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Lot Essay
Sold with the following LP: Merle Travis: Travis Pickin', Producers: John Wagner and Merle Travis
In 1946, Merle Travis commissioned an electric guitar to be made by the machinist and inventor Paul A. Bigsby. The resulting guitar is often referred to by some as being the first solid-body electric guitar and today resides in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Enamored by the feel and playability of the neck, Travis returned to Bigsby requesting a custom neck be fitted on his Martin D-28. It was the first re-necking done by Bigsby on another manufacturer's guitar. It would be followed by countless other requests from performers like Lefty Frizell, Zeke Clements and Hank Thompson. This guitar which accompanied Travis through the majority of his career was used to compose such hits as Sixteen Tons, and Dark as a Dungeon.
The Dreadnought or "D" size guitars were first introduced by the C.F. Martin Company in 1934 and were quickly embraced by performers because of their tonal projection. In 1941, Martin produced 183 D-28 guitars which were constructed of Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides. This number was considerably smaller than the production totals for less expensive models incorporating mahogany bodies. Selling new for $125 it was 50 more expensive than the comparable mahogany D-18.
In 1946, Merle Travis commissioned an electric guitar to be made by the machinist and inventor Paul A. Bigsby. The resulting guitar is often referred to by some as being the first solid-body electric guitar and today resides in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Enamored by the feel and playability of the neck, Travis returned to Bigsby requesting a custom neck be fitted on his Martin D-28. It was the first re-necking done by Bigsby on another manufacturer's guitar. It would be followed by countless other requests from performers like Lefty Frizell, Zeke Clements and Hank Thompson. This guitar which accompanied Travis through the majority of his career was used to compose such hits as Sixteen Tons, and Dark as a Dungeon.
The Dreadnought or "D" size guitars were first introduced by the C.F. Martin Company in 1934 and were quickly embraced by performers because of their tonal projection. In 1941, Martin produced 183 D-28 guitars which were constructed of Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides. This number was considerably smaller than the production totals for less expensive models incorporating mahogany bodies. Selling new for $125 it was 50 more expensive than the comparable mahogany D-18.