Healdsburg find #2 - Halbohm Gitbanjo

J.R. Rogers · #1 08-26-2009, 10:58 PM

The guitars at Healdsburg 2009 ranged from beautiful to bizzare and everything in between. I approached a gentleman outside who was playing one of the most interesting guitars I've ever seen. He sold me the guitar with a smile and moved on his way. I wish I knew more about it.

Bruce Halbohm says he's really an "auto-body man", as he shows you a portfolio of some of the most interesting and bizzare guitars you've ever seen. Unfortunately, he has no website so you'll have to take my word for it. But some of his work involves the inlay of a 70's van hubcap into the top of a guitar, and stringing up a gorgeous ornamental jewelry box with a guitar neck and making a perfectly playable instrument. He's apparently been doing this for years and has the most interesting portfolio of guitars I've seen. Let's hope he builds a website soon.

Pros: Yes, you too can sound like a banjo player!
Cons: Everything you play sounds like a banjo!

I'm working from the memory of a conversation, so bear with me.... The body came from an old Kay guitar that he refinished. The neck is long scale - over 26", and will accomodate heavier strings with no problem according to Bruce. Baritone Gitbanjo? Yes.

The sound ports are his own work. The deocorative ring was cut from a silver serving tray. I recall him mentioning the addition of vintage wine keg parts somewhere on this guitar. Perhaps the resonator?

Not content with an acoustic-only gitbanjo, Bruce decided to add a single coil pickup. The controls are cleverly inset into the back, mounted atop a vintage sterling silver serving tray from days past. Volume and tone for dialing in that sweet midnight gitbanjo pick'n sound through the boutique amp of your choosing.

Immaculate finish work:

JR