Bo Diddley's 1955 guitar?

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 1:58 pm

What is this guitar Bo played on Ed Sullivan in 1955? A Gretsch?

[youtube][/youtube]

toez10 · Post by **toez10** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:47 pm

it's kind of difficult to tell, but it looks like a hofner to me. You can almost make out a script logo on the headstock similar to the one that hofner uses.

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:29 pm

It looks small and short-scale to me, so probably a student model. That could be a Gretsch headstock, but information on their early 50s models is nowhere.

However, the pickup looks to be one of those P13s speed-bumps made by Gibson and used mostly on Harmonies and Kays. So my guess would be it's some sort of catalog guitar.

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:29 pm

He did like Gretsches though. And plaid!

Look atthis crazy thing. I like the shape but the headstock is just pure shit.

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 12:10 am

Woah! Those lasts mentioned look at interestingly.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:21 am

bo diddley fucking rules.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:36 am

gaybear wrote:Woah! Those lasts mentioned look at interestingly.

+1

I go with here Gabriel on this point agreed

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 4:24 am

same even headstock, shape mind I don't much so.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:04 am

ah ha hah

pumpkin · Post by **pumpkin** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:41 am

Wow, I never really listened to Bo Diddley before, fucking ace.

pumpkin · Post by **pumpkin** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:43 am

Check him out with this back up guitarist

[youtube][/youtube]

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:03 am

Might be able to find it based on the odd shaped pickguard.

Viljami · Post by **Viljami** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:06 am

DGNR8 wrote:
Look atthis crazy thing. I like the shape but the headstock is just pure shit.

I think that's the Copacabana guitar, designed by Eero Aarnio, the grand old man of Finnish design (BUBBLE -CHAIR, ya know, 60's etc.).

sonicboom · Post by **sonicboom** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:14 pm

Sloan wrote:bo diddley fucking rules.

Aye, well said. Massively under-rated was Bo.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:31 pm

I posted this question on another forum and got this answer:

"It is a guitar from the United Code factory in NYC, branded either Stewart or Orpheum. United Code made a few archtop models without f-holes for those brands, and this early single-coil pickup may have been made by Franz (same company that made '50s Guild pickups). Despite its black dog-ear cover, it is not a Gibson P-90; up close, you'd notice that it's smaller and the poles are off-center.

United Code is most famous for making Premier guitars during this era. None of their guitars are particularly common."

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:38 pm

stewart and orpheum were banjo companies way back in the day. i know they devolved into names branded on cheapo guitars, but i would not have been able to spot that guitar as one. some people's knowledge of obscure guitars is impressive.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:17 am

I think he is right,here is a Stewart/Premier semi hollow body with no F-holes and a Franz made pickup.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:06 am

Viljami wrote:
DGNR8 wrote:Look at this crazy thing. I like the shape but the headstock is just pure shit.

► Show Spoiler
I think that's the Copacabana guitar, designed by Eero Saarinen, the grand old man of Finnish design (ST. LOUIS ARCH, etc).

Viljami · Post by **Viljami** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:41 pm

U IZ WRONG, D00D.

TEH BUBBEL.

TEH BALL.

(SAARINEN RLZ, TOO. DID HE DO TEH KOOL AIRPORT?)

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:56 pm

Here is the 2 pick-up version of Bo's guitar on Ebay (Link)

"This is a cool vintage guitar made in he USA in the late 50's or early 60's. This one is missing the logo but I have seen these with both the Premier and Stewart brand names. I think this one is a Stewart."