Weymann Jimmie Rodgers Special Guitar in The Vintage Corner Forum

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Weymann Jimmie Rodgers Special Guitar

Author	Comment
ArnoldGuitar51	Weymann Jimmie Rodgers Special Guitar	Lead	[-]
(10/10/08 7:35 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None I was reading the great book that Jimmie Rodgers widow wrote in 1935 and it talked about the Jimmie Rodgers special guitar that Weymann sold in the late 20's. I know that John Arnold owns one, but was wondering if anyone else has ever seen one or is lucky enough to own one? What I wouldn't give to find one of those as Jimmie Rodgers is a hero of mine! If You have any pictures or catalogs with these guitars please post them here. Thanks, Z
ArnoldGuitar51		#1	[-]
(10/15/08 9:01 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	anybody? Maybe John can post a picture of his Weymann or talk a little about them.
Zipster100		#2	[-]
(10/15/08 9:17 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	You know, I'd love to see something on this topic if anyone has any info. AKA "EyeCandy" "A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz." --Humphrey Bogart
D50Ed		#3	[-]
(10/15/08 9:50 PM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I have 2 Weymann's from that era. One is a 000 Adi/Braz 12fret slothead and the other is an all Mahogany 00 slothead with a trapize tailpiece. Dave Musselwhite is doing a neck reset on the 000 Adi/Braz. The 00 needs a top crake fixed among a few other repairs. The 000 is an amazing sounding guitar. I believe Jimmy Rodgers Weymann had Mahogany back and sides.
Arnoldgtr		#4	[-]
(10/16/08 1:46 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I finally got some snapshots of mine. After building a replica of Jimmie's personal guitar for Doc Watson in 1990, I had a special interest in finding one of the production Jimmies. Unfortunately, it has been a rare event to see one, much less purchase one. I finally found one on Ebay in Jan 2003, and I snapped it up. It was mostly complete, except for the unique Weymann banjo keys, which are inset into the back of the peghead. The bridge was and still is unglued, but I do plan to get it playable soon. The original case was included. The measurements are between a Martin 00 and 000, but a bit deeper sides. It has the long 25.4 scale length. The serial number 47179 is stamped on the end of the peghead. Any info on dating Weymanns from the serial numbers would be appreciated. I suspect it was made in the early-1930's. The quality of workmanship and materials is on a par with Martin. There are three screw holes in the top, where an aftermarket tortoise celluloid pickguard was installed. The position markers on the face of the pearloid fingerboard are not original. Beautiful red spruce top. The edge purfling and rosette are identical to Jimmie's personal guitar, as well as the bracing. The production guitar does not have the ribs on the sides, however. The bridge is not glued. Here are the original type Weymann banjo tuners, which I found later. Screw holes are evidence of guitar tuners having been installed at one time. The mahogany in the back and sides is some of the finest I have seen anywhere. I suspect it is Cuban, but the catalog does not specify. As Mike Longworth would say....the 'unabridged' version. Original case, with one latch partially missing. Here is a catalog scan a friend sent to me. These two scans are from catalog #60, which I found on Ebay. The question is...how many were made? I suspect not many....for two reasons. Weymann was mainly known for banjos and mandolins, and the $90.00 price in the Depression must have been formidable. That was the price for an OM-28 in 1930, which was a rosewood guitar. For comparison, here are shots of the replica I made of Jimmie's personal guitar. That one is now in the Country Music Hall of Fame. There are many photos of Jimmie holding the original guitar, although the Martin 000-45 is probably more famous. The raised ribs on the sides were used on some Weymann mandolins. AFAIK, the only guitars with this feature are Jimmie's and the guitars I have made. I have also made dreadnoughts with the ribs....a "Rosa Lee" model named for Doc's wife, and a "Deep Gap" model. John Last Edited By: Arnoldgtr 10/17/08 10:44 PM. Edited 4 times.
ArnoldGuitar51		#5	[-]
(10/16/08 6:57 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	John, many thanks for posting these great pictures! The copy You built is still one of the best I have seen. Like You had mentioned the workmanship of the Weymann looks to be on par with Martin. Also, the original catalog shows that the case You have with Your guitar is ORIGINAL! Same style case as the ones that came with Martin except for the straight "stove pipe" shape in the headstock area. Now the search begins!
1957Martins		#6	[-]
(10/17/08 6:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	There is a Weymann currently for sale on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Vinta...&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 Kirk
bassrun		#7	[-]
(10/17/08 7:12 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	1957Martins wrote: There is a Weymann currently for sale on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Vinta...&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 Kirk This one is ladder braced, and the headstock sure looks like a Stromberg-Voisenette headstock shape. --John
Arnoldgtr		#8	[-]
(10/17/08 10:37 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I doubt that that one was made by Weymann. It seems that Weymann 'farmed out' much of the guitars with their name throughout their history. The ones made by Weymann have a distinct look, which is very reminiscent of Martin. I have two other Weymann guitars, a tenor and a 1-size six-string. Both are all mahogany. Here is a photo taken at the Country Music Hall of Fame. I am holding the original Jimmie in the center. John Last Edited By: Arnoldgtr 10/17/08 10:44 PM. Edited 1 times.
yiannis71		#9	[-]
(10/18/08 1:35 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	John, Thank you for the nice photos and story too.The last picture is even cooler! Regards, Yiannis
WkndHack	Weymann	#10	[-]
(10/18/08 1:17 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks so much for the pics, John, and especially those catalog pages! I have a Weymann uke I've been trying to find more info about; if your friend's catalog has any uke pages I'd be thrilled to see them. The vintage uke heads have told me this is a Weymann-built instrument. Gorgeous mahogany. It's model No. 20. The logo sticker is a bit different than on the guitar you show. Here are a few shots; do you think this is the same type of mahogany you noticed on the guitars? Thanks, Gretchen
ArnoldGuitar51		#11	[-]
(10/18/08 1:44 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Very nice Gretchen. Nice combo!!!!
0021fan		#12	[-]
(10/18/08 3:18 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Lovely guitar!! Quite a few similarities to Larson Maurers and Stahls ... bodyshape, bridge shape. The back appears to be flat-braced .. all or just 2, 3 ,4 (visible thru sound-hole pic) or ? Larson Maurers typically flat-braced on 4 and 5. Again, very nice to see such fine pics of such a fine-looking guitar.
Zizala		#13	[-]
(10/18/08 6:47 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	A friend of mine, Bob Conkling (occasionally visitng here as picknconk) has one of John Arnold 's guitars built in the Weymann Jimmie Rodgers style I've had the pleasure of listening to and picking that guitar when he's brought it by from time to time. Just when I thought my '36 Tonk Washburn Solo was about the best flat top guitar I could possibly have, that Jimmie just rose to the occasion and then some the last time Bob came over. The clarity, projection and and overall spunk of the thing...well an archtop lover can appreciate! So Bob....when are you coming over again? ziz
Arnoldgtr		#14	[-]
(10/19/08 1:57 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	0021Fan, The production Jimmies do have six flat back braces. For whatever reason, Jimmie's personal guitar was more conventional, with four taller back braces. These are like a smaller version of the traditional Martin lower back braces, measuring 5/8" wide by about 3/8" tall. Gretchen, My catalog is a fold-out pamphlet that only has eight pages, including the front page (pictured). It has no mandolins or ukes. The mahogany in your uke is identical to that in my tenor Weymann...in other words, more figured than the Jimmie. The "Keystone State" decal is quite common, especially on the banjos. Ziz, Your guitar photos are beautiful. I need to ditch the flash and take some photography lessons. Bob tells me that you are a dedicated photographer, and I believe it. Bob's guitar is the last Jimmie I have made. The main differences from the first two are the fingerboard inlays, bound ebony headplate with a script "Arnold" logo, and a hand-painted pickguard. John
D50Ed		#15	[-]
(10/19/08 10:03 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hey John would you consider making another Weymann Jimmie Rodgers Special for me????
picknconk		#16	[-]
(10/19/08 10:48 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just to add something to this thread,...the "other" Jimmie is owned by a collector in TN. I'm curious to see John's reply, he said he'd do a style 18 Jimmie, but a full-blown one he says is masochism with all those binding strips and wood pieces in the top. John, you do own another ribbed guitar...the Regal Esquire archtop has ribs on it's sides. It's a SDuper 400 looking sort of a thing. If I could only keep one guitar , it would be the Jimmie Weyman. Of course, it would be nice to keep all three(I shall), and get back a dozen others that left home over the years. I keep asking Doc to bring his when I see him, but it only leaves home for church. It's a thrill to own one of three, and share ownwership pride with Doc Watson. I even let him scribble on my guitar....Bob

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Weymann Jimmie Rodgers Special Guitar

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