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Model G-58 M (15-1/2″). Serial number 4384. Ex colls.: Webb Pierce, Shelby S. Singleton, Jr. Tony and Bonnie Vinatieri Family Trust; Arne B. and Jeanne F. Larson Fund, 2004. |
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This Grammer Model G-58 M dreadnought was produced with custom fingerboard inlay and truss rod cover engraving bearing the name of its famous owner, Webb Pierce. Pierce, born in West Monroe, Louisiana, in 1921, was one of the most successful honky tonk musicians of the 1950s and ‘60s. Pierce broke onto the music scene with his 1951 hit, Wondering, and continued to score hit tunes through the 1960s. Though he achieved only a few hits in the early 1970s, he had already ensured his lasting fame in country music. In addition to his signature nasal vocals, Webb Pierce was well known for his distinctive personal style. The bright blue sunburst lacquer on this Grammer guitar could hold its own with Pierce’s flashy, outrageous sartorial habits, and even suggests the color of the infamous guitar-shaped swimming pool at his Nashville home.  Click on image at left to see an enlargement of a letter written in 2004 by Shelby S. Singleton, Jr., Chairman of Sun Records, to George Gruhn, documenting Singleton's relationship with Webb Pierce and his Grammer guitar. |
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Inscriptions: Printed on paper label with single line border, the serial number rubber-stamped in black ink, the model written in black ballpoint pen: [g logo, white letter on black background] / GRAMMER GUITAR / COMPANY / 4384 / SERIAL No. / G 58-M / MODEL No. / NASHVILLE , TENNESEE / MUSIC CITY USA Engraved on peghead veneer, double layer, black-white plastic, so that lettering appears white on a black background: the / grammer / guitar Stamped on top block: 02 / 770 Written in pencil on bridge plate: 9-15-71 Engraved on truss rod cover and filled with black ink, oriented to be read when guitar is played: WEBB PIERCE Inlaid in mother of pearl on fingerboard between 1st and 13th frets, oriented to be read when guitar is played:WEBB PIERCE Round, white paper sticker on peghead, printed in red ink: [Pierce head shot] / WEBB PIERCE [lettering curved upward at each end] Stamped on tuners: GROVER / PAT. PEND. / U. S. A. Pencil lines on neck and end blocks marking center positions, perpendicular to plane of back |
Body: Soundboard: quarter-cut spruce with medium grain. Back: two-piece, slab-cut maple with quilted figure and some bird’s eyes and pith flecks. Ribs: two-piece, slab-cut maple with quilted figure and pith flecks. Head: five-piece plain maple with laminated black-white celluloid veneer, so that chamfered edges and engraved lettering appear white on a black background; decorative, engraved lines forming upside-down “L” with rounded corner, under signature lettering. Neck: three-piece plain maple; integral with head; aluminum strap button affixed to heel with nickel-plated steel phillip’s head screw.
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Back |
Close-up of back |
Inlay: Binding: white celluloid; trim comprised of nine-ply black and white celluloid purfling strips. Back stripe: comprised of brown hardwood diamonds each surrounded by four light hardwood parallelograms arranged to form herringbones, with blue-stained hardwood herringbones on outsides, each of these figures interspersed with black-white-black hardwood strips, the entire mosaic enclosed in single light hardwood purfling strips. End graft: end graft comprised of geometric light hardwood, mahogany, and rosewood inlay, surrounded on each side by wide black hardwood strip and thin light hardwood strip.
Trim: Heel cap: laminated black-white celluloid veneer, so that chamfered edges appear white on a black background. Fingerboard: ebony bound in white celluloid, the bottom end of fingerboard scalloped; 20 nickel-silver frets; mother-of-pearl dots behind 1st and 15th frets; WEBB PIERCE in mother-of-pearl inlaid lettering between 1st and 13th frets; single black celluloid side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th frets; double black celluloid side dots behind 12th fret. Nut: white plastic. Bridge: ebony with scalloped and chamfered upper edge; scalloped, tapered; angled white plastic saddle; white plastic bridge pins; single mother-of-pearl dots on each side of bridge pins covering screws. Pegs: six chrome-plated steel worm-gear machine tuners by Grover with chrome-plated steel heads and worm gear mechanisms enclosed in round covers. Endpin: aluminum; nickel-plated steel phillips head screw through center. Pick guard: laminated black-white celluloid with slightly chamfered edges appearing white, with decoratively cut outline. Lacquer: dark blue-to-blonde sunburst lacquer; blue lacquer on neck, shaded to blonde at thumb position. |
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Interior: Linings: kerfed mahogany. Neck block: mahogany; rounded corners. End block: medium brown hardwood; rounded corners. Top bracing: spruce X-brace; two transverse braces; maple bridge plate. Back braces: four spruce back braces, the second one from lower end slightly wider than others. Back graft: none.
