The Andy Griffith Guitar
Earlier this year, I stopped at the Jubilee Music Store in Kill Devil Hills to buy some guitar strings on my way home from work. On my way out of the store, I noticed a big antique-looking wooden and glass display case with a single guitar inside and a sign that read, “NOT FOR SALE.” So naturally, I had to turn back to see what was in that case.
I could see an acoustic guitar, and when I got close enough to read the sign, I found out that it was a “2004 Martin, Signature-Series, Andy Griffith Guitar. I had no idea that that was a thing, but I love Martin guitars, and I love Andy Griffith, so I was certainly intrigued.
One of a limited series of only 311 total pieces, this particular guitar belongs to Ronnie Swaim (owner of Jubilee Music). Lucky for me, Ronnie happened to be there that day to fill me in on the Andy Griffith series guitar story.
He explained that in 2004, Martin Co. decided to honor Andy Griffith (who had been playing Martin guitars for decades). So, they created a custom-designed replica of Andy’s favorite Martin guitar. It is a 1956 Martin D-18 guitar that Andy had played for most of his career. The representation was made to the specs of the original 1950s design. Still, it also included some of Andy’s specific adjustments to his guitar, which made for a unique look.
Ronnie told me how Andy came into possession of his original Martin D-18 and why Mr. Griffin had to modify the guitar.
Andy Griffith first played what would become his most treasured guitar while working on the set of one of his early films, entitled “A Face in the Crowd.” Andy played a drifter named Larry “Lonesome” Rhodes, a dirt-poor musician who eventually achieves stardom as a famous country musician and radio star. Throughout most of the film, “Lonesome Larry” plays a beat-up old guitar as he travels from town to town. However, toward the end of the film, when Andy’s character is up on the “big stage,” his old guitar is replaced with a fancy new one.
The film’s actual “fancy” guitar was a 1956 Martin D-18 acoustic guitar that the film’s prop-master had purchased for the shoot. This brand-new guitar was sent to the art department to be transformed into the perfectly flashy, “Hollywood musician” looking guitar that they needed for the film.
The guitar was painted black and adorned with sequins. In addition, the words “Momma” and “Lonesome” were added. The art department had transformed the mundane, normal-looking guitar into the perfect on-screen prop for a famous musician character.
To any real musician who knows the value of; and truly understands the craftsmanship that goes into a handmade Martin guitar: these adjustments were more like blasphemy.
Due to Andy Griffith’s lifelong love of music (and guitars), it’s no surprise that he decided to “rescue” that guitar from the prop department as soon as the film was a wrap.
Griffith grabbed the poor, defiled instrument and took it home, where he spent weeks meticulously restoring it to its precious original condition.
First, he carefully removed all of the sequins and other adornments with a surgical focus. Then he gradually sanded off all of the black paint until he was down to the original finish.
The guitar was already looking much better, but Andy still had it sent to his friend and renowned guitar-maker John De’ Angelico in New York City. De’ Angelico managed to restore the instrument to almost mint condition.
That Martin D-18 guitar was Andy’s go-to guitar from that point on. He played it during live concerts and on recorded albums. He strummed it at home and plucked it on the set of “The Andy Griffith Show,” both on-air during episodes and off-air to kill time.
You can see Andy’s original guitar in quite a few episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show.” And if you stop into Jubilee Music in Kill Devil Hills, you might get a chance to see Ronnie’s Andy Griffith Series Martin (#202). Just don’t even think about offering him any money to buy it (many have tried in vain). It took Ronnie years of searching for one of those guitars, but in the end, it was well worth the time spent waiting.
In the words of Briscoe Darling, a character from The Andy Griffith Show, “You got time to breathe, you got time for music.”
Author: Nick Leinweber
