A Few Guitars

  Top Row: (please ignore the couch.)
Early 90's Fender Japanese 1969 Telecaster Thin-line reissue.
   This is my utility guitar. I play this guitar in solo settings as well as in bands doing everything from Country to Jazz standards. I have never owned a guitar that was more versatile than this.

1920's Banjo-Mandolin/Banjolin (See below.)

1993 National Resophonic Style "O" serial #163 (See below.)

Late 50's (?) Kay This is a very cool looking guitar. It kinda sounds like Butt though. If you have any info on this guitar please email me.

1920's Oscar Schmidt made First Hawaiian Conservatory of Music This was my first initiation into the wonderful world of Schmidt era parlor size guitars. It is loud and sounds just like an old 78rpm recording. All birch body.

Bottom Row:
19?? No Name Archtop This is definitely made by one of the Chicago companies. Most likely a Harmony. I would guess from the 60's. I have recently converted this over to a Mandocello!

1954 Gibson Southern Jumbo This is the acoustic guitar that I played on "Blow Whistle Blow". This is a wonderful sounding guitar. It has been abused by a previous owner...They refinished it! So, it's not worth a billion dollars but it's still a great player.

1950's Kay k-20(?) This guitar is currently set up as my lap guitar. When I got it, it  needed a neck re-set pretty bad. I strung it up with a high nut and have kept it that way. This guitar has a nice tone to it and someday I may re-set the neck.

1930's Sovereign
Made by Oscar Schmidt


   This is my newest love. All Hawaiian Koa wood, real pearl inlays, mustache bridge, Pearl dot endpins, 12 frets to the body, 24 3/4" scale length. This guitar is very rare. I contacted Neil Harpe of www.stellaguitars.com and he said  "...only one even remotely like it that I've ever seen!"
It is currently being repaired and should be as good as new.
   Thanks to Neil Harpe for his wealth of information. Visit his sight to see some more of these great old guitars www.stellaguitars.com.

This guitar was given to me by my good friend John Williams. Thanks Johnny!

Hawaiian Koa Ukulele


   I believe this to be a Paul F. Summers Ukulele from the 20's-30's. If anyone has any information on this uke please contact me. This is one of the many instruments I am trying to teach myself how to play. I would love to get one of those National resonator Ukes one day.

1920's Banjo-Mandolin

   Here is an underrated instrument. A banjo-mandolin / Mando-banjo / Manjo / or more commonly (and wrongly) called a banjolin. These little things popped up in the 20's when everyone was looking for more volume from their instruments. They quickly passed out of favor and went the way of the Mandolin Orchestras of the same period.
   My Father purchased this instrument for me about 10 years ago. Like most banjo-mando's it was in desperate need of a proper set up. So, it remained unplayable and hanging on my living room wall. Until… In February of 2003 I was asked to play with the Embassy Hotel Orchestra. This was a novelty group that featured Ann Arbor based musicians playing various instruments including the Banjo-Uke, the Tenor guitar, tenor banjo and me on banjolin. I pulled this instrument off the wall called a banjo player friend of mine who helped me set it up and have been obsessed with it ever since.
   Here's a short list of musicians that were known to have played and recorded using the Banjo-Mandolin:

Vol Stevens of the Memphis Jug Band
Charlie McCoy
Three Stripped Gears (recorded 4 tunes in 1931)
Scottdale Stringband (recorded a bunch in the late 20's).

1993 National Resophonic Style "O"   


What can I say about this guitar? It has defined me musically. Every National has a story behind it. When I actually write down the story of how I acquired this instrument I will post it here.

   More pics and stories are coming. Featuring my vintage 1920's Ludwig drum Kit, Various percussion instruments including my one man band set up, homemade instruments, my new home studio, vintage hi-fi, my 78rpm record collection and other nerdy stuff that only I care about.