Gibson L-7C? Jay Graydon? Manhattan Transfer

[garybaldy]

Since my recent acquisition , a 30s L7 ,I've become worryingly fanatical about them!!
Last night I was watching yet another re-broadcasting of an old Two Ronnies Show on UK TV.
Low and behold! Suddenly there's a performance by their guests, Manhattan Transfer accompanied by a guitarist with a nice guitar.
I'm wondering if it's Jay Graydon with a 40s L7C. What do you think?
Go to 19.42 on the attached YT clip.

[floatingpickup]

I’m sure that’s an L7C, but I can’t see anything that helps narrow down the year. I think the cutaway version first appeared around 1948 and continued into the 1960’s without much change cosmetically. It sure sounds good in the video.
Keith

[garybaldy]

I’m sure that’s an L7C, but I can’t see anything that helps narrow down the year. I think the cutaway version first appeared around 1948 and continued into the 1960’s without much change cosmetically. It sure sounds good in the video.
Keith

Yes. That's what is suggested at Guitarhq.com.
I thought the sound was great as well.

[skykomishone]

Tim Lerch does a great comparison of several of the L7C on YouTube, if you haven'tseen it. He's a big fan of the guitar! Great instruments. I understand your enthusiasm for them.

[garybaldy]

Tim Lerch does a great comparison of several of the L7C on YouTube, if you haven'tseen it. He's a big fan of the guitar! Great instruments. I understand your enthusiasm for them.

I shall check it out thanks.

[Woody Sound]

Speaking of MT, just in time for the holidays, does anything swing better than this? (And hear the trumpet section at the key change, high B's (high 13 of D, amazing) at around 3:00.)

[daveg]

That's Vic Flick on the L7. He's famous for the Bond theme and the John Barry Seven etc.

DG

[garybaldy]

That's Vic Flick on the L7. He's famous for the Bond theme and the John Barry Seven etc.

DG

Thank you. I had seen the video before.

[garybaldy]

Speaking of MT, just in time for the holidays, does anything swing better than this? (And hear the trumpet section at the key change, high B's (high 13 of D, amazing) at around 3:00.)

Unfortunately the video is not available to me via the link. Do you have the video title please? Thanks

[Woody Sound]

Unfortunately the video is not available to me via the link. Do you have the video title please? Thanks

Try this vid. It's a later live performance of the same tune. Awesome performance, and the recording quality is excellent for live. Their vocal harmony balance is f****** perfect. Listen with decent speakers or cans.The entire CD is one of my top favorite vocal group recordings. Some really nice romantic holiday/winter ballads too./

manhattan transfer happy holiday - Google Search

(ps - The guitarist it set up way over to the right, opposite from the rest of the rhythm section. I wonder why.)

[pawlowski6132]

I’m sure that’s an L7C, but I can’t see anything that helps narrow down the year. I think the cutaway version first appeared around 1948 and continued into the 1960’s without much change cosmetically. It sure sounds good in the video.
Keith

Why are you sure its an L7C?

[garybaldy]

Try this vid. It's a later live performance of the same tune. Awesome performance, and the recording quality is excellent for live. Their vocal harmony balance is f****** perfect. Listen with decent speakers or cans.The entire CD is one of my top favorite vocal group recordings. Some really nice romantic holiday/winter ballads too./

manhattan transfer happy holiday - Google Search

(ps - The guitarist it set up way over to the right, opposite from the rest of the rhythm section. I wonder why.)

Thanks. Could be those links are not available in the UK but I found this clip which is probably the same. Great band and vocals. I would have liked a guitar solo!

[garybaldy]

Why are you sure its an L7C?

I'm no expert but an L4C has a florentine c/w and an L5 has a flowerpot so....

[BreckerFan]

Yeah definitely an L-7C. Too big and wrong cutaway to be an L-4, and it has the less ornate headstock inlay and the split parallelogram fretboard inlays vs solid blocks of an L-5C. Other indication would be the tail piece but I didn't see a clear view of it.

Really nice sound, I wonder how they miced it, I don't see any mics.

[Woody Sound]

Thanks. Could be those links are not available in the UK but I found this clip which is probably the same. Great band and vocals. I would have liked a guitar solo!

Yup, that's the one.

[Woody Sound]

Great band and vocals. I would have liked a guitar solo!

Wouldn't we always! At least you can hear and see him for a couple of seconds playing the ending change, and loud and clear on the tag. (at ~3:20)

[pawlowski6132]

Yeah definitely an L-7C. Too big and wrong cutaway to be an L-4, and it has the less ornate headstock inlay and the split parallelogram fretboard inlays vs solid blocks of an L-5C. Other indication would be the tail piece but I didn't see a clear view of it.

Really nice sound, I wonder how they miced it, I don't see any mics.

Could be an L12?

[gitman]

John Tropea played for the MT when I saw them in the early nineties. He played some solid body guitar. The only other NYC player that comes to mind is Jack Wilkins , who used to play an L7-C with a built in humbucker.
However in this clip the player might have been David Spinozza.