Ritchie Valens Guitar Question - Dano, Fender, or What?

[jade...@aol.com]

Even though producer Bob Keane had studio musicians play on many of the
songs by teen rocker Ritchie Valens I do believe he played on some of
the songs as well.

Do you know what guitar(s) he used? I heard that he used a guitar he
made in wood shop but I think that was before he was on a record label
but just as a garage band member. But in the studio after he was
signed to Delfi Records what did he use? I have seen him pictured with
a Strat like Buddy Holly's so I take it he did use Strats on stage at
least but on record what did he use? I heard that possibly he used
Danelectro guitars on record. Anyone know if that is true? The solo
on "Come On, Let's Go" sounds like it could be a Dano but then again it
could be just about any guitar so do you know what he used? I was
thinking of placing this in the Rockabilly newsgroup but it makes more
sense to place it in the guitar group, doesn't it?

Thanks,

James

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[johnny...@my-deja.com]

Is Bob Keane still alive? If so, he might be glad to answer your
question. You once posted a question about Roland Janes. He might be
out in Texas. Don't know for sure.
Good luck.

In article <8qpf5g$kod$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,

[jade...@aol.com]

Hi Johnny Guitar,

Yeah Bob Keane is alive and well. He runs the Delfi web site and
message boards. I just posted a message to it and I hope he can recall
which guitars were used on those Valens songs.

Yeah, I did ask abound Roland Janes. I read some where that he used
Fender Strats.

Thanks

johnny...@my-deja.com wrote:
> Is Bob Keane still alive? If so, he might be glad to answer your
> question. You once posted a question about Roland Janes. He might be
> out in Texas. Don't know for sure.
> Good luck.
>
> In article <8qpf5g$kod$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> jade...@aol.com wrote:

[peter huggins]

Ritchie`s first 'real' guitar was a Harmony Stratotone. He got his
Fender while recoring his first album. I wonder where it is
today....................P (alumnus of San Fernando High School).

Grins, Peter
http://community.webtv.net/guitarmaniax/THISISTHE

[jade...@aol.com]

P did Ritchie go to high school at Pacoima High School or San Fernando
High School? Just curious. I drove thru Pocoima a few years back for
my work and drove right by Ritchie Valens park. Nice to see a park
named after him. I always like "local boy does good" kinda stuff.

On the Valens recordings most of the recordings were done by session
musicians, I recently found out. Valens of course sang but for rhythm
guitar it turns out it was mostly Carol Kaye and for lead it was Rene
(forgot his last name). I have been listening closely for the guitar
lead on "Come on, Let's Go" and to me it sounds like a Dano but of
course I could be wrong. Even if I'm wrong I think a Dano, new or
vintage, could probably cop that solo on "Come On, Let's Go" and even
on the whole "La Bamba" song.

James

In article <8053-39...@storefull-234.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,

> http://community.webtv.net/guitarmaniax/THISISTHE
>
>

[jade...@aol.com]

Just wanted to add something about Bob Keane. He has a web site now
and it's www.del-fi.com. He hasn't been answering questions at his
message board lately but in the past he has. Maybe he went on vacation
or something and can't answer now. He is very actively running his
record label and he is always looking for new talent. So if you think
you might have something to offer why don't you go to his web site and
get his email address and find out from him how you could send him a
demo tape. I know that no one in his right mind would want to be
considered "the next ....." but who knows you might be "the next ...."
and those dots might be "Ritchie Valens" or "Bobby Fuller". No body
wants to be the next so in so but what the heck you might just be if
you send a demo to Bobbo.

In article <8qrc3u$mfb$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,

johnny...@my-deja.com wrote:
> Is Bob Keane still alive? If so, he might be glad to answer your
> question. You once posted a question about Roland Janes. He might be
> out in Texas. Don't know for sure.
> Good luck.
>
> In article <8qpf5g$kod$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> jade...@aol.com wrote:

[peter huggins]

Ritchie was making is own tapes by the time he was 14, on the "best of
Ritchie Valens" (Rhino)
there is a track 'MALAGUENA' which is a home recording of him playing
solo, listen to it and decide for yourself whether he could play or not.

He was scheduled to attend San Fernando high school but left to go on
the road. He did attend Pacoima Jr. High and returned to play a school
assembly, which was released on an album after his death.

Rene Hall was the lead guitarist but Ritchie did play rhythm guitar on
the first record "Come on let`s go" b/w "Framed" (Other musicians were
Budy Clarke on upright bass and Earl Palmer on drums). There is
Danelectro all over those sessions, notably Tic-Tac bass.

The Ritchie Valens Memorial Recreation Center, and the 118 freeway next
to it, sits on the former site of the old Laurel Drive-in theatre, Where
I first saw 'Psycho". Across the street, where the swimming pool is, was
formerly called Paxton Park. SFHS is about one mile north on Laurel
Canyon Boulevard, Pacoima Jr. High about Two miles south .

Lastly , Ritchie is buried at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Just
inside the gate. it is the most visited grave site in the cemetery.

On the CD: "Ritchie Valens: the lost tapes"
(Original demos and undubbed masters)
--Del-Fi , Dist by Rhino

Grins, Peter
http://community.webtv.net/guitarmaniax/THISISTHE

[jade...@aol.com]

Peter, thank you for all the info. I have that recording
of "Malaguena" and in my opinion he could play very well. Also to give
credit to Carol Kaye (I noted in another post) she played rhythm on "La
Bamba" and a few others.

Thanks for clearing up the part about the Danos. When I hear some of
his songs I hear Dano but I wasn't sure if they were other guitars
because I don't know for sure unless someone tells me for a fact just
as you did.

I have a magazine that shows 1950 and 1960s rock and pop celeb graves
and Ritchie Valens is one of them. Also is Buddy Holly (I think in
Lubbock, TX), Eddie Cochran (Think in South Cal some where), and Gene
Vincent in New Hall, CA of all places.

Thanks,

James

In article <9031-39...@storefull-238.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,

> http://community.webtv.net/guitarmaniax/THISISTHE
>
>

[peter huggins]

I should add that "Come On, Let`s Go" , was heavily edited to get the
meter right. Being Ritchies first time in the studio he did have some
meter problems (in 1958 you had to take a razor blade to the tape to
edit it) .

I read somewhere that Ritchies grave is the second-most visited
celebrity grave in Los Angeles (I forget who came in first place).....P

Grins, Peter
http://community.webtv.net/guitarmaniax/THISISTHE

[jade...@aol.com]

Yeah I have the Ritchie Valens Story CD and Bob Keane (producer)
mentioned that Valens had a hard time with the the timing so Keane had
to edit it a lot. Keane did a great job because there is no indication
by listening that it was edited like that post-recording. Keane must
be a heck of a producer.

The first most visited grave in Los Angeles I can only guess as either
Marylin Monroe or Rudolf Valentino but I might be wrong of course.

James

In article <2074-39D...@storefull-233.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,

> http://community.webtv.net/guitarmaniax/THISISTHE
>
>

[swansongs...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, September 26, 2000 at 2:30:09 AM UTC-4, jade...@aol.com wrote:
> Even though producer Bob Keane had studio musicians play on many of the
> songs by teen rocker Ritchie Valens I do believe he played on some of
> the songs as well.
>
> Do you know what guitar(s) he used? I heard that he used a guitar he
> made in wood shop but I think that was before he was on a record label
> but just as a garage band member. But in the studio after he was
> signed to Delfi Records what did he use? I have seen him pictured with
> a Strat like Buddy Holly's so I take it he did use Strats on stage at
> least but on record what did he use? I heard that possibly he used
> Danelectro guitars on record. Anyone know if that is true? The solo


> on "Come On, Let's Go" sounds like it could be a Dano but then again it
> could be just about any guitar so do you know what he used? I was
> thinking of placing this in the Rockabilly newsgroup but it makes more

> sense to place it 8in the guitar group, doesn't it?
> R. PLAYED A STRATATON H44....HARMONY MADE A SPECIAL GREEN (ONE)
IF ONE NEEDED ONE SUPPOSE THE TRAVELER SONIC 22 IS A WOOD BURST ONE W.....
AIRLINE/EASTWOOD CARRIES A REPLICA/ RE ISSUE OF THE STRATATONE H44
>
> Thanks, jimmy page

[kaile...@gmail.com]

[Pudentame]

That's a blast from the past. I wonder why it showed up here now?

Anyway ... images I've dredged up using Google Images - Search Term
"Richie Valens guitars" show these guitars:

Harmony H44 Stratotone
Archtop guitar - maybe a Harmony Archtone
Gibson ES-225 - two pickup model
Fender Stratocaster

(Fender gave Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper each a new
Stratocaster guitar for the Winter Dance Party Tour.)

James, I hope you're still rockin' and got an answer to your question
all those years ago ... or if not, that this one will somehow get to
you.