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 Tomkins Custom Guitars, Basses, Lap-Steels & Mandolins
NEWS & recent Tomkins sightings:
You can't have your cake and pick it too...
A cake modelled after his Tomkins Guitar!
With thanks to The title track off the new Doug Bruce album 'Made That Way', released November 2012. For more information go to www.dougbruce.com.au. Featuring Allan Tomkins, of Tomkins Customs Guitars, at work.
Thursday 8th November 2012 was our annual Sydney 'TOMKINS GUITARS SHOWCASE' as part of Canterbury Country at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club, starring a multitude of surprising singers and guitar-slingers including Darren Carr, Steve Cheers, Mick Manley, Sharnee Fenwick, Damien Odell, Maryanne Burton, Dwayne Elix & The Engineers, Alby Pool, Michael White, Ross McGregor, Craig Byrne, Amelia Richards, Vic Price, Gary Brown, Jake Lardot, Jack Pledge, Bryen Willems, Ted Simpson, Rusty Cochrane & Doug Bruce. The night was hosted by BOB HOWE and NICKI GILLIS with the Hillbilly Heaven band. Sydney 2012 photos are HERE...  Tomkins Guitar with kangaroo scratchplate One of two models available in Nashville from THE LABEL
 2012: Gary Allan's new Tomkins Guitar...# 19 and counting...! Gary Allan now owns the world's largest collection of Tomkins Guitars!!!
 The September issue of Australia's Country Music Capital News magazine features a two-page spread on picker BOB HOWE and his Tomkins guitar.
USA SHOWCASES - JUNE 2012 ...
I'M NOT DEAD YET is the hilarious untold story of the legendary 'Sheik Of Scrubby Creek'. Narrated by rock musician Tex Perkins, I'M NOT DEAD YET is the 'unplugged' chronicle of 78 year-old, country music legend Chad Morgan and his wife Joanie, as they travel and perform throughout regional and outback australia.
Chad Morgan's extensive body of work reveals a consummate bush storyteller with a politically incorrect twist. He sings about chasing Shelias, fighting drongos, shotgun weddings, getting drunk and copulating double-decker blowflies! For over 50 years, Chad has out-sung, out-drank and outlived his famous contemporaries and has earnd his stripes as an Australian country music 'national treasure'. I'M NOT DEAD YET is a story about laughter, love, music, family and a devilishly charming 'Sheik from Scrubby Creek'.
Watch the trailers and ORDER YOUR COPY HERE...
MOST RECENT SHOWCASE - TAMWORTH 2012
It took this well-publicised video by DALE WATSON to get a decent response and compensation from the airline. Nice guitar Dale and that sounds like Allan Tomkins himself on the bass!  The hand-carved leather pickguard of Chad's guitar has the slogan 'The Sheik'...a reference to his stage nickname, 'The Sheik of Scrubby Creek'. He is pictured with singer-songwriter Tex Perkins, who narrates the film. USA SHOWCASE - JUNE 2011 - PHOTOS & VIDEO are HERE
 Pictured above: Allan Tomkins with DALE WATSON and his Lone Stars at the Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Sydney, April 2011.  Dale Watson's 2011 Tomkins Guitar For more detailed photos, CLICK HERE
The Battle of the Country Bands was held at West Tamworth League Club during the Country Music festival. A Tomkins guitar valued at $3,000 was presented to Mick Atholwood who was judged as the best lead guitarist in the competition for the second year running.
Pictured left: 2011 TAMWORTH SHOWCASE - JAN 2011 - PHOTOS are HERE
West Tamworth League Club, Blazes Showroom, 8.30pm-11.30pm Compered by Bob Howe. Special & surprise guests appearing (not in this order): Travis List, Craig Morrison, Penelope Somerville, Allan Caswell, Doug Bruce & Band, Mark D'Rozario, Christie Lamb, Lee Forster, Brad Rose, Jason Lee, Gary Brown, Mark Kotynia, Chuck Vandenbelt, Duncan Toombs, Dan Murphy, Shea Fisher, Chad Morgan + surprise guests The backing band: Drums: Terry Phillpot, Peter Figures, Pedal Steel: Warren Neilsen, Lap Steel: Gary Brown, Fiddle: Penelope Somerville, Bass: Allan Tomkins, Rusty Cochrane, Mark Kotynia, Guitar: Bob Howe, Duncan Toombs, Chuck Vandenbelt, Brad Rose
SYDNEY SHOWCASE - NOV 2010 - PHOTOS are HERE
 June 2010: Gary Allan's new Tomkins Guitar...# 17 and counting...! June 2010: Aussies in Nashville!
Full details and PHOTOS are HERE...  April 2010:
A delighted  At the 2010 Tamworth TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE there were two brand new guitars presented for the first time on stage:
Pictured left:
Special and Surprise guests included
LOTS OF PHOTOS...CLICK HERE...
 GARY ALLAN sporting his 2009 Tomkins Custom Guitar 
A customised limited edition Tomkins electric guitar signed
by the acts appearing at CMC Rocks the Snowys 2009, including (pictured) Taylor Swift, Corb Lund, Joe Nichols and Old Crow Medicine Show. This competition has now closed! Visit the CMC site  22nd January 2009: During the Tamworth Tomkins Guitar Showcase in Blazes SHEA FISHER surprised guitar-maker Allan Tomkins on-stage with a custom made belt buckle depicting three Tomkins guitars!
 L to R: Julian Sammut, Paula & Lee Bowman, Ben Cant (obscured), Rusty Cochrane, Simon Ross Pictured above, also in Tamworth: JETTY ROAD previewing their upcoming album Life at a Million Miles at the Tamworth Services Club, January 2009. It will include their latest chart-topping single Good Times - the video clip for which features footage shot on their world tour. As well as Lee and Julian playing their Tomkins guitars, watch the video to spot the row of Tomkins Guitars on display during their Nashville Showcase appearances!
 13 Sept 2008: Congratulations to DREW McALISTER who not only won the 2008 Cooper's Golden Saddle Award, presented at the The Galston Country Music Festival, but also the inaugural Tomkins Guitars Golden Saddle Performance Award, presented by Allan Tomkins.
With the new Performance Award, Drew takes possession of the
beautiful custom designed perpetual trophy - a black Tomkins Guitar with
the Golden Saddle logo in gold leaf on the front - for 12 months.
NASHVILLE SHOWCASES - JUNE 2008 - PHOTOS HERE
HORSESHOE BEND ROUNDUP, HEXHAM SHOWCASE - DEC 2007 - PHOTOS HERE SYDNEY SHOWCASE - NOV 2007 - PHOTOS HERE
USA SHOWCASE PHOTOS
The previous TOMKINS GUITARS AUSTRALIAN SHOWCASE was a huge success at the Sheraton Downtown Hotel, 623 Union Street, Nashville TN from June 4 to June 10 inclusive, from 4.00pm to 8.00pm each day. If you missed it, look out for their return in 2008!  Carol Sturzel, Beccy Cole, Allan Tomkins at the Sheraton Downtown Hotel   (left) Allan Tomkins, Jody Maphis, (right) Travis Collins  Beccy Cole, Allan Tomkins
Listen HERE to DALE WATSON talk about his Tomkins guitar with Johnno on ABC Radio's Saturday Night Country...
Sydney TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE 9th November 2006 - Photos and video...
 Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton with Allan Tomkins at Vindaloo Studios 2006
 Dale Watson hamming it up with Allan at Blanco's Bar & Grill - Houston, Texas 2006
the Tomkins Guitars of Adam Harvey, Gary Allan and Beccy Cole! (Photo by Terry Phillpot - Eyeball Photographic Services) Sydney TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE October 13th 2005 - Photos...
 Rose Lee Maphis and Emmylou Harris admiring a Tomkins Diamondtina Chambered Piezzo model guitar! 2005 TAMWORTH PHOTOS NOW ON-LINE... January 15th: Congratulations to JEDD HUGHES for winning the Golden Guitar for New Talent of the Year at the 33rd Toyota Golden Guitar Awards with his song High Lonesome ... Special Feature: CLICK HERE to view a photo slideshow of Joe Travers' guitar being built, stage by stage!
Pre-2005 News CLICK HERE...
Allison Music
Music Centre Gosford
Charlie Turner
Phone: (02) 9808-3313
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The CHAD MORGAN road movie I'm Not Dead Yet is out now on DVD. Tomkins-spotters will note Chad wearing his Tomkins Guitar cap and many sightings of his special edition Tomkins 'The Sheik' guitar!
The TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE was held in
**NEW** 
2005 - TOMKINS PLAYERS ON TOUR IN AUSTRALIA...
