| The reason for early jazz bands using banjos and | | | | to the museum containing the inscription "To Chris, |
| never guitars was simply because guitars were not | | | | from Les 'Keep On Pickin'." |
| loud enough. But by utilizing brand new recording and | | | | In addition to Les Paul's signature model, there are a |
| amplification techniques, Eddie Lang played his guitar in | | | | number of cherished Gibsons on display. A few of the |
| the movie "The Big Broadcast of 1932" and banjo | | | | most valuable Gibsons belonged to one of New York |
| players immediately recognized that guitarists would | | | | City's finest musicians, Jack Hotop. Jack played in the |
| soon be filling their chairs on the bandstand. Pawn | | | | opening of such Broadway hits as "Oklahoma" and |
| shops soon filled up with banjos, and guitar | | | | "Annie." He fell in love with the sound of the first 1957 |
| craftsmanship produced lush sounding quality | | | | ES-175 with a PAF pickup (better known as the |
| instruments that were in enormous demand. | | | | humbucking pickup). This guitar was used as a |
| The American Guitar Museum located in New Hyde | | | | demonstrator model by Gibson and Jack begged |
| Park, Long Island exhibits the finest work of craftsmen | | | | Gibson for that particular instrument. He was forced to |
| that poured their skill and love into this wonderful | | | | wait until it was shown around the country before |
| instrument. The museum puts us in touch with both the | | | | Gibson would let him have it. Jack later used this |
| guitar's history and its future. | | | | ES-175 when he played for the opening of "West Side |
| It's only fitting that the person responsible for | | | | Story." |
| establishing this museum would not only be a guitar | | | | Two of the newest items in The American Guitar |
| player and collector, but as he is affectionately called | | | | Museum are a pickup winding machine that jazz |
| the "Guitar Doctor" Chris X. Ambadjes is one of the | | | | innovator Attila Zoller made and the mixing board that |
| finest luthiers in the business having conceived a guitar | | | | was used in Woody Allen's classic movie "Radio |
| museum about 33 years ago, Chris was able to bring | | | | Days". |
| his dream to fruition about 16 years ago. Fortunately | | | | What this museum boasts of is its wonderful collection |
| Chris' friends, Demo Manolis, the late great Wayne L. | | | | of both rare and beautiful instruments - What Chris |
| Wright and a few others were willing to make this | | | | calls "the cream of the cream." Ambadjes has a |
| museum a reality. The friends pooled their resources | | | | particular love for the D'Angelico archtop guitar and |
| and they formed a board of directors there. | | | | who can blame him. John D'Angelico is considered by |
| The American Guitar museum possesses an authentic | | | | many to have been the "Stradivari of guitars." |
| charm. Its home is a restored three-story colonial | | | | Appraisals place these guitars between $25,000 - |
| building that is one of the original farmhouses in the | | | | $75,000 on the average, with some being even higher. |
| area. Stepping through the outer gates (which by the | | | | Quite an investment when you consider their original |
| way are made in the shape of guitars) and entering | | | | price tag of about $695.00! |
| the main door, you can't help being caught up in the | | | | How fitting, that D'Angelico started making his custom |
| pictures that seem to be everywhere. These are | | | | guitars the same year as "The Big Broadcast of 1932." |
| pictures of the great players of both today and | | | | 1,164 beautiful custom guitars and mandolins were built |
| yester-year. | | | | bearing his name by the time of his death in 1964. |
| Moving on to the main room right in front at eye level | | | | At the museum there are roughly 10 D'Angelicos on |
| stands one gorgeous oval-holed D'Aquisto New | | | | display, two of which are "one of a kind." Though it's |
| Yorker on loan from the talented player, Joe Carbone. | | | | accurate to say all D'Angelicos are unique, they all are |
| Before his untimely death, luthier Jimmy D'Aquisto was | | | | either guitars or mandolins; all that is, except for these |
| considered the greatest guitar builder alive. For this | | | | two. Sitting appropriately in a baby's cradle is the first |
| beautiful sun-burst instrument he would charge about | | | | of these unique acquisitions. It is an 18" tall baby jazz |
| $50,000 with a three year wait. | | | | uke. Benny Mortell pleaded with John D' Angelico to |
| The main room's ceiling is certainly worth a look. It's | | | | build this to use as a wedding proposal to his wife. The |
| designed like the inside of an archtop guitar with | | | | finger board contains the inscription "To My Dearest |
| f-holes, cross-bracing and wood grain all painted into | | | | Rose From Ben." The newest addition to the museum |
| the ceiling. A Showcase at the front of the room holds | | | | is called a Cellar (pronounced ché lâr). This is John |
| some of the original punches used to manufacture | | | | D's largest masterwork and it is the only other |
| picks around 1910. These punches were contributed by | | | | instrument that does not fall into the category of either |
| the D'Andrea Company of Long Island, which is still in | | | | guitar or mandolin. Alongside these two priceless |
| business today. If you have a pick in your pocket, | | | | pieces you'll find the 1942 Excel, which was played by |
| there's a 90% chance that the D'Andrea Company | | | | its owner Benny Mortell, in the film "The Godfather" in |
| made it. The picks were originally made by punching | | | | both the wedding scene and on the soundtrack. Next |
| out little tortoise shell plates in different shapes. | | | | to this is a 1946 New Yorker. There is a left-handed |
| The Guitar Museum is just chock full of luthier tools, | | | | D'Angelico that has been used by Wayne Wright |
| various tailpieces, books, blueprints, biographies of | | | | (rhythm guitarist for Les Paul, George Barnes, Judy |
| various players and histories of some of the guitars | | | | Garland, Tony Bennett and Peggy Lee). |
| gracing its walls. One piece impossible to miss sits on | | | | "Nothing in this life is free" - not true anymore, because |
| the right side of the room. This is a 400 lb. press from | | | | a tour of the American Guitar Museum is just that |
| the Strad-o-Lin Company that was used to bend the | | | | FREE! Guitar aficionados, class tours and families alike |
| sides and tops of guitars and mandolins. It dates back | | | | have had mini-lessons on guitar building, how guitar |
| to the 1890's. | | | | pickups work, how fretboard in-lays are inserted and |
| One of the oldest guitars in the museum was built in | | | | an overall history of America's most popular |
| 1861. Chris Ambadjes says, "We like to tell the kids that | | | | instrument. Note too that Chris Ambadjes repairs |
| come for a tour that this guitar is from Abraham | | | | fretted instruments of all kinds right on the premises |
| Lincoln's time and they get a kick out of that." It's | | | | and there are a number of excellent music teachers |
| exhibited in its original hard shelled case. | | | | present also. |
| Two guitars that always get a lot of attention are the | | | | So pay a visit to this little treasure where the love of |
| 1965 Olympic White Strat that belonged to a friend of | | | | its owners is evident throughout. This is really a present |
| Jimi Hendrix which Jimi played on occasion; and the | | | | to the world. It just so happens it's been gift wrapped in |
| other eye-catcher is a mint condition dark | | | | Long Island, New York. |
| wood-grained Les Paul which Les himself contributed | | | | |