OK, all you 60’s relics and fans of 60’s relics, here’s a story for you, as told to me by John Sebastian, founder of The Lovin’ Spoonful, one of everyone’s favorite bands from back then and to this day. "Do You Believe In Magic?”, “What A Day For A Daydream”,” Nashville Cats”, “Rain On The Roof”, and on and on; it’s classic, classic stuff. These three instruments were given to me by John as being the last of the Lovin Spoonful pieces remaining. There is an Irish harp, a Hohner Electra-melodica, and a Mel-O-Bar steel guitar, all from around 1966, and all historically important and musically significant. Irish Harp Back in 1966 or so, The Spoonful was asked by the family of Tara Brown, the heir to the Guinness Stout fortune, to play at Tara’s birthday party in Dublin, Ireland. Sebastian figured that for something a little different, they really ought to have an Irish harp to play that night, so he went out to the music stores of Dublin and bought one for the show. Everyone who was anyone in the world of rock ‘n roll at the time was at this party, and I do mean everyone: the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithful, Anita Pallenberg, the works. Tara, unfortunately, was killed a few years later in an automobile accident, and became the subject of the famous line “He blew his mind out in a car, he didn’t notice that the light had changed” in the Beatles’ song “A Day In The Life”. John hand-carried the harp on the airplane trip home from Dublin (you could do that kind of thing in those days), and actually played it during the flight. Later on, the harp became the leadoff instrument of the opening line in the recording of John’s Spoonful song “Rain on the roof”. The harp still has its original beautiful, tasteful decorations on it. It has no strings at this time and is offered as is at $5,000. Hohner Electra-Melodica (SOLD!) This Hohner Electra-melodica, an amplified version of Hohner’s hand-held, wind-operated mini-keyboard, was used by The Spoonful in the recording of their hit “Lovin’ You”, and was played by Zal Yanofsky. Has its original power supply that appears to have come straight out of Peenemunde, or maybe a Fritz Lang movie. Everything lights up when you plug it in but no sound comes out, at least not the kind you expect. Might spontaneously burst into its own version of “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music” when working, which it isn’t. Its case has been hand-inscribed by John: “The Phabulous Phallon / A studio instrument of The Lovin Spoonful! Has been recorded on the fade of ‘Lovin You’, sound tracks. No, it isn’t chromatic!” Signed in script John Sebastian with famous Lovin Spoonful “heart-in-spoon” logo hand drawn by John. Offered here as is with its original inscribed and signed hard shell case at $995. Mel-O-Bar The Mel-O-Bar, a sort of multi-stringed lap steel with a strap that you can play standing up, was given to The Spoonful by the Mel-O-Bar Company when “Nashville Cats” became a huge hit. It has a six-string nut, a ten-string bridge, and nine tuning machines; go figure. The inside of its case has been hand-inscribed by John “This Melobar was given to The Lovin Spoonful as result of ‘Nashville Cats’. It was used on a few local television shows, and later on Sebastian album ‘Tar Beach’. What a pick-up! And yes, Zal Yanofsky played it!” Signed in script John Sebastian. We plugged it in, and it works well. Offered here as is with its original, inscribed and signed hard shell case and an old brass slide at $3,500. These are unique and iconic items from the history of Rock ‘n Roll, directly from one of its most famous, revered, and loved musicians. Matt Umanov Guitars 273 Bleecker St. NY, NY 10014 (212) 675-2157 open M-Sat 11-7 Sun 12-6 contact us at: info@umanovguitars.com © 2006 Matt Umanov Guitars All Rights Reserved