ClassicMan
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Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
I know that our forums are blessed with an abundance of knowledgeable pro and amateur gutarists. I'm hoping someone will be able to confirm the type of guitar in this vintage clip of Glenn Miller Big Band. The guitar is clearly shown just after the start of the clip (00:22) and again at around 1:20. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XQybKMXL-k I know that the electric guitar was 'invented' in 1931 and this film was made 10 years later in 1941. This suggests that the guitar shown (being played by Bobby Hackett) is almost certainly electric. An acoustic guitar would never hold its own amongst those saxes and brass but there are no signs of any pickup and I can't make out any lead although that could be an amp near his stool. Electric or accoustic, would the strings be gut, metal or nylon and which make amps would likely be used? Can anyone identify the likely make of the instrument? I'd appreciate any info. Thanks.
post edited by ClassicMan - 2013/02/20 14:38:06
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travismc1
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 14:45:24
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It's just an old Martin F hole with a pick guard attached. Should be able to find old pics of them. Halfway into it, some ol' boy gets up and starts whistling. I don't know anybody that can whistle louder than someone blowing a sax, a trumpet... I think that was more for show and tell ... than an actual music ensemble.
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 14:57:46
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The pick guard and tail piece suggests to me that it might be an Epiphone Broadway but I can't get a great look at the head stock. There were some note worthy custom builders back in that era as well. 1941 Epiphone Broadway  best regards, mike
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Bub 
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:00:01
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I don't think it's a Martin. The head stock isn't shaped right.
But I could be wrong.
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robert_e_bone
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:00:56
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It actually looks like an early Gretsch, but that doesn't quite line up with their historical timeline for electrics. They had a shift toward electric guitars starting in 1942.
In addition, while with Glenn Miller Bobby Hackett had been asked to buy an amp and ended up with one, but reportedly never actually plugged it in.
So, it is possible that this may have been an acoustic guitar - I have not been able to nail it down.
I can share that when I was a kid, way back in the early 60's, we went on a family vacation to Disneyland, and while there we all got to watch a live concert by the band of Tex Banakee (don't know correct spelling) - who was in Glenn Miller's orchestra. They did all of the Glenn Miller stuff, with the stand-up and sit-down horn playing and the whole bit - WAY kewl. I have never forgotten how cool it was to have been able to watch someone from that big band era playing live.
Sorry I couldn't give you more info - maybe someone else can figure this one out for you.
Bob Bone
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Bub
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:01:06
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@Mike: Yeah, that's what I was thinking too ... an Epi.
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robert_e_bone
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:04:36
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Possible a Gretsch model 50?
Bob Bone
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Bub
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:05:46
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robert_e_bone
Possible a Gretsch model 50?
Bob Bone
Wrong head stock.
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cclarry
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:15:11
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At 1:53 you can see the leaf and branch inlay of the Epi on the headstock...
Just thought I'd point that out...
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soens
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:20:59
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Looks like the pic in post 3 but w/o the electronics.
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travismc1
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:27:31
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http://home.provide.net/~cfh/42c2.jpg I couldn't make out the logo... it the shape looks similar to this c2 that I linked to... The epiphone has a two piece bridge, one being longer than the other... it appears to be straight across which is why I jumped on the martin bandwagon. also, I can't see anything in the video that makes me think... ELECTRIC. It doesn't mean it isn't, I just couldn't make out a cable.
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cclarry
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:27:39
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If you look at the Inlays at 0:22 you can see that they are those of the Epiphone in post #2..which is really post #3 but post numbers go OP then #1 and #2 and so on...
post edited by cclarry - 2013/02/20 15:35:36
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soens
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:28:07
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Hmmm. Did no one in 1967 notice Spock was a Beatle wannabe?
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cclarry
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:28:57
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soens
Hmmm. Did no one in 1967 notice Spock was a Beatle wannabe?
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soens
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:32:16
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travismc1
It's just an old Martin F hole with a pick guard attached. Should be able to find old pics of them. Halfway into it, some ol' boy gets up and starts whistling. I don't know anybody that can whistle louder than someone blowing a sax, a trumpet... I think that was more for show and tell ... than an actual music ensemble.
It was acting to prerecorded music. Common movie technique.
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daveny5
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:35:11
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Could be a Gibson Super 400 which was popular at that time. Hard to tell without being able to see it better.
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:38:31
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js516
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:39:28
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It looks like the Epi Broadway. at ~1:20, you can see that there are no control knobs and it has a 2 part tail piece, when the camera pulls back at around 1:25.
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spacey
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:42:35
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At work can't see video but I think he liked Epiphones. There are many later pictures with him playing them. 
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cclarry
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:46:14
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At 0:31 you can also clearly see the two staggered string buckles of the Epiphone under his strumming arm elbow...showing as small staggered black squares from the lighting...
I'm going with the Epiphone...everything I see matches...only difference is no pickup...
But the Epiphone might have been a copy of a Gibson, as they would commonly do, so it's either
an Epiphone or a Gibson. Only real way to know would be to see the Company Inlay on the headstock...and you're not going to see that here...LOL
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:52:32
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a.k.a. Frequensator tailpiece
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cclarry
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 15:55:46
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mike_mccue
a.k.a. Frequensator tailpiece
Yeah..what he said....
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Cactus Music
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 16:10:49
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The pick guard will be the best clue and in the video it does not match any Gibsons or Epiphones I could find pictures of from that era... It looks more like a Gretch to me. It's acoustic too.
And The player you mentioned- Booby Hacket? Pictures of him are all with a trumpet? And he had a mustache and is thin. This guys a rounder faced dude. But same as the picture spacey posted.. The guitar he's playing there has a different pick guard and is blonde,, in the movie it looks white to me.
If we dig around bet we might find it but then theres always the possiblity it was a no name stage prop.
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rsinger
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 16:16:42
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At 1:25 you can see that the guitar is mic'd.
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rsinger
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 16:23:38
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rsinger
At 1:25 you can see that the guitar is mic'd.
No, that's the high hat ...
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cclarry
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 16:23:40
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Cactus Music
The pick guard will be the best clue and in the video it does not match any Gibsons or Epiphones I could find pictures of from that era... It looks more like a Gretch to me. It's acoustic too.
And The player you mentioned- Booby Hacket? Pictures of him are all with a trumpet? And he had a mustache and is thin. This guys a rounder faced dude. But same as the picture spacey posted.. The guitar he's playing there has a different pick guard and is blonde,, in the movie it looks white to me.
If we dig around bet we might find it but then theres always the possiblity it was a no name stage prop.
If you look at the Headstock at 0:24 you can clearly see that it is NOT the Gretsch Headstock....it's either Gibson or Epiphone... you can also AGAIN see the Branch and Leaf Inlay, the same as the Epi pictured in post #2 (3)... AND if you look at the Pickguard at 0:24 it MATCHES exactly to the Epi....
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Gary McCoy
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/20 16:47:08
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The whistling dude (and vocalist) is indeed, the legendary Tex Benenke.
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Cactus Music
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Re:Any Guitarists Historians Identify the Guitar In This Film Clip
2013/02/21 01:49:11
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Ok Spock, Your right! I put the pictures side by side and yep ,, the pick guard is a dead ringer.. I was looking at the other picture spacey posted,, the pick guard is different. So it's confirmed? An Epi
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