*Summer of Soul*, New Documentary, Guild sightings

[wileypickett]

In addition to the music, the wild outfits, the choreogaphy of the Pips, and much more, LTGers may enjoy playing "name that Guild" during parts of this outdoor music festival taped in Harlem in 1969.

Pops Staples, and whoever is playing guitar with Nina Simone (not the guitarist on most of her records) are both seen playing Guild hollowbody electrics. (I'm no expert on these -- HB-1s maybe?)

Sonny Sharrock is shown in a brief bit of footage playing a frantic, free-form "out" solo (love that guy -- have all his records), but alas, it's on a Gibson.

 

[shihan]

Looks like a great show; looking forward to watching it. I don’t mind seeing a few nice Gibsons (hi Lucille) mixed in with the Guilds.

 

[twocorgis]

In addition to the music, the wild outfits, the choreogaphy of the Pips, and much more, LTGers may enjoy playing "name that Guild" during parts of this outdoor music festival taped in Harlem in 1969.

Pops Staples, and whoever is playing guitar with Nina Simone (not the guitarist on most of her records) are both seen playing Guild hollowbody electrics. (I'm no expert on these -- HB-1s maybe?)

Sonny Sharrock is shown in a brief bit of footage playing a frantic, free-form "out" solo (love that guy -- have all his records), but alas, it's on a Gibson.

Watched it last night, and thought it was great! Looked like Pops Staples was playing a blonde Starfire VI, and Nina Simone's guitarist a single (neck) pickup X150 I think.

 

[twocorgis]

If it was this one it is not a Guild:



Ralf

Might have to watch again! Looked like a Starfire VI, but had a stop tailpiece IIRC.

 

[SFIV1967]

and Nina Simone's guitarist a single (neck) pickup X150 I think.

Difficult to see but single pickup X-150 could fit. (EDIT: Seems to be a A-150 Savoy with model 1100 floating pickup). The guitar player was probably Rudy Stevenson.



Ralf

 

[wileypickett]

What Pops is playing in the film is defintely a Guild, Ralf. You can see the logo clearly on both the headstock and pickguard.

Pops apparently had more than one guitar. (Unheard of!) I've seen pics of him with Gibsons and Fenders, but this is the first time I've seen him with a Guild.

Being mainly an acoustic guy, I couldn't tell you the model. At first glance I thought it was one of the Duane Eddys.

 

[SFIV1967]

What Pops is playing in the film is defintely a Guild, Ralf. ... but this is the first time I've seen him with a Guild.

Hence my "question" as the blonde (?) Gibson in post #4 can be mistaken for a Starfire VI with stoptail. But I totally believe you and Sandy regarding the Guild. Too bad there are no pictures to be found.
Ralf

 

[wileypickett]

Guilds aside --

We caught the film via Hulu, but it's also playing in theaters and getting good reviews.

 

[twocorgis]

Hence my "question" as the blonde (?) Gibson in post #4 can be mistaken for a Starfire VI with stoptail. But I totally believe you and Sandy regarding the Guild. Too bad there are no pictures to be found.
Ralf

Definitely a Guild. Almost has to be a Starfire VI.

 

[twocorgis]

Here's a close-up of Rudy Stevenson and a smaller wide shot. Video quality not especially good here.

 

[wileypickett]

Thanks for sussing out Nina Simone’s guitar player’s name for her performance here — Rudy Stevenson.

Al Schackman is the guitarist (and arranger) I’m familiar with. He plays on most of Nina’s records and worked with her from the late ‘50s on — not sure why he wasn’t part of her band for this show.

I love Simone, but felt her performances here aren’t among her most riveting.

 

[SFIV1967]

Definitely a Guild. Almost has to be a Starfire VI.

Nice job!

Thanks for sussing out Nina Simone’s guitar player’s name for her performance here — Rudy Stevenson.

It was only my guess that it is him, I have no confirmation if it was him. In any case Rudy Stevenson was producer and manager at the broadway and he wrote songs for Nina Simone, George Benson, Joe Zawinul, Herbie Mann or Dexter Gordon.

Radio Swiss Jazz - Music database - Musician

«Rudy Stevenson»

www.radioswissjazz.ch

"In the 1960s he played five years in the band of Nina Simone, with whom he recorded a total of nine albums (including "I Put a Spell on You" or "My Baby Just Cares for Me") and added his compositions such as "Ain't No Use" and "I'm Gonna Leave You" to their repertoire."


Ralf

 

[cubis]

Here's a close-up of Rudy Stevenson and a smaller wide shot. Video quality not especially good here.

I am thinking that it's an A-150 Savoy with a floating pickup added. Hard to identify the pickup manufacture though.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Pops. Think this is on a Tele. Tone is great.



He grew up playing with Charlie Patton, Robert Johnson and Son House. He left for Chicago in 1935 at 21.

 

[wileypickett]

John Fahey told me a story of a festival he played in the '60s, and being in big common space backstage for performers. He was talking to another festival player (Taj Mahal?) about Charley Patton, about whom Fahey had written his master's thesis. John picked up his guitar and played part of whatever Patton piece was being discussed. Pops Staples, who was also playing the festival perked up, came over to listen, and finally said, "No, no, that's not how he played that," and borrowing John's guitar played the Patton piece perfectly.

 

[SFIV1967]

I am thinking that it's an A-150 Savoy with a floating pickup added. Hard to identify the pickup manufacture though.

Good catch! If I look at that picture I don't see the volume and tone knobs that a normal X-150 would have. But there is this silver block visible which could be the floating pickup volume and tone control!





The pickup now looks like a model 1100 to me! You even see the metal bar between his fingers and under his wrist!



Ralf

 

[twocorgis]

Good catch! If I look at that picture I don't see the volume and tone knobs that a normal X-150 would have. But there is this silver block visible which could be the floating pickup volume and tone control!





The pickup now looks like a model 1100 to me! You even see the metal bar between his fingers and under his wrist!



Ralf

I think that's right! I didn't notice the lack of a volume and tone control in the usual place for an X150.

 

[Westerly Wood]

John Fahey told me a story of a festival he played in the '60s, and being in big common space backstage for performers. He was talking to another festival player (Taj Mahal?) about Charley Patton, about whom Fahey had written his master's thesis. John picked up his guitar and played part of whatever Patton piece was being discussed. Pops Staples, who was also playing the festival perked up, came over to listen, and finally said, "No, no, that's not how he played that," and borrowing John's guitar played the Patton piece perfectly.

amazing! the wikipedia on Pops said that they were all young kids living on the surrounding plantations of the area of Mississippi. so they would hang out a lot playing guitar, learning from each other, when they had time. just the names themselves blows me away:

Charlie Patton
Son House
Robert Johnson
and now we know Pops Staples was part of the 4. talk about your real Fab Four....

 

[cubis]

Definitely a Guild. Almost has to be a Starfire VI.

Yes I would say definitely a Starfire VI as you can see the gold parts and the Bigsby under his right hand wrist. I would also say most likely small size humbuckers as according to Hans the full-size HB1 was not introduced until the end of 1970.

 

[cubis]

Good catch! If I look at that picture I don't see the volume and tone knobs that a normal X-150 would have. But there is this silver block visible which could be the floating pickup volume and tone control!





The pickup now looks like a model 1100 to me! You even see the metal bar between his fingers and under his wrist!



Ralf

Nice detective work, the picture where you can see the control pod with the three controls kind of seals the deal for me. I have never owned this particular model of DeArmond pickup, but I do have a 1948 DeArmond Guitar Mic FHC-B mounted on my 1964 CA100BL and it sounds and looks amazing.