"Hi Dave,Here’s some pics of the early Martamp we were talking about. As I said, it was brought to me some time ago, found at a boot fair by a friend of a friend. Apparently the owner was clearing out a loft and came across it, and was unaware of it’s value! Of course, it wasn’t working then and needed a tidy up, but at £20 it seems to have been something of a bargain.I’ve traced the history of it from Wilfred Martin’s (founder of Martin Radio Services, later Martamp) archives. As you know, Wilf was a keen guitarist, as well as a radio engineer, and often played on the US Air Force bases in East Anglia in the 50’s, where he became enamoured of the sound of the Fender amps brought across by the American airmen, as well as the tweed covering they used. He decided to assemble a few amps for himself and friends, being rare and hard to get hold of as they were in those days.This amp was based on the circuit of the famous Leak 20W Hi-fi amp, which at the time was leading edge stuff, although Wilf has modified it somewhat in the search for that Fender sound. It was sold to Phil “Woody” Wood, who played with the Tornadoes for a while in the early 60s, but of course became famous with The Deltones on the blues boom later on in the decade. They often supported Fleetwood Mac, and Woody stood in on a few gigs with The Bluesbreakers when Clapton first discovered mind-altering drugs. Of course, it’s well known what happened to Woody thereafter; his early heavy rock band, Gossamer Fist, the move into prog in the 70’s, the chart hits (who can forget the instrumental “Migration”?) and later the alcohol, girls and drugs. The least said about his “techno” period in the 80s, the better.I contacted Woody about the amp, and he was able to verify much of it’s history. He used it on tour exclusively for a few years, with a fender Twin as back-up, and jammed with many of the greats using the amp. Once, BB King played through it, and commented that it’s wail could make “a deaf man hear, and a blind man see. Lawd, yeah.”Then it languished in a store room at Abbey Road for many years, superseded by 4 Marshall Stacks and later the short-lived endorsement deal with Music-Man, before disappearing. He said it was always the best sounding amp he’d ever had, and I offered to sell it back to him, but he replied that he’s quite happy now playing Lute and classical guitar in his Medieval themed band.I’ve tidied the amp up a little, revalved it, changed the filter caps, and replaced a screw here and there, but basically it’s as it was.I’ve had several offers from collectors, but I’d rather sell it to be used, so let me know if you’re still interested. I think somewhere in the region of £5k would be fine.Regards,Martin"
But why is there a part of me that feels like I'm on that programme "Call My Bluff"- for those old enough to remember it.
