When we got there, we were fully willing to pay the suggested $20 per person, but the girl at the desk charged us the student rate; $10 per person. Sweet. Then, because Ed paid with his American Express card (we're on a point gathering spree, paying for everything we can with the card just to rack up points), we were given the audio guide to the museum for free. Yay! We learned, on our visit to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC that the audio tour is SO worth the money, so we were thrilled.
This is the entrance to the area where the show was being held. Notice the "No Cameras" sign to the right. Notice also how I snuck pictures. And the museum staff were like sentries on a wall; they were watching like hawks. These were taken with my iPhone because it was easier to conceal than my regular camera, so forgive the quality.



The second luthier featured in the show was James D’Aquisto. One of the highlights of the show for me, was a short minute and a half video that was playing on a continuous loop, showing Jimmy D'Aquisto building a guitar. The precision, the many steps, the sheer skill and natural talent that it took to make it was evident in less then the two minutes it took to run from start to finish. He said of D'Angelico, and this is verbatim from the video clip, "As a teacher, you know, he'd show you something and he'd say, 'This is how I do it, you can do it either my way or your own way, but it better come out as good or better than I do it.' I guess I molded to actually the way that he would have wanted me to be."
His mentor taught him well, as the gallery held some of the most beautiful guitars built in the traditional style of D'Angelico, but also some more modern creations, which were introduced in D'Aquisto's later years of guitar building. Part of the D'Aquisto gallery included these blue guitars.

For a little more about the Blue Guitars, check out these videos on YouTube. Watch Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
The last luthier in the show is John Monteleone. He is the only one of the three featured who is still alive. I've had the pleasure of having a brief correspondence with him and he was extremely helpful in filling in some blanks regarding the guitar that my grandfather had.
The guitar below is said to be the most famous guitar by John Monteleone. It's called the Sun King and has been on the cover of Guitar Maker magazine and in the Classic Guitars 2004 Calendar.

In this photo, from left to right, are the teardrop guitars made by John D'Angelico, James D'Aquisto and John Monteleone.
This exhibition is the only time that all three “Teardrops” have been together. Beautiful, aren't they?
I felt really specialy knowing that I was seeing these guitars at the only time they were all in the same place; it was a culmination of the finest luthiers of my time. I don't really get to many exhibits, of any kind really, but I would like to make it a point to do more of this in the future. Based on the feeling I had looking at these instruments, I understand why people love to go to museums and like to look at items they're interested in. It's fascinating. It gives insight to those who came before us. It opens your eyes. These three guitars were the last ones you saw before exiting the exhibit hall and it was a perfect closing display.
I left there feeling connected; to my Italian heritage, to people who create magic and memories with their music and to my grandfather. I felt how I thought he must have when he bought his guitar, held it in his hands, played it. Elated. He had no idea he was holding in his hands the work of a master. A future Guitar Hero.
I envisioned him walking out of D'Anglico's shop that day, February 27, 1954, and walking into his home with his newest acquisition. Thinking about how the two-hundred dollars he paid for both the guitar and the case. Wondering if he made the right decision. If it was worth the money.
It was.
Through the creation brought forth by John D'Angelico's hands, my grandfather made a lot of people happy playing that guitar. He left a treasure trove of memories and a legacy of music.
To hear performances using the instruments from this exhibit, click here. And if you want to see the show, there's still time. It runs through July 4, 2011.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO: Less Is More
2 YEARS AGO: A Look At An Oil Baron’s Lookout
3 YEARS AGO: Spring In The Maritimes
4 YEARS AGO: Envisioning A Huge BLT Sandwich
5 YEARS AGO: Eddie’s New Passion Friday
6 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post for this day.
I felt really specialy knowing that I was seeing these guitars at the only time they were all in the same place; it was a culmination of the finest luthiers of my time. I don't really get to many exhibits, of any kind really, but I would like to make it a point to do more of this in the future. Based on the feeling I had looking at these instruments, I understand why people love to go to museums and like to look at items they're interested in. It's fascinating. It gives insight to those who came before us. It opens your eyes. These three guitars were the last ones you saw before exiting the exhibit hall and it was a perfect closing display.
I left there feeling connected; to my Italian heritage, to people who create magic and memories with their music and to my grandfather. I felt how I thought he must have when he bought his guitar, held it in his hands, played it. Elated. He had no idea he was holding in his hands the work of a master. A future Guitar Hero.
I envisioned him walking out of D'Anglico's shop that day, February 27, 1954, and walking into his home with his newest acquisition. Thinking about how the two-hundred dollars he paid for both the guitar and the case. Wondering if he made the right decision. If it was worth the money.
It was.
Through the creation brought forth by John D'Angelico's hands, my grandfather made a lot of people happy playing that guitar. He left a treasure trove of memories and a legacy of music.
To hear performances using the instruments from this exhibit, click here. And if you want to see the show, there's still time. It runs through July 4, 2011.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO: Less Is More
2 YEARS AGO: A Look At An Oil Baron’s Lookout
3 YEARS AGO: Spring In The Maritimes
4 YEARS AGO: Envisioning A Huge BLT Sandwich
5 YEARS AGO: Eddie’s New Passion Friday
6 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post for this day.
3 comments:
Loved this post! It shows your true love for our heritage! I listened to a few of the songs and have bookmarked the link for future pleasure....
nice pictures. I like to break the minor rules too. No pictures, pssh.
Putting your electrical or guitar within a show cupboard with a hinged glass door front protects it from the mud drawback and conjointly from any wandering hands which may wish to select it abreast of a whim and begin fiddling with it.
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