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  • Old Gallotone acoustic with the Voortrekker Monument on it.

It seems like whenever I post it is because I need information or help with something, this is no different, sorry about that ?

So I bought this old Gallotone acoustic guitar out of the Junk Mail. I found it interesting and weird so I couldn't resist. The build quality isn't great and was probably manufactured either as a commemorative decoration or a beginners piece. It's not super playable because the action is pretty high, the neck has lifted up a bit over the years (not bent, just lifted if you know what I mean) and this makes the action pretty high.

So I took it to my guitar guy and he said that in order to try and make it properly playable again he might have to seriously restore it, which could mean that if it is actually rare or sought after it would reduce the value. Although i can see some work has been done to it over the years (it doesn't have the original tuning pegs and there are some glue marks where a loose fretboard or something was fixed at some point) I still felt that I should try and find out a bit more about the guitar before I continue.

So I couldn't find out too much about gallotone on wikipedia or other websites but granted, I didn't spend hours looking up info. I thought that since It's a locally manufactured piece that someone on the forum might be able to tell me more. Since it has the Voortrekker monument painted on it it would be interesting to know whether it's a one off, was it mass produced, what kind of date are we looking at etc.

It has a maker's mark on the back of the headstock it's a roman numeral V stamped into the wood.

On the front it reads: Voortrekker - 1949 - Monument

The sticker on the inside of the guitar reads:

Made in South Africa
Guaranteed not to split
Gewaarborg om nie te bars nie
in Suid-Afrika vervaardig deur
Gallo
Industries.
6253 s







    This is good stuff. I would hang it on my wall and make up stories about it ?

    My father had a similar guitar in the 60's, also Gallotone but with a different mural on it. Have no clue what happened to it.
      I've seen a few of the Gallotones through the years, all were cheap and nastys and most didn't age well. More than a few had various decals on (cowboys around a campfire, etc. ?).

      IMO not worth spending the time and money in fixing up other than slapping on a new set of strings and maybe a cheap set of tuners.
        Well, I want to get it fixed up and playable, it's one thing to have a guitar hanging from your wall and another thing being able to grab it and play it every now and again.

        I just wanted to make sure that I don't mess around with a guitar that could have some value to someone in it's current state. Judging by what you said I could give it to the luthier and he could basically tear it apart to get it nice and playable again. I know it's not a good guitar but still, I'd like to be able to play it, just because I own other better guitars doesn't mean i'm only gonna play on them, I like to have one arms length away at all times.
          Alan Ratcliffe wrote: More than a few had various decals on (cowboys around a campfire, etc. ?).


          I had one of those!!!
            I remember seeing the ad for this one. Cool purchase. If you'd like to get it playable and it's possible to do that, go for it!
              UncleGoatLips wrote: It seems like whenever I post it is because I need information or help with something, this is no different, sorry about that ?

              So I bought this old Gallotone acoustic guitar out of the Junk Mail. I found it interesting and weird so I couldn't resist. The build quality isn't great and was probably manufactured either as a commemorative decoration or a beginners piece. It's not super playable because the action is pretty high, the neck has lifted up a bit over the years (not bent, just lifted if you know what I mean) and this makes the action pretty high.
              Which says "neck reset" to me. And then you'll probably find it's been assembled with something nasty that won't allow the tech to use steam to get the neck out of the block.... not worth it for a Gallotone (unless the guitar has some significant personal value to you)
              Guaranteed not to split
              Which says "ply wood".

              Not worth spending a lot of money on.
                This is a piece of SA history...... Africana if you like. However I doubt whether these were actually made in SA from start to finish ? But be as it may, these guitars were actually plentiful in the country (platteland) general stores and every second farmworker in those days had one. I remember they were not very playable, especially from A downwards to high E (like most other cheapies of the time).
                I would keep it as is and dispaly it as a rarity ('cause that's what it is..... especially with the "painted" monument.The Monument was inaugurated on 16 December 1949 by the then-prime minister DF Malan). I'm almost sure that someone who collects these "Voortrekker artifacts" such as bowls, jugs, spoons and cups, would pay a substantial amount for the guitar as is.
                  I'm grateful for this thread, as I have finally managed to identify my late father's guitar.

                  I started restoring it in my spare time around 2 months ago now. The idea is to get it looking better than the day it was bought. As for play-ability, who cares as it will be going into a display case, yet to be built, and going onto the wall.
                    5 days later
                    John Lennons first guitar was a Gallotone, I remember reading how he commented that it was 'guarantee'd not to split' ?
                      6 years later

                      It is possible that this guitar was made by Bellini in Pinetown Durban, it looks remarkably like the Bellini I have. Gallo made all sorts of products in those days. Compared to most modern designs, these guitars have a fat dumpy neck and would not satisfy a gifted player. Bellini guitars were also not top quality, the first one I had, the neck had bent and fret board had warped badly amongst other things. This one was given away as for me there was just too much work to make it good again. The second one has had minor work done on it to tidy it up, is very playable for the type of guitar that it is and actually has a very nice sound. I must thank Keith Austin in Durban who did this instrument up and gave it to me as a present. As for the Gallo guitar, if you like it and want to keep it for what it is and not for its value if any, then have it repaired so that it is playable and enjoy it. I have long passed the stage of caring what makers name is on my guitar, if it plays well and I like it, then that is the instrument for me. Some of the early Japanese guitars are actually well made and still play fine after nearly 50 years.

                      Well, interesting piece of history for sure, well worth not using as firewood. Compare the body to my first guitar, and I begin to wonder...

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