SOLD! Sound Sample Prison art Bottleneck Blues Guitar

SOLD! Thank you to the winning bidder.

Vintage Dobro Parlor Guitar Prison Art Bottleneck Blues
I purchased this guitar from the "Memphis Music Hall of Fame" Museum in Memphis Tennessee.
It includes a signed "Certificate of Authenticity" from the Museum Director in 2003 that reads:
AUTHENTIC "Dobro Reproduction Metal Guitar" Created by a Joliet Prison Inmate
Also includes a press release letter documenting the closing of the museum in 2001.
Although this guitar is listed as a Dobro, it contains no resonator. It has a round neck and is set up to be played like a standard guitar. Great for Bottleneck Slide style guitar
36 1/2 inches long

13 inch lower bout

9 inch upper bout

3/8 inch string height at 12th fret

open geared tuners

open head stock

neck attached at 12th fret

heavy steel constructed body

steel bolt for bridge

National style tailpiece

1950? Kent pickup with jack in lower bout (recently installed)

button strap endpin

No case

If only this guitar could talk. Can you imagine the story it might tell! I am assuming the guitar was made in the prison metal shop. The neck appears to be consistent with the manufactured styles made in the 1930s. The body's parlor shape and design also seems to be from this period. It is possible that the original wooden body got destroyed, and was used as a pattern to create this guitar in steel. It may be that the builder made the guitar to resemble the steel bodied Dobro guitars that were popular during the 1930s.

Learn to Play
Bottleneck Slide Blues Guitar
Series 1 and 2 Video CDs
Good & Evil Music CD

"Buy It Now" Auction
Go to Ebay: Search: Keni Lee
If there is no active auction please contact me.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• blues
• country
• folk
• religious
• inmate
• slide
• delta

[dengladepostman]

Tuning?

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@dengladepostman Thank you for your question. I know for sure Bill is in Vestapol Tuning (151351). But not sure of the key. Sounds like D. (DADf#ad) Enjoy

[micmoable]

sounds good man! Love that old style sound---today's music ain't nothing compared to that stuff

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@micmoable Thank you for your comment. Yes, there is something very satisfying about the classics. Just like a good old cup of joe and and big piece of mama's chocolate cake. Enjoy.

[DisneyChannelNS]

is that a 36 inch guitar

[KeniLeeBurgess]

It is 36 1/2". If you click on (more info) on the right of the video there is a full description. Enjoy.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. I sold this guitar on ebay. It actually made it's way back home to Chicago. It certainly is a unique piece of history. Happy New Year. Enjoy.

[giterdone47]

very cool guitar.. i'm sure it has a tale to tell..

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for the clarification. Check out Steve James. He may have recorded it on one of his CDs. Enjoy.

[hrlarson]

At last I made a search and found out that the name of the tune is Steel Guitar Rag. This is still my favorite version.