Old Square Neck Acoustic Guitar

James Brown · Post by **James Brown** » 22 Mar 2003 4:12 pm

Does anybody have one of these Guitars?Inside the sound hole it is stamped;W.[Billy]Reid,63 Willow Street,Halifax,Nova Scotia.I have pictures I was going to post but the picture hosting is down, so if you are interested, I can send pictures if you email me or post here on the forum.Any help would be appreciated.I would like to know where and when this guitar was made.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 22 Mar 2003 8:59 pm

James, send me the pictures and I'll host them temporarily while we try to identify the instrument. Without pictures or a better description, it'll be hard to guess what you have.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Post by **Joey Ace** » 23 Mar 2003 6:02 am

Thanks Brad, but I already made the same offer to James.

Here they are: http://www.joeyace.com/sgf/jb1.jpg http://www.joeyace.com/sgf/jb2.jpg http://www.joeyace.com/sgf/jb3.jpg http://www.joeyace.com/sgf/jb4.jpg

James Brown · Post by **James Brown** » 23 Mar 2003 6:09 am

Thanks for the posting.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 23 Mar 2003 1:10 pm

It looks like it was made by Regal of Chicago, probably in the 1930s. I don't have a lot of information on these guitars,unfortunately.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 23 Mar 2003 1:44 pm

James:

It looks very similar to some of the guitars made by manufacturers like Regal, Kay and Harmony for guitar schools like Oahu, Bronson and Aloha National Studios. (I used to have a Bronson that was almost identical, other than the fret markers.)

I found a reference to Billy Reid, Hawaiian guitar, Nova Scotia and guitar schools on a web page about a Canadian guitarist named Ken Davidson -- is that any help?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Russ Young on 23 March 2003 at 01:46 PM.]</p></FONT>

James Brown · Post by **James Brown** » 23 Mar 2003 2:01 pm

Thanks for the help.That date would probably be close,I have a picture of my mother with one of these guitars on her lap when she was 13 years old,taking lessons from Billy Reids school.My Mother is 68 years old now.
I bought this guitar from Ken Davidson,he told me he bought it from one of his music students.It still sounds pretty good.

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 23 Mar 2003 7:04 pm

Hi James. Billy Reid Jr. lives in Oakville, his Dad died a couple of years ago. If you need his address and phone number, I can get it to you. George Rout

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 23 Mar 2003 7:06 pm

I fogot to mention that Ken Davidson died about a year ago also. George

James Brown · Post by **James Brown** » 24 Mar 2003 10:32 am

Thanks George.

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 26 Mar 2003 10:37 am

Ken Davidson Jr. is still around - he teaches classical guitar at Acadia University in Wolfville, NS, and is a heck of a jazz player too. My father played with Ken Sr. who also played jazz guitar. I've gigged with both Ken Jr. and Billy Reid Sr. (once).

...not that you asked.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 27 Mar 2003 7:59 pm

Billy Reid (Sr.) was known as the "Canadian Dean of Hawaiian Music"...a title he richly deserved. He had a radio show which ran almost continuously on local radio in Halifax and/or across Canada on the Trans Canada Network of the CBC for over 40 years which must be some kind of record...It was called "Hawaiian Rendezvous". I have many cassette tapes of those old shows which he sent to me over a period of many years. Billy and I were good friends for a number of years before we ever met one another. He was a prolific composer and often looked to me to compose the lyrics to his songs or make structural changes to the melody lines. We eventually met in Winchester, IN during a steel guitar convention where our friendship was sealed forever. His music school was well known in the Halifax area. The City of Halifax bestowed an award of recognition upon him many years ago. Sadly, Billy Sr had a fight with cancer which he could not win. The day came when he phoned me to say goodbye forever as he knew he had only a matter of days to live...believe me, the tears were flowing after that phone call! Son, Billy Jr has done his dad proud although Billy Sr never really heard Jr play the steel guitar professionally. However, I have heard Billy Jr. He plays a nahi nahi Hawaiian style using the D9th tuning which very few use today, the same tuning Billy Sr played throughout his long career.. .Oh, to George Rout, Billy Jr. lives in Burlington, ON. If you want to know the history of that old guitar, I am sure Billy Jr can assist you. I'll cut and paste his latest e-mail address for you on a thread below.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 27 Mar 2003 8:06 pm

Here is Billy Reid Jr's current e-mail address:

anabil@cogeco.ca

I am sure he will be very delighted to hear from any Forum member who may wish to learn the full story of Billy Reid Sr., his music school, those old guitars, his long running radio show, etc. (Feel free to mention my name when you e-mail him).

Tim Taylor · Post by **Tim Taylor** » 27 Mar 2003 9:01 pm

Reading links like these make it apparent what a great resource we have in the SGF. In these trying times it is comforting to feel such a great sense of community and brotherhood. Perhaps non-pedal reminds us of more simple times. Tim.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 27 Mar 2003 10:13 pm

Yes Tim, I agree with you. I come from more simple times when gasolene was only 22 cents a gallon and an ice cream cone could be had for 5 cents. I also feel that Hawaiian Guitarists have a special "bond" which other instrumentalists don't seem to have. We can relate to one another in a helpful, friendly way. JMHO

Keith DeLong · Post by **Keith DeLong** » 3 Apr 2003 6:55 pm

A friend of mine bought one of those guitars in a music store in New Glasgow NS--I don't know if he still has it or not. It had Billy Reid's name on the inside; Billy was the sergeant-at-arms of the AF of M Local 571 for many years.

James Brown · Post by **James Brown** » 4 Apr 2003 4:31 am

Thanks for the info;
Keith, I would be interested in taking a look at this guitar, if your friend still has it.Please let me know.