Williamstown musician Laurie Arthur, who founded two famous Australian bands in the 1960s and 1970s, has created “the world’s best guitar amplifier”. 68209 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By Alesha Capone
AFTER four decades, a Williamstown musician and inventor has hit the right note with his creation of “the world’s best guitar amplifier”.
Laurie Arthur founded The Strangers and The Mixtures during the 1960s and 1970s, two famous Australian bands.
The Strangers toured with Roy Orbison and The Beach Boys, while The Mixtures had two number one singles, including ‘The Pushbike Song’ which also went to number two in the United Kingdom.
Mr Arthur spent his childhood watching his father – also a musician and inventor – putting together different creations.
As a youngster, Mr Arthur even built his first “valve guitar amp” and guitar, then joined a band instead of attending university.
After moving to America, Mr Arthur continued working on his dream amplifier and took it to a “jam session” with another guitarist.
“That night the other guitar player said, ‘What’s that amp? I’ve never heard anything like that before, do you want to sell it?’ and I said no,” Mr Arthur said.
This happened at another two jam sessions and after returning to Australia, he began building amplifiers in earnest and performing live music every night.
“As a teenager I said, ‘One day I’m going to build the perfect amp’,” he said.
“It’s taken me 40 years and 40 years of research.”
Mr Arthur said his amplifier could be the best ever created as it has “the longest sustain you’ve ever heard”, which translates to how long a note lasts.
“I’ve done about 20 different versions of it until I came up with the best amp I’ve ever been able to play through, and I’ve played through a lot,” he said.
“There’s a hell of a lot of guitar players who have been searching for the perfect amp all their lives and I’m going to be able to provide it to them. They’re going to fall in love with it.”
Later this year, he will travel to China to oversee production of his ‘Arthur Amp’, before stores start stocking them.
Mr Arthur, who also teaches guitar in Williamstown, said he enjoyed sharing his musical knowledge with students.
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