[coffeecupman]

I too am interested in buying one of Bill's solidbody electrics if someone is considering selling. Please send me a pm if interested. Thanks.

 

[GuitarNewbie]

Hi all:

A short while ago, I acquired this guitar for free from a neighbour. I didn't realize just how well-loved Bill Lewis was, and this guitar (a Suzuki F-30) apparently came from his shop.

I know nothing about guitars. How old is this guitar, and what are you thoughts on this? Reading through each post was so interesting for me, especially the anecdotes.

 

[BBoult]

Recent thrift store find. All original Bill Lewis built.
Will repair.

 

[HilltopMusicShop]

I have a Bill Lewis guitar I have had for 25+ years. I am looking for other owners or anyone who knows about them? Thanks

A very interesting man named Paul Cypress just brought in his Lewis flamenco to my shop for evaluation. Paul has some wonderful stories surrounding this instrument. He had Bill make it for him with Bill's thin/flat neck profile. As far as I know, it is a one-of-a-kind.

 

[HilltopMusicShop]

Recent thrift store find. All original Bill Lewis built.
Will repair.

Beautiful!

 

[looted]

"In the second Bill Lewis Music, on the corner of Broadway and Dunbar, the downstairs was broken up into 4 main parts, the electronics shop, which Jack was in charge of with his apprentice Jeff Healy? Then there was a large repair shop, a very big wood cutting room with ban saws, planers etc., and a spray room for refinishing. Mark Wilson and Mark Fornataro (Bills wife Carols brother) were his apprentices for his custom built guitars."

I apologize for Necro bumping this and hope I can get some feedback.

Jack Lewis's apprentice 'Jeff Healy' was actually Geoffrey Healey and reciently passed away. I'm trying to find more information about some of the guitars he worked on as well as confirming a few things.

From what I was told Geoff lived in Bill's (Jack's) basement for a period of time and worked / made / modified a Guitar for Jimmy Page (I'd like to confirm this) as well as built / modified an amp for George Harrison who flew my father to his show in Toronto in the 70's.

I am working with my sister to write the obituary (for Geoff Healey) and wanted to make sure I had everything verified.

Thank you.

 

[looted]

My sister sent me a pic of Geoff at the shop and one with him practicing guitar.

 

[alan rinehart]

Dear Lolli/ Ship....

How lovely to hear that you were a part of that scene in the Mediterranean shop! I have to say I don't remember you at this moment as I read your post but it's so good to hear from someone else who remembers the great atmosphere and camaraderie we all had there.

From whom did you eventually take lessons? I'm writing about the people there in my Canarybird's Nest (canarybirdtenerife) blog and my next entry will be about Chris Jordan (classical), now known as Robert C.Jordan, and Barry Hall, the folk guitar player who was such a natural, recording his 5 string banjo record when he was about 15 years old. Did you ever get to take lessons from him? I'll also be writing more about Bill Lewis and George Bowden soon as well.

Cheers,

Sharon (Canarybird)

Bill Lewis gave me my first chance to make my way as a classical guitarist. He hired me to teach classical at the store in 1972 and I taught classical guitar there until I finished music school and moved to the UK to study (1978). Good memories! I have always appreciated the faith that Bill had in hiring me!

 

[michaelniwot]

Here's a link for more info. David Gilmour has one.
David Gilmour’s Bill Lewis guitar – gilmourish

Must be good then.

 

[Crashell]

I remember that concert Bruce it was at the old cow palace ( agradome if memory serves me well ) Bill certainly had some famous faces associated with his ax's I always wished I was one of them and wish I still had the one he gave me that he repaired the neck for but it disappeared from my collection ( thief ) (I never could master all the frets he had on them.Ship.....oh and as for your acoustics Bruce they were and are very special instruments can't remember who it was from the other site that has one of yours and the description he gave of the looks and sound still make me think of it. ( or maybe it was you who told me about it dang this alziemers )

I'm hoping to find a person who worked at BLMusic on Broadway in the summer of 69 ish. I'm the guy that dropped off a 55 or 56 Les Paul junior for a neck repair. Cherry, with a neck brocken off right at the nut and with a temp repair ,leaving it with very large knuckles of, some sort of glue holding the head on. Anyone working there would remember this repair because it was so unusual with the large fake repair. I was working on the tugs(RivTow) on the Frazer at the very south end of Granville at Eburn Saw Mills. Worked ,month on ,month off. The month off gave me a chance to get this poor puppy fixed. For around 80 bucks, Bills Shop made an absolute masters job of repair. It still exists. Danny Skalapsky of some musical renown from Prince Rupert B.C. has it. It plays like an absolute dream. I'm quite a good friend of Dannys. He let's me play it when I'm in Pupert. Now the story really starts. Danny bought the guitar from someone, I don't know. I've never asked. He doesn't know that the guitar was actually stolen from me, just before he bought it. I told him that ,I was that guy that had it repaired. He says ,great and thanks. Now if someone would show up with a repair receipt. I'd try to convince Danny that it was my turn, seeing that he's had it for 50 years. I do not want to come onto the guy like I'm the owner, just that shouldn't it be my turn? I think, now that I'm 80 and most of my band mates are long gone, I'd like to take possession of it. He's a pretty good bud. I just don't know how to put it to him. Any hint's? Forgive me, I hope I'm not to far off course. Just love the stories, I'm reading here. Yours Victor.

 

[MHealey]

I have a Bill Lewis guitar I have had for 25+ years. I am looking for other owners or anyone who knows about them? Thanks

Hello! My dad use to build guitars at Bill Lewis Guitar and lived in the basement of the shop. He also built amps and electrical Components for the electric guitars. I have two of his guitars.

 

[MHealey]

That brings back memories. I believe they were made in the early to mid 1970s out of the shop at Broadway and Dunbar. From the late 60s until the early 80s, Bill Lewis Music was THE guitar store to visit. It wasn't the biggest but definitely the coolest at the time. They were also the best place for guitar repairs in the day.

As for the guitar, if I remember my ancient history correctly, Jimmy Page bought one. I tried a few but didn't the ultra flat fingerboard.

Jimmy Page bought one and it was one my dad built while he was working at and living in the shop.

 

[MHealey]

I am another proud ownerof a Bill Lewis Special. I believe it's one of his first productions. I still have my receipt from April 24,1969 in Bill's handwriting. It does not have the 'Dual-range' pick-ups. I took it into Rufus last year and the weekend Techie, Les W. (who also has one) told me that my edition has Dimarzio pick-ups. I was told that Les advertised his on E-Bay and was offered $68k, but turned it down?? Apparantly he is holding out for $80k. I will ask him next time I see him. I agree about the fact that Bill was not really a Electric R&R guy. He played a few scales for me periodically and it was definitely a Classical style. He was hoping that I would help promote his Guitar as I played in 'The Spectres' band which was quite popular around that time. He said that Paul Dean of 'The Shantelles' (sp), later of Loverboy was interested in one and asked if I was a better guitarist...Ha!....in my dreams maybe. Paul did buy one later. Clapton also ordered one and reportedly sold it for $150k.
Noteworthy: Jack Lewis also built Solid State Lewis Amps. I had a 75W Cabinet with 2 JBL D130F speakers plus a slave with the same 2 spkrs.

My dad worked there and build electric guitars, electric guitar components and amps. He had some fantastic stories about his time there! I have some of my dads guitars, and after his passed one of my dads original guitars from the sixties on to my brother. His finishing were amazing even up until he had to stop building them.

 

[Brian Cook]

Jack's list of guitar teachers at Bill Lewis Music brings back great memories of great people. Just to add to the list of teachers at Bill Lewis throughout the '70s we must include John Gould, one of the founding teachers of Bill Lewis Music, who had us all in awe when he played Chet Atkins. There was Alan Reinhart who made us all love classical guitar. I was a teacher there from '71 to '78, teaching fingerstyle folk and blues. Bill Lewis Music was a very special place, leaving me, and I imagine everyone else who was part of Bill Lewis Music, with countless wonderful memories.
Brian Cook

 

[Rob Muller (Netherlands)]

David Gilmour speeks about his Bill Lewis in his latest interview with Rick Beato.. You should check it out

 

[bill123]

I just came across this thread. Jack, you gave me guitar lessons in 78-79 and were a great guy. I was a Beatles guy and you taught me a lot of great riffs. What I remember was that you also leant me your personal records …. Including Bowie -Ziggy Stardust, Jeff Beck Truth, and Hendrix Are you Experienced? which taught me there was more out there than just the Beatles.