Guitar Journal: JHS Closing, John Lennon Amp, & Fernandes Bankrupt
Has one of John Lennon's Fender amps just sold for only £3k?
3,3 / 5,0 | 
Guitar Journal: JHS Closing, John Lennon Amp, & Fernandes Bankrupt · Source: Jef Stone
This week, we look at the story of the man who may have purchased John Lennon’s Fender Deluxe amplifier. Plus, reports this week show that Fernandes Guitars has filed for bankruptcy again, and John Hornby Skewes & Co. is closing down.
Guitar Journal
John Lennon’s Fender Deluxe?
First up, this news is very interesting, and if it all turns out to be legit, then someone has just found a super rare piece of Beatle history.
An English guitarist, James Taylor, 45, of Brighton, England, has “unwittingly bought John Lennon’s old Fender Deluxe guitar amp for less than £3000, after the historic combo ended up on Facebook Marketplace.”
Taylor, a father of two who works in the Hi-Fi industry, found a “mid-’60s blackface Fender Deluxe combo for a not-too-shabby price” while browsing listings. The seller, believed to be the amp’s second owner after Lennon, hinted at its famous past during the transaction, but Taylor “didn’t pay it much mind until after the sale.”
Iconic Beatles’ Amp
According to the Manchester Evening News, Taylor suspects the amp he purchased is the very one used during those iconic sessions.
The amplifier’s journey to Taylor’s hands is quite a tale. “As the story goes, Lennon later gifted the combo to guitarist Rod Lynton as a thank you for playing acoustic guitar on his 1971 solo album, Imagine.” Lynton, who provided a letter of authenticity, is thought to have then sold it to the person from whom Taylor bought it.
Taylor initially brushed off the seller’s comments, stating, “They told me it might have been gifted to someone by John Lennon, but I have heard these stories before.”
White Album Sessions
However, after acquiring the amp, a deep dive into its history led him to a remarkable discovery. “I realised I had something very exciting on my hands,” he says. “I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
Despite its historical significance, Taylor had been using it without caution. “It plays and sounds fantastic,” he noted. “I had used it in my own band practices prior to authentication. I might have been a bit more cautious had I realized the historical importance.
Now facing the reality of owning such a valuable piece of rock history, Taylor admits, “It would be scary for me to have something so valuable in the house.” He concludes, “There are many parts of me that wish I could hold onto it, but it is a risk to keep in a house with toddlers rushing around.”
Looking to the future, Taylor sees a practical benefit from its sale: “I could probably use the money from selling it to get myself a mortgage and get on the property ladder.”
Taylor is currently seeking further assistance to authenticate the amp and confirm his suspicions that it was indeed used during the White Album sessions.
Fernandes Guitars Files for Bankruptcy Again
Fernandes Guitars, the iconic Japanese brand, has once again entered bankruptcy proceedings. This marks their second filing since July 2024, when they initially filed but then withdrew their petition without further announcements.
Now, Nikkei Asia, a Tokyo-based news outlet, has confirmed the company has re-filed for bankruptcy. Court filings reveal Fernandes has accumulated a staggering debt of approximately 730 million yen ($4.9 million). The Tokyo District Court officially granted permission for these proceedings to begin on July 9.
Transferred Trademark
There’s an interesting development in this new filing: a portion of the Fernandes trademark has been transferred to another company prior to these proceedings. While details are scarce right now, this could potentially mean that Fernandes will live on in some capacity.
Fernandes ceased trading when they first filed for bankruptcy last year, and their website remains offline. At the time, they released a statement acknowledging their financial difficulties: “Fernandes Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as ‘Fernandes’) is currently owed a considerable amount of debt to multiple creditors, and unfortunately, it has become impossible to continue business.”
They also addressed their creditors and partners: “Creditors and business partners who have claims or debts against Fernandes will be contacted in writing by the attorney representing them in the bankruptcy proceedings… We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patronage over the years.”
We will update you once more information is officially announced.
JHS to Close After 60 Years Due to Founder’s Mandate
John Hornby Skewes & Co (JHS), a prominent name in the UK music industry, has announced it’s closing down after more than 60 years in business. This JHS is not related to the US pedal brand of the same name.
JHS is well-known for owning guitar brands like Vintage, Encore, and Fret-King. They’ve also been a major UK distributor, bringing in gear from brands such as Danelectro, Godin, Donner, Lava Music, Shubb, and Wilkinson, among many others.
Having worked in guitar stores in the past, you see JHS products all the time, and they distribute a lot of major brands, so it was a surprise to see they are winding down the business. I recently purchased the Vintage V72 Pro Shop model in the image below, and have owned many of their guitars in the past.
Official Statement
In a statement, JHS clarified that the closure isn’t due to the recent financial difficulties plaguing the UK music retail sector. Instead, it stems from unique circumstances following the death of the company’s founder, John Hornby Skewes, in September of last year.
A statement from JHS, shared with Guitar.com, explained the situation: “The JHS business comprises of a property company and a trading company, both majority owned by family trusts set up by the late John H. Skewes. The settlor of those trusts stated that after his death, the Companies should be sold.”
The company attempted to find a buyer to continue the business under new ownership, but “This has thus far not been possible.” As a result, “The trustees, shareholders, and board of John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. have concluded that to achieve the settlor’s mandate, a process of conducting an orderly winding down of John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. will commence with immediate effect.”
Winding Down
JHS emphasised that this is not a liquidation or administration process, stressing that the company is “entirely solvent.”
They anticipate the closure could take up to 12 months. During this period, JHS will continue to trade while gradually downsizing, “disposing of its stock and assets, including its valuable trademarks and other intellectual property,” which will be sold to the highest bidder.
For everyone in the UK, this is huge news and possibly the end of an era.
This might also interest you
2 responses to “Guitar Journal: JHS Closing, John Lennon Amp, & Fernandes Bankrupt”
Omg jhs closing… what click bate
JHS is closing. They have been around for 60 years. Whereas, JHS Pedals are still around, so not ‘click bait’, but factual. Different companies, very different companies, with different names,