Vintage Guitar - September 2017 - open - 14

READER MAIL
PHILLIPS REFILL
I was knocked out when I saw the August
issue. Dang... Glenn Phillips!
Years ago, a friend told me, "We have to check
out this cat at the Stone Church," which was a
club in New Market [New Hampshire] from
the late '80s through the mid '90s. We went
to the show and I'm sad to say it was just me,
my friend, the bartender, and the wait staff.
But the band loaded-in, set up, and off
they went. We were pinned - that band
was amazing. Glenn had home-made
effects and was rolling knobs and
creating sonic bliss. The keyboard
player did a handstand while soloing. It was surreal and I still get
shivers thinking about that show.
Thank you so much for letting me
know Glenn is still out there, still making
unparalleled music.
K.J. Constantine
Stratford, New Hampshire

RE-QUEST

HONORING ALLAN, CONT'D
In a world of cars, trucks, and motorcycles,
Allan Holdsworth ("First Fret," July '17) was a
rocket ship.
Ron Rosenberger
Newtown, Pennsylvania
(Ed. Note: Wolf Marshall's "Fretprints"
column on page 88 of this issue takes a personal

and in-depth look at Holdsworth's playing,
music, and gear.)

STILL JONESIN'
I had to respond to the letter by William
Cox ("Reader Mail," July '17) regarding former
Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones' youthful
theft of musical equipment. Most recognize
that stealing is wrong, but Mr. Cox should
consider Jones' upbringing, which probably
didn't instill a great deal of empathy. Also,
whatever Jones' activities, they led to Never
Mind the Bollocks..., one of the greatest rock
albums of all time. Jonesy, we love ya' and all
is forgiven!
Michael Macchiaroli
New York, New York
I was amused by the reaction to Steve Jones,
who has admitted that in his youth he was
little more than a petty thief. Sure, stealing

SEND LETTERS TO

gear is deplorable, but that was 40 years ago,
when punk was in its infancy and rock music
needed to be stripped to its roots. So, let it rest
and thank God the Pistols came along, or we
might all be listening to The Best Of Bread,
tacking up blacklight posters and thinking
we were cool!
Gregg Orange
Ft. Worth, Texas

DUN DEAL
When I saw the Dennis Dunaway interview
(April '17), I wondered, "Why should I care
about this guy?" But then I read he'd been
a member of The Spiders and realized I'd
watched them play in the '60s at the Fort
Huachuca Teen Club, an outpost in Arizona
just north of the Mexico border. One of the
highlights of my youth was playing there in
my high-school surf band, The Sonics. Thanks
for the memory.
Jim Hilburn
Louisville, Colorado

Send letters to vguitar@VintageGuitar.com, or Vintage Guitar,
Attn: Reader Mail, PO Box 7301, Bismarck, ND 58507.

VINTAGE GUITAR

14

September 2017

Illustration: Sean Thorenson.

Having been the quality-control person
when Primo began distribution of Quest
guitars in the mid '80s, I was very interested
in Michael Wright's feature, "Collectosphere
Quandary: The Quest Atak 2 A-2TX," in the
July issue.
David Rothfeld was president of the company, and as a selling point he wanted guitars
shipped to dealers intonated and set with low
action. I soon discovered that most of the
guitars had bridges placed too far forward.
Even with lowered action, they played sharp.
In the picture on page 32, you can see how far
back the low E string is set.
Another problem was the vibrato block
would contact the body, so the builders began
using very short bridge saddles, which seemed
to help a bit.
My job ended soon after and it was too bad,
as they were otherwise decent instruments
built by nice people.
Robert Blood
Weston, Massachusetts
Vintage Guitar - September 2017 - open

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