Conway Twitty's Gretsch 6122 Round Up (Just A Piece Of History)

[chancey77]

This was Carved by Nicholas Harichy in the 1950s...just some leather Guitar History for ya to look at:)

It is said that the pin up is supposed to be of Conway's First wife.

This guitar was just auctioned at Heritage Auctions this last November.

This is one of my favorite pieces of leather guitar history and as you can see it was heavily played by Conway through the 1970s the patina is just great!

Edited January 27, 2013 by chancey77

[Cyberthrasher]

VERY COOL!!! I love the way he did the signature on front!

[benlilly1]

Nice...I love looking at older pieces.

[Bluesman]

That is way cool...................Thanks for finding and sharing

[chancey77]

That is way cool...................Thanks for finding and sharing

Are you ok man? Haven't seen you around much! Check out the tele I just posted for sale:) maybe you got some friends gassing for a bad ass tele)

[Bluesman]

Are you ok man? Haven't seen you around much! Check out the tele I just posted for sale:) maybe you got some friends gassing for a bad ass tele)

Thanks for asking. Everything is great, been busy.. I'll check out the axe and then see who has GAS.

[shtoink]

I found this on page 11 of "Ken Griffen's Scrap Book." Anyone else see a similarity?

Here's a close up

[chancey77]

THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Great research K!

[chancey77]

I found this on page 11 of "Ken Griffen's Scrap Book." Anyone else see a similarity?

Here's a close up

THANKS again for posting the info you found! Now I guess I have to make another copy with my Gretsch:) hahaha

Here is a link to a couple of the threads on Gretsch Forum about this guitar.

http://gretschpages.com/forum/vintage-gretsch-guitars/conway-twitty-57-round-up/56131/page1/

[Cyberthrasher]

THANKS again for posting the info you found! Now I guess I have to make another copy with my Gretsch:) hahaha

Here is a link to a couple of the threads on Gretsch Forum about this guitar.

http://gretschpages....up/56131/page1/

Awesome write-up over there Bro!! Looks like you're one of the only ones there who TRULY appreciates this guitar!!

But, I think it's time for you to put down the coffee and get some sleep already

[chancey77]

Well after doing a little more Digging Mick was the nickname for Conway's first wife Maxine “Mickey” Jaco Ramsey, so I am sure it could have been bought by her for Conway as a present in addition to the guitar he is seen to have owned pre leather wrap and was a way to get her name on the guitar as a signature (sort of a I LOVE YOU this is from ME)...she may have even carved it on herself from the looks of the letters they don't match Nicholas' Name carved letters....this is pure speculation on my part but I feel lends the best explanation to date....

Any other thoughts?

Is Maxine still alive? Is anyone in Tennessee that could help track her down and ask her if she is????? I would think she would hold the key to the real answers and back story for this guitar.

[Cyberthrasher]

Is Maxine still alive? Is anyone in Tennessee that could help track her down and ask her if she is?????

I'm really interested in the story, but I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Can anyone ask her if she's still alive?"

[Cyberthrasher]

You have a picture of Nicholas' carved letters? I couldn't find anything in the brief search I did. Better get another set of eyes on it to verify your hypothesis

[chancey77]

I'm really interested in the story, but I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Can anyone ask her if she's still alive?"

Sorry for my miss use of ;

4:30am... Glad you think it is funny hahaha

[chancey77]

You have a picture of Nicholas' carved letters? I couldn't find anything in the brief search I did. Better get another set of eyes on it to verify your hypothesis

Look at the bottom of the guitar on the backside... Nicholas did not curl his letters or try to make them look fancy at all..... so look at the M in made and the M in Mick that was not done by the same person... In my opinion if carving it looks like the C is different as well.... So my guess would be that Micky Carved her name in:)

Edited January 30, 2013 by chancey77

[Cyberthrasher]

The M could have been something he did to duplicate the way she did her name or something - like a brand. But, the "K" does seem a little more curvy then the way he did his signature line. Looking at the "c" in Mick and Nicholas, it's hard to tell. I would go by that instead of the C in "Carved" due to the different case. But, the lower case "c" in both of those words looks like it's "possible" that they could be the same since they both almost look like little half squares.

My verdict is: inconclusive evidence - we need more samples!!!

[shtoink]

I would argue that the carving and all of the lettering on the back was done by the same person. Looking at the spacing, shape, and overall feel of the letting, they seem consistent. It seems as though it's possible that the artist knew that his wife's nickname was Mick and just added that to the bottom of the carving he copied from Ken Griffin's book.

It's very likely that Nicholas was either very new or knew that his guitar would be seen by many to sign it that way at the bottom. I'm leaning more towards the former than the latter due to the uncentered look of the signature block. Also taking into account that he has no makers mark or specific signature that is much shorter than his entire name nearly running off of one edge despite laying down lines to aid in keeping the lettering straight.

The other thing that makes me think this artist was rather new was the level of detail that he was even able to duplicate from the original image in Ken Griffin's book. Comparing those two images, you can see a great deal more detail in the face and clothing in Ken's versus Nicholas's carving. It's even possible that he just traced it right from the page in that book onto the leather when you think about just how big that book actually is. The dimensions of the paperback book are 15"x18", so it does seem conceivable.

I can't offer up any other information about the guitar other than knowing it's a 1957 Gretsch Roundup 6130 solid body electric. The copyright in my book is 1952 and I found a picture of an original carving by Ken done in 1951 over on ClayB's blog. This means that there was at least some time for the book to be in circulation before the guitar was even made or decorated.

[chancey77]

I convinced a buddy that plays in a pretty big band to let me give this a go with one of his back up bass guitars. I'll let you know how it goes....