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NOW THAT NODDY HOLDER HAS FINISHED WITH IT, IT'S GONE TO A GOOD HOME.
My amp is ...... Noddy Holder's old HiWatt.
The glam rocker's 200 watter is too loud for big ears,
says Stu Rutter of Edinburgh...
In late 2002 I received news of a gig that to many was a landmark. Jimmy Lea, ex-bassist with Slade, was preparing to play his first ever solo gig to aid the Downs Syndrome Association. On the same night, Noddy Holder, having decided he had no further use for it, was auctioning off his HiWatt backilne for the same charity. His first amp went for £600 and competition for the second was fierce, but at £520 the hammer came down and I was the proud owner of Noddy Holder's main stage amp. a HiWatt DR201, 200 watt amplifier.
It hadn't been used since 1984, so I thought it would be best to have the amp properly looked over by a well-respected amp technician. Despite a little surface rust on the chassis and a fair amount of dust it had very little wrong with it. The normal channel was dead due to an earth wire being clipped, presumably by Charlie, Slade's sound engineer and amp bloke, perhaps to eliminate a ground loop.
Charlie had added a DI socket to go straight to the mixing desk and avoid the problems of mic-ing up. The original Bulgin mains connection had been replaced by a multi socket link, but although they're illegal I found a Bulgin and had it fitted, just to keep it authentic. Bulgins were declared dangerous many years ago, but I've added extra insulation to keep this one safe. It still also has four original GEC KT88 valves, a set of which would these days cost more than I paid for the amp.
Noddy played rhythm guitar. I play bass, so I've paired it with a Marshall 2x15 inch cab fitted with vintage Fane drivers. In a word, this amp is LOUD!!!! It's just so clear, clear as a bell, even at virtually full tilt, and there's stacks of bottom end with a thumping middle. It has a fantastic sound, each note creeping along the floor behind you and grinding up your spine. I don't worry too much about damaging it. It's built like a tank anyway and it already has plenty of dings from many years of touring with Slade. It's even graced the stage at Reading, but I seriously doubt that will ever happen again. Heck, after seeing it so many times at gigs, I never paid much attention to it, but I still never thought I'd own it.
[From GUITARIST magazine]
Stu sent me a scan of the notes of the settings for Nod's amp, that turned up in Jim Lea's bass guitar case when it was sold years later....
DAVE HILL
The original John Birch 'SuperYob'
One of the most desirable guitars to a Slade fan would have to be the original John Birch 'SuperYob' guitar (below), which was a one-off guitar custom made for Slade's Dave Hill. The man who designed it is a schoolteacher in Scotland.
A true one off barking mad signature guitar, made for a true one-off barking mad guitarist, designed around the time of the 'Old New Borrowed and Blue' album and was used in the period from then up to the Flame film.
This guitar went through a couple of refinishes in silver and also in black before Dave eventually gave up on it as a dead loss, because it was so uncomfortable to play and didn't actually sound particularly good. It was little use in the studio, compared to the trusty 'Dad's Gibson' and onstage, it was just horrible to play as the action (string height above the neck) was unbearably high. It's all very well a guitar looking great, but when it's painful to play, well...............
It was traded in unceremoniously against a couple of stock Gibson guitars and was left languishing in a Birmingham guitar shop window for a couple of years, as some sort of trademark, until Marco Pirroni from Adam and The Ants spotted it and bought it for £500.
It has since appeared in a couple of noteable promo videos - Slade's 'Little Sheila' (for which Dave borrowed it back) and Madness' 'Grey Day'. It also appeared in the original Slade 'My friend Stan' promo video, 30 years ago.
Framus made a pair of copies, the red one below now belongs to Paul Day, whose guitar collection is immense.
The fate of the other (silver) copy is not known. The one below WAS used on stage with Slade.
John Birch guitars, less the late John Birch, started work on a number of 'replica' SuperYob guitars. These were based quite closely on the original Yob, which Marco lent back to Dave Hill and John Birch guitars while it was needed. I don't think the small limited edition ever got to the intended number of 50 copies, which can only serve to make the small number that were actually built and sold even more valuable. Mind you, you could still get one made...........
Ex-Slade bassist Dave Glover did talk to the company about a bass version of the SuperYob, but the body to neck proportions would have been all wrong. The idea was abandoned. No basses were made.
A rare picture of the first John Birch re-issue SuperYob 001 while under construction.
This is the one that Dave Hill uses now.
No bridge, no strings, no scratchplate, no electrics at this point.
The finished reissued result, with illuminated neck fret dot markers - as on the deluxe version.
A further tribute to the Superyob (below) comes from the Slade tribute band Flamin' Slade, who sent me this photo.
Ed describes himself as being 'no John Birch, just a man with a hacksaw'. It looks bloody good to me!
I also remember the tribute band 'Cum on feel the noize' having a home-made Yob guitar. Are there any picture out there?
Also made by John Birch, specifically for Dave Hill, after he had seen the original made for someone else (see picture below). Not known for certain how many others were made, possibly only two. Dave's plain white model did appear in the JB catalogue. Dave's Bat was stolen before it was ever gigged and has not resurfaced. It has probably been used for spare parts for another guitar.
Dave Hill's glitter finish DeArmond guitar.
Dave endorsed this guitar and had a couple of them. This one was fitted with LED's on the neck
and was featured heavily in the stage show, until he took delivery of his replica superyob guitar.
This particular guitar was then sold on EBay to JC - to whom I am very grateful for this photo.
Dave Hill's Framus Nashville guitar
Dave required a new and period guitar for the film Flame, which was set at the end of the 60's.
He actually plumped for an authentic manufacturer, but took an up-to-date model guitar - The Nashville.
This is not the deluxe model, as it has edge binding stripes on the body. Nashvilles are quite scarce.
No-one is sure where this is now.
The 'Flame' guitar.
Some more very useful info - from Ken Tait :
Hi there, I've just been browsing your excellent site, and being a guitarist as well as a Slade fan I was particularly interested in the pages about Dave, Nod's and Jim's guitars. I was surprised by the inclusion of the Flame guitars as they were only dummies.
Although I cannot answer the questions 'Where are they now?' what I can say is that when they were being 'played' I was about 4 or 5 feet from them! The place was the Hammersmith Palais during the filming of Flame. My friends and myself had answered a call for people to be in the audience at The Rainbow and the Hammersmith Palais. An offer like that is not to be taken lightly, so we quite naturally bunked off school and went.
At the Palais we managed to get in the front row right in front of Dave Hill. When they came onto the small stage I noticed that there was something strange about the Flame guitars. The strings on Dave's one (being the closest) were all the same width. Despite the screaming that was going one I managed to get his attention to ask about this curious feature. Because of the noise it took him a while to work out what I was asking, but the light dawned and he held it up and grasped all six strings between his fingers and waggled them around to demonstrate how baggy the were. At the same time he mouthed "It doesn't matter, it's not a real one". A few minutes later the fact that they were fake was confirmed when he tried to plug a guitar lead into it and discovered that the jack socket was in fact just a hole and the lead wouldn't stay in!
A week or so before that at the Rainbow 'concert', Nod, was talking to us (the crowd that is, not us personally), explaining that they were supposed to be using these Flame guitars back that they hadn't turned up from the manufacture's - Framus.
Of course you've only got my word for all this, I can't actually point at the screen and say "look, that's me!" I missed out on getting face on screen by about three inches as at the Hammersmith Palias the camera tracked along and stopped right in front of the girl who was on my left (I think you can just see my elbow!). However I can state that if you watch the crowd shots in the Rainbow (where Flame come up through the stage), on Dave's side you should be able to make out something shiny on a pole being waved. It was in fact a 'Flame guitar' that I made, heavily based on the Superyob, and I'm on the end of it. It can also be seen in the album cover - just.
I think that I've blathered on long enough - keep up the good work.
Keep On Rocking
Ken Tait..
Dave Hill's John Birch J2 guitar (natural finish)
At the bottom in this photo.
This guitar later had white 'batwing' panels and truss rod plate added to it, to make
it look a bit more interesting and possibly to cover some blemishes in the finish.
Then later on, it had the upper rear white plate changed to a black one. Keeping up here?
Then it went white again........
A lovely white John Birch SG custom style guitar
Dave used this onstage and on TV with Slade several times at home
and abroad, which leads me to believe that he actually owned it.
Nod used this guitar on a few TV shows.
When ONE neck isn't enough...
Photo courtesy of Slade in England. This guitar was probably a 'loaner' from John Birch.
Dave was unlikely to have owned it. The weight would have been prohibitive for normal stage use.
Also Dave's tendency to play it while totally naked didn't make it a viable stage guitar.
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Dave Hill takes it lying down...
A spare John Birch bass
Nod's Gibson SG junior (with JB pickups)
Dave's sunburst J2 without added plates
Dave's natural J2 with white upper rear plate |
No-one is sure what happened to the John Birch guitars that Dave used. The Hi-Watts have been sold on as they were conking out on him after being stored in a Birmingham warehouse for ages and he doesn't ever use Hi-Watt amps now. Dave now often uses the old classic 'Dad's Gibson' guitar that he had previously retired from use due to fear of inflicting further wear and tear on his favourite aged guitar.
He has also been known to use a couple of stock Gibson Les Paul's, but these did not have too distinctive a sound, especially as Dave stopped using his Hi-Watt rig, depending instead on hired Marshall set-ups which never really gave him anything approaching his old sound at all. Dave would have been better off getting the Hi-Watts serviced. You learn from your mistakes.
Dave has also had a replica made of 'Dad's Gibson' - see below - but it has never really seen that much use.
As we all know, Nod's amps went at an auction at the Robin 2 in 2002. One of them lives with Stu Rutter these days.
Another classic 60's starter guitar. Used in the Flame film for the 'Iron Rod' cabaret scenes.
and a Hofner Club 40, used in 'Flame.
A mandolin used in an N'Betweens promo shoot.
It is unlikely that Dave owned this. Mandolin never appeared on the N'Betweens records, or any since, come to that. It's likely that he just picked it up in the photo studio or that it belonged to one of the others in the band.
I jest not. This is it.
I never lie.
And finally, probably the most recognisable and long standing guitar in the whole Slade story.......
Dave Hill's "Dad's Gibson" guitar
This guitar was used at the beginning. It is still there now, despite a brief lay-off in the mid 90's when Dave had a disasterous flirtation with Gibson Les Paul guitars. It is the one guitar that Dave Hill trusts to get his sound across properly.
The neck is from a Gibson 335 or 345. The pickup is a 50's Gibson PAF ('patent applied for'). The maple body is made by Sam Lee. The small rectangular 'CUSTOM MADE' plate behind the bridge does not relate this guitar to a Gibson model at all and this guitar bears no resemblance to any Gibson model available.
The neck pickup looks like it belongs on a Fender Strat. The bridge and tailpiece are typical Gibson style parts, however. Either Dave knew exactly what he was doing, or this guitar is made from whatever was lying about!
It has certainly been very good to him over the years.
Looking at the John Birch J2's above, one can see clearly why Dave Hill had the scratchplates fitted onto the bodies of them. It was to attempt to make them resemble this guitar. The lacquer on the upper rear bout of the body is worn away by forearm friction - probably from the sparkly jackets.
A replica of this guitar was made later on by Jaydee. It did not have scratchplates fitted and was heavily flamed.
Thanks to Stu for this photo of the guitar.
Meanwhile, Flamin' Slade strike again, with another quite accurate replica of one of Dave's best known guitars!
............... not to mention the terrifying fringe and daft stage suit!!!
NODDY HOLDER
Nod's earliest guitars
This picture of Nod shows him twanging away furiously with what appears to be a Hofner V2 guitar.
A not too expensive starter guitar. He appears to be surrounded by the Salvation Army. What's going on here?
This is a Hofner V2 (not Nod's original, though!!)
Gibson 335 (without and then with tremolo arm)
A Gibson 335 would have been beyond the reach of most teenagers back in the 60's, but Nod ended up with one somehow. He quite rightly looks very pleased with it and is doing a silly little dance to prove it. His chum in the above picture used what looks to be a Hofner Futurama bass.
Nod's guitar has had a Bigsby tremolo arm added at this point. His bandmates used a Harmony 12 string (ho-hum) and (gasp of envy) a Rickenbacker. (Thanks to Chris S for the Hofner and Gibson pictures above and also for identifying the model of the Hofner)
For many years this was Nod's main guitar for stage work. The Telecaster sound just dominated Slade's early records.
Stu Rutter is fairly well up on what pickups John Birch put into Nod's Tele: "In mid / late 74, in time for its use in Flame, Nod's Tele had it's neck (Superflux) p/u removed at John Birch, and a whole new bridge & scratchplate made to put a Magnum humbucker at the bridge. The neck pickup was then placed into the new scratchplate at the neck. Notice that the neck pickup is at the opposite angle to what it was in the original bridge."
Thanks to Stu for this pic.
Nod has stated that he used a Gibson Les Paul in the studio quite often with Slade and that may be the guitar which appeared in The Grimleys TV show. Picture of that guitar to come shortly.
Nod's blonde Antoria jumbo acoustic
Nod used this in the 'Far far away' video and in the stage scene in 'Flame'. It is a replica of a far more expensive Gibson guitar. Nod probably went for the Antoria for its availability and more sensible price. They were also very comfortable to play with a creditably big warm sound.
Here is a picture of Slade in the studio (circa 'Old New Borrowed and Blue') where Nod holds a darker sunburst Gibson jumbo acoustic with block inlays on the neck. This may have been the property of the studio or could have been hired in for the studio sessions. Nod has not been seen elsewhere with it. At the front of the picture is the late Tommy Burton (pianist on 'Find yourself a rainbow')
OStanding Ovations......
Nod also used an Ovation 'balladeer' acoustic guitar in the video and TV promo appearances for 'Universe'. This guitar may be the same one used in the video for 'Do you believe in miracles?' and the Grimleys TV show - which strongly suggests that Nod still owns it. Thanks to Stu for this cheerful pic of Nod with the Ovation.
Another Ovation- this time it's a Deacon - as used by Nod around the 'You Boyz' period.
And when Slade played together live for the last time in the UK .....
The band used whatever gear was provided by the band Whild John. Nod chose to use my Tokai Strat replica.
I still own this guitar and use it for the occasional recording.
Not a Slade guitar . . . . It's mine!
Nod's Gibson Les Paul TV / Junior
Pictured - possibly - outside Pebble Mill TV studios 1977. This guitar also appears on the sleeve of the bootleg 'Short hair EP' It is not known whether this is the Gibson Les Paul guitar that Nod used for many of Slade's studio recordings. He has also been seen to use a goldtop Les Paul on The Grimleys.
Nod used a large bodied Gibson archtop guitar around this same time for the 'My baby left me' video. That was likely to have been either hired in or borrowed for the shoot.
Nod's Gibson SG Junior
Nod had a couple of these over the years. One was stolen by someone helping the roadies carry the band's gear after a gig at Barbarella's in Birmingham in 1979. The guitar didn't reach the truck. Nod was utterly incensed. This guitar was fitted with John Birch pickups and bridge.
CMI SG replica
Nod is pictured with a CMI SG styled guitar here on a US TV show. This looks fairly like a Gibson SG except that it does not feature an upper cutaway. It was far cheaper than any Gibson would have been at the time. If I remember correctly, Nod used this in Flame for the earliest 'Iron Rod' scenes.
The Gibson Thunderbird bass, Gibson Flying V and Gibson SG custom guitars used in the 'Radio Wall of Sound' video and the following TV slots were all hired for the occasion.
JIM LEA
This bass was Jim's main instrument onstage with Slade from the late 70's through to Slade's demise. And where did this most desirable bass in the world rest after its nightly ordeal at the cruel hands of the once-mighty Jim Lea?
These photos are courtesy of the case's new owner, somewhere in America!
Jim Lea's Gibson EB3 - refinished in white
Hmm. A nice bass indeed. A double scratchplate of a style that isn't that common for a Gibson, may have been added by John Birch when it had his pickups fitted. Here you see it in white, instead of its original cherry finish. This was not what was actually intended. It went away to have a few small things done and came back a different colour. Jim had previously mentioned a refinish in passing to John Birch and the great man did it while Jim had it in to have something else done. Jim was apparently mortified. Ooops!
Where is it now?
Jim with cherry finish EB-3
Standard Gibson bridge and controls.
Not far off being 'as bought'.
The J1 was a basic instrument. Pictures of Dave playing this also exist.
It is not the bass that was smashed in the Flame film.
Another sunburst JB J2 bass, possibly on loan to Jim as a spare.
Jim has also carried a natural finish bass similar to this as a spare in 1980.
Jim Lea's Jaydee bass with tremolo arm
Jim used this for a couple of TV appearances (Miracles on 'The Krankies' and 'Superstore'). It also was carried on several dates on the final UK tour, but never plugged in, that I ever saw anyway, during a show. Jim took it back to John Diggins in 2003 to have it serviced.
The Framus Flame bass - smashed during a backstage row in the 'Flame' film
It looks hideous to play....... and it broke like it was made out of cardboard. Well, it practically was. The guitars, I am assured, were dummies (see Dave's guitar page). The bass made for Jim for the 'Flame' film was totalled during one of the grim backstage scenes where Jim had a proper bass player's hissy fit at the rest of the band. It didn't survive, as you will note, if you watch the film. Nothing as embarrassing as filming a bass smashing scene - for the third time!
The Framus Star bass used in Flame
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I used to play with a guy who worked in a music shop who offered me a bass just like this, saying with all sincerity that it was the actual one that was used by Jim Lea in the Slade film, 'Flame' .
I had no reason to disbelieve him and the bass came from a reputable source in the Midlands - who also parted with a couple of lovely custom made John Birch guitars.
However, once tried out through an amp, it was declared to be a bit of a plank, so I didn't buy it.
It wasn't that expensive really, I would have got it for a song, but a poor bass remains a poor bass - and any poor bass is too expensive.
The bass pictured is NOT Jim's. |
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Jim Lea's Gibson Flying V bass
Allegedly a studio favourite for its deep, plummy sound.
This only ever surfaced in public during the making of the 'Thanks for the memory' video (as in photo), as far as I can tell.
Very little stage use - I've been told it was used for the encore of 'Get down and get with it' at Liverpool in 1975. |
Jim has also been picture with a Fender Precision and also a Fender Jazz bass (below) and a John Birch (Ric style) bass around the 'Nobody's fools' period. It is possible that the Fender was a studio instrument. Jim has never used one of these basses of his own on stage to my knowledge. It has been common for Slade to use TV studio-owned instruments for mimed appearances, rather than take their own with them. The red (or fireglo) Rickenbacker 4001 in the 'Nobody's fool' video was probably hired or borrowed.
John Birch 'Rickenbacker 4001' type bass
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The Rickenbacker 4001 style bass used on the 'Top of the pops' show for Slade's 'Cum on feel the noize' appearance was apparently a John Birch bass loaned to Jim by the maker. Jim did not own this bass either.
Stu :
"The p/u's on the JB Rick are either Magnum's (more likely) or Hyperflux, which is what the Superyob had. Impossible to tell unless you get to see the name engraved between the poles." |
The Gibson Thunderbird bass Jim used in the 'Radio Wall of Sound'
video and the following TV slots were all hired in for the occasion.
From the days of Nick and The Axemen !
To be identified!!
Jim had a Red single pickup Hofner Colorama in the Axemen before he picked up the bass.
Jim's all-black Fender Stratocaster ....
Thanks to Sonic, Stu Rutter and Chris Selby for their help with a couple of things on this page!
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