Sold: Peavey Rockingham, trans purple with P90's and Bigsby

DB1 · October 2022

I'm not sure if this is 'one for the forum', but worth a go anyway as it's quite an unusual - and a good -guitar. I know a reasonable amount about the the Rockingham (Darel Higham etc) but I can't remember seeing one with P90's, at least with them as original spec. You do see them optimistically described as a 'Darrel Higham signature model' which does have some accuracy in terms of it's gestation, but isn't actually correct, as far as I'm aware. I've had Korean and Chinese versions, and - honestly - my favourites have been Chinese for some reason, perhaps because my first one was Chinese and it was ace.

This is what piqued my interest - it's an archtop, it's Gretsch-like, P90's, Bigsby etc. It's also a very attractive (IMO) and interesting colour. I'm selling an ES-350 and had a Gretsch up for sale (now sold) and I thought I'd try and pick something up that could be a useful replacement for both of them in the short term. I thought I'd channel my inner Eddie Cochran and T-Bone Walker with this combination. Turns out I haven't got an inner Eddie Cochran aond T-Bone Walker.

It' s the width of the binding shallower than a 6120, but you can obviously see the 'inspiration' for the Rockingham. I did think that the Korean Rockinghams were built in the same factory as the Gretsch Elecromatics, but I could have imagined that.

Anyway, I bought it from a well-known guitar store (not one that gets much praise on this forum) and I paid £499, which is towards the top end of the asking prices for these, but I thought that it was unusual and attractive. I didn't really get to study it much for a couple of weeks, and that's where I found a few little issues, which I was a bit irritated about.

The frets were scratchy - I think that it must have been fret dressed, but not polished, so I've had the frets checked over and polished. The top and bottom E jumped out of the their slots in the TOM style bridge so I've had the slots widened to fit the 11-50's that it's just had fitted. The Bigsby sounded like a special effect from Thriller, and that's a smooth as a baby's rump now. The pickup selector was intermittently inactive, so I've had that fixed. All in all, It cost £100 to get the faults sorted - I've got the receipt. Well, I didn't expect a used £499 guitar to be perfect, but if I'd have paid a bit more attention to it in the 14-day period, I'd have perhaps taken it back.

Or would I?!

Because it really is a nice guitar, and now it's even nicer because I've sorted the niggles out. The P90 is just a 'made in Japan' non-branded pickup and I did have wild thoughts about putting a couple of Lollars in there, but that would have meant paying as much as I did for the guitar. My local tech did say 'keep this one - it's a nice guitar'. However, he plays in an Iron Maiden tribute band, so I've long since learned to ignore his advice. Although he's right on this one.

One thing that I didn't see until 'a certain light' is that there's quite a few small surface scratches on the guitar. Not enough to dent it's good looks, but something that I might get round to sorting, although I don't have much time at the moment. Plus they don't affect the guitar. There's a couple of small dings in the neck, but again, they're pretty inconsequential. I'm mentioning it for full discloure etc.

I've taken a decision to get down to a couple of guitars for all sorts of reasons, so I thought I'd move this on now that it's nice again. Price wise, the Bigsby equipped models seem to be anything from £450 to £550 in terms of asking price. I'll suggest £499, as I paid £100 more than that t have it sorted, but at least it's made it into a very nice thing. It's also got a hard case with it. I'd prefer collection as then I can lure you into my cellar and keep you there, but meeting up is fine and I can look at posting on this one, although the case is the size of Walsall and I don't know if I've got a box that big. Also there'll be postage costs, and no-one wants that. If you're within about 50 miles of me then bad luck I can look at dropping it off, although you wouldn't really want me in your house.

I'd prefer cash, but trades of something similar are always possible, although it might be tricky at this sort of price. Do message me if you've got any thoughts. I can only say 'no', although I do have quite an extensive vocabulary of filthy words.

Hopefully I've priced it about right, although do PM me if you think that I've gone all Gordon Gecko and it's too expensive.

In answer to your questions in advance about the reflections in the guitar:

1) Practising for Hallowe'en

2)Yes, completely naked

3) No, it's a gerbil

if it piques your interest and you want something purple in your life (missus!) drop me a line - always happy to chat.

Dominic · October 2022

I had one , natural colour .
It was an excellent guitar ......I found the neck a tiny bit slim/skinny but the playability was as good as any Gretsch I've played and it sounded terrific . An awful lot of good guitar for the money ;if it had the Gretsch brand on the headstock you wouldn't think twice about paying £1500 for it .

DB1 · October 2022

I think you're right Dominic - it really is one of those guitars where the name on headstock makes up a good part of the price difference. The neck on this one isn't too slim, and very much like the Gretsch 6120 SSLVO that I sold this morning. It had some reasonably worn flatwounds when it arrived and it sounded fabulous. It's also a very fast neck/fretboard. I think that the Rockinghams are pretty impressive, tbh.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob · October 2022

Well that's just ridiculously cool.

HarrySeven · October 2022

I need this in my life.

DrCornelius · October 2022

That’s a lot of a guitar for not a lot of cash , if I hadn’t just bought a 6120 etc …… (it’s a cliche but true , I’d have this in a heartbeat as I played the HB version in a mates studio once and it was great)

HarrySeven · October 2022

@DB1 - you have a pm.

DB1 · October 2022

I do indeed! Will answer now. Just got back from the tip after depositing a few hedges worth of leaves and holly there.

Living. The. Dream.

roberty · October 2022

Well gosh that's something. Peavey have done some great stuff. I think there's a lot of residual PTSD from Rage combos paired with plywood squiers and their ceramic pickups

GoFish · October 2022

TThat's a fabulous looking guitar and I'd like the chance to have a go on it someday. GLWTS!

Benm39 · October 2022

That's a lovely looking thing indeed!

DB1 · October 2022

Well, thanks! I didn't expect it to raise much interest, based on previous Rockingham ads on the forum. It is a bit special though - with the Bigsby and P90's, you really can get the Eddie Cochran/T-Bone Walker vibe for not too much money. The P90's and the colour lift it out of the ordinary, I think.

I was a bit miffed because it cost me an extra £100 to put right, and I know that it doesn't make the guitar more valuable, but at least I can offer it for sale with a clear conscience because it's now right. It will need (if the buyer is bothered) a little bit of work to polish the fine scratches out if they're bothered about perfection. I think it looks great as it is, but do need to mention it for full disclosure etc.

I must have had half a dozen of them - a sunburst with fret edges sharper than a serpent's fang (I got them sorted), another purple one which had been meddled with so badly that it was incredible that any sound came from the bloody thing (again, sorted!) a couple of 'OK' ones - one Korean, one Chinese - and my first one, a Chinese built model in a natural finish which I really loved - but then I discovered Gretsches. I think it's safe to say that the quality of the Rockinghams that I've had has been variable, but this one's really nice.

Rockinghams have led me to a couple of really interesting buyers as well. A couple of years, I met one chap in a pub at the end of the M50 - turns out he was an ex-murder detective from South Wales, and he turned in full teddy boy mode. He was fascinating and great company with some pretty lurid tales to tell. Smashing chap. He wanted to play the Rockingham in his new rockabilly band and didn't want to stretch to a Gretsch.

Then there was the purple Rockingham mentioned in this post which I had to have rewired. A chap from Harrogate bought it, and as I was in Sheffield on the Sunday anyway, I said that I'd take it up to him. He opened the door in full teddy boy mode as well and his wife appeared as one of the pink ladies. His front room was tiny, but had a whacking great double bass in there a couple of guitars, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Elvis, Chuck Berry memorabilia on the walls etc. It really was like stepping back in time to the 1950's.

I talked about the rewiring, fret dressing, and general attention that he been paid to get the guitar up to scratch and asked if he'd like me to demo it. 'It's OK mate, I don't play' he said. 'I just want it for wall art and I can't afford a Gretsch'. I was so pleased that I'd gone to the trouble of having it rewired.

Image: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/plugins/EmojiExtender/emoji/fb/smiley.png

Still, that's Harrogate for you.....

Absolutely lovely people though, and it's one of the pleasures about travelling about indulging in my favourite hobby.

Same with guitars....

Hattigol · October 2022

Looks great.

GLWTS.

AlexO · October 2022

DB1 said:

He opened the door in full teddy boy mode as well and his wife appeared as one of the pink ladies. His front room was tiny, but had a whacking great double bass

Sounds like an old soft porn film

roberty · October 2022

Rock'n'rollers!

DB1 · October 2022

AlexO said:

DB1 said:

He opened the door in full teddy boy mode as well and his wife appeared as one of the pink ladies. His front room was tiny, but had a whacking great double bass

Sounds like an old soft porn film

Indeed, I must return it to you soon.

DB1 · October 2022

Now sold and with it's new owner in Birmingham. Thanks to everyone that messaged and commented. I genuinely wasn't sure that it was one for the forum, after a few Rockinghams had been advertised almost unnoticed previously, but it's been really popular. Shows how much I know.

DrCornelius · October 2022

DB1 said:

Now sold and with it's new owner in Birmingham. Thanks to everyone that messaged and commented. I genuinely wasn't sure that it was one for the forum, after a few Rockinghams had been advertised almost unnoticed previously, but it's been really popular. Shows how much I know.

I remember @Dominic advertising one a few years back that really had my wallet itching at the time too - if I remember rightly it didn’t attract a huge amount of attention despite it looking fantastic

DB1 · October 2022

That was the one that I had in mind, Con - and I also advertised one which didn't trouble the Interest-O-Meter. I think this one's got something about it though, and I'm glad that it's gone to a really lovely forum member.

Dominic · October 2022

I did actually get quite a bit of interest but it all culminated quickly after a slow start ( isn't that always the way )
It was actually a really good guitar and everso easily playable ......like you said Dave ....quite a fast neck .
It got displaced by a Yamaha AES ( Gretschalike ) which is an awesome machine - I say that having had a few Falcons inc a Stern ...........even then it wasn't night and Day .
I'm quite a fan of these ....call me Lord Rockingham ( for those that remember )

roberty · October 2022

Lord Rockingham has a ring to it @Dominic, a name like that could take you far

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Sold: Peavey Rockingham, trans purple with P90's and Bigsby

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