NGD Johnny Smith

[Guest mgoetting]

You may remember this strange eBay post over a month ago.

 

http://www.heritageownersclub.com/forums/i...showtopic=10434

 

Patrick graciously sold this jewel to me tonight.

 

Here's some pics.

[FredZepp]

That is a thing of beauty... it has killer wood... no doubt.

 

A delicious Heritage there... Congrats.

[schundog]

Congrats, Mark! So you convinced Patrick that it was too atrocious with the black hardware, you would simply be willing to remove this eyesore from his collection, was that it?! Or, did Patrick realize he'd be much too busy with his new Michigan Jazz Machines to give this any attention?! Either way, I hope you enjoy it!

[ingeneri]

Fantastic, I'm actually listening to the Smith Mosaic box right now.

 

I wish Heritage would start making these guitars again. Anyone ever ask the guys at the PSP why they don't restore the endorsement now that the Guild/Benedetto thing is over?

 

Anyways, enjoy the new guitar and start working on those closed chord voicings!

[NoNameBand]

I swear, I can't decide why I collect guitars, is it for the sound, or beauty? Isn't it amazing how beautiful some guitars can be? Congratulations on another fine acquisition.

[pegleg32]

very nice Mark. I actually went to Johnny Smith's club in Denver back in the 60's and heard the man himself. One of my very early hero's.

[Guest mgoetting]

very nice Mark. I actually went to Johnny Smith's club in Denver back in the 60's and heard the man himself. One of my very early hero's.

 

I've consistently heard that he is and was a good man as well as a guitarist.

 

Here's what Wikipedia said about Johnny Smith, who was born in 1922:

 

Early years

During the Depression, Smith's family moved from Birmingham through several cities, ending up in Portland, Maine.

 

Learning and teaching

Smith taught himself to play guitar in pawnshops, which let him play in exchange for keeping the guitars in tune. At thirteen years of age he was teaching others to play the guitar. One of Smith's students bought a new guitar and gave him his old guitar, which became the first guitar Smith owned.

 

The young entertainer

Smith joined Uncle Lem and the Mountain Boys, a local hillbilly band. The band travelling around Maine, performing at dances, fairs, and similar venues. Smith earned four dollars a night. He dropped out of high school to accommodate this enterprise.

 

After becoming interested in the jazz bands he heard on the radio, Smith practiced playing jazz. He left The Mountain Boys when he was eighteen years old to found a jazz trio called The Airport Boys.

 

Military experience

Having learned to fly from pilots he befriended, Smith enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in the hopes of becoming a military pilot. He was invalidated from the flight programme because of imperfect vision in his left eye. Given a choice between joining the military band and being sent to mechanic's school, Smith opted to join the military band. Smith claims that they gave him a cornet, an Arban's instructional book and two weeks to meet the standard, which included being able to read music. Determined not to go to mechanic's school, Smith spent the two weeks practicing the cornet in the latrine, as recommended by the bandleader, and passed the examination

[koula901]

Man that's bea-u-t-ful. Congrats! : )

[jazzrat]

Really nice Mark!

All guitars should be archtops!

[big bob]

Nice, I've always wanted a J smith. Bet she sounds stellar.

[brentrocks]

i love the inlay work on that guitar...very nice

[pressure]

Beautiful. Do you know what year it was made? Is it tap tuned?

Heritage told me there were 2 different pickups for those, high or low output.

My Smith has the low output pickups.

[Guest mgoetting]

Beautiful. Do you know what year it was made? Is it tap tuned?

Heritage told me there were 2 different pickups for those, high or low output.

My Smith has the low output pickups.

 

 

1996.

 

I don't know if it is tap tuned. Patrick may.

 

I don't know which pup either put this is not very hot at all.

 

Mark

[Guest HRB853370]

Man that is just gorgeous. And what a collectible. Patrick has so many toys we just don't know about...............

[Guest mgoetting]

Man that is just gorgeous. And what a collectible. Patrick has so many toys we just don't know about...............

 

 

You have no idea!

[Kuz]

All I can say is I hate you Mark and I hate you Patrick!!!!

 

As a Sleep Doctor, why don't you take some of your own medicine, send me the Johnny Smith, and Don't call me in the morning!!!!!

 

Serious Great piece.

 

Might I suggest you holding on to this one for awhile, PLEASE!!!! LOL

 

That is not a guitar to flip!!!!

[Patrick]

Well . . .. I already miss the Johnny!! But selling it was the correct thing for me to do. I liked it a lot, but just couldn't get past certain attributes . . . mostly the black hardware. As I posted on here before, I really did intend to change it out to the gold plated. But, that would have definitely changed the personality and originality of the guitar. The black works for some people . . . it just didn't work for me. I bought it because of it's beauty, near pristine condition and its collectability. It was truly an honor to own it even for the brief time it was.

 

It was great to be able to sell the guitar to Mark. He appreciates the guitar for what it is . . . as created . . . not what it might become if altered. He truly deserves this wonderful instrument more than I did.

 

For those of you who might remember my post detailing the story behind meeting the seller "Jack" when I bought this guitar, I indicated the interesting and fun way that this deal was done. I also indicated, that I had made a new friend as a result of the deal. Dittos with Mark Goetting. He's a true gentleman. We met at a restaurant in the Kzoo area . . . had a great meal and some good conversation . . . . none of which centered around the impending Johnny Smith deal. At the end of the dinner, I went to my car, got the guitar . . . brought it in to the restaurant. I opened the case . . . Mark took one look at it . . . smiled broadly and said . . "sold". We discussed a selling price by phone prior to meeting. It was a very fair price for both of us. Mark did not offend me with additional negotiating for a better deal. He either wanted it.. . or didn't want it at the price I asked. I wish all deals were done like this! I owned a truly great guitar for a little while . . . and have 2 new friends as a result of it. That ain't too bad!!!

[Spectrum13]

Well . . .. I already miss the Johnny!! But selling it was the correct thing for me to do. I liked it a lot, but just couldn't get past certain attributes . . . mostly the black hardware. As I posted on here before, I really did intend to change it out to the gold plated. But, that would have definitely changed the personality and originality of the guitar. The black works for some people . . . it just didn't work for me. I bought it because of it's beauty, near pristine condition and its collectability. It was truly an honor to own it even for the brief time it was.

 

Patrick,

 

Did you come back with anything you plan to share with us?

 

 

 

 

Not talking about any speeding tickets.

[Patrick]

Hey Spectrum . . . I'm working on getting somepics up on HOC. I sent some to Mark of the Golden Eagle. He put them on Photo Bucket. I have no idea what to do with them from there