I visited Hank at his parents home in South Carolina back in 1981 and he showed me that L7 and told me that Johnny Smith made that silver truss rod cover for him as a gift. If that is the same cover it should have Hank Garland engraved on it. if you google Hank Garland and Henry M Johnson images you can find a photo from that day, Hank is playing a 175 that his brother Billy gave him and I'm playing Hank's 150 Charlie Christian. I've seen Billy Byrd playing that double cutaway Byrdland on one of the videos of "Thanks A Lot" with Ernest Tubb, but I thought it might be a double cutaway thin line L5 because it has 20 frets and a Byrdland has 22. I enjoyed this video very much.
If I could own one guitar in the world, it would be that L-7. It's the one Hank always had out of the many amazing guitars he owned. He always plugged it into a Gibson GA-79 RVT stereo amp. Perfect combo even if it wasn't a stereo guitar. It's the sound I been chasing ever since.
two years late to the party but i add my voice to the others voting for the L7. Makes me want to put a floating pick up on my '47. i have an old de-armond i bought over 50 yrs ago (I am old too) but this one attaches to the strings and there is too much chance of scratching the body of a near pristine instrument. it was pristine till i took it on a gig and scratched it from playing rhythm.
My pleasure Wolf. I like them all for different reasons. Playability is great on all 3 but Hank’s frets are low so a little harder to fret for me. I hesitate to refret her for obvious reasons. Billy’s has been refretted with medium frets which I like and the nut width and profile is my favorite. The 57 Byrd has a great neck depth and the narrow nut is great for solo work but harder for my hands to chord. If I had to choose only one from a playability perspective it would be Billy’s. Sound wise I would choose Hanks though.
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Beautiful. I love them both, but especially the sound of Hank's guitar.
Love your videos and archtops ! 👍
Thank you!
All great, but the L7 maaaan… sounds fabulous 👍
All I can say is you surely play beautifully...thanks for sharing, DonnyO in MD
Thank you so much! Very kind. :)
I visited Hank at his parents home in South Carolina back in 1981 and he showed me that L7 and told me that Johnny Smith made that silver truss rod cover for him as a gift. If that is the same cover it should have Hank Garland engraved on it. if you google Hank Garland and Henry M Johnson images you can find a photo from that day, Hank is playing a 175 that his brother Billy gave him and I'm playing Hank's 150 Charlie Christian. I've seen Billy Byrd playing that double cutaway Byrdland on one of the videos of "Thanks A Lot" with Ernest Tubb, but I thought it might be a double cutaway thin line L5 because it has 20 frets and a Byrdland has 22. I enjoyed this video very much.
Wow that would have been amazing to me him in person. Yep the truss rod cover is still there. :) I will search for that photo!
If I could own one guitar in the world, it would be that L-7. It's the one Hank always had out of the many amazing guitars he owned. He always plugged it into a Gibson GA-79 RVT stereo amp. Perfect combo even if it wasn't a stereo guitar. It's the sound I been chasing ever since.
It’s a worthy sound to chase man! You have a good ear!
What amp are you playing through?
Quilter toneblock into a 40’s Gibson EH-285 cabinet.
What are the three screws/bolts in the center of Hank's '47?
That’s is how a Charlie Christian pickup is attached to a guitar.
@@Mikesarchangels Yep, someone on FB answered the question... Had a picture, of the pickup, and now... I Grok!
Of course I like them all but the alnico does it for me. It's got oomph.
I agree. I am torn between the CC and the Alnicos.
two years late to the party but i add my voice to the others voting for the L7. Makes me want to put a floating pick up on my '47.
i have an old de-armond i bought over 50 yrs ago (I am old too) but this one attaches to the strings and there is too much chance of scratching the body of a near pristine instrument. it was pristine till i took it on a gig and scratched it from playing rhythm.
Thanks Mike for sharing these guitars. My only question is which one, to you, is the most player friendly.
My pleasure Wolf. I like them all for different reasons. Playability is great on all 3 but Hank’s frets are low so a little harder to fret for me. I hesitate to refret her for obvious reasons. Billy’s has been refretted with medium frets which I like and the nut width and profile is my favorite. The 57 Byrd has a great neck depth and the narrow nut is great for solo work but harder for my hands to chord.
If I had to choose only one from a playability perspective it would be Billy’s. Sound wise I would choose Hanks though.
I'm all verklempt!
L-7 smokes it
The double cut is a surgeon s knife :))))
Double cut away was too bright. Loved theL7
I totally agree! I changed the double to a rosewood bridge and it softened her up a bit, but still HanksL7 takes the cake.
g.a.s.