The Iveys' Musical Instruments
a Ron Griffiths interview by Mike Milauskas
circa 2001, edited by Tom Brennan - January 05, 2020

When I first met Pete, he was playing a Fenton-Weill guitar, a solid-bodied axe with a natural grain see-through finish, an ahead-of its-time shape. Next, he bought a Harmony Meteor (Steve Winwood was using one at the time)... Dai Jenkins also bought a Meteor at the same time. Pete then fell in love with the Strat and bought a white version. He inserted a set of three flick switches, to easily overcome the 3-way-switch balancing act to obtain the "in between" pick-ups sound. Fender has for years inserted a 5-way switch to provide that combination of sounds, but it was a long time after Pete's modification. Actually, Pete's version was better because he was able to have two extra options: all on, or neck and bridge...great eh?? Dai, in keeping with Pete and heavily influenced by Ray (Kinks) Davies, bought a 3-tone sunburst Telecaster. When we moved up to London, Pete swapped his Meteor for a Washburn with Francis Rossi of Status Quo, who were on the verge of success with "Pictures of Matchstick Men."  Pete smashed his white Strat in a fit of temper with Tommy (Evans), who would not tow the party line with his rhythm sound... far too bassy. Pete lost his cool...and his Strat!! Tommy at this time had an orange-finished Les Paul Junior.  Pete replaced the Strat with a Gibson ES335. That didn't last too long. It was not easy to control the feedback, it being a semi-acoustic, as I am sure you know. Pete then replaced the Gibson with another Strat and was joined the same day with Tom who also bought one.

When I started, my first bass was a Vox Clubman 2, as cheap as they come, but it was mega-bucks to my parents. I then fell in love with the Hofner Violin - which I had seen in a catalogue before I had heard "Love Me Do"!! However, by the time I had saved my limited resources, Mr. McCartney had arrived on the scene, so it looked like I was aping Macca. I'd wanted a Fender ever since I saw the Shadows (major instrumental group) in 1958. But this was the Holy Grail for me; it was a seriously expensive professional instrument. So when I started to earn regular money on top of my day job, I bought a Lake Placid blue Precision bass; it was a beauty (and) sounded so good. I had that until it was stolen in the West-End of London before a recording session-due to Fergie's naïveté, he had taken other guitars in and left mine leaning against the van, I was broken-hearted. Apple gave me another as a replacement on "permanent loan" they said. Anyway, at my departure, Tommy kept it and I was given another Hofner Violin (bass) as a going away present!! Mike played Premiere drums ‘til "Come And Get It" then switched to Ludwig. To answer a couple more of your queries, on Mike's (Mike Gibbins’ More Annoying Songs) CD, I borrowed a bass off Allen Hewgely. It did not have a manufactured name; it was a red solid body P type bass. If I ever had a favourite, it was the Lake Placid blue original, but I do own an old P bass modified by a friend of mine to include a J pick-up, which I use occasionally.

Most of today’s music leaves me cold; there are some exceptions. Kula (Shaker) are good; I do not aspire to Oasis I think they are very over-rated... Skunk Anansie I rate too. Too many to mention - it's today's mainstream pop I think is so crap.

I loved Traffic; we never ever shared a gig or did we see them live. Saw The Spencer Davis Group a few times, though. Winwood was/is a favourite of mine.

I think this will have to do for now; I have not included amplification - did not think you would be put out by that. For now, Mike (Milauskas), I will say au revoir.

Regards, RON G.

Thanks to everyone for their interest in this interview. And thanks Ron!

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