Guitar Research Archtop Guitar

wildirishman52 · #1 08-06-2011, 07:48 PM

Just picked up a Guitar Research Arch Top Guitar - It's a Eddie Durham Model. Does anyone have any info on the Manfactuer or other info? A real nice box for what I paid - Help!!

oldane · #2 08-07-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildirishman52

Just picked up a Guitar Research Arch Top Guitar - It's a Eddie Durham Model. Does anyone have any info on the Manfactuer or other info? A real nice box for what I paid - Help!!

Never heard about it. Pictures?

However, I know of Eddie Durham. He was a guitarist, trombonist and arranger. Maybe he is best known as one of the pioneers of the electric guitar. He worked in the Baise orchestra in the late 1930s and recorded as an electric guitarist (alongside Freddie Green on acoustic guitar) with the Kansas City six with among others Basie, Lester Young, Buck Clayton and Green. These now famous recordings are among the first with an electric guitar. Back then Durham used a Gibson ES150. On one of the sides Freddie Green can be heard as a singer on "Them There Eyes".Durham was a cousin of Herschel Evans who played tenor sax in the Basie orchestra until his untimely death in february 1939.

mongrel · #3 08-07-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildirishman52

Just picked up a Guitar Research Arch Top Guitar - It's a Eddie Durham Model. Does anyone have any info on the Manfactuer or other info? A real nice box for what I paid - Help!!

I've never seen one in the flesh but recall that the Sam Ash chain store was carrying them as a house brand maybe several years ago. They looked real good to me on their website and, if there was a Sam Ash store within reasonable driving distance, I would have gone and tried them out.

spiral · #4 08-07-2011, 01:18 PM

Found a picture:
http://www.samash.com/wcsstore/root/...X16GOLD_lg.jpg

I'm guessing, but based on the tailpiece it looks like a re-badged Chinese-made guitar along the lines of what Rondo sells:
SX GG8 Custom Hollow Body at Home

It is a Sam Ash house brand. Guitars of that category like Agile and Douglas have lots of fans and people are generally pleased with the quality they get for the money (typically way below $500). Pay to get it set up and you should be able to get lots of enjoyment out of it.

wildirishman52 · #5 08-07-2011, 07:43 PM

Hey Guys, Thanks for the help!! I set it up & plays great - A good looking piece - Having owned ES-175 - Johnny Smith - Guild George Barnes and other "Quality" instruments, I'm very impressed with this gem!! I'll do a pic of it latter - Anyone wanting to get rid of a WT-80?? Would like to try one, butr have been thinking of a Henricksen!!