Post by snakehips on Oct 22, 2004 11:52:40 GMT
Hi there !
Just wondered if there are any other nutters like me who are crazy about Elmore James ?
I've tinkered for years with guitars and pickups etc to try and get THE "Elmore" guitar tone. And yes, I know ! Elmore's tone is mainly in his fingers etc etc ! BUT !
His 1953-55 guitar tone is by far the best, to me.
Check out the intro, solo and outro to his pop ballad "Goodbye Baby" (around about 1955 recording).
On his Kay acoustic guitar he uses 2 Dearmond pickups. Most pictures of him with this guitar date from around 1957 and beyond.
Key question here - when were these pickups first available ? If only from mid 1950's onwards, what was he using beforehand ?
I've got a guitar coming my way that is very similar (with exactly the same pickup) as a guitar reported to have belonged to Elmore James.
The guitar supposedly belonging to Elmore was handed in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (years ago) wrapped in a feedbag !
I tried to find out about this guitar. The R&R Hall of Fame website and emails were mostly unhelpful. I was told there was a picture of said guitar in the Hall of Fame guidebook. I ordered a copy (3 times, as twice it did not arrive !).
Now having the copy, I can see that the guitar is a National archtop electric guitar (with F-Holes. It has a National badge on the headstock. I've never seen this model before (unless anyone else knows ?)
The guitar is in very poor condition. There is a big pickup on the guitar (but not the same as the Big Bill Broonzy/Memphis Minnie National archtop guitars)
It looks similar BUT different, to ones I've seen on lapsteels.
I can't wait to get the guitar and try it out.
I'll let you all know how I get on (if interested !)
Just wondered if there are any other nutters like me who are crazy about Elmore James ?
I've tinkered for years with guitars and pickups etc to try and get THE "Elmore" guitar tone. And yes, I know ! Elmore's tone is mainly in his fingers etc etc ! BUT !
His 1953-55 guitar tone is by far the best, to me.
Check out the intro, solo and outro to his pop ballad "Goodbye Baby" (around about 1955 recording).
On his Kay acoustic guitar he uses 2 Dearmond pickups. Most pictures of him with this guitar date from around 1957 and beyond.
Key question here - when were these pickups first available ? If only from mid 1950's onwards, what was he using beforehand ?
I've got a guitar coming my way that is very similar (with exactly the same pickup) as a guitar reported to have belonged to Elmore James.
The guitar supposedly belonging to Elmore was handed in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (years ago) wrapped in a feedbag !
I tried to find out about this guitar. The R&R Hall of Fame website and emails were mostly unhelpful. I was told there was a picture of said guitar in the Hall of Fame guidebook. I ordered a copy (3 times, as twice it did not arrive !).
Now having the copy, I can see that the guitar is a National archtop electric guitar (with F-Holes. It has a National badge on the headstock. I've never seen this model before (unless anyone else knows ?)
The guitar is in very poor condition. There is a big pickup on the guitar (but not the same as the Big Bill Broonzy/Memphis Minnie National archtop guitars)
It looks similar BUT different, to ones I've seen on lapsteels.
I can't wait to get the guitar and try it out.
I'll let you all know how I get on (if interested !)