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crumblebum | profile | all galleries >> Guitars and Amplifiers >> 1958 Rex Archtop Guitar tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

1958 Rex Archtop Guitar

This is my very first guitar, a REX Archtop Serial Number 459, bought new by my parents in 1958. The music shop sticker is still on the rear of the headstock. After much gigging in the late '50s and early '60s the guitar was 'retired' for many years before being restored in 1998. The first guitar that Paul McCartney played was also a REX Archtop, Serial Number 450.
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RD 02-Aug-2025 21:23
I have one of these bought in the early 80s for £30 painted all over in black (including where the Rex name had been). I've never known what it was so very pleased to have finally identified it.
The neck broke off about 20 years ago and I might actually get round to fixing it soon and finishing stripping off the paint, now that I'm retired. Mine has the 459 number too so I'm guessing that the McCartney one was that as well but not too legible. Just below is another number 7844 stamped vertically which I presume to be the serial number.
Daryl 17-May-2013 12:45
I have a red Rex Electric and would love to know some more about it. I picked it up from a lady who had it stored in an old barn. She said she thought it would have been 50 years old at least. I can email picture toanyone who would like a look.
jahkope01-Mar-2011 18:22
as the guy who restored Bill's Rex guitar (see earlier post), it was a bit of work but actually managed to get this one quite playable with a lot of tweeking, I actually liked playing it whilst it was in my care, loads of character, Bill kindly mailed me later with this:

Dear Phil,
I would like to that you for your services in setting up the Rex Archtop Acoustic guitar, you transformed it a lump of box wood into a lovely instrument to play and enjoy. I would recommend your services to anyone. As you were aware the REX is the same as that played by Paul Mcartney (his is numbered 450 ours is numbered 459) when he auditioned to John Lennon to join the Beatles so being an vintage with some historic interest It needed to be trusted to someone who would know how to do what needed to be done to bring it back to life without over doing it, thanks once again and will see you soon.
Kindest Regards
Bill.

Cheers Bill, as you know the shop has closed now but if you get to read this say hello!
Regards to all you Rex owners.
Phil Platthttp://www.guitarmechanic.co.uk
Rick 24-Feb-2011 05:50
I have recently purchased a Rex Archtop. it is not the same as the one in you pictures, although very similar. The headstock has what i belive to be a "bacolite" finish, and it also has square fret marker which look similar to Mother of Pearl. The tuners are individual tuners but their design looks very 50s I cannot find a serial number on it, but the Rex logo is the same as the one in your pictures. I am trying to find more info, but i am unable to, can anyone help?
crumblebum29-Jan-2011 11:25
Hi Indigo
Thanks for your message
Mine too has a broken neck. I learned the hard way not to lean a guitar against an amplifier and walk away. It was about 1960. The neck snapped off because there's no truss rod. My father took the remains to his workplace and refitted the neck. The guitar was refurbished in the mid 90's and a new bridge, tailpiece and nut fitted. I don't have the originals.
As you suggest, they were popular guitars back then and readily available. I distinctly remember that my parents paid 20 guineas for mine, a week's wages for my father in those days.
indigogreen 28-Jan-2011 15:04
Sorry - just noticed the answer to my question is clearly visible in your photos. Thanks!
Indigogreen 28-Jan-2011 15:03
Hi
May I ask which music shop yours was purchased from? I have the same model Rex as yours. It's almost exactly the same except that yours looks like it has an adjustable bridge and an ivory nut, whereas mine has a stained wood nut and a fixed bridge. Mine has "FOREIGN" across the headstock, just below the "REX" crest, in metal-stamped letters about 4mm high. This has often amused me and I guess this means it was a european import. Mine was played to death in the late 50's/early 60s, and there are signs of the neck having been screwed back on. These guitars were cheap and robust. As such they were a staple for young guys with no money, who would sling the axe over their shoulder and come into the west end of london to hang out in coffee bars or bang out woody guthrie songs under the railway arches with whoever else was around. Mine was played casually in that kind of situation by Davey Graham, Long John Baldry and others.
crumblebum07-Mar-2010 10:31
Hi Bill,
That's very interesting - the same serial number. Maybe they're batch numbers or something similar. Is your guitar the same model as mine, archtop body with the sloping headstock? Mine's quite light in weight and it's definitely not a USA model. In 1958 those American imports were very rare and ultra expensive. This one cost my parents 21 guineas, which itself was a lot of money for them to find.
bill 05-Mar-2010 13:01
I also have a rex archtop serial number 459, it has lived in Manchester (30 miles from Liverpool)the centers of the "beat movement" it is in it's original condition except for the bridge which may have been replaced at sometime. It has just been set up and a light referbish proffesionably and now plays very well but a bit on the heavy side. One possible explanation for the same numbers could be that yours was built in the US whereas mine was european. It was valued by a guy in merseyside who knew a lot of the beat groups about at that time at £1200.
Mike Sable 29-Jan-2009 14:12
Hi, I have had a Rex guitar like te one illustrated since 1958. It was my first guitar.
Does anyone have any information on where they were made and by whom?
Mine is currently in 2 pieces and I plan to have it restored. Otherwise it's in very good condition considering it's age.
Pepe 29-May-2008 11:41
For some reason I can´t post pics. Would you e-mail at pepeasalas@hotmail.com and I´ll send the to you?
I´ve just cleaned and adjusted my REX and it sounds great. By the way there´s another one for sale in eBay Germany.
Later,
Pepe
crumblebum28-May-2008 10:14
Hi Pepe
Could you check the link to your picture again - I can't get it to work.
Pepe 23-May-2008 08:49
I´ve just bought a Rex guitar from a gentleman who got it in UK. Mine is pretty well done and sounds good too.
/Users/654437220/Desktop/REX GUITAR/7a1c_3.JPG
crumblebum12-Apr-2008 14:38
Here's a link to Macca's Rex Archtop. I don't actually agree with their description of it's playability. It's not that bad!

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1817763,00.html
Tim Fergusson 08-Apr-2008 00:01
I have a REX Royal Archtop acoustic. I am looking for more info on this guitar. I purchased it at a yard sale for $20 USD in 1982! It originally was black with possibly a sunburst look on it. It was so scratched up that I had a friend strip it, stain and put a satin finish on it.....I would like to have it again refinished because i really like the idea of what It could look like again......I have the original pickguard and bracket ...somewhere! THe fuitar has an off white binding around the top edge, ebony fretboard (?), square headstock and the name is painted on the headstock as: REX (across the top of the headstock. And ROYAL: down the headstock (in line with the fretboard). My son and I would like to restore it. The fretboard is well worn by the original owner/s obviously playing C, G, D and A chords ALOT.....but suprisingly it still plays very well....any info would help us understand what we have ......also the neck is not rounded it is more like a v-neck type!!! Thanks,
Tim in Upstate NY
The Different Strummer 05-Apr-2008 21:26
Hmm. I have a Rex solidbody LP that I tentatively id'd as c. 1959 and from Italy (bought in US). The latter was probably an educated guess. Guess who used the Rex brand in the US? Gretsch. This guitar is 100% not Harmony. Nothing US about it. Cutaway says Euro. Bent top says Euro. F-hole placement says Euro. Doesn't look Framus. Czech v. Italo: if my Rex is Euro, I doubt Gretsch would have sourced from Czech during Cold War. Points to Italy. Of course, there may be no relation between my sb and this guitar. Very curious...
crumblebum18-Sep-2007 14:32
Thanks Mark,
I've taken a look at that link and it's very interesting and helpful. However, mine is not US built because the UK import restrictions in 1958 were very severe and priced US guitars out of our market. This one is definitely a European one.
Mark 17-Sep-2007 09:53
FYI - this was most likely made by Harmony in the US. Google Rex and Harmony together and you will find a Harmony database which has photos of very similar guitars.
crumblebum28-Jul-2007 10:14
Hi Steve,
I have always believed that these were imported from Czechoslovakia but more recently a friend suggested they are made in Germany, possibly by Framus under the Rex trade name.
Steve 14-Jul-2007 22:11
I have a Rex flat top at my shop and can find no info on it. Any idea'a on where to look?
Guest 18-Sep-2006 13:28
so does that mean you are 9 points ahead of McCartney?where were these things made?
Guest 16-Nov-2005 18:14
That is one hansom guitar id love to have a bash on that
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