A feature of Irish '60s
bands was their quality instruments. There was no shortage of Fender and
Gibson guitars, Selmer saxes and Ludwig drum-kits. On these pages we share
vintage photos of musicians with their instruments. If you can identify
any of the musicians,
please let us know. We are indebted to Guy Mackenzie, Paul Day,
John Doyle and Tommy Dunne for their very
generous expertise in identifying most of the guitars.
Kevin Keeley (Olly
Maloney Showband) with his white
Fender Jazzmaster (c.1963-'65)
(thanks to Barry Hurley).
Jim Prendergast with his
1964 Gibson ES175
and Joe with his
Fender Jazz
bass. Both brothers joined The Victors Showband. Joe died in 2006.
Guitarist with the Pat
Campbell Showband pictured with his
Gibson
Les Paul Standard c.1961
(SG-shape) with Gibson Deluxe sideways vibrato unit.
Isn't it slightly ironic
that the lead guitarist in The Fendermen played.....a
Gibson ES-335!
(thanks to Seán Reynolds)
This guitarist with The
Signets has a rare Fender Mustang guitar. Though the Mustang bass was
relatively common, the guitar was not.
(thanks to Mike Niblett)
Tommy Fitzpatrick of The
Kings Showband pictured in Dublin's Olympic Ballroom playing his sunburst
Gibson Gibson ES-345
Jimmy Phelan of The Blue Aces (Waterford) with his
Gibson ES-330
Brendan O'Brien of The
Dixies with his single-cutaway archtop
Hofner Committee c.1960-62
Strangers' guitarist Len
Guest with his Dakota Red
Fender Stratocaster
(c.1962) and Vox AC 30 (c.1965)
(thanks to Maxie McEvoy)
Dermot Walsh (Gibson
330), Brendan Mulhaire (Fender Stratocaster) and Eamonn Joyce (Fender Jazz
bass) of The Raindrops Showband
Jim Dalton
with his
Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster
(note the coloured headstock).
Bobby Kelly
and Dennis Murray of The Sands with the tools of
their trade, a cherry red
Gibson ES-345
and a
Fender Mustang
bass guitar.
Christy
Donnelly (Philosophers) playing his
Fender Telecaster
(c.1965)
Clem Quinn
with a sunburst Gibson
ES-330 and
Dennis Murray with his trusty
Fender Mustang bass.
Frank Donoghue
onstage in Manchester's Carousel Club with his
blonde
Fender Telecaster
(c.1970)
with tortoiseshell pickguard
(thanks to Jimmy Reilly)
Tiger Taylor
played a black
Fender
Stratocaster
with Teddy & The Tigers
(thanks to Teddie Palmer)
Brendan O'Connell of The
Cadets with his white Fender Stratocaster (c.1962)
Jimmy Dumpleton (Pacific
Showband) with his cherry red Gibson 330 with Bigsby tremolo
Ricky Keane of Olly
Maloney's Showband with his
Fender Mustang
guitar (c. 1967)
(thanks to Barry Hurley)
A
Fender Jazzmaster
played
by a member of The Hilton Showband
Raymond Gourley
of The Sounds with his
(c.1964) Fender
Telecaster
Tommy Moore
(The Vampires) with his
Fender Telecaster.
Tommy is a brother of Butch and Des Moore.
Bob Madden of
The Leaders with his
Fender Jaguar (c.1964)
(thanks to Joe Bernie)
Grant Currer from
Glasgow who played with The Swingtime Aces with his
Fender Stratocaster
(c.1963) (thanks to Jimmy Reilly)
The most famous Strat of
them all! Rory Gallagher with his (almost) sunburst
Fender Stratocaster
which once
belonged to Jim Conlon of The Royal Showband.
