Sound Sample Prison art Bottleneck Blues Guitar SOLD
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 21:28SOLD! 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.
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
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 says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
very cool guitar.. i’m sure it has a tale to tell..
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you for the clarification. Check out Steve James. He may have recorded it on one of his CDs. Enjoy.
hrlarson says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
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.
FraJa1980 says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Yes i did, i realy like the bolt setup for a bridge and the fact it was made in Joliet prison. Too bad you sold it, i would have kept it for its mojo alone, let alone the historic value! I hope the new owner is very happy with his very unique guitar, lol lets just hope he stayes out of Joliet with it.
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Yes, I would assume it must. Did you read the info on the right. Ironically, because it was recently sold, it made it’s way back home to Memphis.
FraJa1980 says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Now that is one cool guitar!!! At first glance i thought it was a reso but its a iron flattop, very cool old instrument. I bet it has seen some deep Blues.
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you for your comment.
johnnyblaze9333 says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
reminds me of o brother where art thou
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you. Please check out the guitar pictures on ebay. The name of the song? I’m not sure, but I believe it is called, Guitar Rag, and I think Bill said, he learned from Steve James. It is a good one!
hrlarson says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
It sounds great, it looks incredibly cool. What’s the name of the tune Bill’s playing?
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you. Yes, I agree, it has a pretty interesting tone. It is not often you come across a steel bodied acoustic guitar with a pick-up. Please check out the pictures on ebay.
Dabomb782 says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
yes, a very neat sounding guitar, and nice slide work
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you. Please check out the pictures on ebay.
trevorm1 says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
wow, this is a neat sounding instrument.
Cool.
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you. It has a nice tone thru that little Danelectro Honeytone Amp. I would keep it, but I usually play acoustic, and how many guitars should one person have anyway? No need to answer that one. lol. It has a lot of serious mojo. It has done some hard time in Joliet Prison.
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you. It could be yours…if the price is right! Well, Bill has skills…he could make a piece of wire and a broom stick sound great. The intonation on this guitar is pretty good considering it was made in a prison workshop around 1930. Listen to those harmonics. Right on.
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you. Please check it out on ebay.
fendermac says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Sounds fantastic.
bigfrank1961 says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Nice guitar…..Hat’s off to Bill. He makes the metal sound great.
raindog951 says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Just great! Looks like Bill got a kick out of that too.
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you. The whole guitar is art. Prison or Inmate art. It was created by a Joliet Prison Inmate circa 1930. Includes a certificate from the museum. It is being played thru a small Danelectro Honeytone Amp.
KeniLeeBurgess says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you. Please check out the pictures of the guitar on ebay. Item number 330260990892
cinderellalifestyle says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
REally a neat-o find Kennilee, and a GREAT sound, by the sample!now must see more pics, as is there art on guitar? I will pull it up on the bay…..
laurieleec
VenusInAries says:
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Awesome!