Elvis Presley's guitars explained

Guitars were a major component of the "rock and roll" image created by Elvis Presley in the 1950s and 1960s, onstage and in film appearances.[1]

According to his first lead guitarist, Scotty Moore, Presley was not "an accomplished musician", yet he possessed "an uncanny and amazing sense of timing and rhythm."[1] In the early years of his career, Presley's rhythm guitar accompaniment played a major role in the sound of his early performances and recordings.[1] Moore noted that as Presley began to learn to move on stage and to work the audience with his physical performance, his guitar became more of a "prop".[1]

Presley was not known to treat his instruments gently. The lack of a microphone on his guitar in his early years contributed to the development of his "aggressive style in attempt to be heard,"[1] and his strumming style would frequently break strings during his performances. As his career progressed, he became even more aggressive toward his instruments, frequently tossing his guitar to Charlie Hodge, who sometimes failed to catch it. As well, the large belt buckles and jewelry Presley wore left their marks on most of his instruments.[1]

Performance guitars

The following is a list of guitars that Presley owned or used for his performances and recordings.[1]

YearGuitarSerial No.UsedNotes
1940sKay (Tupelo Hardware)January 1946 – August 1954This was Presley's first guitar, purchased at Tupelo Hardware Co. for $7.75 (US$ in dollars) on his eleventh birthday, January 8, 1946. He used it throughout his high school years and on his first Sun recording sessions.[2]
1936Martin 000-18August 1954 – November 1954Purchased at O.K. Houck Piano Co. in Memphis for $79.50 (US$ in dollars)[3]
1939Recording King1954 Purchased at Montgomery Ward in Memphis. The guitar was given to Hall of Fame harness horseman Delvin G. Miller May 28, 1964 and includes a typed and signed note from Elvis to Miller which he affixed to the inside of the instrument. It is now in a private collection.
1942Martin D-1880221November 1954 – June 1955Purchased at O.K. Houck Piano Co. in Memphis, trading in his Martin 000-18[4] Sold for US$1.320,000 at a gottahaverockandroll auction on August 1, 2020
1953Martin 00-211954 – 1960Used by Elvis for performances during the mid 1950s
1955Martin D-28April 1955 – October 1956Purchased at O.K. Houck Piano Co. in Memphis, first used on April 16, 1955 in Dallas, fitted with a custom made tooled leather cover with his name, appeared on the cover of Presley's first album[5]
1956Gibson J-200A-22937October 1956 – November 1970Purchased through O.K. Houck Piano Co. in Memphis in October 1956, first used on October 11, 1956 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, used with a tooled leather cover on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957; made by Charles Underwood[6]
1950sIsana Jazz1958 – 1960Purchased by Lamar Fike in Bad Nauheim, Germany, a handmade German S hole jazz guitar used by Presley while serving in the U.S. Army[7]
1960Gibson J-200A-32944March 1960 – June 1968Purchased through O.K. Houck Piano Co. in Memphis for his March 20, 1960 Nashville recording sessions while his original Gibson J-200 (A-22937) was being refinished and repaired, shipped to Scotty Moore c/o Chet Atkins, used for the Elvis 1968 Comeback Special[8]
1968Hagström Viking IIJune 1968Borrowed from session player Al Casey for several segments of the Elvis 1968 Comeback Special. Sold on April 7, 2021 at a GWS auction for US$625,000
1963 Gibson J-200 Ebony61952Mid 1960s – 1976This guitar was given to Presley during a Nashville recording session at Studio B in the mid-1960s. Played on stage at the Las Vegas Hilton during the 1970s, the guitar has Elvis' Kenpo karate patch attached to honor his friend, Ed Parker, the founder of Kenpo karate.[9]
1963Gibson Super 40062713June 1968Borrowed from Scotty Moore for the live segments of the Elvis 1968 Comeback Special, purchased from Gibson in October 1963 for $237 (US$ in dollars).
1966Gretsch Country Gentleman80736February 1970 – March 1970Developed as a signature model by Gretsch for Chet Atkins, similar to the 1962 Gretsch 6122 Country Gentleman used by George Harrison for early Beatles performances and recordings
1969Gibson Dove Ebony539461November 1971 – September 1973,
July 1975
Given to audience member Mike Harris during a concert on July 24, 1975 in Asheville, North Carolina, saying, "This is yours. Hold on to that. Hopefully, it'll be valuable one day."
1968Gibson J-200 Ebony618195March 1974 – July 1975First used on March 1, 1974 in Tulsa, applied a Kenpo Karate decal to the body in September, thrown into the audience on July 15, 1975 at the Springfield Civic Center in Springfield, Massachusetts after breaking a string
1970sGibson Dove CustomA004051August 1975 – April 1976First used on August 18, 1975 at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, used exclusively on subsequent tours through April 27, 1976
1974Guild F-5096648May 1976 – September 1976First used on May 27, 1976 at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.
1976Martin D-35377704October 1976 – February 1977
1975Martin D-28369735February 1977 – June 1977Used in his final live performance in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 26, 1977.

Film guitars

The following is a list of "prop" guitars that Presley used on screen during musical numbers in his 31 theatrical films. These guitars were purchased by the studios, and in some cases, were identical to Presley's own performance guitars. The Gibson J-200 used in Loving You, King Creole, and G.I. Blues, for example, was identical to the Gibson J-200 he purchased in October 1956 (serial number A-22937).[10]

YearFilmStudioGuitarsNotes
1956Love Me TenderFoxFox prop guitar
1957Loving YouParamountGibson J-45
Gibson J-200
1957Jailhouse RockMGMStella H929
Maton HG100
1958King CreoleParamountGibson J-45
Gibson J-200
1960G.I. BluesParamountGibson J-45
Gibson J-200
Harmony H950
1960Flaming StarFoxFox prop guitar
1961Wild in the CountryFoxParlor style steel string
1961Blue HawaiiParamountGibson J-45
Soprano ukulele
1962Follow That DreamUAOld Kraftsman
1962Kid GalahadUAOld Kraftsman
1962Girls! Girls! Girls!ParamountMartin 0-17
Harmony H165
1963It Happened at the World's FairMGMGibson LG-1
1963Fun in AcapulcoParamountHarmony H950
Harmony H165
Classical guitar
1964Viva Las VegasMGMGibson LG-1
Fender Stratocaster
1964Kissin' CousinsMGMNo guitar used
1964RoustaboutParamountHarmony H950
1965Girl HappyMGMGibson LG-1
Fender Telecaster
Fender Precision Bass
1965Tickle MeAllied ArtistsGibson J-200
Classical guitar
1965Harum ScarumMGMNo guitar used
1966Frankie and JohnnyUAHarmony H929TG
Stella Tenor
1966Paradise, Hawaiian StyleParamountHarmony H950
1966SpinoutMGMBurns Double Six
Fender Precision Bass
Hoyer 12-String
Gibson LG-1
Gibson EBS-1250
1967Easy Come, Easy GoParamountFender Precision Bass
Gibson SG
1967Double TroubleMGM1960s Ampeg Baby Bass
1967ClambakeUAClassical guitar
Fender Electric XII
Fender Wildwood VI
1968Stay Away, JoeMGMNo guitar used
1968SpeedwayMGMFender Coronado II
1968Live a Little, Love a LittleMGMGibson LG-1
1969Charro!National GeneralNo guitar used
1969The Trouble with GirlsMGMKay dreadnought
1969Change of HabitUAClassical guitar
Old Kraftsman
Harmony H162 style acoustic

References

Citations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Roy . James V. . The Performance Guitars of Elvis Presley . Scotty Moore . August 15, 2010 . January 8, 2013.
  2. Web site: Roy . James V. . 1940s Kay (Tupelo Hardware store) Guitar . Scotty Moore . January 12, 2013.
  3. Web site: Roy . James V. . Elvis' Martin 000-18 . Scotty Moore . January 12, 2013.
  4. Web site: Roy . James V. . Elvis' 1942 Martin D-18 . Scotty Moore . January 12, 2013.
  5. Web site: Roy . James V. . Elvis' 1955 Martin D-28 . Scotty Moore . January 12, 2013.
  6. Web site: Roy . James V. . Elvis' 1956 Gibson J200 . Scotty Moore . January 13, 2013.
  7. Web site: Roy . James V. . 1950s Isana Jazz Guitar . Scotty Moore . January 13, 2013.
  8. Web site: Roy . James V. . Elvis' 1960 Gibson J200 . Scotty Moore . January 13, 2013.
  9. Web site: The Elvis Personal Guitars: Gibson J-200, 1963 . Elvis.net . November 15, 2015.
  10. Web site: Roy . James V. . The Movie Guitars of Elvis Presley . Scotty Moore . August 15, 2010 . January 8, 2013.