Has anyone kept track of where the guitars of the dearly departed Blues giants have ended up? Leadbelly's Stella Twelve String for example....Storied! Someone must have it...who? Gary Davis' Bozo.. who ended up with that? Big Bill's 000-28? Big Joe William's whatever the hell kind of Harmony that was? John Hurts Guild? Skip James's D-35? Sam Chatman's f-4? (I'm bad with numbered guitars. Is F-4 right?) etc. etc. Maybe they should be collected and put behind glass in a museum somewhere. It would certainly be interesting to know. Mr. O'Muck
« Last Edit: December 13, 2007, 02:12:41 PM by Slack »
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My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)
..The Leadbelly jumbo Stella 12 is still known and is owned by his daughter, if I'm not mistaken ..I think if you google Leadbelly you'll probably find photos of it and I think it's on Harry Lewman's website, too..
Not sure about any others..John Hurt's relative (nephew?) reads these boards, maybe he can chime in on MJH's instruments..
that's about all I know..and I've wondered the same about these instruments, too..
In the August 2002 edition of Acoustic World magazine Steve Cheesborough wrote an article about finding Bo Carter's National Style N single-cone Resonator. Pretty interesting. Good question O' Muck. Glad to see you here at Weenie.
« Last Edit: December 13, 2007, 07:24:51 PM by cheapfeet »
If you're not familiar with W. Campbell, enjoy. As a confirmed prewar blues nut it is my opinion that no other forum on the net even comes close. Mayhap I'm biased! Check out the older posts too, there's lotsa info here. It can get intense at times but that's part of the charm. the crowd here is real sincere & knowledgeable about the good old stuff. O' Muck you should put a link up to your Myspace page in the Performance Corner forum, I'm sure others here will really dig your playing, I know have. Welcome
I remember an eBay auction a couple of years ago where someone was selling Furry Lewis' Gibson (or Epiphone, can't remember) from his rediscovery days. Don't remember who ended up with it, but I don't think it went for a ridiculous sum. Chris
And likewise, someone was selling Buddy Moss' last guitar, which I an't remember what it was. I'm sure some of these guitars are in private collections. I would look to Stefan Grossman, at the Woodshed for info on Gary Davis' gits.
I recently learned on the Yahoo Jugband Group that a blues society in Memphis has Gus Cannon's jug and rack, at least the one he was playing in his rediscovery performances. Apparently it doesn't look exactly like the one in the '20s era photos.
All for now. John C.
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"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." George Bernard Shaw
“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.” Joseph Heller, Catch-22
As of 2002, according to Andy Cohen, Big Bill's 000 was at the Old Town School in Chicago, and John Hurt's Guild was kept at the Denver Folklore Center.
Leadbelly's neice has the Leadbelly Stella Jumbo, not daughter as I mentioned earlier..link above to see her and the guitar..not sure how to clean up the link, but you have to scroll down to Tiny Robinson and click the hyperlink..
I saw a photo of Hans Theessink holding Big Bill's Martin, and in the lyrics to a song he wrote about Big Bill, mentions the guitar : She's in Chicago - old town school of folk music In a closet - 'hind a door Since Big Bill's dead and gone She don't raise her voice no more I felt a strange sensation When I first touched those strings Somehow I still could sense the hands That used to make this guitar ring
« Last Edit: December 14, 2007, 05:58:30 PM by onewent »
Leadbelly's neice has the Leadbelly Stella Jumbo, not daughter as I mentioned earlier..link above to see her and the guitar..not sure how to clean up the link, but you have to scroll down to Tiny Robinson and click the hyperlink..
I read on the internet!That Dereck Trucks had Booker Whites National,and how many of us could have a National that Son House played! He supposedlly(sp?) changed them like underware! If some of these old guiars could only talk,
I read on the internet!That Dereck Trucks had Booker Whites National,and how many of us could have a National that Son House played! He supposedlly(sp?) changed them like underware! If some of these old guiars could only talk,
And just think what some of these guys used undies would be worth
On a more serious note, presumably that's the same Chris Albertson who wrote the Bessie Smith book?
« Last Edit: November 19, 2008, 10:47:56 AM by Richard »