Why no UK major guitar manufacturers?

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Before I threw a tantrum and hid my posts in a fit of pique following (what I thought was) an unnecessarily disparaging remark from Gerard, I mentioned the Vox guitar. Following the undeniable popularity of the Vox AC30, the company launched a range of guitars in the 60s that were moderately successful with the beat-groups like The Rolling Stones and notably Brian Jones.
This summer while on holiday in Bath (the town not the bathroom accessory) I spied the headstock of a Vox guitar poking from behind a sofa in a restaurant (Hall & Woodhouse in Old King St.) - these are quite rare and the right model is worth many thousands, so I eagerly walked over to inspect it closer.

Imagine my disappointement when I saw this disgrace:

Edited by Dean - September 27 2014 at 11:01

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Dean Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout Joined: May 13 2007 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 37575	Posted: September 27 2014 at 11:00
	Before I threw a tantrum and hid my posts in a fit of pique following (what I thought was) an unnecessarily disparaging remark from Gerard, I mentioned the Vox guitar. Following the undeniable popularity of the Vox AC30, the company launched a range of guitars in the 60s that were moderately successful with the beat-groups like The Rolling Stones and notably Brian Jones. This summer while on holiday in Bath (the town not the bathroom accessory) I spied the headstock of a Vox guitar poking from behind a sofa in a restaurant (Hall & Woodhouse in Old King St.) - these are quite rare and the right model is worth many thousands, so I eagerly walked over to inspect it closer. Imagine my disappointement when I saw this disgrace: Edited by Dean - September 27 2014 at 11:01
	What?

Triceratopsoil Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: April 03 2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 17995	Posted: September 27 2014 at 11:52
	^ a damn shame

Gerinski Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: February 10 2010 Location: Barcelona Spain Status: Offline Points: 5093	Posted: September 27 2014 at 13:14
	Ugh, that's indeed a shame

Daniele Spdavecchia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: February 12 2015 Location: New Orleans Status: Offline Points: 6	Posted: February 13 2015 at 10:32
	Actually England has featured at least two major brands involved with guitar: Vox, making electric guitars, basses, sitar, organs, amplifiers and effects. Famous is for example the tear drop shaped guitar and the ubiquitous Vox AC30 and AC15 amps, or Wha Wha pedal (Hendrix!) Marshall has always specialized in amplifiers (where would be rock without them?) And then in the 60's there was a gem: Burns made guitars that rivaled with Fender, at least for the English market. Their instruments -electric guitar and basses- can be recognized by the curl on the ending part of the headstocks, similar to violin. The band The Shadows used those instruments quite a bit, although they eventually endorsed Fender.

TeleStrat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: December 27 2014 Location: Norwalk, CA Status: Offline Points: 9319	Posted: February 13 2015 at 11:40
	I have a Vox Phantom VI (pentagonal shape) that was made in Italy so it would probably be mid sixties. The shape, like the Mark VI teardrop, makes it difficult to play while sitting down but I always play electric standing up so it's not an issue. It has a very interesting bridge set up that makes it more difficult to restring. Overall, it is a great sounding guitar with an easy playing action. There's a photo on pg, 14 of the "list your equipment" thread.