Fan Mike Cohen gets his paws on Ralph’s Guitar
An opportunity to buy a once owned “McTell” guitar was too good to miss. I remember reading about Ralph’s first Harmony Sovereign which he bought in Ivor Mairant’s shop in Soho. By coincidence I bought my first steel string guitar from there in 1975. Ivor Mairant’s had been recommended by a friend of my parents called Arthur Coppersmith who was a band leader. It was cherry red with an ornate plectrum board and I had it for about six weeks. Foolishly I left it in the back of a Mini whilst taking a new girlfriend out for a drink at St Katherine’s Dock. When we returned it had been stolen – the price you pay for trying to impress!
I digress however. I think Ralph once said Woody Guthrie owned a Harmony and knowing how Ralph felt about his first one I knew I must have it. We agreed a price and that I would collect it at the end of the gig at the Swindon Arts Centre. Ralph kindly “demoed” the instrument with a wonderful blues piece followed by an impromptu version of Tickety Boo. I didn’t miss an opportunity for some tuition and came away with the descending lines from an Irish Blessing which had bothered me for several years.
I took her to our folk club at the Nova Scotia in Bristol last night and sang “Song to Woody” followed by “Working on the Railroad” and “When I Was a Cowboy”.
I have not put her away since and am only just coming down from cloud 9.
Mike Cohen, November 29, 2005.
Ralph’s Harmony Sovereign… or is it Mike’s?
Ralph, Albert & Sydney 