MY FAVORITE GUITAR Dave Belzer's '59 Burst

Dave Belzer is half of the legendary "Burst Brothers". Along with Drew Berlin, they have played, appraised, brokered, owned, and played more BIG vintage guitars than anyone on the west coast, or possibly anywhere. They are my friends, and, MAN, do they love AUTHENTIC guitars. I cannot imagine having to pick just one favorite from the man's private stash. Sophie's Choice. Here's what he picked...

If MY house catches on fire, I'm going to drive over to Belzer's house to make sure HIS guitars are safe. Can't be too careful. 

MY FAVORITE GUITAR Mat Koehler's 1944 Epi FT-79

Writer, musician, collector, wheeler-dealer, and connoisseur of objets d'art (Especially old motor oil signs), Mat Koehler is a man of exceptional taste in guitars. 
 He has a special affection for pre-Gibson Epiphones.

BETCHA DIDN'T KNOW
Gibson and Epiphone were rivals, BITTER rivals, prior  to 1957, the year Gibson absorbed the smaller, New York-based, company. It's said that the outgoing Epi employees staged a bonfire of guitar bodies and necks on their way out of the factory en route to the unemployment office. Get a load of Mat's 1944 flattop. Wartime production was almost illegal, making this an almost impossibly rare bird.

 Some acoustics seem to have been sprinkled with magic dust. This is one.

BRIAN KAHANEK "MY FAVORITE GUITAR"

In this clip from the "My Favorite Guitar" series, Los Angeles Solo Artist / Studio Ace, "Brian Kahanek", shows off "Grandpa", a '59 RI Les Paul.

"Grandpa" may be heard on "Starlight", from the CD "One True Thing", HERE:

I'd be mad at him for how well he plays, but you can't be mad at The World's Nicest Guy

So I sent this to a bunch of my no-good guitar playin' buddies:

Among those who responded are The Burst Brothers (Dave Belzer and Drew Berlin), Bob Mothersbaugh (AKA Devo's Bob 1) Steve Lukather, Mat Koehler, Chuck Kavooras, Arnie Newman, Brian Kahanek, and Holland K Smith.


I'll be shooting their segments soon. Meantime, you have to start somewhere. So I started in my bedroom. 
SPOILER ALERT: My Favorite Guitar is gaudy and twangy.