy Wood, Peter Banks (Yes), Gregg Allman, Jeff Lynne, Tim Buckley, Dave Davies, Steve Marriott, Rick Derringer, Dennis DeYoung (Styx), Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators), Don Felder, Don Henley, Mick Fleetwood, Brian May, Arlo Guthrie, Rupert Holmes, Tom Scholz (Boston), Mark Volman & Howard Kaylan (The Turtles), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Ronnie Montrose, Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits), Laura Nyro, Benjamin Orr (The Cars), Cozy Powell, Minnie Ripperton, Gerry Rafferty, Carole Bayer Sager, Loudon Wainwright III, Jennifer Warnes, Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), Ronnie Wood and Marc Bolan.

THE JOHN D’ANGELICO FACTORY GETS

a custom order from jobbing guitarist Mario Bagnoni. He requires a New Yorker model with its Art Moderne styling, stairstep tailpiece and scratchplate, plus gold-plated Grover Imperial tuners with chevron-shaped heads. In spite of now owning this magnificent guitar, just two years later Bagnoni joins the Erie Police Department and goes on to become a Councilman.