That Was The Year... 1957 Stratotones, Pandemics and the Eec
WHILe MOST AMERICAN CATALOGUE
guitars are considered as cheap alternatives to the likes of Fender and Gibson, the singlecut Barney Kessel models by Kay are definitely the exception. The K6700 Artist is a beautiful jazz styled hollowbody, fully bound with one or two ‘Kleenex box’ pickups. The semi-solid K1700 Pro has a maple top is also presented with the same appointments; while the top range K8700 Jazz Special (which Barney himself uses on stage) has an upgraded tailpiece, tuners and Gibson style split block inlays.
THE WORLD’S FIRST NUCLEAR ACCIDENT
occurs when part of the radioactive core at Windscale Nuclear plant in West Cumbria catches fire. No measures were in place for such an incident so it was a best guess scenario but a combination of pumped water and turning off the air supply to the reactor worked. But it caused the release of radioactive contamination into the surrounding area.
HARMONY CEASES PRODUCTION
of its H44 Stratotone models including the H42 Newport and H88 Doublet. The single-pickup H42 has the thinnest body and features a tone switch. The popular H44 has a neck through construction and a ‘Hershey bar’ pickup while the H44 boasts two of these pickups set in black brass enclosures. Sad to see this budget line come to an end.
ASIAN FLU IS DECLARED A PANDEMIC
with worldwide casualties at over 150,000 lives; foot and mouth disease in England reaches epidemic proportions as over 30,000 animals are slaughtered. Following the success of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik 1, America’s first attempt to launch a satellite fails as the Vanguard TV3 rocket blows up on the launch pad.
THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
is formed with the signing of the Treaty of Rome.It creates a common market to be shared between the six countries involved: France, Belgium, West Germany, Luxembourg, Italy and the Netherlands. At the same time the European Atomic Energy Community Treaty was also signed to establish peaceful atomic energy programs.
BROUGHT BY THE STALK are
Steve Lukather, Pino Palladino, Jennifer Batten, Vince Gill, Robbie McIntosh, Glenn Tilbrook, Lyle Lovett, Simon Climie, Steve Porcaro, Sid Vicious and Iron Maiden’s Janick Gers, Adrian Smith and Steve Harris.
ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING amplifiers
is the Gretsch 6163W Electromatic Deluxe Western. At 25 watts with a 15-inch Jensen speaker its livery is specifically aimed at 6130 Roundup guitar owners with the inclusion of the tailpiece ‘buckle’ to the side of the grille and the longhorn motif from the scratchplate depicted on the cloth. Sadly, changing trends forced Gretsch to cease production of both these iconic products.