Photograph
Joy Division
18th December 1979

“Do we know the photographer?”

“The picture is reversed.”

“well spotted jsz, bent my vision trying to work that out, never noticed before, pic changed to right handed Vox with help from scanner software (which I didnt know was poss).

unsure who took the pic?”

“not much gets past jsz”

“Take it this is the teardrop Wilson mentioned?”

“It will be - but see the other long thread about Vox guitars...

It isn't a teardrop - it's a coffin. That could be a Joy Division lyric. In fact, I may use it myself.

The guitar is (I think we've agreed on this): A coffin-shaped Vox Phantom VI Special, presumably from the mid 1960s.

A ordinary Phantom VI had three dials; the extra two must be for the effects. There are also some push-buttons for the effects (running diagonally up, to the right of the mic stand).

Any idea what effects it would have had? I presume treble boost, distortion and something else?”

“Yep think we've agreed it is a Vox Phanton Mk VI Special - see JAX's recent artefact for all the info on this one.

There is a page from one of Rob Gretton's notebooks listed on here that shows a reference to purchasing the Vox for £120.

Big Block please post lyric when done.”

“Quote: "the picture is reversed". How come you can read "Fender" on the guitar strap, jsz?”

“it was reversed initially, now it's been corrected”

“To anyone who is interested I use to own the guitar before Ian Curtis bought it
I bought it from Harker and Howarth in Bolton for £60 which was about 3 weeks wage for me then,
It was a pig to play but looked so cool i had to have it. The PP3 battery didnt last long but it did give some great sounds.Anyway i took it to A1 Repairs on Oxford st and part ex it for a Fender Telecaster
Thats my claim to fame”