Guitar
Maker
Grammer Guitar Company
Date1971/10/27
Place MadeNashville, Tennessee, United States, North America
ModelB 20 C / "baby" dreadnought
Serial No.6010
SignedPrinted on glossy paper label with single line border, the serial number rubber-stamped in black ink, the model rubber-stamped in black ink over line: [“g” logo, white letter on black background] / GRAMMER GUITAR / COMPANY / SERIAL No. 6010 / MODEL No. B 20C / [signed in pencil over printed line] Nancy Dee / NASHVILLE , TENNESSEE / MUSIC CITY USAEngraved on peghead veneer, double layer, black-white plastic, so that lettering appears white on a black background: the / grammer / guitar
MarkingsRubber stamped on neck block in black ink: 6010
Written in pencil on neck block: 27 / oct / 71
Inlaid in mother of pearl on fingerboard between 2nd and 13th frets, oriented to be read when guitar is played: NANCY DEE
Stamped on tuners: GROVER / PAT. PEND. / U. S. A.
DescriptionMade for Nancy Dee in October 1971, a little over one month after a Grammer G-58M in a darker blue sunburst was made for Webb Pierce. Both instruments bear the names of the performers on the fretboards. Dee, owner of venue Deeman’s Den, recorded a single entitled Above Suspicion for Decca with Webb Pierce, which was released in late 1971.
Stringing: six steel strings
Soundboard: quarter-cut spruce with broad grain narrowing to medium in the flanks
Back: two-piece, slab-cut maple with slight blister figure and pith flecks; back strip comprised of brown hardwood diamonds each surrounded by four light hardwood parallelograms arranged to form herringbones, with blue-stained hardwood herringbones on outsides, each of these figures interspersed with black-white-black hardwood strips, the entire mosaic enclosed in single light hardwood purfling strips
Ribs: two-piece, slab-cut maple with faint curl and pith flecks; end graft comprised of geometric maple, plane (platanus), and dark hardwood inlay, surrounded on each side by wide black hardwood strip and two thin light hardwood strips
Head: five-piece plain maple with laminated black-white celluloid veneer, so that chamfered edges and engraved lettering appear white on a black background; decorative, engraved lines forming upside-down “L” with rounded corner, under signature lettering; laminated black and white celluloid truss rod cover, the black side visible, with pointed upper end
Neck: three-piece plain maple; integral with head; steel strap button affixed to heel with nickel-plated steel Phillip’s head screw
Heel cap: laminated black-white celluloid veneer, so that chamfered edges appear white on a black background
Binding: white celluloid; trim comprised of nine-ply black and white celluloid purfling strips
Fingerboard: ebony bound in white celluloid, the bottom end of fingerboard scalloped; 18 nickel-silver frets; “NANCY DEE” in mother-of-pearl inlayed lettering between 2nd and 14th frets; single black celluloid side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th frets; double black celluloid side dots behind 12th fret
Nut: white plastic
Bridge: rosewood with scalloped and chamfered upper edge; angled white plastic saddle; white plastic bridge pins; single mother-of-pearl dots on each side of bridge pins covering screws
Pegs: six chrome-plated steel Grover worm-gear machine tuners with chrome-plated steel heads and worm gear mechanisms enclosed in round covers
Endpin: steel; nickel-plated steel Phillips head screw through center
Rosette: two bands of white and black striped celluloid (5 strips pm each band), with natural wood in between
Pick guard: laminated black-white celluloid with slightly chamfered edges appearing white, with decoratively cut outline
Lacquer: light blue-to-blonde sunburst lacquer; light blue lacquer on neck, shaded to blonde at thumb position
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany; beveled corners
End block: mahogany; beveled corners
Top braces: spruce X-brace; one transverse brace; maple bridge plate
Back braces: four spruce back braces, the bottom two from lower end slightly wider than the upper two
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 894 mm (35-3/16″)
Back length: 445 mm (17-1/2″)
Upper bout width: 261 mm (10-1/4″)
Waist width: 227 mm (10-15/16″)
Lower bout width: 338 mm (13-9/32″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 86 mm (3-3/8″)
Rib height, at waist: 101 mm (3-15/16″)
Rib height, at end block: 111 mm (4-11/32″)
Head length: 169 mm (6-21/32″)
Head width, top: 97 mm (3-25/32″)
Head width, bottom: 75 mm (2-15/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 276 mm (10-27/32″)
Neck width, nut: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Neck width, heel: 52 mm (2-1/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 94 mm (3-11/16″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): high E: 557 mm (21-15/16″); low E: 560 mm (22-1/16″)
ProvenanceNancy Dee
Credit LinePurchase funds gift of Jean M. Abramson Estate, 2008
Object number13568
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