ROCKIN’ ROBIN

One of the most famous guitarists nobody ever heard of spreads the guitar gospel to the coming generation – and talks collectables with us.

HE’S A LEGEND AMONG LOCAL ROCKERS, not that you would recognise him passing on the sidewalk. That slight bluegrass, vaguely Irish fingerpicking guitar behind the Three Ships Whisky TV commercial? Outsurance “green van” backing? Acoustic country rock soundtrack to your favourite car TV ad? You may not recognise the face, but you certainly have heard the sound of Robin Gallagher.

Best known for his longstanding association with Cape Town band Late Final, Gallagher was recently appointed a Fender clinician. For anyone who has any interest in guitars, that's a serious thumbs-up. It means that in this country he's effectively the face of one of the world's most revered music industry brands. Fortunately, his face isn't that important. When playing, the laconic Gallagher is not a man for histrionics, facial or otherwise. His deadpan expression seems utterly divorced from his flying fingers.

When your music career effectively blasts off with being hired to accompany Wilson Pickett in your late teens, it can be hard to maintain the momentum. After military service, Gallagher paid his dues on the local pro circuit in the 1970s, taking in a day job in sales and keeping the band thing going. You'll still find him most weekends in the Late Final line-up at corporate gigs. And being That Guy (as in: “Get me that guy who played guitar in that xxx car ad.”), studio work keeps him busy a couple of days a week when he's not travelling, presenting to musos to show them just what their equipment is capable of.

The music biz isn't what it used to be, of course: as he tells it, now it's all one-nighters, sales of recorded music are stagnating and live music is the avenue to selling merchandise.

All of which was by way of getting down to the question of what makes a guitar collectable.

“When I was probably about 16, my father bought me a Fiesta Red Standard Stratocaster for R125. That guitar is worth about R250 000 now. I didn't know what it was worth. I had it for a couple of years and we just sold it.

“I can remember seeing five of those guitars on a guitar stand for R500 in the 1980s. Nobody wanted them, because they weren't in vogue.”

Because of his work, Gallagher sometimes gets to appraise rarities like these. “I have people like lawyers phoning me trying to get some values when they are winding up estates. There's a guitar that's been lying in someone's cupboard, and the family want to value it and they've got no clue. When I tell them what it's worth, they go, ‘Oh… really?'”

One important thing to bear in mind when it comes to guitars (and probably collectables in general): stock condition is king. Newer may be better for humans, who pay specialists to make them look younger. Guitar aficionados pay specialists to make their instruments look older.

“If a guitar is sprayed, it goes from R250 000 to R50 000. It has to be original. (Tip: if you are modifying, say, a pickguard, hold on to the original item. When you eventually sell, you can restore the instrument to stock condition.) WIN We’re offering you the opportunity to get a slice of the Fender lifestyle at popularmechanics.co.za: a Fender Acoustic T-bucket Guitar worth R4 995 is up for grabs. The perfect gift for new recruits and experts, it’s a budget electric acoustic guitar that’s said to match the quality of most acoustics – plus, it comes supercharged with great features. Head to popularmechanics.co.za for details.

“The wiring inside cannot be touched. It has to literally be the way it was bought. And the more used it is, the better. If it's got a cigarette burn and all that…” (Gallagher points out a product of the company's custom shop, with distressed body, pre-“worn” neck and impressively realistic-looking corrosion on the machine heads.)

For those looking to determine future collectables, the standard models are a good bet, if time is not an issue. But if you're not prepared to wait for decades of abuse before your instrument can be deemed suitably aged, well, Fender's custom division has machines for that.

“We've got three tiers. Closet classic, which is something that looks like it's been in a closet for 20 years. Then there's NOS, which is new old stock, which looks like it's been in a shop for 20 years – or longer, even.

“And then you've got Relic, which is more expensive. That looks really beat up. Like my green guitar looks like it was dragged behind a truck. It looks shot.”

The company's two iconic guitars are the Telecaster (notable exponent: Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones) and, later, the three-pickup Stratocaster (notable exponents: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Mark Knopfler).

Mostly, Gallagher plays a Telecaster – a name highly relevant to collectors. “Leo Fender made a guitar in 1951 called a Broadcaster. Gretsch had a drumkit by the same name, so they said Fender had to drop the name and only a certain amount were made. Then Fender made a guitar without a name, which has affectionately become known as the Nocaster. Those guitars – and there were only about 200 of them – go for about $130 000.” After that came the Tele, all within the space of a year.

Of current models, the company's second-biggest unit number seller is a guitar that sells for R30 000: the American Standard Stratocaster. Biggest seller is a R3 000 guitar, a Squier Bullet. “It's a perfectly scaled, entry level guitar, if you plug it in, it sounds like a Stratocaster, with the playability, everything, but the wood quality is different.”

 If a covetable guitar is something you're considering this festive season, Fender has a great range of new releases, from guitars to stocking fillers that ooze cool. The range spans the high-end to the affordable. At the top end, there's the company's iconic Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster at R20 995 and its legendary American Standard – available in sky'sthe-limit custom, too. The Fender Mini 57 Twin Amp is a retro hit; made with real tweed, it comes in at just under a grand. Accessories range from a Strat bottle opener at R189 and keyring at R179 to the classic Chequerboard guitar strap for R379. For more serious musicians, Fender Custom Seating provides a heavy-gauge 25 mm tubular steel frame with foam padded seat top and 360-degree swivel at R1 795.

package. Cans last longer; just clean off the nozzle after each use.

Hair gel Up to 18 months. When it loses water, it can become too sticky. Aftershave 18 months or longer. Alcohol is a strong preservative.

Cologne Up to 12 months. Toss if the scent gets funky or loses staying power. Antiperspirant

Many last 12 months or longer.

Shampoo, conditioner, face soap These are built to last, so you can get at least 24 months out of them if stored properly. (As in, put the cap back on.)

Natural antiperspirant Keep up to 12 months, after which natural oils could turn rancid.