Richard's Working Instruments - Vintage Guitars

These are the guitars Richard brings with him when he ministers in music:

1933 "O Model" National Duolian Steel Guitar
This single resonator guitar was popular with blues musicians back in the 1930's, who needed a guitar loud enough to be heard in noisy juke joints. A metal instrument, it was rugged enough survive the rowdy environment. It could also deflect a bullet.

​Richard's uncle bought it in 1945 and gave to him in 1969.

1934 "A-22 Model"  Rickenbacher Electro Lap Steel - aka "The Frying Pan"

This rare instrument is the first electric guitar ever made. It was invented by George Beachamp in 1931 and sold in stores and through catalogs beginning in 1932.

Richard found it in a Massachusetts guitar store in 1973, along with the original amplifier and guitar cord. He uses it to play "Song of the Whale," an instrumental tone poem he wrote that evokes the singing of these great sea creatures.

1969 Martin D-21

Bought new in 1969, Richard has managed to hang on to this instrument despite decades of hard travel and hard use.

Bonnie Raitt borrowed and performed with it once. After she finished, she set it down on a smoldering cigarette butt and accidentally set it on fire. She apologized profusely and offered to but Richard a new guitar.

Bonnie - if you happen to read this, don't worry about replacing my guitar. If you could. please send me a letter authenticating the incident. Not everyone believes the story about the burn hole on the back.