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 Wayne Guitars...Aussie built...
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weedie Member Posts: 5 From: Taree Registered: Aug 2006 |
posted 08-13-2006 18:26
   
G'day to you all, I've had a Wayne Amplyphone guitar for the last 20 years or so.I pulled it out of its hiding place the other day with a view to getting it to a playable condition after seeing John Butler on the TV... I've always wondered about the history of this Aussie company and I thought I'd share the results of my bit of "detective work" .. I was very lucky to talk to Sid West,who is the son of the original founder of the company,Mr Harry West. The manufacture of guitars began in 1934/5 with Harry and his two sons Sid and John on the job.. At first,the factory was located at Footscray (near Melbourne,Victoria)and later moved to The Basin,where they stayed until the end of production in 1968...I believe the guitars made then were just yer normal acoustics and the Resonator guitars were made from the early 1950's until the close of things in 1968. My guitar,a resonator comes from the early 1950's. The name 'Wayne' comes from a band that Founder Harry West was in in the early 1930's....how about this.......they were called Rudi Wayne and his Honolulu Boys.And could be heard on ABC Radio programmes at that time... On another post here,Matt mentioned that the cone was made out of re-cycled material and that some sort of "brand name" was visible on the back.Well this is true.After World War 2,and during,aluminium was in short supply and very hard to get...The Wests' were able to get a supply of rolls of sheet aluminium which were rejects from the printing process..so if anyone has a cone assembly from a Wayne guitar with Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder printing on the back,now you know how it got there !!! Sid told me that the Resonators were made under license from the Dobro Company and they were made right up till the end... Thats about all for the moment,if any one has a bit more to add ( or corrections ! ) ,I'd like to hear from them. There's probably another story on what happened to the Wayne Company...if I ever discover it,I'll post it here... Hope you enjoyed my post..see you,,Weedie.... IP: Logged |
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Slider Member  Posts: 1152 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2002 |
posted 08-13-2006 19:02
One of these??
IP: Logged |
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weedie Member Posts: 5 From: Taree Registered: Aug 2006 |
posted 08-14-2006 17:42
Thats it Slider, Exactly the same as mine..only yours has more Varnish...... Well done to you............weedie IP: Logged |
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weedie Member Posts: 5 From: Taree Registered: Aug 2006 |
posted 08-14-2006 17:47
Yes Slider.........exactly the same....only yours has more Varnish on it !!!.Well done to you...all the best ...weedie......... quote: IP: Logged |
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Slider Member Posts: 1152 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2002 |
posted 08-14-2006 20:07
Not mine - just sold recently at Guitar Crazy in Coogee. How do they sound weedie? IP: Logged |
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weedie Member Posts: 5 From: Taree Registered: Aug 2006 |
posted 08-15-2006 17:18
G'day Slider, Sounds like a Dobdro I suppose...... Its not as crisp (?) sounding though.The strings were old and there were a few rumbles from the cone area...I've now got it pulled apart.The cone alumininium(see above) is very,very soft and perhaps that make it a lttle "dirty" sounding,although some of the nails holding this assembly were loose.I've put some tiny screws in their place.The Bridge doesnt look original either and appears to be made from Oregon or Pine or some other soft timber...I'll have a bit of a play with it and see what happens..... Two questions for you Slider.... Do you know how much the Wayne sold for ??? .......and ...... Do you know Frank Grubisa from down there at Guitar crazy ?? If you do,please say g'day for me...Charlie's the name......... Thats all for now.......I'm off to play at being a Luthier..........see you....... IP: Logged |
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Slider Member Posts: 1152 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2002 |
posted 08-15-2006 17:38
Guitar Crazy always seemed to me to be the "guitar graveyard". Always lots of stock, yet a little neglected and jammed together in too little space. It was a fun place to browse but I haven't been to Coogee in years. Don't know how much it went for - but if you are an old friend of Franks, why not ask him? IP: Logged |
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weedie Member Posts: 5 From: Taree Registered: Aug 2006 |
posted 08-16-2006 17:18
G'day Slider,,, My mate Frank doesnt work there.......he's a Guitar maker and I think he hangs out there from time to time......I've never been there meself........ adios..........weedie.......... IP: Logged |
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