Sponsored By
 

1940’s Epiphone Blackstone

 

Bay Area guitarist Jim Nunally demonstrates a vintage archtop he found while touring with David Grisman.

 
May 8, 2024
 
 

San Francisco Bay Area guitarist Jim Nunally is an in-demand flatpicker who has worked with David Grisman, John Reischman, Bill Evans, Nell Robinson, and many others. Jim has become a regular visitor to the Peghead Nation studio as he provides backup for Chad’s Western Swing Fiddle course. He usually plays one of his vintage Martin dreadnoughts (a 1946 Martin D-18 or 1944 Martin D-28), but for a recent session, he brought along a very cool 1940s Epiphone Blackstone, so naturally we asked him to demo the guitar.

Jim found the guitar in a guitar shop in Medford, Oregon, while touring with the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience about 15 years ago. “When I was a kid, my dad always told me that my uncle had some Epiphone guitars, and he loved those guitars, so I always wanted one. This is a really good sounding guitar!”

Epiphone Blackstone models were part of the company’s “Masterbilt” line between 1931 and 1949. Early models were relatively small with 14¾-inch-wide bodies, but by 1936, the body size had increased to 16⅜ inches. All had spruce tops, and maple and mahogany were used for the backs and sides. Jim’s guitar was built in the mid-1940s, and it has maple back and sides and a sunburst finish. The guitar had some finish damage when Jim found it, so he took it to Bay Area sunburst finish expert Bill Reinhart for a touchup, and today the previous damage is virtually undetectable. 

Jim describes the guitar’s sound as having “a resonance that’s kind of between a dreadnought and an f-hole archtop guitar,” and he enjoys using it for jazz and western swing, as well as for Carter-style playing. 

Related Vintage Vault Posts

 

1957 Gibson L-5CES

Peghead Nation instructor Matt Munisteri demonstrates his rare Gibson electric archtop with a special pickup configuration.

Read More

 

1926 Martin 000-18

Peghead Nation instructor Doug Young demonstrates his vintage 12-fret.

Read More

 

1960 Gibson LG-2

A classic Gibson small-body with a cross-continental history.

Read More

 

1932 Martin 00-18

Eric Schoenberg with a one-of-a-kind vintage Martin.

Read More

 

1944 Martin 000-18

Bluegrass/jazz flatpicker Grant Gordy discusses and demonstrates his vintage Martin.

Read More

Jim Nunally playing his 1944 Martin D-28  

1944 Martin D-28

Bay Area guitarist Jim Nunally demonstrates his herringbone dreadnought, which was originally owned by Windy Whitford of the Goose Island Ramblers.

Read More

 

1924 Martin 0-28K

Bruce Molsky demonstrates a beautiful koa Martin with a cool history.

Read More

 

1963 Martin 000-18

Flynn Cohen demonstrates a great vintage Martin owned by Peghead Nation’s new Beginning Celtic Fiddle teacher Emerald Rae.

Read More

 

1931 National Style O

Scott Ainslie demonstrates a pawnshop treasure

Read More

 

1930 Gibson Master Model L-5

Peghead Nation’s Roots of Jazz Guitar instructor Matt Munisteri demonstrates his main guitar.

Read More

 
Sponsored By
 
 
 

Peghead Partners

 
Peghead Partners feature image
O’ahu HG-28 | Martin Guitar
A brand-new model with a reduced-size dreadnought body celebrates Martin's history in Hawaiian music.
 
subscribe sample lessons
 
 
 
 
  Follow Us: facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon  
 
spotify icon facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon
  About Us       Shop         Support         Contact Us         Email Sign up         Advertise         Sitemap         FAQ         Privacy         Terms         Subscribe   Sign In  
 
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
Peghead Nation logo
 
© Copyright 2024 PegheadNation.com
 
 
spotify icon facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
Peghead Nation logo
 
© Copyright 2024 PegheadNation.com