Gallotone ‘Wonder’ c.1953-1958
I have restored one of these 3/4 size archtop acoustic guitars. The Gallotone Wonder was made famous by a young Jimmy Page and the lesser Gallotone Champion made famous by John Lennon.
Gallotone are a South African guitar manufacturer becoming popular in the 1950s due to a Board of Trade ban on the import of American goods into the UK, and even when it was lifted the duties were heavy making Gibson and Fender guitars too expensive for aspiring guitarists. In contrast, guitars made in the Commonwealth and Europe were still affordable.
These South African built guitars are perfect for blues and picking and easily have the same qualities as Harmony built Stellas or Kays etc. Their small size makes them easy and very comfortable to play and they are deceptively loud. When picked close to the bridge they have a sound to them not unlike a ‘resonator’ guitar. The ‘Wonder’ model came in two finishes: the Brick Red / Yellow Sunburst version and Auburn burst type.
The ‘Wonder’ was the next model up from the ‘Champion’ in the Gallotone catalogue. These ladder braced period models are now becoming increasingly sought after by many serious collectors.
The African hardwood fretboards are sycamore or maple with pearloid fret markers. The intonation is set with the floating bridge. The headstock has the Gallo ‘Cockerel’ guarantee decal and ‘Wonder’ painted in white.