Guild Sighting - Talking Heads

fronobulax · Jan 27, 2012

Here. It is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2002 and they play "Burning Down the House" and "Life During Wartime". David Byrne plays a Guild acoustic during the first and it is visible in a stand on stage during the second.

I stumbled on the still below which triggered my search for the video.

Geo · Jan 27, 2012

That's cool Frono.

I'm always shocked when I see white headed David. I saw so many Talking Heads videos that he still has black hair in my minds eye.

Their videos still crack me up.

Loved his suit. :lol:

George

adorshki · Jan 27, 2012

"Once In a Lifetime", "Don't Worry About the Government", and "Life During Wartime" gave me new hope for music in the early '80s. 8)

SFIV1967 · Jan 27, 2012

David Byrne is still playing that guitar, as seen in 2009. It might be an F-15CE in Wood Grain Red, I am not 100% sure.

Ralf

adorshki · Jan 27, 2012

Assuming it's the same guitar (ie, he didn't buy more than one), I'd say that's one of Guild's finest endorsements, that he's kept it for over 20 years. Looks like it must be one of the DCE's. I'd forgotten about it.
Now that I think about it, if he did buy more than one that's a fine endorsement too! :lol:

SFIV1967 · Jan 27, 2012

@Al: I am not sure, this looks similar at least: http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/f15.html
The F-4CE: http://www.rumbleseatmusic.com/images/f ... ineRed.jpg
looks similar but has binding around the top and has no high gloss.
So I guess it might be a F-15CE.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1048
Ralf

adorshki · Jan 27, 2012

SFIV1967 said:
@Al: I am not sure, this looks similar at least: http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/f15.html
But it could be also an F-4CE: http://www.rumbleseatmusic.com/images/f ... ineRed.jpg
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1048
Ralf

Ahhhh...now that I look more closely I think you're right with the F15ce...hard to tell from the angle of the pic but the oval soundhole would be definitely be a telling detail, and I didn't notice it was a concert body.
And me an F65ce owner!!

But definitely not an F4, it's not shallow enough. Maybe that's why I didn't notice it wasn't a dreadnought right away.
And now that I think about it, DCE's weren't around til early 90's.
Good eye, Ralf!
edit: And yet, on the 3rd inspection, where are the tone & volume knobs I'd expect to see visible on the upper bout side of an F15ce? Thought those were too early for the flat control panel.
Just pointing out that it's also possible the guitar's been modified a bit from its original form.

SFIV1967 · Jan 28, 2012

adorshki said:
...where are the tone & volume knobs I'd expect to see visible on the upper bout side of an F15ce? Thought those were too early for the flat control panel. Just pointing out that it's also possible the guitar's been modified a bit from its original form.

O.k., I see your point! What I see is a flat black control panel on the upper bout of the guitar, similar to this:

You can guess it in this picture from mid 2001:

Ralf

dapmdave · Jan 28, 2012

Look really close at the picture where he's wearing the dress, though. Can you see the barely visible places where the control holes were filled in? Maybe just my imagination...

Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File

avid ... ll2009.jpg

Dave

fronobulax · Jan 28, 2012

It's interesting what a web search is not turning up. Until my search-fu improves or someone else steps in this article from 2001 says about David Byrne's guitars that "The Guild acoustic contains a custom preamp that plugs into a tube DI." which may have some bearing on the model identification since the "custom preamp" may have introduced some visible changes.

SFIV1967 · Jan 28, 2012

dapmdave said:
Can you see the barely visible places where the control holes were filled in?

Yes, clearly visible here, now in large size:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3408/3616 ... 215f_o.jpg
So the pickup/pre-amp was changed later in time.
Ralf

adorshki · Jan 30, 2012

SFIV1967 said:
dapmdave said:

Can you see the barely visible places where the control holes were filled in?

Click to expand...

Yes, clearly visible here, now in large size:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3408/3616 ... 215f_o.jpg
So the pickup/pre-amp was changed later in time.
Ralf

THANKS for the detective work, and it appears my old tube isn't quite as good at displaying some detail that's more readily visible to you guys. :wink:

dapmdave · Jan 30, 2012

adorshki said:
SFIV1967 said:

dapmdave said:

Can you see the barely visible places where the control holes were filled in?

Click to expand...

Yes, clearly visible here, now in large size:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3408/3616 ... 215f_o.jpg
So the pickup/pre-amp was changed later in time.
Ralf

Click to expand...

THANKS for the detective work, and it appears my old tube isn't quite as good at displaying some detail that's more readily visible to you guys. :wink:

Yeah... my old tube lets me down sometimes, too. :lol:

Dave

idealassets · Jan 30, 2012

...I still like that bass playing in Talking Heads.

Guild Sighting - Talking Heads

fronobulax

Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods

Geo

Senior Member

adorshki

Reverential Member

SFIV1967

Venerated Member

adorshki

Reverential Member

SFIV1967

Venerated Member

adorshki

Reverential Member

SFIV1967

Venerated Member

dapmdave

Enlightened Member

fronobulax

Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods

SFIV1967

Venerated Member

adorshki

Reverential Member

dapmdave

Enlightened Member

idealassets

Senior Member