According to Carlo Greco...Text Box: According to Carlo Greco... On April 2nd, 2003, Fine Guitar Consultants' Richard Glick flew to New York to interview Master Luthier Carlo Greco. In search of first-hand details about two of the famous instruments now in the hands of FGC, Richard went to the only man who knows what is inside of these unusual and wonderful prototypes--dream guitars designed by two players that made important contributions to American music. Richard here reports in his own words, that meeting with Carlo Greco and relays the facts as they are now understood. Carlo, aware that mistakes have been made in articles published on the subject of Guild guitars, was anxious to set the record straight: "Fine Guitar Consultants has recently assembled three historically important instruments. The instruments are referred to as the "Historical Trio of Archtops." They are for sale together, as a group, for the price of $289,000. Ironically, though the men who owned and used them every day in their careers were from diverse backgrounds, each of these players knew and highly respected each other. For a cute story that illustrates this (and a look at the "Trio" in action), click here. We'll add more stories from time to time. If you have a first-hand story, let me know! The first guitar in the "Historical Trio of Archtops" is Wes Montgomery's personal guitar, a Gibson L-5C that was hand made by an individual at Gibson, expressly for Wes in 1963. The well-known instrument was accurately and minimally restored by Gibson Guitars after the guitar was exposed very near a residential fire. Carlo Greco, it turns out, made the other two members of the "Trio" almost forty years ago. The earlier one is George Barnes's personal guitar: the 1962 Guild George Barnes "Acousti-Lectric" prototype, played on many recording sessions and concerts from the best jazz joints to Carnegie Hall--and numerous top 40 Rock hits from the 60's. (Note: The first quarterly installment of my two-part article on the life and career of George Barnes is out now in thecurrent quarterly May issue of Just Jazz Guitar Magazine). Carlo Greco was the General Foreman of the Guild Guitar Company from 1959 until 1977--eighteen and a half years that coincided with the flourishing of many music artists' careers. A number of artists had special guitars made for them by Carlo Greco while he was in charge of the production floor. Smothers Brothers brother Tommy Smothers is still playing the Guild flattop that Carlo made for him. Greco also made John Denver's famous Guild F-612 12-string guitar (with an 18" body). Other guitars were crafted for Jerry Garcia, Mark Knopfler, and many more over the years. Like the George Barnes guitar, Merle Travis' 1962 Guild SOLOMASTER prototype guitar was not designed by a guitar company--but by the artist himself. Players who do recording sessions and perform in concert year after year develop firm ideas about what works (and doesn't work) for them in an instrument. Artists that choose not to take the free manufactured guitars that are handed out like candy, often choose a more fulfilling route. Merle Travis was one of those. He drew every design detail of his dream guitar and handed the bundle to Carlo Greco at Guild. The "country-showbiz" adornments on the over-the-top aesthetic design can't outshine the integrity of this archtop as a fine, hand made instrument. After all, that's the core reason we have this historical group. Though they all bear a manufacturer's name, each are, in actuality, a finely voiced, hand made guitar. Also, like the Barnes guitar, only a few of these SOLOMASTERs were made. Carlo specifically remembers a visit he made with Alfred Dronge, then President of Guild, to the Gibson factory in the early '60's. Carlo said, "...and I remember Mr. Dronge talking with the President of Gibson that we were working on a guitar for Merle Travis. And I remember the President say (to) us, 'But we, too are working on a Merle Travis guitar.' But Mr. Dronge said, 'But it's not like the the one you (are) work(ing) on.' Which was true...it was a design that was given for the headstock...According to what I remember...that Merle designed the way he wants that guitar...with the armrest and all...with the base of the bridge made of ebony...and the pickup was the final decision..." Carlo remembers only 3 Guild Merle Travis SOLOMASTERs being completed after this prototype. At this point I want to acknowledge Hans Moust of The Netherlands, the leading authority on all things Guild and author of the book "The Guild Guitar Book: The Company and the Instruments, 1952-1977." Mr. Moust has seen and inspected all three of the production SOLOMASTERs that were made after this prototype. They are Guild serial #21975, #27195 and #27496. The earliest of these are from December, 1962. Merle, always looking to improve on the status quo, changed pickups in this guitar twice since it was made. The last pickup configuration and re-working of the fretboard was accomplished by R. C. Allen in Southern California. R. C. did a lot of work on Merle's guitars during the artist's career. This guitar was Merle's favorite instrument over the years. Thanks to Pat Travis Eatherly, Merle's daughter (who put this instrument in our hands) we have photos of Merle playing it at different periods from 1962 until 1982, one year before his death. These photos document the pickup changes to the present configuration of 2 D'Armonds. The belt buckle wear on the back of the guitar, the finish wear, and the little bumps and nicks are the character and the soul of the instrument. The Travis guitar was hand carved from the outside only. The inside of the top is flat. This was Merle's idea of how to minimize feedback problems. The top is solid Maple, with an oval sound hole. An ebony pick guard and arm rest are audaciously carved and ornamented with marquetry. Once again, the back and sides are laminated woods. Vincent Ruffolo fitted the neck to the body in both Guild guitars discussed here. Neck fitting was Vincent's specialty, and is a critical part of the guitar making process. Ironically, Ruffolo was Carlo's boss in a cabinet shop in Italy when Carlo was a boy of 15. Years later, when Vincent Ruffolo emigrated to America, Carlo helped him out and got him his position at Guild. "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette!" Merle not only smoked them (Kools)--he wrote the song! Here's the story about "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette!" according to Pat Travis Eatherly: "Tex Williams signed with Capitol Records. He told Merle he was in desperate need for a new song to record. He went to Dad's house one afternoon and found him painting a fence. They talked about a song and Dad said, "Well, come on in the house and let's see what we can do." Legend has it that Dad wrote the song within an hour. Tex added a line, so he is credited as co-author." Merle Travis also wrote "Sixteen Tons," "Cannonball Rag" and many other country songs. He was one of the first to play Country guitar as a solo instrument. Two coal miner friends, Mose Rager and Ike Everly, showed Merle how to use his thumb on the bass strings while playing melody with his fingers on the treble strings. Merle's own style (known world-wide as Travis picking) inspired Chet Atkins to play the guitar. Here's another Tex story: When "High Noon" was filmed with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, the sneak preview fell flat. The musical director Dimitri Tiomkin composed a ballad to run throughout the film. Ned Washington provided lyrics. A Capitol employee suggested Tex Ritter sing the ballad, "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'." MERLE TRAVIS was one of the main musicians to play the music for Tex to sing "Do Not Forsake Me." It sold 800,000 copies and reached Billboard's Top Ten "Honor Roll of Hits" in Septemper of 1952. The song stayed on the Top Ten list for 8 months! The Academy Award nominations went to "High Noon" for best picture, best actor, best director, best screenplay, best film editing, best song, and best score!! As Merle Travis' song says, "That's ALL!" Fine Guitar Consultants, P.O. Box 15524, San Diego CA 92175-5524 tel (619) 265-5900 fax 619 265-2527 email: rglick@fineguitarconsultants.com

 

 

The Travis guitar was hand carved from the outside only. The inside of the top is flat. This was Merle's idea of how to minimize feedback problems. The top is solid Maple, with an oval sound hole. An ebony pick guard and arm rest are audaciously carved and ornamented with marquetry. Once again, the back and sides are laminated woods. Vincent Ruffolo fitted the neck to the body in both Guild guitars discussed here. Neck fitting was Vincent's specialty, and is a critical part of the guitar making process. Ironically, Ruffolo was Carlo's boss in a cabinet shop in Italy when Carlo was a boy of 15. Years later, when Vincent Ruffolo emigrated to America, Carlo helped him out and got him his position at Guild.

"Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette!" Merle not only smoked them (Kools)--he wrote the song! Here's the story about "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette!" according to Pat Travis Eatherly:
"Tex Williams signed with Capitol Records. He told Merle he was in desperate need for a new song to record. He went to Dad's house one afternoon and found him painting a fence. They talked about a song and Dad said, "Well, come on in the house and let's see what we can do." Legend has it that Dad wrote the song within an hour. Tex added a line, so he is credited as co-author."

Merle Travis also wrote "Sixteen Tons," "Cannonball Rag" and many other country songs. He was one of the first to play Country guitar as a solo instrument. Two coal miner friends, Mose Rager and Ike Everly, showed Merle how to use his thumb on the bass strings while playing melody with his fingers on the treble strings. Merle's own style (known world-wide as Travis picking) inspired Chet Atkins to play the guitar.

Here's another Tex story: When "High Noon" was filmed with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, the sneak preview fell flat. The musical director Dimitri Tiomkin composed a ballad to run throughout the film. Ned Washington provided lyrics. A Capitol employee suggested Tex Ritter sing the ballad, "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'." MERLE TRAVIS was one of the main musicians to play the music for Tex to sing "Do Not Forsake Me." It sold 800,000 copies and reached Billboard's Top Ten "Honor Roll of Hits" in Septemper of 1952. The song stayed on the Top Ten list for 8 months!
The Academy Award nominations went to "High Noon" for best picture, best actor, best director, best screenplay, best film editing, best song, and best score!! As Merle Travis' song says, "That's ALL!"

Fine Guitar Consultants, P.O. Box 15524, San Diego CA 92175-5524 tel (619) 265-5900 fax 619 265-2527 email: rglick@fineguitarconsultants.com