My first guitar. This set me back three big ones in 1980, from a local music shop in Hendon, North London. It no pickups or electronics; I bought a pickup for £2 a few weeks later and wired it straight to the output jack.

It's had various pickups and stuff on it since then, taken off other guitars. The latest insides are from a mid-sixties Teisco Del Rey, with a DiMarzio SD at the bridge (see other stuff page for a a pic of the gtr they came from). It's my loudest guitar, and has a kind of mini fuzz box built in and connected to the 'solo' switch, which doubles the output for that instant 'Sister Ray' effect. Because of the noise it makes and it's weight I call it the The Motherfucker - I painted the name on in 2000

The scratchplate was the side of a crate I picked up around '87. Before I found it I used a flattened-out washing-up liquid bottle, just to cover up the holes.

Back in 1980 I took it to Andy's Guitar Workshop. They told me it was made in Czechoslovakia in the early 60s. More recently I have learned that the manufacturer was Resonet. Futurama was the brand name used on various guitars imported to the UK by Selmer. Earlier versions of this one had 3x3 or Telecaster style headstocks, bigger scratchplates and brown sunburst finishes. George Harrison had one in Hamburg.

The full details see Steve Russell's definitive Futurama Story, where I got the UK catalogue image, left.

Curious facts:

The tuners turn in the opposite direction to all the other guitars I've played.

I love this guitar, but it's very heavy - once I started playing in bands this was my major reason for looking for other guitars - not better or nicer sounding guitars, just lighter guitars.