The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #118911   Message #2574789
Posted By: GUEST,HARRYMTUFT
24-Feb-09 - 12:31 PM
Thread Name: Josh White's guitar?? History Detective
Subject: RE: Josh White's guitar?? History Detective
I, too watched the show and was interested that Josh White did, in fact, have and play a guild at one time, as evidenced by the video clip. I've been a Guild dealer since the mid-60's and have another Josh White guitar story. I can't tell if this one pre-dates the one featured in the story. It was my habit to visit the Hoboken factory when I was in the East visiting my folks. I would always look in the "seconds" rack to see if there were any salvageable instruments. This one time there was a guitar, clearly a hybrid, based on a Mark V classic neck and body, with steel string bracing. Inside it said "Josh White Model". It had a few cracks, a bit neglected. I asked about it and was told that it was made for Josh White, that he used it, but sent it back because the heel was so sharply pronounced that when he would do his signature slide up the neck, he would run into the heel. Then, while it was still at the factory, Josh made a deal with Ovation, making the model a dead issue. I bought the guitar, brought it back to Denver, repaired it in our shop, and sold it. I presume that it is still floating around Denver to this day. Later that year Josh came to Denver and I had the pleasure of seeing my first Ovation, not having experienced a fiberglas back. I do have a photo of my surprise after Josh had "thwacked" the back of the instrument. I did get to see him one more time in Denver, at which time he was back playing the Martin 00-21 which he usually traveled with. I've not seen Josh White Jr. in decades, but I look forward to a re-meet some day. Harry Tuft, Denver Folklore Center