Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Back in '64, I saw the Searchers on the Steve Allen show. It was after Tony left, because Allen was reading the liner notes from the second Kapp LP, and included him in the band. Anyhow, Pender had a guitar that had a head on it that looked like it came off a violin or cello(shapewise). Never saw it again. Anyone know what it was?

John: You may be referring to Mike Pender's Danelectro Bellzouki 12-string.

These instruments had 21 frets, bolt on neck via three bolts and no backplate, aluminum nut, big flat headstock with the plastic "Danelectro" logo in raised letters. A quality masonite body in a teardrop shape (just like a bouzouki or a "taterbug" mandolin, except flat). Single lipstick tube pickup, volume and tone knobs, and a toggle switch. Chromium steel tailstop with ironwood bridge.

John: I still can't find a photo of the Danelectro Bellzouki 12-string. Bellzouki 12 String models were manufactured from about 1961-1969. I understand that they made a single pickup model 7010 with a tear-drop shaped body. There was also a two pickup model 7020 that had a teardrop body that was more sculptured. I am hoping that someone will read this and post a photo.

Here are photos of the Danelectro Bellzouki 7010 and 7020.

Further to this discussion, Teejay Riedl has kindly submitted a photo of a 1963 Model 7010 Danelectro Bellzouki. Thanks for this Teejay.

I am not sure if Mike Pender played the Model 7010 or Model 7020. I hope he will be able to respond to this post.

_IS THIS INSTRUMENT RELATED TO THE GREEK BAZUOKI ?

WHAT RECORDINGS WOULD I FIND IT ON ?

I suspect that the Bellzouki 12 string is related to the lute but also somewhere along the way to the:

IRISH BOUZOUKI traditionally tuned GG DD AA EE/DD and known as the Fylde(octave tuned): 48w/24w 28w/10 16/16 10/10 and the

GREEK BOUZOUKI traditionally tuned Cc Ff AA DD: 30w/13 24w/10 14/14 11/11

Could the guitar have possibly been the Burns
Double-Six(12 string)? They have a shape that
resembles a violin too, kind of a curl at the
tip of the headstock.

Larry: I have been thinking that John may have been referring to the Burns guitar as well. Moreover, it would more likely be the Burns as Mike played a Burns for a longer period than he did a Danelectro. John has not commented on the Danelectro photos as yet so I am not sure? John?

Does anyone know if Mike still has his Gibson 345. I believe that he used this guitar on many of the classics, Needles and Pins, Don't Throw Your Love Away, Magic Potion and maybe Someday Were Gonna Love Again. I haven't seen much comment on this guitar to date.

Peter,

Sorry. I didn't know you wanted a comment on the photos. They're not it. The guitar I saw had a dark body, and was not tear drop shaped (which I would have confused as a variant of Brian Jones' Vox). The shape was more like a Gibson, but I never saw a head like that on a Gibson.

JOHN

P.S Haven't forgotten the song list from the '72 concert. Just haven't found it yet.

Rick: Last time I heard, Mike still had his Gibson 345. I will try to get him to comment on it when he gets a moment.

re earlier question on mikes Bellzouki.
mike says'it was a two pick up version and it was never used on any recordings.where is it now?
probably recyled by now!! it was really a stand in guitar, as i recall their was nothing else available at the time (in liverpool)so i grabbed the only 12 string in the shop! i kept using it until about 6 weeks later i acquired another 12 string'