Morris Brothers Mandolin - Gibson A Jr. Snakehead??

[Bill Auld]

All you Gibson A experts - I was watching the Earl Scruggs bio video last night and one of the clips was of Earl, his son and the Morris Brothers. Zeke Morris was playing what looked to be a Gibson A snakehead but I couldn't see an inlay - so would it be a snakehead Jr.?? The mandolin and his playing sounded wonderful. Here's a link to a photo I ran across today:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4Kb-h3o7c9I/SaDmYjjs3EI/AAAAAAAAAG0/0VgXnH0GPpo/s1600-h/Morris+Bros.jpg

This photo is on a pretty cool blog - Jeremy's Saggy Record Cabinet - to give credit.

I read somewhere that Zeke's mandolin was a 1908 A - sure doesn't look like one to me in either the video or the photo.

[f5loar]

Looks like an early to mid 60's Gibson Dove guitar and a Loar era A or A2Z to me. Too fancy to be an AJr. I'm thinking one of the brothers is still living in Black Mountain, NC and the family still runs the Morris Bros Body Shop at 48 Pearl Street. ph: 828/669-6213. That is where Earl went to see them for that filming. Try giving the Morris' a call and just ask.
My guess is he owned several Gibson mandolins over his long career. It might be for sale!

[Bill Auld]

Thanks, f5loar -I might just do that very thing-I need a road trip anyway... After I posted, I was checking through the fantastic archives here at the Cafe (something I should have done before posting I suppose) and noticed just what you're saying - too fancy for a Jr. I really appreciate you pointing me in the right direction! Anyway - thought it was a great photo of Zeke and Wiley - now I have Salty Dog stuck in my head ...

[Chris "Bucket" Thomas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzoA4AaZi44

Check it out at about 2:00 for a good shot. What a smoooooth voice.

[Bill Auld]

Yep, Chris - that's it - sure sounds great ... A fine player on a fine mandolin. Thanks for posting the link!

[f5loar]

I made a side trip to Black Mtn. on my way to pick in Asheville this past week and stopped in the Morris Bros. Body shop on Pearl Street. Wiley's son Dale runs it now. He didn't know much about the mandolin but did verify his father's guitar was a 1963 Gibson Dove and he still has it. He said the taping was done there in the front yard of the home using a very high dollar mic which would explain why the mandolin sounded really great. He sent me to Zeke's son John who owns Zeke's Body Shop off Spring Street in Black Mtn. John said his sister still has the mandolin and he only knew his dad bought it used in 1933 and he called it an A1 model. Since I don't think an A1 was made with a snakehead I suspect it was just an A model. He recalled the Smithsonian came down and photographed the mandolin and he remembered them doing a close up of the label. His dad said it was the only mandolin he owned and played since 1933. He remembered him always saying it didn't need no kind of amplification as it was plenty loud.
There is a Morris Bros Car Dealership along the Hwy 70 just outside Black Mtn. city limits and down the highway in Swannanoa is Wiley's other son Ralph running Ralph's Body Shop. Sounds like the Morris family knew a lot about fixin' cars up and selling them. I told son John if he got me the serial no. I could date it for him and give him a value for it. I doubt he will find the time to look it up for me as the mandolin is not for sale. He seemed to have no interest in talking about his father or his music. Not even a photo of them in the office.

[Bill Auld]

Very cool, f5loar. Great story and interesting info. Yeh - sounds like they still living Wiley's comment in the movie - "they tear them up - we fix them ..." (or something to that effect). Curious that there was no interest in talking but I suppose it isn't all that unusual - I'm sure we've both known plenty of folks around here like that. I really appreciate you passing this information along. I might try contacting the Smithsonian and see what they might allow ... Which let you know if I get anything back from them.