NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

I'm pretty sure that the strap Stephen was using on the Esquire in this video is the same one that came with my Gretsch.

Funny, but the SG Diablo in my avatar pic, which I bought on the day of Ronnie James Dio's passing actually had that same sun face strap in it's case.
I like that strap!

But, what a great back story on that guitar. Crazy Heart was probably my favorite movie I've seen this year, and I could watch it many more times.
Jeff Bridges won the 2010 Oscar for Best Actor using that guitar! What an awesome honor to have a treasure of a guitar like that. I wouldn't change anything that came in that box but the strings.....and definitely use it as much as possible. Having someone like you, who's telling the story of the guitar is exactly what Stephen Bruton would have wanted, and if he knew it was to be on stages with you and Seymour....he'd be smiling upon that!

 

[sosomething]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

Because of this thread, I rented Crazy Heart over the weekend and watched it Sunday.

Wow!

Best movie I've seen in a long time. Probably some of the best pacing and story arc trajectory of any film I've seen in years, and Jeff Bridges' performance was absolutely flawless. He deserved the Oscar.

That Gretsch was gorgeous, by the way. The player in me loved the scene where he had the strings off and was cleaning it in his hotel room..

Great movie. Makes this story all the more poignant, too.

Thanks again, Evan, for sharing this with us!

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

This may sound weird, but I still haven't watched the movie yet. I kinda saw some of it on a plane but without the sound. I guess I don't want to listen to the sound track, knowing that that would be the last of Stephen's music I'd ever hear.

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

I just watched it this past weekend and found it enjoyable, drug a little bit but was a good role and job by Jeff Bridges.


And that guitar...VERY COOL & GORGEOUS COLOR/FIGURING ON HER! Congrats. :friday:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

Even though the red sunface strap looks fine with the guitar, there's a nostalgic part of me that would possibly commission a leather worker to make an exact replica of the Crazy Heart strap.

Any possibility of locating that strap? Probably not, but worth a try.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

I love that flamed maple! Congrats bro!

 

[Rich_S]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

Evan, is your FEDEX guy Dave Mathews?

Glad I finally got around to reading your story - B Bent and Andrizzle mentioned it over dinner Friday night, but I had no idea what they were talking about. Beautiful guitar - that flame is gorgeous. I like a guitar that's made out of flamed mapple, as opposed to being made to support and show off a piece of flamed maple.



I understand Gretsch fever, too. Friday night after dinner B Bent, Andrizzle, their resepctive wives, and I saw the Beatles tribute show, Rain at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. We arrived late, and just as we walked in, they started "Day Tripper". About ten seconds into the song, B Bent leaned over and said "Great. Now I want a Gretsch and a Rick".

 

[JOLLY]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

That's a great story and guitar. I love the flame on it.

 

[Hoss]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

You gotta watch the movie Evan...it truly is a fantastic film! For guys like all of us...it's definitely a must see! Watch it...and appreciate it even more for what you know went into it...i'm gonna watch it again because of this story!!!

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

Update: I'm still loving the guitar. But check this out, Jeff Bridges is seen in Esquire magazine sporting his, which is the same relic'd one his character played in the film.

 

[Khriss Bliss]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

Scotty Moore played this model, maybe not exact, when I saw him at the House of Blues, about 6 or so years ago. Like Chet, he played with a thumbpick ( and always has from all the Elvis footage Ive seen.) Also, he didn't play all that loud either-( which makes me recall Jeff Beck when he did the Cliff Gallup covers, realizing Cliff didnt pick very heavy either). And to watch old footage of Chet executing WATERFALLS of clean open arpeggio- type runs, Im guessing he didnt bash his strings too hard either...

(Although Scotty has his own Chet Atkins Country Gentlemen signature model now,...)

Anyways, thumbpick - and not too loudly-... seems to be a Gretsch tradition...

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

Interesting, Khriss_Bliss. Thanks for the insight.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

Very cool Evan!

 

[Hurricane]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

This is what music is all about in reality . Good friends and great vibes , thanks for letting us peek into a life worth knowing about .

HR

 

[philthis]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

Welcome to the Gretsch hollow body club. Your guitar may not be an L5 but its got its own supercool tone that cant be had on anything else. Few years ago I couldnt understand why people fell in love with Gretsches but after playing them and buying one I love there funky cool tone. check out Jeff Becks tribute to Les Paul. Listen to a few tracks and fire up that Gretsch into a spanky clean Fender twin, bassman, or Super Reverb. You'll be kissing your good fortune for getting that tone monster.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

I've seen the movie a couple times before I had read some of the history on that guitar and the Mr. Bruton. I seen it was available on demand through HBO this evening so I watched it again. I don't know if it were circumstance or just I didn't listen closely before, but the songs are really emotional and one that strikes me pretty close at the moment. Straight away after the movie was over I got on itunes and bought the soundtrack and am listening to it now.

Evan, I'm sorry you lost such a dear friend, he truly was a talented musician. I'm happy that you got his guitar. Play it, love it, cherish it, and remember the good times with your friend. Most of all, you really owe it to yourself and Stephen to watch Crazy Heart, and while your watching, know that there's at least 1 person in the world admires him for fighting off passing along to finish the music and that it touched someone.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

I'm happy to say I've had it in my hands too.

 

[philthis]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

cool pics Joneser, hope U got to plug it in and play on it

 

[P.A.Foholic]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

I'm jealous. Everyone's NGD makes my gear seem boring.

There is no such thing as a 'boring NGD'

 

[BloodRose]

Re: NGD - Stephen Bruton's "Crazy Heart" Gretsch

There is no such thing as a 'boring NGD'

unless if its posted by Iceman.. :boggled: