Jethro Burns Mandolin

**AeroJoe** · Mar-25-2004, 1:21am

I was purusing on Ebay looking for Jethro Burns stuff but I came across two mandolins and they were those 2-point things...did he play one of these or wasn't his a regular F-style? These both are described as 'Jethro Burns' mandolins, but weren't the ones he endorsed Washburn (or Gibson?)or were they Alvarez? To complicate things, there is a Washburn mando advertised on there too, again with his name attached to it, which makes it all the more confusing. I remember a instruction book he put out or either it was an album cover with Homer where he had a 2-point one like the ones mentioned above, and he had his hand shape in a very funny position on the fretboard, but I am not sure if this is the exact type he was playing or just posing with. (Wish now I kept my old back issues of "Frets") Anyway, which ones did he play/endorse?

**Michael Lewis** · Mar-25-2004, 1:58am

One of the main mandolins he played was a Gibson A5 (oval hole 2 point). This is the model that everyone is producing versions of (Rigel, Washburn, etc.)

**AlanN** · Mar-25-2004, 6:24am

I was fortunate to see Jethro 2 times, both times he was playing a newer Gibson F-5. He did adore Red, 'though, and told me he would've played that mandolin exclusively if not for the fact that Gibson made it beneficial for him not to do so...

**Scotti Adams** · Mar-25-2004, 7:06am

..when I was at Gruhns recently..they had one of Jethro's mandos there..a Gibson 2 point oval holed electric hanging on the wall..right below it sitting on the ground was his flight case that he housed it in complete with the name tag..pretty cool piece of history just laying there.....search Gruhns and they still may have it..

**Ted Eschliman** · Mar-25-2004, 8:06am

I have the certifiable privilege of owning one of Jethro's own, his Japanese Epiphone MM70.
My understanding is this was one of his travel axes--more functioning as a "knock-around." You don't always want to take your best instrument out in some environments.
That said, this really is an exceptional instrument for its purpose; the tone is quite good, especially plugged in, and it's in terrific shape. Obviously, it holds extreme sentimental value for me. Picking on a section of "Nola" on it is one of my greatest personal, intimate pleasures.

**Martin Jonas** · Mar-25-2004, 8:59am

Well, the mandolin that has his name now, the WashburnM6-SW, is a fairly conventional Korean-made F-style, not an oval-hole A5 type. I believe it was originally launched in the early 1980s and then disappeared for a long while and was only relaunched quite recently as the top of Washburn's line. No doubt, Washburn paid him some money to endorse their mandolin and I seem to remember there was some discussion here recently that Jethro also did some personal appearances at trades fair and festivals for Washburn. Whether he ever actually played one of these on record or in concert, I don't know.

Martin

**cbogle** · Mar-25-2004, 9:23am

I saw Jethro in concert around '80-'81 in Los Angeles. He played it completely solo, and he did it all on a Washburn "F".
Very memorable, and the audience could not "stump" him; he played all (or parts) of every requested tune!

**Charlie Derrington** · Mar-25-2004, 10:22am

He actually played the Washburn. I used to do his set-up work and installed a pick-up in it for him.

Charlie

**AeroJoe** · Mar-25-2004, 1:07pm

Thanks all...seems like Jethro had a case of MAS about like the rest of us...

...wonder what ol' Homer had???

**Moose** · Mar-25-2004, 1:55pm

Homer could play one he###l of a rhythm guitar!!!

**AlanN** · Mar-25-2004, 2:14pm

Nobody can slam Jethro on his technique - monster chops, jazz ear, melodic/harmonic sophistication, BUT...his tone was so-so, to my ears. He advocated low action and a thin pick. The low action is ok, too many jack their action way too high, but the thin pick I can't hack. But for his style, it all seemed to work together. His response to the 'weak tone' thing was..."Who the h&^% do you think you are, Bill Monroe?" Classic JB, for sure.

RIP, Jethro...and to celebrate his life and music, I'll offer up a B&P to the list here of his Birthday Bash at the Birchmere, 1982. Guests included Doyle, Jimmy G., Duffey, Akira Otsuka (whom Jethro calls Yokohama - not PC there, at all), the marvelous Pete Kennedy on guitar and others. First 3 to send me a mail at oldstrings@hotmail.com git it.

**Martin Jonas** · Mar-26-2004, 4:26am

Originally Posted by (AlanN @ Mar. 25 2004, 15:14)

RIP, Jethro...and to celebrate his life and music, I'll offer up a B&P to the list here of his Birthday Bash at the Birchmere, 1982. Guests included Doyle, Jimmy G., Duffey, Akira Otsuka (whom Jethro calls Yokohama - not PC there, at all), the marvelous Pete Kennedy on guitar and others. First 3 to send me a mail at oldstrings@hotmail.com git it.

Those who don't get in in time for Alan's kind offer (or don't want to burden him) might want to know that this show is available for download at bluegrassbox.com. Jolly nice it is, too.

Martin

**AlanN** · Mar-26-2004, 5:36am

Hey Martin,

Thanks for steering people to that site, didn't realize it was there. But for folks who can't get there, I'll take one more for Jethro Van Burns.

**Crowder** · Mar-26-2004, 5:45am

Originally Posted by (mandohack @ Mar. 25 2004, 09:06)

Picking on a section of "Nola" on it is one of my greatest personal, intimate pleasures.

Here's hoping you'll keep the REST of those to yourself Ted

**AeroJoe** · Mar-27-2004, 2:06am

I vaguely remember him guesting on "Hee Haw" a couple of times...anybody else recall this? If you do, what mando was he playing and what tunes did they do? The thing I can remember was he was in bib overalls and had a red and white checkered shirt on...you'd think I'd remember better the details of the instrument and tune but for some reason, that's what sticks in my memory...it was one of those things where Roy Clark, Jethro Burns, Floyd Cramer, Boots Randolph (on sax...on "Hee Haw...go figure...) that woman that played the blue electric Fiddle (the one that was married to Buck Owens for 3 whole days...Jana or Jena something or other) and they'd do an instrumental and each do a break on a tune. I don't have cable or satellite by choice, I'd NEVER practice if I did, but if anyone can get old Hee Haw reruns, that's be great to see/hear ol' Jethro on there...if you happen to see him on those reruns let us know what he played...thanks!

**Jim M.** · Mar-27-2004, 11:14am

If you go to http://www.gruhn.com/ and click on "Featured Inventory", you can see Jethro's 1967 F5. Only $15K.

**AeroJoe** · Mar-27-2004, 2:27pm

Only 15k...well, at least there is some provenance, if you are a brother Jethro fan.

Gotta be careful though...I was at a guitar show in Raleigh one time about ten years ago...there were two dealers that happened to be assigned their respective tables next to each other. They both had a nice old D-28 Herringbone...only problem was, at some point during the 3-day show, it was discovered by someone that both guitars had the same serial number...

**John Rosett** · Mar-27-2004, 3:03pm

aerojoe-
they were called "the million dollar band". i think chet atkins played with them too. it's been so long since i saw any of those shows that i can't remember what songs they played. i do remember jethro saying that it was one of the best paying gigs he ever had (hence the band's name). jethro said that he wouldn't say how much he got paid, but he said it was enough that he didn't have to work the rest of the year.
john

**AlanN** · Mar-28-2004, 7:26am

$1,000,000 Band

**AeroJoe** · Mar-28-2004, 9:54pm

Alan...once again you have come thru brotherman...ok...now I am trying to remember what I was smoking to think brother Jethro was wearing overalls...I swear I remember that, but I guess your picture proved me wrong...

Anyway, can anyone identify the mando he's playing in Alan's photo? (SEE> HE'S DOING THAT FUNNY FINGER POSITION AGAIN!!!)

Thanks, Alan!

**f5loar** · Mar-29-2004, 11:51pm

Nope Jethro was into the polyester suits back then.
If you study what he held on the 20 some RCA LP covers it's obvious Jethro was indeed struck with MAS.
He was pretty true to Gibson and many Gibson catalogs had him as an endorser. It was in the mid 70's he switched to the Asian market makers. Anyone who knew him knew that the custom 50's A5 (with the F5 neck) was his favorite both on stage and in the studio. TIMELIFE has re-issued the old Hee Haw shows on DVD. 2 complete shows per disc. The songs they taped were usually live vs. lip sink. Great stuff on them. Ebay has been selling them.

**Moose** · Mar-30-2004, 11:26am

Don't mean to get "off-thread" but I always thought Chet played "right-handed"..!?? - the pic shows him in a left-handed position for pickin" - Anyone else notice..?, WAS Chet a "lefty"??.. or maybe "ambidextrous"..?? - perhaps that photo was "posed"...!!?? - EITHER way he WAS a/THE CGP!..Just wonderin".. Moose.