Remember Eurythmic Dave Stewart's lovely green Gretsch all over last month's issue? "It was the original guitar on 'Jailhouse Rock'," Dave told us, adding that it belonged originally to Elvis' guitarist, Scotty Moore. Not so, retorts reader Steve Bloomfield of Staines.

"'Jailhouse Rock' was recorded 1957/58 and the Gretsch Country Club that Dave Stewart has wasn't even made until 1963/64," asserts Mr Bloomfield. He's sure of this date because the damper fitted to the guitar was an innovation for Gretsch in 1963. But there's worse to come. "On top of all this, Scotty Moore only ever used Gibsons! ES 295s and L5s throughout the Fifties, 335s and Super 400s through the Sixties. Still, that's what you get for buying from a friend — some friend!"

We need a second opinion, we decided. Tony Batey at Vintage & Rare Guitars in London's Earls Court had seen our interview, and had also concluded that the Gretsch could not have been Scotty's, for similar Scotty-only-uses-Gibson reasons.

With due respect to Mr Bloomfield, Tony pointed out that Gretsch did fit dampers to guitars in the 1950s and it was just possible that the guitar was a 1950s custom order. However, the Filtertron pickups certainly meant that it was a post-1959 guitar — so the "Jailhouse Rock" theory was clearly out the window.

V&R did have a nice Cadillac Green Country Club in stock when we spoke, by the way, and it could have been yours for a mere £995. And that one was definitely made in 1955/56. You can tell by the De Armond pickups, amongst other things...

Those of a nervous disposition, read no further. It's the Yamaha DX1 service manual, you see. We always pick it up for a quick read when we're feeling idle — refreshes the parts other manuals gloss over. One of the most exciting bits is the parts list — reams of it. So we're leafing through Main Wiring: past the LB602450 Receptacle Housing, past the BB004430 Contact, and then... there's the EM331120. What's it called, did you say? Er, well it says here (puts on reading glasses): "Oval cunt head Tapping." We don't know what they really meant, either. But whatever it is, it's black, and you need 12 of them. Thank goodness we can't afford a DX1...

Is there any truth in the rumour that Jo Callis, co-author of Feargal Sharkey's "Loving You", has only been tenuously connected with the recording of H. League's new LP, and is soon to be even less connected to the group?...

Speaking of Feargal as we were. Last month's OTT hero (the man who thought his guitar played on "Jailhouse Rock"), Dave Stewart has just finished producing Mr Sharkey's LP, due out 7.10.85...

Arif Mardin has been trying to turn Boy George into Aretha Franklin in Montreux; obviously it's not going too well, as records aren't expected till Christmas...

Elton John has been recording his new album with "talents" as diverse as Nikolas Kershaw (guitar), Sister Sledge (vocals), and G. Michael (writing and singing). Still no Bernie Taupin reunion...

Power Station have sought out the dubious talents of Michael Des Barres for their American tour, following the precipitate departure of Robert Palmer. For those with less elephantine memories than Blabber, Mr Des Barres has previously sung with such luminaries as Detective, Phoenix, Gene Simmons, Silverhead, and himself; such a pedigree...

Dexy's Midnight Runners, once the smelliest group in popular music, are returning next month with a new image — having plundered soul and folk. Alma Cogan and Tony Bennett seem to be the source material behind the new/old-look shabby suits and centre-partings.

Anyone remember the Steely Dan story, that one about someone sending tapes of their first LP to their A&R department at MCA? Who rejected them? After a period of lengthy and intense investigation, Blabber has finally succeeded in identifying the individual responsible at MCA: his name is Charlie Eyre. But don't think about repeating the trick, as Charlie now works for Phonogram. (Try it with Def Leppard instead.)

The telephone rings upstairs at Polydor: it's the doorman. "I've got a man down here says he's got an appointment — can you see if you've got a Mr Ellis down in the book, a Mr Frank Ellis?" There is no appointment for any Mr Frank Ellis, and so a rich and talented Greek synthesist is turned away from the doors of his own record company.