Archive for the ‘Recent News’ Category

Bigsby groupAnyone who knows the story of Paul A. Bigsby, understands the massive impact he had on the development of the solidbody electric guitar.  His own hand-made instruments were as much works of art as they were engineering achievements, as well as the genesis for what was about to happen in the music industry in the early 1950s.  Ironically,  Bigsby may well be most recognized in modern times as the inventor of a wonderful guitar accessory known as “The True Vibrato”.  I’m currently satisfying my obsession with these devices through deep research.  We’ll see what comes of that…!

labels: Recent News

Ball's Manual book coverAfter a long wait, we finally have confirmation that the new book, Ball’s Manual of Gretsch Guitars – 1950s will be released at the end of July. Thanks to everyone who helped make this project a reality! Now I can start working on the 1960s version…!

Released in 2014 by Schiffer Publishing, this effort is more of a technical resource featuring the most accurate explanation of the several Gretsch serial numbering schemes, the common features found on Gretsch guitars, and an overview of each of the models offered for sale during the decade of the 1950s.  Most significantly, there is a table I’ve created identifying each year’s factory production, batch-by-batch, in chronological order based on serial numbers.  This information resides nowhere else, and will help to clarify nagging issues within the Gretsch enthusiast community relating to model year attribtion for each batch.

labels: Recent News

The February, 2014 issue of Vintage Guitar magazine has my article on some amazing prototypical Country Gentleman specimens.  This article features two known examples, but served to flush out yet another from a reader… and it turns out to be the earliest of the bunch!

labels: Recent News

Vintage Guitar Magazine Article

Thursday, August 1, 2013

firstpost_imgKeep an eye out for my article in the October issue of Vintage Guitar magazine, featuring the recently discovered 1954 prototypical Chet Atkins 6120. This guitar is one of only three such prototypes known to exist from the infamous #137xx batch, and it provides a glimpse into the origins of this iconic guitar model. The October issue will hit the newsstands in mid-August.

labels: Recent News