That Was The Year 2003 Tornadoes, Toranados and Tolls

FeNDer iNrODuCeS The AMeriCAN DeluXe TOrONADO spawned from the first original Fender design to originate from the firm’s Mexican plant and the Toronado’s popularity has led to a US-built model. The body is like a reduced Jazzmaster loaded with a pair of humbucking pickups with individual volume and tone controls plus a three-way selector switch. It has a hardtail and separate bridge and you can have it with two single-coil pickups if you prefer but the price is the same. The uS AND AllieD FOrCeS invade Iraq, take control of Baghdad and end the regime of Saddam Hussein; a record number of tornadoes develop over America with 393 reported in 19 states; in orbit the three-month Hubble Ultra-Deep Field project begins concentrating on a small region of space in the Fornax constellation looking for ancient galaxies; and Concorde makes its final commercial flight. ThiS yeAr’S GlASTONBury FeSTivAl includes Primal Scream, Radiohead, Lamb, Doves and Manic Street Preachers; Elvis Costello marries Diana Krall at Elton John’s estate; Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley wins ITV’s Reborn In The USA; and Mick Jagger is knighted for his services to music.

rOBiN GiBB OF The Bee GeeS calls TV interviewer Graham Norton ‘scum’ after he jokes about Maurice Gibb the day after Maurice’s death. Others taking their final bow are Noel Redding, Barry White, Robert Palmer, Hank Ballard, Nina Simone, Edwin Starr, Bobby Hatfield (Righteous Brothers), Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, guitarist Shawn Lane, composer Ron Goodwin and record producer Sam Phillips. NOw iN iTS SeCOND yeAr JJ GuiTArS releases two new models, the Jewel and the Retro. Both of these twin-cutaway solidbodies feature two humbuckers with master volume and tone plus a three-way selector switch. Each has a hardtail bridge, 22 frets and mahogany body and neck, where they differ is that the Retro body has a maple cap. Both models prove to be great guitars to play. The M6 TOll MOTOrwAy OPeNS to provide an alternative route avoiding the most congested part of the current M6; the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving is banned; the Government reveal plans for a new runways at Stansted and Heathrow Airports, to the dismay of the environmental groups; and the London congestion charge is brought into operation. TAKAMiNe ACOuSTiCS are often the gigging choice of many a guitarist, and now the company’s new cutaway classical model with nylon strings will appeal to even more players. The EC132SCXBL is finished in black over a solid cedar top and a solid rosewood back, while the neck is mahogany with a rosewood fretboard. The etched tuners retain the classical look and the guitar is fitted with under-saddle transducers wired into a choice of four preamps.