As McNally reminisced "The Club 60 needed refretting. 'Sound City' in London lent me a Telecaster while it was being done. They made a mess of the refretting, and I never really used it again after that. I liked the Telecaster, so I bought it." Listeners of The Searchers' music have often wondered what instrument was responsible for the rather thin and trebly sound of the groups' early music that was not evident in their later recordings. The retirement of the McNally's Hofner explains the change in the tone of his rhythm over the years.
John McNally revealed that the Club 60 was "purchased by the Hard Rock Cafe group - it was on display firstly in New York, then in Singapore, but I don't know where it is now." Thus ends much of the mystery of the Hofner Club 60. So where does the instrument presently reside? Communication with Mr. Barrie Herman, Acquisitions Manager - Memorabilia, at Hard Rock Cafe International has confirmed that McNally's Club 60 is at the Makati Hard Rock Cafe in Manila, Philippines. Thanks to the kindness of Mr. Proceso Calison, the General Manager at the Makati Cafe, photos of John McNally's Club 60 are included in this article. The legendary Hofner is mounted on a wall display along with an autographed photo of the Searchers, Mike Pender, Chris Curtis, John McNally and Frank Allen. John McNally autographed this guitar in what appears, from the writing, to be 1966.
The Makati Hard Rock Cafe Permission Proceso Calison
July 23, 2001 - Revised August 15, 2001
