Thanks for this video. Roy was not just a "strummer" as stated in the video. One of the things that impressed Sam Phillips the most about Roy was is his lead guitar playing, which can be heard on Ooby Dooby and Go Go Go.
My friend saw the Roy Orbison Gibson Black Beauty guitar in Memphis around 1986, it was a 1955 not a 1956. Guitar was traded in to Sid Lapworth at OK Houck Music Store Memphis Tennessee for a Gretsch White Falcon in 1958.
It's not in a museum in Germany and is sadly no longer around. Roy actually had two of these gibson/gretsch guitars and if you know what to look for you can spot the difference. The first was made from his 50s white falcon - they put a super 400 neck on it because that was the only 25" scale neck they had lying around in the repair shop (and the only one that gibson produce in that longer 25" white falcon scale - it is from the super 400 model). That guitar was shipped to a company in Japan called Guyatone who promised Roy a "signature model" where it was completely taken apart and reverse engineered (and sadly destroyed in the process) so that they could understand its construction and build copies of it - they copied the exact contours and shape of the arch-top. Japan guitar building in the 60s was in very early stages and their quality was simply awful so the copies did not live up to Roy's expectations - they had cut many corners and simplified the design so Roy refused to sign the contract and put his name on it. Guyatone went ahead with the production anyway (without Roy's name) you can still find some of those guitars around today which slightly resemble Roy's original. Roy then had a second guitar built privately to the specifications of the first by an American builder (although there are very small differences) because it had become part of his image. Unfortunately, the second guitar burnt down in the house fire while he was on tour in the UK. Neither guitar is in existence today.
It’s probably his original White Falcon... I’ve never seen pics of the 2 guitars together! So he probably broke that old white Gretcsh; quickly got another Arch Top to replace it and that was a Gibson; decided he liked everything about the Gretcsh and preferred all it offered over the Gibson but the neck so When it came time for Gretch to repair The white falcon he had gone into his “black look by then and decided he preferred the neck on the Gibson so Grech duly obliged but, as you say, didn’t want to advertise a rival company Likely he sacrificed his Gibson so that his White Falcon could fly again! (see what I did there?!🤪)
Apparently its its in a German Museum. Its actually an Gretsch body, (stereo version) and its the one where the headstock was damaged and Roy commented he wanted a Super 400 neck on it. The pickups are Gretsch single coil, but not dynosonic. Gretsch just re-did the holly headstock without a logo. It was never painted over. The pickups could have been Tim Shaw ones. Not certain on that.
Just watched an old repeat of Sunday Night at the London Palladium, Roy was playing this black Gretsch/Gibson - i was intrigued as it looked so unusual. Roy had so much charisma.
Brilliant story on Roy's mash up guitar, thank you. How about one on Eddie Cochran's Iconic modified 6120? The guitar that launched millions of teenage rebels over the past 50 years!
@@TheGuitarShow Here are a couple of places to start! www.huffpost.com/entry/its-all-eddie-cochrans-fa_b_1375763?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29 www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/under-investigation-eddie-cochran
I’ve been updating Roy Orbisons Equipboard page and this is provided a good wealth of info the both confirms what I knew, and fills in holes that I’ve been looking to fill. Thanks mate! (Not trying to be a snob but I’d love to know your sources)
Thanks glad you liked it! I made this one a while back but I always try to you 2 or 3 sources for each fact including books/web/friends/guitar magazines - I'll watch it again and see if I can refresh my memory for the sources but I do remember spending some time on this one.
@@TheGuitarShow I have been fascinated by the 4 switches on the upper bout. So do you know what they did? Were they for pickup select, coil split or phase switch, or individual tone switching ?
This is cool. Had the Candy Man single given to me when i was like 5. Roy's song Blue Angel has been a fave, now more than ever. I guess Roy adopted the black 335 later. EVH said he could fly on one. DLR said Get some sunglasses or switch guitars. Br pup went into the VH1 strat.
Ramon, I enjoy your videos...I met Dumble once in the Santa Cruz mountains, circa 1975...Cheers from the island of Guam! John Hoffman, president, Micronesia Blues Society
it's a pleasure my friend I'm glad to make your aquaintance. Dumble is a big hero of mine, I hope one day to come and tour the states! keep in touch thank you.
@@TheGuitarShow Ramon, the island of Guam is closer to Japan than the US mainland...but please come visit, and we will teach you how to do our native dance...the Cha Cha Sinuendo! The Dumble gig was funny...Dumble showed up with a fairly large PA...that only had 2 quarter inch jacks for inputs! I said to myself...this guy thinks differently! Years ago my friend found a Dumble Overdrive Special for 50 dollars at the Santa Cruz Flea Market! I wish it had been me!
What a sin. That they took the Guitar that way from him. Any Who I think It would not be hard to make this Guitar today. I think Roy was on to something with this Idea.the best of both worlds. I would like to know who put this Guitar together for him in the first place.I think that the pickups are Gretsch pickups sort of P90s Thanks for sharing
The Guitar Show Great video by the way!..very interesting about the Guyatone copy...I’m sure I’ve seen pictures of one of those guitars and never made the connection with Roy’s guitar. Such a shame his original (and boy is it original!) is missing.
I saw Roy Orbison in Glasgow, Greens Playhouse in1969. It was the days of the package tour. On the bill was the Marmalade, Moira Anderson and Roy as the headliner. He opened with Pretty Woman playing a two pickup Les Paul custom.
Head stock looks like an Epiphone, but has the Gibson custom shop diamond. I had to know what this guitar was trying to be, thus, I found this cool channel and answers! Thanks Jack - Canada
Thanks for this video. Roy was not just a "strummer" as stated in the video. One of the things that impressed Sam Phillips the most about Roy was is his lead guitar playing, which can be heard on Ooby Dooby and Go Go Go.
He is an incredible person and artist, his songs and lyrics are timeless, there will never be another like him, i grew up loving his music
totally agree great songs! !!!
My friend saw the Roy Orbison Gibson Black Beauty guitar in Memphis around 1986, it was a 1955 not a 1956.
Guitar was traded in to Sid Lapworth at OK Houck Music Store Memphis Tennessee for a Gretsch White Falcon in 1958.
Cool to know and makes perfect sense! Thanks
It's not in a museum in Germany and is sadly no longer around. Roy actually had two of these gibson/gretsch guitars and if you know what to look for you can spot the difference. The first was made from his 50s white falcon - they put a super 400 neck on it because that was the only 25" scale neck they had lying around in the repair shop (and the only one that gibson produce in that longer 25" white falcon scale - it is from the super 400 model). That guitar was shipped to a company in Japan called Guyatone who promised Roy a "signature model" where it was completely taken apart and reverse engineered (and sadly destroyed in the process) so that they could understand its construction and build copies of it - they copied the exact contours and shape of the arch-top. Japan guitar building in the 60s was in very early stages and their quality was simply awful so the copies did not live up to Roy's expectations - they had cut many corners and simplified the design so Roy refused to sign the contract and put his name on it. Guyatone went ahead with the production anyway (without Roy's name) you can still find some of those guitars around today which slightly resemble Roy's original. Roy then had a second guitar built privately to the specifications of the first by an American builder (although there are very small differences) because it had become part of his image. Unfortunately, the second guitar burnt down in the house fire while he was on tour in the UK. Neither guitar is in existence today.
Thanks for that,i always pondered that! Do you know why the headstock seems elongated? Regards
Roy Orbison Had The Voice of An Angel!
God Bless Texas!
It’s probably his original White Falcon...
I’ve never seen pics of the 2 guitars together!
So he probably broke that old white Gretcsh; quickly got another Arch Top to replace it and that was a Gibson; decided he liked everything about the Gretcsh and preferred all it offered over the Gibson but the neck so When it came time for Gretch to repair The white falcon he had gone into his “black look by then and decided he preferred the neck on the Gibson so Grech duly obliged but, as you say, didn’t want to advertise a rival company
Likely he sacrificed his Gibson so that his White Falcon could fly again!
(see what I did there?!🤪)
Apparently its its in a German Museum. Its actually an Gretsch body, (stereo version) and its the one where the headstock was damaged and Roy commented he wanted a Super 400 neck on it. The pickups are Gretsch single coil, but not dynosonic. Gretsch just re-did the holly headstock without a logo. It was never painted over. The pickups could have been Tim Shaw ones. Not certain on that.
Thanks for the great comment and info. Ill check out to see if its in a German museum.
Thats what I was told many years ago by the fan club. I did ask how many guitar he collected and was told 600 over the years.
@@RayPryke thanks for the info
do you know what museum it's in?
No, I have no idea. I asked this question years ago.
Just watched an old repeat of Sunday Night at the London Palladium, Roy was playing this black Gretsch/Gibson - i was intrigued as it looked so unusual.
Roy had so much charisma.
Thanks
Dankeschön lieber roy für alles ❤
Thank you 🙏🙏🙏🙏🎸🎸🎸🎸
@@TheGuitarShow gerne lieber roy er war so lieb und gut,,Dankeschön ❤❤❤❤
Vergessen ,schönes neues Jahr gesund bleiben,,Dankeschön für all deine Mühen,,roy würde sich auch freuen,,schreib mir nicht kann nur deutsch,,❤❤
Brilliant story on Roy's mash up guitar, thank you. How about one on Eddie Cochran's Iconic modified 6120? The guitar that launched millions of teenage rebels over the past 50 years!
Pleasure Carol - Ill look into Cochran's guitar thanks!
@@TheGuitarShow Here are a couple of places to start! www.huffpost.com/entry/its-all-eddie-cochrans-fa_b_1375763?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29
www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/under-investigation-eddie-cochran
I’ve been updating Roy Orbisons Equipboard page and this is provided a good wealth of info the both confirms what I knew, and fills in holes that I’ve been looking to fill. Thanks mate! (Not trying to be a snob but I’d love to know your sources)
Thanks glad you liked it! I made this one a while back but I always try to you 2 or 3 sources for each fact including books/web/friends/guitar magazines - I'll watch it again and see if I can refresh my memory for the sources but I do remember spending some time on this one.
These vids are very enjoyable. Great format, great content. Thank you.
Thanks Jo!
Thanks for all the information & photos.
Pleasure Geoff
@@TheGuitarShow I have been fascinated by the 4 switches on the upper bout. So do you know what they did? Were they for pickup select, coil split or phase switch, or individual tone switching ?
I just binged a bunch of your videos. Great stuff!! Thank you!!
pleasure!
This is cool. Had the Candy Man single given to me when i was like 5. Roy's song Blue Angel has been a fave, now more than ever. I guess Roy adopted the black 335 later. EVH said he could fly on one. DLR said Get some sunglasses or switch guitars. Br pup went into the VH1 strat.
thanks for the info - I love Roy's music
Interesting history about the Gretsch/Gibson guitar... I figure it is hidden in a private collection.. an iconic instrument, indeed
I think someone in the comments section knows its whereabouts. Thanks
Interesting Roy Orbison fact ….. he owned the first Marshall amps brought into the USA .
wow thats so cool - thanks!
Great video. Thank you.
Mash up models are great, keep em coming...
Ramon, I enjoy your videos...I met Dumble once in the Santa Cruz mountains, circa 1975...Cheers from the island of Guam!
John Hoffman, president, Micronesia Blues Society
it's a pleasure my friend I'm glad to make your aquaintance. Dumble is a big hero of mine, I hope one day to come and tour the states! keep in touch thank you.
@@TheGuitarShow Ramon, the island of Guam is closer to Japan than the US mainland...but please come visit, and we will teach you how to do our native dance...the Cha Cha Sinuendo! The Dumble gig was funny...Dumble showed up with a fairly large PA...that only had 2 quarter inch jacks for inputs! I said to myself...this guy thinks differently! Years ago my friend found a Dumble Overdrive Special for 50 dollars at the Santa Cruz Flea Market! I wish it had been me!
jenet6498 Wow - I would love that! Great to hear about the Dumble gig - I can imagine that Dumble find was the find of the century!! Thanks bro
What a sin. That they took the Guitar that way from him. Any Who I think It would not be hard to make this Guitar today. I think Roy was on to something with this Idea.the best of both worlds. I would like to know who put this Guitar together for him in the first place.I think that the pickups are Gretsch pickups sort of P90s Thanks for sharing
Really interesting! Thanks.
pleasure Fatima
The White Faclon's scale length and the Gibson Super 400 scale length are the same...25.5 "
Thanks for the info
The Guitar Show Great video by the way!..very interesting about the Guyatone copy...I’m sure I’ve seen pictures of one of those guitars and never made the connection with Roy’s guitar. Such a shame his original (and boy is it original!) is missing.
Great info on a Rock icon!
thanks
Wonderful video
Thanks for watching and glad you liked it!
Love Roy's voice!
me too!
I saw Roy Orbison in Glasgow, Greens Playhouse in1969. It was the days of the package tour. On the bill was the Marmalade, Moira Anderson and Roy as the headliner. He opened with Pretty Woman playing a two pickup Les Paul custom.
many thanks for your memories - makes the videos worthwhile to do!
I would like to see your comments on the guitars of Buddy Holly.
Love the videos, how about doing the Quo guitar history?
I love Quo!!!!
I find it hard to believe anyone in Japan would steal Roy Orbison’s guitar - it is too dishonourable. That’s a very strange story.
The super 400 Gibson played easier and was lighter than the the tank like Gretsch guitars.
Very nice video.
Interesting channel.
I'm in .
Thank you Timothy
Head stock looks like an Epiphone, but has the Gibson custom shop diamond.
I had to know what this guitar was trying to be, thus, I found this cool channel and answers!
Thanks
Jack - Canada
Pleasure Jack!
Yes I noticed the headstock isnt the same,seems elongated
@@sharonlee4773 That's how a Super 400 is. They also have an inlay on the back of the headstock.
Bit of trivia .Iwas watching a canadian comedy show SCTV Roy was on playing pretty woman with a white 70s strat.
Thanks for this!
I think I have it. I found it at a grey market in Taiwan.
Eh?
Big fan of Roy Orbison
Please do one on banjo please 🙏🤙
okay
Roy Orbison he is a guitar player like evis Presley ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Better! Listen to Domino and many Sun singles…
None of which explains the elongated headstock does it?
The headstock looks right for a mid 30s Super 400.
@@VI-rt7sh Later ones as well.
Not sure on the timeline but gibson has a Roy-O signature 335 model
Elvis didnt name Roy as his favorite singer for nothing
Good video friend! Like and new suscriptor! 👍
thank you!
Great🎉🎉🎉
Used to know this guy who wanted to put humbuckers onto a Strat. Might have turned out cool if he had actually owned the Strat and not borrowed it.
When you say “Long Scale neck”
do you mean 25 & a half inches?
Stratocaster scale length.
Roy uses country gentleman black,i guess
We should get TRUMP to get Roy's guitar back from them
Trump actually has this guitar in his possession and is playing pretty woman on it as we speak.
This dude is so annoying when every time he mentions Roy or anyone else he always uses the full proper name! Please make it more casual!
When you say “Long Scale neck”
do you mean 25 & a half inches?