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Bought in 1997, from Covent Garden. The bizarre red jelly-mould effect
perspex covering meant that I had no qualms with the £25 asking price. I
grabbed it fast!
"Another Futurama - after all these years?" Well, kind of.
The action was ok, but I definitely liked the lightness! I used it a lot for
rehearsing with the Killaz, but not much live, as
it sounded horrible, with a limited range due to the strange control layout -
a single volume pot, on/off switches for the pickups and two pre-set tone
choices.
I soon learned it was not Czech, but Swedish - made by Hagstrom in 1963, imported
to the U.K. by Selmer and given their Futurama brand name. In the US and
elsewhere these were known as the Hagstom I or Kent model. Variations on this
model were produced between 1962-67. The first generation - like this one -
have a slightly blobby headstock (superceded by a more Fender-y shape) and
fixed pickups glued into the perspex top.
In 2000 I scored a better bridge (not exactly right but close) and a
replacement top for it in black with no pickups. Taking a cue from Miles O'Neil,
put in new pickups - a couple of Strat '57-'62 re-issues with staggered
pole-pieces.
They sound much better, and I prefer the black to the red too. It also now
has the famed 'cheesgrater' panel, and the added innovation of an aluminium
plate to tell you what the switches are: L - neck pickup, H - bridge pickup,
Tone and Mute. Purists won't like it, but I have kept the red top and could
easily reinstate it at some point if I feel like it.
There are several different guitars with the Futurama name. Two or three
models made by Hagstrom and at least three made by Resonet in Czechoslovia.
Their numberings I, II and III also overlap. This all came into focus in late
2000 thanks to Steve Russell and his pal with the Czech McDonalds
connection.See Steve's definitive Futurama Story for the full details.
My favourite
Hagstrom website tells you more about the variations on this model. They
call it the Kent, although that name was also used for the other Hagstrom
Futurama - which they call the 'transition' model.
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