Barney Kessel Guitar

**jazzbow** · 07-19-2011, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by spiral

Wow. They even copied the photo for his first magazine ad! Shameless.

Ha ha ha! Excellent

**ESCC** · 07-19-2011, 12:34 PM

[quote=jazzbow;158365]Ha ha, so he did!

Guys, are you sure that's not Deputy Barney Fife playing that Gibson?
Sheriff Taylor was the one with the acoustic guitar.

**hot ford coupe** · 07-19-2011, 01:32 PM

He just does not look like a jazz player in that photo. I'm surprised Gibson even released that photo of him for the ad. It doesn't inspire confidence in the guitar. The only guy I know that ever played one was the guitarist for the Young Rascals back in the 60's.

**oldane** · 07-19-2011, 02:36 PM

Kessel didn't like the Gibson guitar named after him, but I have seen a clip where he actualy plays one. Despite the different instrument with a different pickup from his own 350, he sounds exacly like himself. I have also seen a clip of him from Europe where he played some japanese/korean archtop, and he also sounded just like himself with that axe. I believe that the Gibson Kessel model was a good instrument a far as sound and playability concerns, though I'm not to crazy about its looks.

Kessel was a proud man who had strong opinions on many things. He was also once asked which brand of strings he used, and he only revealed it reluctantly, because - as he said - he was not an endorser of any brand and paid for his strings himself. He also stressed that it is the player, not the string that plays the guitar.

I also saw an intervew where Kessel discussed his ES 350. He didn't say that it was the worlds best guitar, but he liked it, because he had played it for so many years and knew it so well that he didn't have to think about it. It must be the same comforting feeling when reed players have come to know a mouthpiece really well. Like the comfort of a pair of well worn slippers.

**Meggy** · 07-19-2011, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by oldane

Kessel didn't like the Gibson guitar named after him, but I have seen a clip where he actualy plays one. Despite the different instrument with a different pickup from his own 350, he sounds exacly like himself. I have also seen a clip of him from Europe where he played some japanese/korean archtop, and he also sounded just like himself with that axe. I believe that the Gibson Kessel model was a good instrument a far as sound and playability concerns, though I'm not to crazy about its looks.

Kessel was a proud man who had strong opinions on many things. He was also once asked which brand of strings he used, and he only revealed it reluctantly, because - as he said - he was not an endorser of any brand and paid for his strings himself. He also stressed that it is the player, not the string that plays the guitar.

I also saw an intervew where Kessel discussed his ES 350. He didn't say that it was the worlds best guitar, but he liked it, because he had played it for so many years and knew it so well that he didn't have to think about it. It must be the same comforting feeling when reed players have come to know a mouthpiece really well. Like the comfort of a pair of well worn slippers.

I believe the Japanese guitar is an Ibanez prototype - perhaps they were hoping to get him onboard with an artist-endorsed guitar model at the time. If so it didn't work! I agree he still sounds exactly like himself on that guitar. I can remember when I first started playing guitar (about 30 odd years ago) that one could at that time buy Barney Kessel guitar strings though - not sure who made them. I think I even bought a set - they were roundwounds. Anyone able to shed any light? Did Barney himself actually use them?

**jazzbow** · 07-19-2011, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by hot ford coupe

He just does not look like a jazz player in that photo. I'm surprised Gibson even released that photo of him for the ad. It doesn't inspire confidence in the guitar.

Have you noticed the bow tie matching the neck inlay?
Imagine the board room design pitch,
"Now Tal Farlow's got that special swirly binding on the cutaway, Trini lopez has the diamond shaped holes and the Johnny Smith is just pure class! Now what's the first thing that reminds us of Barney??"

**hot ford coupe** · 07-19-2011, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by jazzbow

Have you noticed the bow tie matching the neck inlay?
Imagine the board room design pitch,
"Now Tal Farlow's got that special swirly binding on the cutaway, Trini lopez has the diamond shaped holes and the Johnny Smith is just pure class! Now what's the first thing that reminds us of Barney??"

His glasses and they ain't in this picture.

His beard and it ain't in the picture either.

The thing is the bow ties on the guitar just don't jump out at me. What about some glasses and beard inlays.

Maybe a beret. Nah, that was Dizzy.

**oldane** · 07-20-2011, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by Meggy

I believe the Japanese guitar is an Ibanez prototype - perhaps they were hoping to get him onboard with an artist-endorsed guitar model at the time. If so it didn't work! I agree he still sounds exactly like himself on that guitar. I can remember when I first started playing guitar (about 30 odd years ago) that one could at that time buy Barney Kessel guitar strings though - not sure who made them. I think I even bought a set - they were roundwounds. Anyone able to shed any light? Did Barney himself actually use them?

I believe it was and is not uncommon for American guitarists playing in Europe not to bring their own much loved guitars due to the dangers of air transportation and airport luggage handlers. Some of them have instruments for that. Joe Pass used the Ibanez JP he endorsed when in Europe while he used his D'Aquisto in US. Others simply had the loan of a suitable instrument arranged by friends or the tour management. I have seen pictures of Mundell Love in Europe playing a recent Epiphone jazz box.

Amps has to be provided locally when travelling across the Atlantic due to the difference in voltage. The Fender Twin Reverb has always been a favorite here. I once went to a concert with Jimmy Smith and Kenny Burrell. Burrell had three amps at his disposal but - of course - choose the Twin Reverb. Apart from some very old Gibson amps (?), it's only in recent years that we have amps which work with more than one voltage.

As for the strings, Kessel revealed in the mentioned interview that he used GHS flatwounds 13-56 - at that time. But still, I think he would sound like himself on almost any strings.

**Meggy** · 07-20-2011, 05:00 AM

Originally Posted by oldane

I believe it was and is not uncommon for American guitarists playing in Europe not to bring their own much loved guitars due to the dangers of air transportation and airport luggage handlers. Some of them have instruments for that. Joe Pass used the Ibanez JP he endorsed when in Europe while he used his D'Aquisto in US. Others simply had the loan of a suitable instrument arranged by friends or the tour management. I have seen pictures of Mundell Love in Europe playing a recent Epiphone jazz box.

Amps has to be provided locally when travelling across the Atlantic due to the difference in voltage. The Fender Twin Reverb has always been a favorite here. I once went to a concert with Jimmy Smith and Kenny Burrell. Burrell had three amps at his disposal but - of course - choose the Twin Reverb. Apart from some very old Gibson amps (?), it's only in recent years that we have amps which work with more than one voltage.

As for the strings, Kessel revealed in the mentioned interview that he used GHS flatwounds 13-56 - at that time. But still, I think he would sound like himself on almost any strings.

What you say sounds very likely - so probably just a guitar he used while in Europe on that tour. I have an Ibanez Joe Pass (a nice guitar IMO, despite some of the comments about Joe's endorsement deals on this thread!). No one would blame him for preferring his D'Aquisto though! I always thought he used flatwounds too, but still I'm interested if anyone does know about those Kessel branded roundwounds. Probably the man himself would not have been very concerned about exactly what he used though, and as you say, sounded like himself regardless.

**BigMikeinNJ** · 07-20-2011, 06:21 AM

Originally Posted by pingu

that Gibson Barney Kessel just don't look right
too many pointy bits , you could injure yourself on that axe !

Why didn't they make a 350 with a CC pickup on it ?
easy like .....too easy I guess

I'm glad someone finally said it - it looks like a fella could stab himself on those dual cutaways. Even the Trini Lopez version of it looked idiotic. I much preferred the 335 style Trini model - a real steal of a deal if you want a 60s 335...

In that photo of Barney on stage his bow tie is probably too tight.

Most interesting comments about him sounding like him on anything - and very insightful info on him preferring to not be "associated" with a guitar or string brand. Very humble. Cool reading you guys, thank you - this is a great BB.

**Al_F** · 07-20-2011, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ

... I much preferred the 335 style Trini model - a real steal of a deal if you want a 60s 335...

Let's keep this quiet...

**mojo313** · 11-09-2014, 09:34 PM

On the inside of "Tommy james and the Shondells" Greatest hits album there was a photo of his guitarist, I don't know who it was, Playing a Gibson BK double cutaway. But isnt the guitar in the 1st photo here an L7 with a CC pick up =, not a 350?

**docbop** · 11-09-2014, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by mojo313

On the inside of "Tommy james and the Shondells" Greatest hits album there was a photo of his guitarist, I don't know who it was, Playing a Gibson BK double cutaway. But isnt the guitar in the 1st photo here an L7 with a CC pick up =, not a 350?

Gene Cornish of the Young Rascals also played one of those pointy BK guitars. Only pictures I've seen of Barney with the pointy guitar were publicity shots or the TV show where he had the guitars and etc from his trunk for doing sessions.

**Flat** · 11-10-2014, 01:21 AM

I like Kessel's sound best on that ES-350. (Kessel experts: It is a 350, right? Not an L7?)

To my ears, it's got some of that lovely low-down, earthy, laminated "thunkiness" that adds a lot of character to his tone. Kinda makes him sounds like Barney Kessel to me. (Not his note selection; just the tone.)

I could be hearing with my eyes, I dunno.

**vinnyv1k** · 11-10-2014, 01:58 AM

Barney's guitar was a 1946 ES350 though Gibson didn't start advertising them till 1947. He replaced the stock P90 pickup with a 1939 CC pickup. In the early 50's he had the stock rosewood fingerboard replaced with a ebony fingerboard with simple dot inlays. He replaced the Kluson tuners with Grovers and the chicken head knobs came off a old record player. He had a violin maker make him a custom bridge for it also.

**Greentone** · 11-10-2014, 10:02 AM

vinnyv1k,

Good run down of BK's guitar. In the 70s, Kessel covered up the Gibson logo. Up until that time, it was clearly visible in his concerts, master classes, and films.

I don't know about the rest of you, but THAT guitar remains my favorite jazz guitar of all time--even more so than one of Wes's L-5 acoustics with the set in pickup added. If the oceans could part and the Silver Surfer could come scooting up with a guitar offering for me, it would be Barney Kessel's ES-350, although I am not worthy.

**Hammertone** · 11-10-2014, 12:45 PM

I laugh at your puny bowtie inlays.

**vinnyv1k** · 11-10-2014, 02:17 PM

I would love to see Gibson bring back the original ES350 which is basically a all maple plywood L5. Also the ES350T which is a all laminate Byrdland. Both great guitars but Gibson wants you to pay $8-10K for all carved. You can't even buy a regular ES175 anymore. Gibson is just making those overpriced 1959 VOS ES175's with necks like baseball bats.

**jazzbow** · 11-10-2014, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

Barney's guitar was a 1946 ES350 though Gibson didn't start advertising them till 1947. He replaced the stock P90 pickup with a 1939 CC pickup. In the early 50's he had the stock rosewood fingerboard replaced with a ebony fingerboard with simple dot inlays. He replaced the Kluson tuners with Grovers and the chicken head knobs came off a old record player. He had a violin maker make him a custom bridge for it also.

Guys,

You may like this.

I started up a thread back in 2012 on famous players guitars owned and played by other musicians, Barneys guitar stood out.

A lot of good research was done; especially from Daveg, with pictures and video clips to substantiate theories.

We confirmed Barney had 2 ES 350's and 3 different CC pickups.

Here's the link...

Barney Kessells guitar, any other musicians guitars being used

Enjoy

**vinnyv1k** · 11-10-2014, 03:29 PM

Gibson has always been all over the map with there neck specs. I have 2 L5 Wes'. A 2008 & 2010. One neck is thick and chunky and the other is thin and fast. Same goes for my 2 Tal's. I wear a medium size glove so I tend to like thinner necks but if you have hands like Tal Farlow you need a big fat neck. I had the Gibson Nashville custom shop make me a custom single pu 175 like Joe Pass had made with a D shape neck instead of a C neck. Wonderful axe !!! Love it to death. A few years back the Nashville custom shop would make you anything you wanted but no longer will they do that. Strickly production models now and a huge long wait for one too.

**vinnyv1k** · 11-10-2014, 05:51 PM

According to Barney's biography he stated that he had the one ES350 but who knows maybe he had 2. As far as that hole that appeared on his guitar I saw him in the late 70's with the Great Guitars and I was in the 3rd row. There was a little toggle switch there. What it was used for I have no idea as he just had the single CC pickup. Obviously what ever the toggle was used for didn't work out as when I saw him later there was just that hole there.

**DC Ron** · 11-10-2014, 06:04 PM

Barney has some competition for the most modified guitar in jazz. Howard Roberts and Les Paul built some pretty awesome Frankenguitars...

Barney Kessel Guitar-howard-roberts-jpg

**jazzbow** · 11-10-2014, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

According to Barney's biography he stated that he had the one ES350 but who knows maybe he had 2. As far as that hole that appeared on his guitar I saw him in the late 70's with the Great Guitars and I was in the 3rd row. There was a little toggle switch there. What it was used for I have no idea as he just had the single CC pickup. Obviously what ever the toggle was used for didn't work out as when I saw him later there was just that hole there.

The sunburst on his guitar changed and certainly the pickups changed. But he doesn't strike me as a gear head, his guitars are more like tools of the trade. It reminds me of my fathers ratchet screwdriver. I got him a battery powered cordless drill which he loves but he still brings out that old ratchet thing!

The old thread showed up some anomalies, I spent hours freeze framing videos to get a clear picture of the changing pickup.

**Greentone** · 11-10-2014, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by ingeneri

Closest non-vintage bet would be a Heritage 550 since it's 17" laminate maple like the 350/Tal Farlow. It's thinner stock at 3", but you can customize that along with single-coil pickups and neck shape. If I was ordering one new I'd dispense with the mounted roller bridge in favor of a traditional wooden one like Barney's.

If you can find one, weren't Tom Painter's 17" guitars modelled after the 350 with Vintage Vibe CC pickups?

Agreed. The closest you are going to get is the Heritage 550. I don't think Gibson is still making the Tal Farlow, which is the 350 with some bling.