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Help: Hammered or Keyed Guitar

30 May 00 - 12:00 PM (#235863)
Subject: Hammered or Keyed Guitar
From: GUEST,Christian LeHarve

In Dublin Ireland in August, 1999, a crusty street musician was playing an old guitar upon which was mounted a frame over the sound hole. On the frame were 6 keyes which he played piano style. As he pushed a key, a guitar string was hammered beneath the frame making a fantastic sound. Anyone know what the instrument was or who the grizzeled ole character was? He told me he was about to open for an Art Garfunkle concert in Dublin.


30 May 00 - 10:10 PM (#236124)
Subject: RE: Help: Hammered or Keyed Guitar
From: John in Brisbane

In 1968 I was shown an ad in a UK music rag for an accessory which mounted on the sound board or bottom of the fret board which sounds similar to your sighting. I've never seen one since. Regards, John


31 May 00 - 10:38 PM (#236644)
Subject: RE: Help: Hammered or Keyed Guitar
From: GUEST,Joerg

He's charming, isn't he? I don't know anything about him, but when I asked him about his guitar he asked back "Are you German?" Well that's not a secret so I admitted to be. Then he said "Typical for Germans, they are always interested in mechanics rather than in music" which hurt me a little because I was interested in guitars at that moment. He then told me that the special mechanism he was using was his own work and that it worked like what is called in german "Klavichord", not like a normal piano. Don't expect me to be able to tell you the difference. But I'm afraid that we will not get something like this in a shop.

Joerg


06 Jun 00 - 10:11 AM (#238915)
Subject: RE: Help: Hammered or Keyed Guitar
From: GUEST,Christian LeHarve

Seems Billy was his name. He played the blues with a sound as different as unique as some of the alley players in the Miss Delta. I wish some Irish Mudcatters would hep out here.


06 Jun 00 - 11:20 AM (#238937)
Subject: RE: Help: Hammered or Keyed Guitar
From: McGrath of Harlow

hep cats...