Rick Clymer visited with Ed Rider, a former Southland Music Sales Rep and during the visit asked him a few questions. Below is a copy of the email Rick sent to the CGW Webmaster.
Hey John, I visited with Ed Rider today, and really enjoyed it. He was very impressed with the site, and is dying to get his hands on a Southland Musical catalog. I scanned about 20 pages to disk and gave him a CD with all my collective info. Now about the questions you wanted me to ask.
1 - Can you get a manufacturing date from Cortley serial numbers?
"I don't think so. They were made in different plants at times and didn't seem to follow a set pattern. You may be able to research Cortez and Cort serial numbers, since they were made in the same plants, and find a relationship there."
2 - When were the first Cortley guitars made?
"Somewhere around 1973 or 1974. They quit making them when Southland neared their demise, in the early 1980's, possibly 1983 or 1984."
I asked Ed if the dates on the US Patent and Trademark website were close and he said they were in fact correct. Southland had been in business for years before they started the Cortley and Kent line of guitars.
3 - Was Cortley made in the same factories as Cortez?
"Yes. They were for the most part, but at times, depending on who could handle the work order, they may have been made in other plants. Daion and Terada for example."
4 - When and how did Southland come up with the name Cortley?
"As far as I know it was just a name they came up with. Possibly to conform to the Cort, Cortez line. But as far as I know, it was not named for anyone."
5 - Did Southland ask permission to copy the Gallagher G30 or any of the others?
"No, they just made guitars. All the factories those days in Japan were making copy guitars."
Posted by cortleyguitars
at 9:42 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 16 December 2009 9:46 PM EST
