1930-31 National Duolian

This all original early thirties National resonator is one of a couple of true jewels in my modest collection. The Duolian was a lower priced model National guitar at the time of it's issue featuring a galvanized sheet metal body joined at the twelfth fret. This is the same model as used by Bukka White, Son House and many other famous blues players. This is a round neck model as opposed to the square neck meant for lap playing. The necks on these are often replaced as they usually did not last well over time or were found to be a bit awkward and clunky to play, but this example has the original neck and does not play badly at all (a bit clunky). The sound is like nothing else, it puts most reissues and newer models to shame with it's deep dark almost amplified sound. The finish is worn just as it should be and the colouring and patina are exquisite.

I play slide in both open G and open D on this guitar. The National can be heard as a soloing instrument on my Echo Broadcast recording on the tracks Bluetown, Bud's Guitar and as the guitar holding down the groove and all the other guitar parts on the dub/blues/sound-scape instrumental Crows as Big as Airplanes. I have just begun to play some live solo shows including this guitar and will slowly over time make it a more prominent part of my solo show.

1960 Harmony Arch-top

This old "catalogue order" Harmony arch-top acoustic from 1960 is one of my favourite guitars of several Harmony examples in my collection. It is rigged with an after market 1968 DeArmond pick-up made for arch-tops. I purchased the pick-up just a couple of years ago (brand new old stock) still in it's original box with the cord and installation instructions. The guitar was purchased used many years ago and was very inexpensive. At some point in it's exsistance the guitar has been refrettedwith big frets and has been set up to play very well. It also had significant and appropriate wear on the fret board, back of the neck and elsewhere indicating that it was well played and well loved before I acquired it. I use bronze phosphorous acoustic strings for an extra big archtop sound. The pick-up works exceptionally well with warmth and great big fat rolling tone.

Plugged into an old Kay amplifier it is the first guitar you hear on my new CD Echo Broadcast. It provides the electric guitar sound for the rhythm part on the title track (the solo on the song Echo Broadcast was played on a solid body Silvertone guitar, to be featured in an upcoming post). This Harmony guitar is also heard as both the rhythm and solo guitar on Hoodoo Man as well as the jump blues sounding solos on Things to Do and Lookin' for a Good Time.

Martin 0018

This late 50's / early 60's mid size Martin model 0018 is the predominant acoustic guitar on my Echo Broadcast recording heard on Preacher Picked the Guitar, Bluetown, dj Lullaby, Looking for a Good Time, Teach Me about the Blues and Bud's Guitar Store. I have owned this guitar for more than a decade and in many ways it is my #1 axe.

It has a beautiful rich tone with a lovely even range, amazing intonation and I like to say it practically plays itself. I have been using it on the road and in the studio since the time I purchased it (after aquiring the appropriate Calton road case). Audiences, live sound engineers and guitar players / enthusiests frequently comment on it's sound and wonderful playability.  Many of the songs on Echo Broadcast were written on this guitar.