Tonewood?

[rgogo65]

JUst a bit of guitar history I thought some might enjoy.
It's doubtful many even know who this man was today, but he played
a big part in American Folk music and at one time his old guitar was
world famous.
Here's some links to see the man, his guitar, and one of the songs he wrote
and a bit of his bio.
He was a serious "Teacher" first, and much of what he wrote was to teach his kids.
The rest of his musical persuit was to save American herritage.
I hope you enjoy.
Ray

Everybody worries about the wood you just gotta have to build a guitar. You know, really GOOD "TONE WOOD"!
Sometimes I wonder just how important that is...then, the size, shape and glues and ...well you KNOW...ALL those important things...back wood matching side wood for acoustics, top woods...gotta be "Just Right!"
Maybe this would change the minds of some with all those fancy ideas...
I mean C'mon, a good fence post, getja an Old Ox yoke, I mean nobody gonna need THAT thing any more, and Grandma's "Headboard" off her bed...what the hell if she kicks ya out...ya need GOOD wood...RIGHT??

If you think I'm jokin'...it's all true...most of ya never heard of this guy, but just a hint...he wrote "The Battle of New Orleans" and the "Tennessee Stud". and over 6000 other songs...
Here he is with the guitar he played all his life, at age 90 in 1988...and the link to a Bio...a very impressive remarkable Man, who did most of what he did for kids. He was primiarily a Teacher first, and a musician second!
Listed here is the Tennessee Stud with origional lyrics and the guitar in question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1BiPbxX1YU

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Driftwood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TJjFEGN ... re=related

[Ken Hundley]

That was fantastic. Thanks for finding this, great skills.

A comment about the constant debates about woods and shapes: it is no different than any other hobby or skill or proffession. Each person has their "I swearby this", and will seldom admit it could be different, and will occasionaly get ridiculously over passionate about it. Look at cars, golf clubs, pool cues, you name it. Part of it, I will hazard to guess, may simply be the love of debate....this just happens to be the topic some feel as so called experts, rightly so or not. Thats at least how I take it. Sometimes I learn something....at the very least....who to ignore. Sometimes I'll participate, but I'll be the first to admit I am far from an expert. It's fun most of the time, but you are right...this guy proves a lot of what we debate is secondary to good skills. I good player can make a fence post sound incredible.

[tippie53]

This proves my theory that if you put the strings on the out side , it will work better

[deadedith]

A tough theory to test though, John, being as how there is a shortage of instruments with the strings inside to compare with. :-) Maybe a special kit for a test build?
DaveB

[deadedith]

If I had not seen those pictures with my own eyes, I might not have believed it!

Strange and yet beautiful..

DaveB

[Tony_in_NYC]

Those guitars There are plenty of instruments with strings on the inside, but this is the first time I have seen a guitar like that!!

[naccoachbob]

Strings on the inside? Wouldn't that be a piano? :)

[Darryl Young]

Jimmy Driftwood is from Arkansas. He was born and grew up just east of where I now live (Springdale and he was born just outside of Mountain Home). Actually, he died in Fayetteville, AR (the town just south of me) where I work.

It is a folksy style that many wouldn't like nowdays......but you have to say he was very creative and worked with what he had. The legacy of songs he wrote set him apart. That the songs were mostly written to help educate children was/is noble and very creative on his part. In fact, he said he wrote "The Battle of New Orleans" to get some of his students interested in the history event (I love that song). He attended John Brown University (the college Bill Cory's daughter is attending which is about 20 miles West of me) and graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College (now called the University of Central Arkansas where I earned my first degree in Computer Science and met my wife).

Thanks for this walk back through history!!!