Waylon's Guitar

[Generalee001]

Hey Folks,

I'm in the proccess of building a waylon jennings replica guitar. Waylons Guitar was a typical country "Fender Telecaster" he used many different models, but the original guitar was from the earlier 60's...for everyone that surely has seen the opening of the dukes theme on tv, shows waylon playing his leather covered telecaster. Let me take you on a Trip back in time about 12 years before dukes was even heard of... at this time, waylons guitar didnt look like we all know it now, it was a white colored guitar that was used in the filming of the movie "Nashville Rebel" this was when waylon had only released 2 or 3 records of his musical career. Below is a picture of waylon in the movie with the guitar, this is at the grand ol opry where waylon plays a charactor called "Arlin Grove" A young man with talent who turns out a real hit in the country music scene.

Grand Ol Opery 1965 - 1966

Not so long later after waylon filmed nashville rebel, his albums where selling like hot cakes and was out on the road proforming his live acts, waylons guitar was getting beaten up, scratched and so... and eventurly it looked in real bad shape... then in around 1967 - 1968 waylons drummer at the time took waylons guitar to a leatherer, there the guitar was leathered in a black and white floral design, and thus the waylon jennings fender telecaster was born... Waylon loved the look of this guitar and used it in all of his live shows in the late 60's and early 70's...

Waylon live 1968 - 1972

During his run from 1964 - 1972 waylon was singing "old country" meaning it was country music made for the old folk...although his genre was not strickly country... there was rock and roll and pop. But in the year of 1973. waylons image was dying as a nashville rebel, waylon had 1 more year on a RCA victor contract, and waylon was not happy about being thrown different producers for each song he recorded, he wanted artist control of his music... During this time, Waylon was rush into hospital and hospitalized for with hepititus (spelling). Waylon was about ready to give up everything. RCA wouldnt give him control and he didnt want to continue the contract. Waylons drummer visited waylon in hospital. He pulled a chair up next to waylons bed and told him " I can tell your fixin to quit...you dont want to do that...theres another way of doing things.....they call it Rock and Roll" and waylon being in hospital for a few months hadnt had the chance to shave... and thus the bearded outlaw of country music was born...

(To Be Continued)

Edited September 7, 2008 by mini hogg