Guitar
I just watched the 2008 film Crazy Heart
, the one with Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake, a down-on-his-luck country singer-songwriter. There are quite a few interesting guitars in this movie, and they help to convey something about the story and the characters who use them.
Bad's stage electric is a relic'ed Gretsch G6122 1959 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
, the hardware of which he lovingly polishes in one scene. This guitar is associated with Chet Atkins, of course, and thus has an aura of the Country Gentleman, the southern man with impeccable manners and upward mobility. The Stratoblogster blog uses the term "rustic regal" to describe another guitar, and it fits this guitar as well. It is also associated with George Harrison, which has increased its vintage value. These connotations attached to the Gretsch are at odds with Bad's character early in the film, as he drunkenly stumbles through a disastrous performance. But when he finds redemption through love, the Gretsch confirms Bad's persona as a seasoned class act who has paid his dues.
His other guitar is a Gibson J-45
with batwing pickguard, probably from the fifties, with many dings and scratches. This guitar is less pampered than the Gretsch, as is shown in the scene when Maggie Gyllenhall's character goes to sit down in a chair where the Gibson has been left, and Bad carelessly tosses it onto a nearby cushion. This seems to indicate the centrality of music in Bad's life - it is propped in a chair like a person - and his willingness to give this attractive stranger (Gyllenhall) a similar place of privilege.
More neutrally, a Kyser capo
and a tweed Fender Vibrolux
amp are seen, along with a Strat, Guild acoustic and a strange Tele with a three-on-a-side headstock as played by Ryan Bingham
in Bad's first backup band. A nice cream Tele, played by Buddy Miller
, shows up later, in the soundcheck scene when Bad is about to open for Tommy, played by Colin Farrell. Tommy's guitar is a sunburst Gibson J-200
, which is as collectible as Bad's J-45 but is far flashier, as befits Tommy's character.
After all of this American guitar goodness, it's a bit of a letdown that an Epiphone AJ-220E
, signed by Jeff Bridges, Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett, was given away by CMT and other media companies as a promotional contest.
- Vinage & Rare Guitar Of The Week: 1956 Gretsch Chet Atkins Model 6129
guitarz.blogspot.com: Whoops! It seems I've not featured any Vintage & Rare guitars recently - this is not a deliberate oversight, rather it's just a case of me having been very busy and often not posting on the blog until last thing at night...
- Gretsch 6003 "jimmie Rogers Folk Singer" Acoustic Guitar In Leonardtown Md For $425
This seller is offering a Gretsch 6003 acoustic which is sometimes referred to as the Jimmie Rogers Folk Singer Model. These were not expensive guitars - they sold for about $100 back in the 1960's - but they are USA built by Gretsch in Brooklyn...
- Gretsch New Yorker In Kansas City Ks For $300
Sounds like condition may be an issue with this instrument ("Rough" can mean a lot of things) but you may still want to check this one out. Gretsch New Yorkers are nice Vintage archtops - on par with Gibson to a certain degree. They usually command a...
- Gibson Chet Atkins Acoustic Electric In Boston For $500
Gibson introduced several versions of this guitar in 1987 - both steel string and Classic Nylon string and with and without electrons - this would have been the most expensive version - the steel string electric. This is a very good deal on this....
- 1964 Gretsch Clipper In Chatanooga For $500
You read correct - $500 for a 1964 USA made Gretsch. Of course this is not a White Penguin - but it does have a Bigsby on it. Gretsch's low end guitar in 1964 still makes a nice player and collector. Just listed today - better call that number...
Guitar
Crazy Heart guitars.
, the one with Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake, a down-on-his-luck country singer-songwriter. There are quite a few interesting guitars in this movie, and they help to convey something about the story and the characters who use them.Bad's stage electric is a relic'ed Gretsch G6122 1959 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
, the hardware of which he lovingly polishes in one scene. This guitar is associated with Chet Atkins, of course, and thus has an aura of the Country Gentleman, the southern man with impeccable manners and upward mobility. The Stratoblogster blog uses the term "rustic regal" to describe another guitar, and it fits this guitar as well. It is also associated with George Harrison, which has increased its vintage value. These connotations attached to the Gretsch are at odds with Bad's character early in the film, as he drunkenly stumbles through a disastrous performance. But when he finds redemption through love, the Gretsch confirms Bad's persona as a seasoned class act who has paid his dues.His other guitar is a Gibson J-45
with batwing pickguard, probably from the fifties, with many dings and scratches. This guitar is less pampered than the Gretsch, as is shown in the scene when Maggie Gyllenhall's character goes to sit down in a chair where the Gibson has been left, and Bad carelessly tosses it onto a nearby cushion. This seems to indicate the centrality of music in Bad's life - it is propped in a chair like a person - and his willingness to give this attractive stranger (Gyllenhall) a similar place of privilege. More neutrally, a Kyser capo and a tweed Fender Vibrolux amp are seen, along with a Strat, Guild acoustic and a strange Tele with a three-on-a-side headstock as played by Ryan Bingham in Bad's first backup band. A nice cream Tele, played by Buddy Miller, shows up later, in the soundcheck scene when Bad is about to open for Tommy, played by Colin Farrell. Tommy's guitar is a sunburst Gibson J-200, which is as collectible as Bad's J-45 but is far flashier, as befits Tommy's character.After all of this American guitar goodness, it's a bit of a letdown that an Epiphone AJ-220E
, signed by Jeff Bridges, Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett, was given away by CMT and other media companies as a promotional contest.
- Vinage & Rare Guitar Of The Week: 1956 Gretsch Chet Atkins Model 6129
guitarz.blogspot.com: Whoops! It seems I've not featured any Vintage & Rare guitars recently - this is not a deliberate oversight, rather it's just a case of me having been very busy and often not posting on the blog until last thing at night...
- Gretsch 6003 "jimmie Rogers Folk Singer" Acoustic Guitar In Leonardtown Md For $425
This seller is offering a Gretsch 6003 acoustic which is sometimes referred to as the Jimmie Rogers Folk Singer Model. These were not expensive guitars - they sold for about $100 back in the 1960's - but they are USA built by Gretsch in Brooklyn...
- Gretsch New Yorker In Kansas City Ks For $300
Sounds like condition may be an issue with this instrument ("Rough" can mean a lot of things) but you may still want to check this one out. Gretsch New Yorkers are nice Vintage archtops - on par with Gibson to a certain degree. They usually command a...
- Gibson Chet Atkins Acoustic Electric In Boston For $500
Gibson introduced several versions of this guitar in 1987 - both steel string and Classic Nylon string and with and without electrons - this would have been the most expensive version - the steel string electric. This is a very good deal on this....
- 1964 Gretsch Clipper In Chatanooga For $500
You read correct - $500 for a 1964 USA made Gretsch. Of course this is not a White Penguin - but it does have a Bigsby on it. Gretsch's low end guitar in 1964 still makes a nice player and collector. Just listed today - better call that number...