SHADOW BOXING

Like many guitarists of the past few decades, the Jerry Lordan-penned track Apache, which turns 60 in 2020, was inspirational to me. Not only did it bring The Shadows to the fore but prompted many guitarists (including now-famous ones) to pursue a lifelong guitarplaying hobby. My own Shadows connection is that I was distantly related to their late bassist and founder Jet Harris through the music-hall star Vesta Tilley.

In 1982, a friend played me an old 45rpm single of Apache and we marvelled over the sound, formed a band in 1983 and played together for some years. That single led me to purchasing the then-legendary Tokai TST 50 in 1983, my dream of owning a Fiesta Red 1959 Stratocaster had to wait for about 15 years, and I have owned my ’59 with maple ’board since 1999. Every year without fail the ’59 is plugged in and played as Apache sees out the old year and welcomes in the new.

Last year I put together a photobook of the guitars I have owned – about 150 since 1983! Many of those have been red Strats. I spent years trying to get the Hank Marvin sound and when the Valvetronix amplifiers came along in the early 2000s I found the elusive sound. The closest I got before that was with an old AC4 and a Watkins Copicat. Matt Sanders via email

Hi Matt, thanks for sharing. Apache influenced everyone from Richard Thompson to Mark Knopfler and it’s no surprise the man himself still commands a devoted fanbase all these years later. Congratulations on getting that ’59 Strat in the end, too! Be curious to know if it met your expectations – as longed-for things sometimes turn out different to what we expect. In the meantime, we ask

Guitarist readers, what are your favourite setups for capturing the elusive ‘Hank’ sound? Send in your ideas and pics!