Guitar
Trade Name
Villar
Maker
Talmar, Inc.
Musician Represented
Bob Dylan
Date1960
Place MadeBronx, New York, United States, North America
Modelclassical
Serial No.None
SignedNoneDescriptionThis guitar belonged to Peter McKenzie, son of Eve and Mac McKenzie, with whom Bob Dylan stayed early in his time in New York. The instrument was used by Dylan to compose and record during this period. One such recording on this guitar can be heard at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_S8lcG9-90
According to an affidavit signed by the family in 1993:
"From May to September of 1961, Bob Dylan lived with us. He would come home late in the evening and write all night long at the kitchen table. He would use the Villar on many late night occassions to do his composing because it was not as loud as a steel string. "Talking New York," "Talking Bear Mountain," and "Old Man," among others, were written at the kitchen table. Several of his handwritten lyrics were left with us upon his departure. On Bob's many subsequent visits back in those early years he would pick up the Villar to entertain the whole family, playing something new, recently recorded, or making up something right on the spot."
The guitar is of the Villar brand, a student line which was made by Talmar, Inc. 3354 Wilson Avenue, Bronx 69, New York, according to the 1960 Grossman Counter Catalog, No. 61.
Stringing: six Nylon strings
Soundboard: two-piece spruce, narrow grain
Back: one-piece mahogany
Ribs: two-piece mahogany
Head: mahogany; two tuner roller slots
Neck: mahogany
Heel cap: none
Binding: ebony with white celluloid strip on inside edge
Fingerboard: ebony; 19 nickel-silver frets; white painted side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: rosewood; white plastic saddle
Pegs: two sets of nickel-plated steel worm-gear machine heads with nickel-plated steel rollers and white plastic heads
Endpin: none
Rosette: thirteen-ply purfling strips set in from edge, four dark hardwood strips at center surrounded by alternating light and dark strips on outsides; white painted triangles forming zig-zag pattern outside inlaid rosette; two black painted lines bordering zig-zag pattern
Varnish: clear, later shellac overvarnish
Linings: spruce kerfed lining between top and ribs; beech solid lining between back and ribs
Headblock: spruce or pine; grain runs parallel to ribs; beveled edges
Tailblock: mahogany; beveled edges
Top braces: mahogany upper and lower face braces; seven spruce fan braces
Back braces: mahogany back graft; three mahogany back braces
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 983 mm (38-11/16″)
Back length: 481 mm (18-15/16″)
Upper bout width: 277 mm (10-29/32″)
Waist width: 239 mm (9-13/32″)
Lower bout width: 372 mm (14-21/32″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 84 mm (3-5/16″)
Rib height, at waist: 90 mm (3-17/32″)
Rib height, at end block: 95 mm (3-3/4″)
Head length: 182 mm (7-5/32″)
Head width, top: 68 mm (2-11/16″)
Head width, bottom: 60 mm (2-3/8″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 325 mm (13-19/32″)
Neck width, nut: 51 mm (2″)
Neck width, heel: 62 mm (2-7/16″)
Soundhole diameter: 87 mm (3-7/16″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 647 mm (25-15/32″)
ProvenanceUsed by Bob Dylan from 1961 to 1963 while first in New York, staying with the McKenzies. The guitar belonged to Peter McKenzie, the young son of the household. The quiet sound of the instrument allowed him to compose late into the night at home. According to an affidavit signed by the family:
Published ReferencesChristopher Vondracek, “Acoustic Vault: Intriguing visitors and evoking tales, museum’s guitar collection holds more than American icons,” Volante, (April 5, 2007), The Verve, B1, B3.
King, T. Wilson, “National Music Museum is a real treasure,” Buzz! 12.14.2010.
Lammers, Dirk. “Filled with Rare Instruments, SD’s National Music Museum Looks to Raise $15M for Revamp.” Associated Press, Published: 17 February 2013. As seen on Washington Post website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/filled-with-rare-instruments-sds-national-music-museum-looks-to-raise-15m-to-revamp/2013/02/17/8c29ca62-7929-11e2-9c27-fdd594ea6286_story.html as seen on 18 February 2013.
Credit LineBoard of Trustees, 2005
Object number10813
On View
On view
