Bo Diddley's 1955 guitar?
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 1:58 pm
What is this guitar Bo played on Ed Sullivan in 1955? A Gretsch?
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Posted: 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.
Posted: 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.
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.
Posted: 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.
Look atthis crazy thing. I like the shape but the headstock is just pure shit.
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 12:10 am
Woah! Those lasts mentioned look at interestingly.
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:21 am
bo diddley fucking rules.
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:36 am
+1gaybear wrote:Woah! Those lasts mentioned look at interestingly.
I go with here Gabriel on this point agreed
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 4:24 am
same even headstock, shape mind I don't much so.
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:04 am
ah ha hah
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:41 am
Wow, I never really listened to Bo Diddley before, fucking ace.
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:43 am
Check him out with this back up guitarist
[youtube][/youtube]
[youtube][/youtube]
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:03 am
Might be able to find it based on the odd shaped pickguard.
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:06 am
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.).DGNR8 wrote:
Look atthis crazy thing. I like the shape but the headstock is just pure shit.
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:14 pm
Aye, well said. Massively under-rated was Bo.Sloan wrote:bo diddley fucking rules.
Posted: 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."
"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."
Posted: 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.
Posted: 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.
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:06 am
Viljami wrote:I think that's the Copacabana guitar, designed by Eero Saarinen, the grand old man of Finnish design (ST. LOUIS ARCH, etc).DGNR8 wrote:Look at this crazy thing. I like the shape but the headstock is just pure shit.
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:41 pm
U IZ WRONG, D00D.
TEH BUBBEL.
TEH BALL.
(SAARINEN RLZ, TOO. DID HE DO TEH KOOL AIRPORT?)
TEH BUBBEL.
TEH BALL.
(SAARINEN RLZ, TOO. DID HE DO TEH KOOL AIRPORT?)
Posted: 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."
"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."