Background to the Supersound Story
Supersound Short Scale
Standard from 1958
To begin: I first became interested in Supersound because of the Company’s connections with Burns Guitars. The Supersound “Ike Isaacs Short-Scale Model” was arguably the first ever commercially-available electric guitar to be manufactured in the UK.
But there was a problem; for Google as I might, I found staggeringly little on the net about Supersound. Actually, “staggeringly little” is an exaggeration; there was precisely nothing!
Then, in early 2006, I was contacted by collector Roland Berry who had paid a visit to my “Burns Guitars Since 1992” website. It turned out Roland had some fascinating Supersound memorabilia, and a very interesting story to tell. (Roland, by the way, can be contacted at roland@BattledownBrewery.com, and will be more than happy to answer questions and enter into dialogues on Supersound.)
To cut a long story short, following my meeting Roland, I managed to trace Clifford Wootton, the eldest son of Supersound founder Alan Wootton. Cliff has been kind enough to divert from his busy schedule to collect together photos, memorabilia and memories of Supersound. Most importantly, in this digital age, Cliff has worked with his brother Den and his mother Mary Wootton to make available
The Story of Supersound (1952 - 1974)
Supersound Single Cutaway
Bass from 1958
Mary originally wrote this piece many years ago as a record for her sons, and in memory of their father. I’m delighted, and very grateful, that she has decided to allow its publication for the first time ever on this website.
As we shall see, Supersound was not (contrary to my former understanding!) simply a guitar manufacturer. In fact, at any one time, guitars formed only a relatively small part of its business. There will certainly be collectors who’ve arrived at this site because of their interest in the Supersound guitars; but I suspect more will be here on account of the Company’s ciné innovations; or their amplifiers and PAs. But I won’t spoil what’s to come…
I’ve tried to make this site as comprehensive as possible on the whole range of Supersound Electronic Products. However, I know there are going to be things that collectors want and need that simply aren’t here. If anyone can help with dates (I can give some, but not enough!), serial numbers, model numbers etc., indeed anything that will help make this site bigger, better and more complete, please e-mail me.
Any thoughts or recollections, however small, will be welcome.
Once again, I’d like to say a big “thank you” to Roland Berry, Cliff and Den Wootton, and especially Mary Wootton for their time and generosity in making this information available. Without you, this website would not have been possible.
Finally, the biggest thanks of all must go to the late Alan Wootton.
Without Alan’s innovative genius, Supersound itself would not have existed. It’s only a small tribute, but with best wishes to Alan Wootton’s family, I’d like to dedicate this site to his memory.
Trevor Midgley
December 2006
"Another Supersound Product"
“I made my first practical contribution by suggesting that, instead of just putting the words “A Supersound Product”, why not put “Another Supersound Product”. Alan thought that was a marvellous idea
and we kept that throughout our business life.”
Mary Wootton