What guitar is this ?

[SlowGroove]

What guitar could have been used here ?


I have a Blues compilation album, “Chess Blues Guitar – Two decades of killer fretwork 1949-1969”

Now, the best track to my ears is track #4, on disc one.

“When I am gone”, by Joe Hill Louis

Recording info in the booklet :

Recorded Memphis, March 31, 1952
Joe Hill Louis (vocal – guitar); Nolan Hall (drums)
Originally Checker single 763
Previously unreleased on U.S. album

I tried to find this song on Utoob, but sadly – NO LUCK !

So, here is my question :

What GUITAR would have been used in 1952 ?

This guitar tone on this track does not sound like any of his other material that I got on the toob.
I assume he used a Fender Tweed 5E3 – wild guess, if I go but the raw sexy, gritty tone, but I still have no idea what guitar an artist of his financial status could have used back then !

Goes anyone have any back ground info on the guitar used ?


Thanks
James

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: What guitar is this ?

Album covers make it appear that he favoured jazz boxes...

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: What guitar is this ?

^^^ . . . that is what i thought too, but there are hints of Tele tone in there too !



James

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What guitar is this ?

Well...in 1952 it couldn't have been too much!

Most guys at that time used whatever they could get their hands on...

Let's say this, no 5E3 for sure, in 52 it would have been a 5B3 at best, which is pretty wildly different sounding than a 5e3...

For amps , if it was a Fender you're looking at a late 40's Dual Professional, early 50's Super (2x10 V Front) TV Front Princeton or deluxe or maybe a TV Front Bassman...those and the earliest Champs were really the only things Fender had at the time. For guitars,if he used a Fender it could have been an Esquire, Broadcaster, Nocaster or an early Telecaster...

Here is an old shot of Joe with what for surelooks like an early 50's Tele/Esquire/Broadcaster

http://www.aaregistry.com/eimage/JoeHillLewis.gif

Here's another shot of him with some kind of non cutaway hollowbody...

http://images.play.com/covers/8706498m.jpg

and another

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p5rNF1i3dTI/SD17mPo4_PI/AAAAAAAAAP0/UsFLSmKLim0/s320/joe+hill.jpg

Who knows...If I had to guess I'd guess some kind of hollowbody through a TV front Fender amp but thats just a guess...

 

[ES350]

Re: What guitar is this ?

Joe Hill Louis used a ES 150 or 125 (I have a picture of him on the wall with one). There's also what looks like a EH series Gibson amp...probably not a tweed Fender. Whatever it is, he blew the speaker on 'Chocolate Blonde'. It's like asking what guitar Earl Hooker used; he bought them from pawn shops or borrowed them and changed them all the time. There is a white Strat floating around Chicago that was used by Magic Sam, Earl Hooker, Jimmy Dawkins, and originally owned by Howlin' Wolf...

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: What guitar is this ?

Thanks for all the great info so far guys !
Much appreciated !


James

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: What guitar is this ?

http://music.vodafone.co.nz/ft/track/joe_hill_louis/when_i_am_gone__edited_single_version_/4853364/

Just keep this page open and it should start playing.

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: What guitar is this ?

http://music.vodafone.co.nz/ft/track/joe_hill_louis/when_i_am_gone__edited_single_version_/4853364/

Just keep this page open and it should start playing.

Thanx for the link


James

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: What guitar is this ?

Well...in 1952 it couldn't have been too much!

Most guys at that time used whatever they could get their hands on...

Let's say this, no 5E3 for sure, in 52 it would have been a 5B3 at best, which is pretty wildly different sounding than a 5e3...

For amps , if it was a Fender you're looking at a late 40's Dual Professional, early 50's Super (2x10 V Front) TV Front Princeton or deluxe or maybe a TV Front Bassman...those and the earliest Champs were really the only things Fender had at the time. For guitars,if he used a Fender it could have been an Esquire, Broadcaster, Nocaster or an early Telecaster...

Here is an old shot of Joe with what for surelooks like an early 50's Tele/Esquire/Broadcaster

http://www.aaregistry.com/eimage/JoeHillLewis.gif

Here's another shot of him with some kind of non cutaway hollowbody...

http://images.play.com/covers/8706498m.jpg

and another

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p5rNF1i3dTI/SD17mPo4_PI/AAAAAAAAAP0/UsFLSmKLim0/s320/joe+hill.jpg

Who knows...If I had to guess I'd guess some kind of hollowbody through a TV front Fender amp but thats just a guess...

Thank you for the info !
Did Gretsch make any amps at this time ?


James