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PAUL VERNON CHESTER

Manouche Maestro

Cedric West's Guitars

Cedric West was seen on UK TV on an almost daily basis in the 1960's playing, amongst others, a Gretsch White Falcon or a Gibson 3 p/u Les Paul Custom SG.


Gibson L-5C with DeArmond Pickup
Wes Montgomery can be seen in images holding Cedric's Gibson L-5c from May 1965 with added DeArmond Pickup this was the single cutaway guitar with vintage Sunburst Finish that Wes was already familiar with but with the Monkey on a wire DeArmond Model 1100 Adjustable Rhythm Chief amplification kit clamped behind the bridge of the standard acoustic guitar. Cedric sold the L-5c to Dave Shakespeare who retains the image.   L-5c, was the epitome of Gibson's carved-top heritage. By 1965 these full-body carved top guitars were being made in very limited numbers; only 23 sunburst L-5C models left the factory in 1964. With the  addition of a period top-of-the-line  DeArmond pickup with controls mounted above the tailpiece. and a strap button to the neck heel. Plays effortlessly with the absolutely classic Gibson-DeArmond tone. Cedric used a Burns Amplifier back then.  Ike Isaacs was promoting Burns Supersound Guitars and Amps back then and he collaborated with Gordon Toland and Cedric on his album The Sounds of Guitar. Listed on Spotify.  The Gordon Toland pieces are Classical Acoustic Guitar and these may be played by Jack Duarte. under a recording pseudonym.

 Overall length is 41-7/8 in. (106.4 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25-1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1-11/16 in. (43 mm.) rounded cutaway, sunburst finish, carved spruce top with white-bound f-holes, tone bar bracing, maple back and sides, 3-piece maple / mahogany neck, white-bound 20-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays, rosewood bridge, engraved gold tailpiece, white-bound tortoise plastic plastic pickguard, white-bound body and headstock, "Gibson" and flowerpot headstock inlay, Kluson Sealfast tuners with keystone buttons
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Gretsch White Falcon G6136

From its introduction in 1954, the White Falcon has always been known for its white finish, With Ebony Fingerboard and 17" wide hollow body, gold-plated hardware, engraved gold Pickgaurd, and gold sparkle binding. Throughout its history, some features have changed as technology and style evolved.  The White Falcon is best known for its large 17-inch size and distinctive appearance, with gleaming white paint, copious gold trim, and a Falcon in mid-flight engraved on the gold pickguard.

1954–1958, model number 6136: Vertical Gold Headstock logo with winged G; "pearl block Fretboard inlays with avian-themed engravings; two DynaSonic single coil pickups; control configuration consisting of master tone, master volume, volume for each pickup, and three-way toggle pickup selector switch; trapeze tailpiece with "G" and Cadillac-inspired "V"-shape; Melita bridge; 2¾" deep single-cutaway body.

 

The Melita Bridge - In theory it has the ability to intonated well and adjust the string height very precisely but they are not user friendly. There are so many littler parts on these bridges they are easily lost when changing strings or doing repairs. The other problem is you cannot get individual parts to replace the lost ones. You were forced to buy a whole new bridge or just replace it many have just been thrown away and abandoned over the years.  Many have one or more replacement parts in the bridge assembly.  This is a common nightmare in the Melita world.  Gretsch reissues these bridges and you can steal a part from a new one but this has only been the case for only a few years.  The problem is if you have an expensive vintage Gresch guitar you need the bridge to retain value of the guitar so if you replace it keep originals in the case. Most retrofit a newer Gibson ABR-1 style bridge on a wooden base. You are not drilling holes in top of the guitar and ruining the value;  it will adjust both height and intonation fine and is a working mans bridge tested and proven over the years.


Pickups for Gretsch guitars are simple. Originally they used DeArmond single coil pickups in the 1950′s then by 1958 they changed to Gretsch FilterTron pickups. these were more powerful and more quiet. These were used on into the 1960′s on and around 1962 Gretsch developed a Gretsch hi-lotron pickup. These were great sounding pickups but the Dearmond style and the FilterTron are more desirable and popular.

 

1958–1962, model number 6136: Horizontal "T-roof" headstock logo sans wings; "Neo-classic" thumbprint fretboard inlays; two FilterTron humbucking pickups, control configuration consisting of master volume, volume for each pickup, three-way toggle pickup selector switch, and three-way toggle tone switch; Space Control bridge. A stereo model (6137) was introduced; this model featured an extra set of pickup selector and tone switches and had the bridge pickup moved closer to the neck


The White Falcon featured on both West Meets East and Bach Goes West Albums.

Django - Cedric West Guitar Ensemble
The Grestch White Falcon (6136) pictured on the 'Bach Goes West' LP and the 'Guitar Ensemble' LP. looks like it was made by Gretsch between 1958 and 1960.  I have a 1960 Falcon (very similar) but it has a thinner body, which was done between 1960-1962 before it went to double cutaway.  It's interesting that the pickguard on Cedric's Falcon has cracked near the mounting screw at such an early age (it would have only been a few years old in 1965-1967). A common thing with the old Gretsch guitars!  I don't suppose you know who owns that guitar now? - Could be Cedrics Daughter

Also on the 'Guitar Ensemble' LP cover 'West meets East', I believe that to be an early 1960's Gretsch Tennessean (6121 Hollow) pictured lying on the floor, rather than a Country Gentleman (6122). The silver pickguard and hardware is the giveaway here - on a Gent it would be Gold plated (like the White Falcon), The pickguard also has the Chet Atkins 'signpost' logo and small text underneath which says 'TENNESSEAN'. It also has 'real' f-holes. Country Gents had inlayed f-holes for their early tenure in Grestch production despite being a hollow body guitar..

 Anyway keep up the good work. Wish I had met the man in person. Are there any other records he made? Somebody told me that he had made an early album circa 1959-1960 - is this correct? - Leon

 

 

Gretsch Tennessean - The Tenny

In 1956 the Fred Gretsch Company decided to expand the successful Chet Atkins signature guitar line introduced in 1954, which already included the Chet Atkins Hollowbody 6120 and the Chet Atkins Solidbody 6121. The new models were the high end Country Gentleman and the low end Tennessean.  The Chet Atkins Tennessean was a stripped down version of the 6120. It shared the same body dimensions, but had only one bridge pickup, and had no binding on the fingerboard or headstock.  The Tennessean also had a unique red stain finish instead of the orange of the 6120. The pickguard with Chet’s signature in a signpost was black instead of the gold colour seen on the 6120.  The features on this example from the collection are common to other 1960 model year Tennesseans. These include: the zero fret, Patent Applied For Filter-Tron pickup, “V” cutout Gretsch Bigsby vibrato, and a body depth of about 2 and ½ inches.  These appointments remained (except for a gradually thinning body) until 1962 when Gretsch’s entire line was revamped.  The second version 1961-72 Gretsch 6119 was now a darker cherry red or datk brown mahogany colour, and rosewood replaced ebony on the neck. Two Hilo-Tron pickups replaced the single Filter-Tron and the circuitry was all new, too. The pickguard was replaced with the familiar silver type.  Two fake f holes, 3 controls, 3 selectors

Model 6121 Introduction specs:
Single Cutaway, body finished in Amber Red, Orange, or Mahogony Brown.
Two DeArmond single coil pickups.
Three knobs on lower bout, one on cutaway, 1 switch on upper bout.
Compensating metal (aluminum) bridge.
Gold Bigsby vibrato, fixed arm.
Signpost and signature gold pickguard.
"G" branded into top.
Sides covered with wester-motif tooled leather.
Celluloid block inlays with engraved cows and cactus.
Metal nut, 24 3/4" scale, longhorn steer inlay peghead.
Gold plated parts.

1958 model 6121 specs:
Filter- tron humbucking pickups replace DeArmonds.
Thumbprint (neoclassic) inlays replace humptop inlays.
Bar style bridge.
Two switches on upper bass bout (tone and pickup selection).
Two knobs instead of three on lower treble bout (three total).
Gretsch G-6122
The thin 2" closed hollow double-cutaway "Electro-Tone" body, and 24.6" scale. This is, of course, the Beatles guitar and probably the most seen, most used Gretsch of the 60s. Think of it as Gretsch's answer to Gibson's 335. Possibly the "classic" version of the 6122, and the one that offers the greatest contrast to the 6120s of the 50s and early 60s.
 6122 - a modernized version, with 25.5" scale, 2.25" body depth, and real f-holes. Kind of a compromise between the 6122-62 and a 6120. Meant to appeal to players who like the double-cut look but prefer modern appointments, real f-holes, an 18th-fret neck joint, and 25.5" scale.  Bigsby Tremelo, The Guitar emblem on the pickguard would suggest this was a 'Monkees' model on the sleeve picture of a classical drawing room.

 It may be that Cedric blacked out or infilled the Monkees logo and the truss rod cover as the Monkees were certainly not musicians of his calibre.
Polytone Guitar

Polytone Improv-I Semi-Acoustic Guitar (Pre-Owned)

This unusual semi-acoustic was imported by Cranes. The specification is extremely high on this instrument including a solid flame maple back and sides. The humbucker pickups have a superb voice. The condition and setup are excellent.  The lead pickup and the bridge / knobs are not original. Bridges were brass or rosewood with a bone insert. Knobs were rosewood and both pickups should be Shaller's with gold covers. These were Made In Japan.  George Benson and Joe Pass used the Polytone 104 Amp

Polytone Demo

I had lessons with Cedric back in 87, I was 17 he was into photography too.  He had a nice Polytone Guitar, Great to see him with Joe Pass - Cedric gave me a couple of lessons and I used to watch him play his Sunday lunchtime gig  at the Bow Bells 116 Bow Road, in Bow (he let me sit in once) - Hugh Turner

 Cedric West Entertains Joe Pass in Castleton Road, Goodmayes, Essex - Indian Summer indeed. Spot Louis Stewart. Cedric opens thumb picking on lead and then playing rhythm on a blonde single cutaway Archtop with twin Pickups. Joe finger picks on his Gibson L-5C.  Louis Stewart appears at the end holding Cedric's or perhaps it was his Blonde Guitar.  - a Gibson L-5C with gold plated fittings? Well - not Quite.
Gibson SG Les Paul Custom
    1961 SG Les Paul Custom introduction specs:
    From 1961 to 1963, this model takes over the "Les Paul" name as the single cutaway version is replaced by this model. Double pointed cutaways, scalloped mahogany body, 3 humbucking P.A.F. pickups, 3 layer white bevelled small pickguard, pearl block fingerboard inlays, large diamond peghead inlay, "Les Paul" on truss rod cover, "sideways" vibrato, gold plated parts, white finish.
- you don't need to play an arch-top in jazz Ed Bickert got a great sound out of a Fender Telecaster and Cedric West out of a cheap CSL Les Paul copy  (CSL Les Paul, in sunburst were made by Ibanez. Very rare to see a sunburst copy in those days. All others were black)

"CSL was a brand name managed by Charles Summerfield Ltd England. Maurice Summerfield of the Charles Summerfield Ltd company contributed some design ideas to Hoshino Gakki and also imported Ibanez and CSL guitars into the UK with Hoshino Gakki co-operation from 1964-1987."  Ike Isaacs was also associated with the Ibanez Guitars.
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Last modified: 18/04/2012