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Topic: Two reasons to visit GC Hollywood tomorrow |
Peter Huggins
From:
Van Nuys, California, USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2011 9:43 pm |
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I know, there are people who wouldn't come within a block or so of the place. And every kid shredder is in there every Saturday, wailing away on some pointy guitar..... BUT ........ !
Tomorrow night, March 16 at 7 pm "Guitar Center Sessions" with Carl Verheyen, FREE (limited capacity). If you haven't heard Carl, there is lots of evidence on You Tube and all over the web of his prowess, One of the best guitarists out there.
And Also (of most interest to steel players):
The collection of lap steels that has adorned the top of the stage since the building was first converted from the Gordon Theater many years ago, have all been brought down to the sales floor and priced. I caught wind of this happening last week and went in yesterday for a closer inspection. The list includes (among others) several Ricks, early Fenders, Gibsons both pre- and post-war, a Vega, a couple of Epiphone Electars, Nationals of both the six and eight string variety, a Recording King Roy Smeck, and an early Magnatone (mislabeled as a Volu-Tone).
I know this sounds like a bunch of obsolete antiques, but after ogoling these guitars from afar for years and always being told "Not For Sale" it was a good day to be able to finally actually try a few of these babies out! And no, not all the prices are ridiculous either. They do want $4500 for the Rickenbacher with Doc Kauffman Motorized Vibrola, but they are pretty rare, on the other hand the Model B with Spanish Bakelite neck was $1200 (some chips in the Bakelite frets, which I guess is typical). There were some in the $400 range (including the Roy Smeck), but I had to bite the bullet and go for the '56 Gibson Royaltone. I did trade in one of the solidbody Stellas, so that should be up on the wall soon.
As I hear the story, these steel guitars were the private collection of GC's owner at the time they moved into the building. I don't know how that relates to present day management, but apparently the entire collection was priced and inventoried into the system, except for the Frying Pan. There is one K&F that did not have a price yet.
I haven't told anyone about this except Barney, he has been looking for a nice EH-150 or -185 or the like, and there are a couple of really fine ones there. Not for long, I suspect. 
Personal disclaimer: I do not work for GC. However, I will be loading Carl Verheyen's gear tomorrow 
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A big THANKS to all my friends, here and everywhere ! |
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Steve Perry
From:
Elizabethtown Ky, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2011 8:48 am Re: Two reasons to visit GC Hollywood tomorrow
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| Peter Huggins wrote: |
| I know, there are people who wouldn't come within a block or so of the place. And every kid shredder is in there every Saturday, wailing away on some pointy guitar..... BUT ........ ! |
I found the solution to the pointy headed shredder kids (and adults).  Take a Tele off the wall, plug it into a Twin Reverb, and pick a little "Buckaroo". They'll clear out like rats deserting a sinking ship. I did this at the GC in Nashville one Saturday afternoon and two of the staff came over and thanked me.  |
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 16 Mar 2011 10:49 am
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Yes, GC Hollywood has been selling some really nice vintage lap steels that had been hanging up on their wall through the GC website, with the prices not as outrageous as you might expect. They had a 1940's Gibson BR-9 selling for $400 but the wide oval alnico pickup was shot so I had to pass on it (they would have added the cost of repairs to the $400  ).
Thanks for filling us in the history of these steels! (BTW this is the original GC store, going back to 1959 I believe. I've never been there myself.)
Steve Ahola
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 16 Mar 2011 7:59 pm
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I Hate those guys, you know, the ones in the guitar mag ads 
I've run into them one too many times at Vintage Guitar Shows with their booth full of vintage cases not for sale and a very snotty attitude 
It will be extremely difficult to get a good deal from them  |
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Orlando Colom
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2011 8:00 pm
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| Wow! they are selling the Ricky with the motorized vibrato cheap. They bought it from a personal friend of mine,and i was there when they picked it up.They paid 6.5K for it. Thats one rare lap steel. |
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Peter Huggins
From:
Van Nuys, California, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2011 12:34 pm
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To Steve: They started out as the VOX Guitar Center, in the building a block up the street that later held Freedom Guitar and most recently Vintage Gear, which is now gone. Don't know how many years they were there but they eventually moved across the street into the building that now houses a printing company. That was where I got my first Gibson Thunderbird Bass in about 1974 or so. I don't think their history goes back to 1959, perhaps the late sixties would be more accurate, I'll ask next time I'm down there.
Orlando: I didn't play the motorized Ricky, but I did play the one with the Spanish neck. Nice, but I already have two Ricks and last year I picked up a Slingerland with a Spanish neck in need of a total restoration, so I need to put money towards that before I can justify another exorbitant purchase. There was a motorized Ricky in the Heritage Auction a couple months back, I got a good close-up look at it. It had the nice case and the post to attach it to the amp, but no amp. There were chips on the frets too, but the winning bid was $3000 (plus the auction fees).
To Garry: I'm sorry you have developed a negative view of Dave and Drew. Granted, if they are manning a booth at a vintage show they are there on company business, and that business is to buy guitars, so they can't sell them directly before they get inventoried and cleared (they have to be held for 35 days in case a stolen report comes in). On the other hand, the Vintage Room was a sponsor at Deke's Guitar Geek Festival this year and they brought down about a dozen instruments for display and sale. Don't know if they sold anything there, but I for one am glad they chose to support Deke. And the Rickenbacker Light Show guitar was pretty cool.
I have always had good communication and conversation with both of those guys, especially Dave. However Dave has left the employ of Guitar Center late last year, apparently taking the rights to the 'Burst Brothers' name with him. Drew said he can't afford to retire yet. (neither could I, but at&t had other plans, grin.)
My point in posting is Right Now there are some very good deals to be had on some very hard-to-find Lap steel models.
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A big THANKS to all my friends, here and everywhere ! |
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Barney Roach
From:
Del Mar, California, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2011 8:51 pm
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I can't thank Peter and Richard Shatz enough-
both of them pointed me to these instruments,
and tonight- Peter went to GC on my behalf and
inspected and purchased a Gibson EH-185 for me. He says
it has been hanging on the wall since the 1980's
in the store, and were never before offered for
sale.
I feel very blessed to have these two Lap Steel
fans as friends.
I owe you both,
Barney |
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