Guitar
Maker
Gibson, Inc.
Maker
Gibson
Date1967 ca.
Place MadeKalamazoo, Michigan, United States, North America
ModelHummingbird / dreadnought
Serial No.117003
SignedPrinted on orange oval paper label with double-line border, the outer line bold: Style___ / Gibson___ / Number___ is hereby / GUARANTEED / against faulty workmanship and materials. / UNION / MADE Gibson INC. / KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN. / U.S.A.Inlaid in abalone on headstock: Gibson
MarkingsBranded on back of headstock, under finish: 117003
DescriptionAccording to Marshall Grant (as recorded in the Sotheby’s auction catalog), June Carter Cash (1929-2003) acquired this guitar to replace her 1961 Gibson ES-125 (acoustic/electric), which she had used in order to be heard over the band. She was “kidded” about the ES-125, so she switched to the Hummingbird, which then became one of her favorite guitars. June is shown with the guitar in a photo accompanying the article, "June Pride," in the September 18-24, 1999, issue of TV Guide.
The Hummingbird model, introduced in 1960, was named for the delicate image of a hummingbird feeding on the nectar of a trumpet vine that appears on the transparent red celluloid pickguard.
Stringing: six steel strings
Soundboard: two-piece spruce, wide grain narrowing toward the flanks
Back: two-piece mahogany; no back stripe
Ribs: two-piece mahogany; no end graft
Head: mahogany stained black on face; inlaid with abalone geometric decorative device; black over white bell-shaped truss rod cover secured with black-painted steel Philips head screws
Neck: mahogany; integral with head; filled strap button hole on heel
Heel cap: none; neck heel flush with back
Binding: white celluloid; top trim comprised of black-white-black-white-black celluloid purfling strips; back trim comprised of black-white-black-white celluloid purfling strips
Fingerboard: rosewood bound in ivoroid; 20 nickel-silver frets; mother-of-pearl split parallelogram inlays behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets; single black celluloid side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 9th, 15th, and 17th frets; double black celluloid dots behind 7th and 12th frets
Nut: white plastic
Bridge: ebony with curved upper edge; adjustable, angled, white plastic saddle fastened to bridge with two slot-headed steel screws; black plastic bridge pins; single mother-of-pearl dots on each side of bridge pins
Pegs: six gold-plated steel Kluson Deluxe worm-gear machine tuners with single-ring, tulip-shaped, marbleized, off-white celluloid heads and worm gear mechanisms enclosed in rectangular covers
Endpin: brass over chrome-plated steel; Phillips head screw through center
Rosette: wide band of white and black striped celluloid (7 strips – white on outside) set in from inside edge, surrounded on outside with narrower band of white-black-white celluloid with natural wood in between
Pick guard: thick, transparent red celluloid with scalloped outline, secured to top with glue and six later black Phillips head screws, the engraved hummingbird, trumpet vine, and butterfly motif highlighted with off-white paint
Varnish: thick nitrocellulose lacquer with some checking; removed from binding; fine swirled texture from polishing (scent of commercial guitar polish evident 12/7/04)
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany; chamfered corners
End block: black-stained hardwood
Top braces: spruce X-brace, the joint of main cross brace reinforced with white cloth; light hardwood bridge plate
Back braces: light hardwood back graft does not extend to endblock; four spruce back braces
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 1034 mm (40-3/4″)
Back length: 504 mm (19-27/32″)
Upper bout width: 292 mm (11-1/2″)
Waist width: 276 mm (10-7/8″)
Lower bout width: 402 mm (15-13/16″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 97 mm (3-13/16″)
Rib height, at waist: 107 mm (4-3/16″)
Rib height, at end block: 123 mm (4-27/32″)
Head length: 170 mm (6-7/16″)
Head width, top: 79 mm (3-3/32″)
Head width, bottom: 75 mm (2-5/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 357 mm (14-1/32″)
Neck width, nut: 40 mm (1-9/16″)
Neck width, heel: 53 mm (2-3/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 102 mm (4″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): high E: 640 mm (25-3/8″); low E: 646 mm (25-5/8″)
ProvenancePreviously owned by June Carter Cash. Purchased at Sotheby's, September 2004, lot 182.
Published Referencessee press clippings in file of NMM 10770.
Robert K. Oermann, “June Pride,” TV Guide, Sept. 18-24, 1999.
Larson, André P., "Johnny & June Carter Cash Guitars Acquired," National Music Museum Newsletter 32, No. 1 (February 2005), p. 7.
André P. Larson, "Recent Acquisitions," National Music Museum Newsletter Vol. 33,
No. 3 (August 2006), p. 6.
Newspaper:
"Cash: Instruments To Be Displayed In Spring," Sioux Falls Argus Leader, (October 30,
2004).
Robert Morast, "Famous Guitars; Music Museum Buys Guitar Used By Johnny Cash,"
Sioux Falls Argus Leader, (October 30, 2004).
Travis Coleman, “Museum Acquires Cash Guitars,” Volante, (November 23, 2004), The
Verve, B1-B2
"Museum Gets Cash Guitars," Sioux City Journal, (November 5, 2004).
"Music Museum Acquires Johnny, June Carter Cash Guitars," Vermillion Plain Talk,
(November 5, 2004).
"South Dakota: Vermillion," USA TODAY, (November 8, 2004), p.13A.
Christopher 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.
Internet:
"Cash Instruments Go To University," Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc., (November
19, 2004), Retrieved on December 3, 2004 from http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13400942&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_i…
"Gitarren von Johnny Cash komme ins Museum," Letzter Steckbriefaufruf von:
Entertainer Ralf, Retrieved on December 3, 2004 from http://www.onlinemusik.de/default.asp?ssid=&id1=3057&id2=
"Johnny Cash-Instrumente im Museum," Country Music Special Radio Berlin (CSR),
(November 9, 2004), Retrieved on December 3, 2004 from http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:bIAE-1JapscJ:www.csr-berlinweb.de/HOT.htm+%…, p.9-10.
"Johnny Cash-Instrumente im Museum," Schattenkinder e.V., (November 9, 2004),
Retrieved on December 3, 2004 from http://www.radiounion.de/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=12.
"Johnny Cash," CompuServe Celebrity, Retrieved on December 3, 2004 from
http://webcenters.compuserve.com/compuserve/celebrity/bigpic.jsp?photoid=20041108NY…, p.1-2.
"Johnny Cash," Netscape Music, Retrieved on December 3, 2004 from
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/music/news/bigpic.jsp?photoid=20041108NYET139.
"Johnny Cash," YAHOO! News, UK & Ireland, (November 8, 2004), Retrieved on
December 3, 2004 from http://uk.fc.yahoo.com/041030/46/f5mz9.html.
"Lund At Large," KELOLAND NEWS, (November 12, 2004), Retrieved on December 3,
2004 from http://keloland.com/News/NewsDetail4514.cfm?ID=22,35953.
"Museum Acquires Cash Guitars," Volante-Verve, (November 23, 2004), Retrieved on
December 3, 2004 from http://www.volanteonline.com/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=814813.
"Museum To Display Cash Guitars," THE SUN NEWS, (November 9, 2004), Retrieved
on December 3, 2004 from http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/2004/11/10/news/nation/10133729.htm
"Music Museum Acquires Cash Guitars," Comcast, (November 8, 2004), Retrieved on
December 3, 2004 from
http://www.comcast.net/News/ENTERTAINMENT/XML.1403_Recordings/07al
b438-25…
"National Music Museum in South Dakota Acquires Two Guitars From Johnny Cash
Estate," COX. net, (November 8, 2004), Retrieved November 21, 2004 from
http://rhodeisland.cox.net/cci/entertainmentnews/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D867THR80.
"Music Museum Acquires Cash Guitars," The Washington Chorus, (November 8, 2004),
Retrieved on December 3, 2004 from
http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=114&sid=952.
"Music Museum Acquires Cash Guitars," The Herald Sun, (November 8, 2004),
Retrieved on November 22, 2004 from http://www.herald-sun.com/features/wire/29-541833.html, p.1-2.
"National Music Museum Acquires Johnny and June Carter Cash Guitars," Bluegrass
Music News Network, (November 10, 2004), Retrieved on December 3, 2004
from http://www.cybergrass.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=648.
"U.S. & World News: People In The News: VERMILLION, S.D.," Retrieved on
December 3, 2004 from http://amarillo.com/stories/110904/usn_552841.shtml.
Radio:
Susan Hanson, “Celebrating Johnny Cash,” SDPB Feature, South Dakota Public Radio
(December 3, 2004)
Credit LineAndré P. and Kay Marcum Larson Fund, 2004
Object number10768
On View
On view
