Chet, Paul, & Orchestra "Chaplin in New Shoes"

[PhilHunt]

Not sure what show this is from...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW9M84g- ... e=youtu.be

[guitarchuck]

Yet another that I haven't seen before! What tone and feeling Chet had, and on a Gretsch Super Axe too!

[John C.]

Hi Phil-

Thanks for posting all the video clips. This is from a 1979 PBS special titled "American Pop - The Great Singers." Chet also performed "You Needed Me" and his "Producer's Medley" of hit songs. The narrator is Tony Bennett.

I'm currently working on Part 3 of my "Chet on TV" series of articles & was also wondering about the "Limehouse Blues" guitar. Chet played it on almost all the "first season" (1980-81) Hee Haw Million Dollar Band appearances (Levee Walking, Amazing Grace, San Antonio Rose, Jackson, etc.) Didn't someone mention a few years back that it might be a Tom Holmes guitar? Chet was in transition from Gretsch to Gibson at this time & Lenny played one, so it's a possibility.

Thanks,

John C.

[rhudson]

Whatever guitar the LHB guitar was, it sure had a good full tone. Of course, in Chet's hands...

[bill park]

I'm currently working on Part 3 of my "Chet on TV" series of articles & was also wondering about the "Limehouse Blues" guitar. Chet played it on almost all the "first season" (1980-81) Hee Haw Million Dollar Band appearances (Levee Walking, Amazing Grace, San Antonio Rose, Jackson, etc.) Didn't someone mention a few years back that it might be a Tom Holmes guitar? Chet was in transition from Gretsch to Gibson at this time & Lenny played one, so it's a possibility.
Thanks,
John C.

I had always thought that was a Tom Holmes guitar also. So I sent still shots from the video to Tom Holmes himself and asked him about it. He replied back and said that he didn't recognize the guitar, and it isn't one of his. So, because the time period was around Chet's transition from Gretsch to Gibson, I guess it was probably some kind of Gibson prototype. It appears to have a Gibson-like headstock (without a brand name label). Mystery, indeed...

[John C.]

Hi Bill-

Thanks for the info; I thought of e-mailing the You Tube link to Tom as well. Guess I'll just have to call it "an unidentified guitar" in the article.

There are 2 first season Million Dollar Band clips I don't have: Gentle On My Mind & I Can't Stop Loving You, so I don't know what guitar he used on those songs. But with the exception of Galloping Guitar (where he's playing the Haile prototype) he's using this "unidentified" axe on all the rest.

Thanks again,

John