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Incoming: Roy Clark is alive!


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Roy Clark Signatures have many variations over the years.  There was a limited run of essentially H-535s with his name on them and with exception wood figuring.  But the original design is a single cutaway that's deeper than the H-535s for higher fret access.  The thinking of the single vs. double cutaway is that there is more bling facing the audience, a larger resonance chamber, and a little more body weight to avoid neck dive.  You'll find them with double and single cutaways, maple and mahogany necks, dots, blocks and split block inlays, and some with Bigsbys.  Some will have traditional black headstock veneers and some will have matching maple figured woods.

Here's a ten year old thread that shows my old natural Roy Clark.  

 

I found one a few days ago that I managed to close a deal on.  It's among the last ones made AFAIK.  I'm a fan of the chestnut burst and the block inlays like on the H-157.  I believe it has Seth Lovers, but I'll know eventually.  This is basically a hybrid of a H-530 and a H-555.  Here's him funking around showing off his skills.  

Anyway, here's the incoming porn.

 

 

rc 6.jpg

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RC 1.jpg

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I do recall that Roy did have quite a hand in designing his two Heritage types.  I also recall that some of the original guys, maybe Marv and Ren, told me he "stole" some guitars.  I may have it wrong, but as I recall they lent him a couple of guitars that he wouldn't return, and Roy was mad at the Heritage guys.  I know they were mad at him, at least for a while.

I think it's possible that there was a disagreement about what constituted a RC Signature model.  I personally got one that did not having any Roy Clark markings on it, which probably means Roy got no royalties.  There was fallout with Johnny Smith as well.  I can surmise why but don't know.  Nonetheless, the Roy Clark and Johnny Smith guitars are among my favorites.

Life is complicated.

Here's a RC solo that is amazing.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DjQ650DK5k

 

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Congrats!!

That's beautiful

I think that's basically a thinner H574? Which is a good thing, as the H574 I owned used to trap my hand in the cutaway. Thinner body is probably fine. Similar to an H535

Edited by bolero
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Similar to my H-537. But much nicer.  Nice snatch!

H-537.jpg

Edited by skydog52
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39 minutes ago, skydog52 said:

Similar to my H-537. But much nicer.  Nice snatch!

H-537.jpg

Yeah that's nice too! Dig the orange.

And back to Roy Clark: one of the best musicians, ever. RIP

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Original Specs from website. Looks like similar coloring.

Roy Clark Specifications :

24- 3/4” scale
22 fret ebony block inlaid board
one piece mahogany neck
20” long semi hollow body
16” width with 1- 5/8” rim
Center block is not attached to back
laminated white bound curly maple top and back 
solid maple rim
gold hardware

royclark_h.jpg

Edited by skydog52
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The guitar arrived in excellent condition.  This is fortunate because the box was brutalized.  The guitar in case was packed extremely well will lots of bubble wrap, styrofoam,  and filler.  Otherwise it may not have made it.

 

 

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I remember when I bought Lyle's 525 years ago.   He drove to PawPaw from Canada to drop it off and pick up the blue H150 that Brent had.   I drove up one evening when I was in Warsaw IN, about a 150 mile trip in the middle of winter, to pick up my guitar because I just don't feel comfortable with shipping guitars anymore.  

If I was buying a guitar withing about 250 miles,  I would just make a day of it and drive to pick it up.   The shipping cost would just about pay for the gas, and I know that it wasn't going to be crushed.

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I was able to check the guitar out in detail.  It is in excellent condition.  The binding shows some yellowing and the gold shows some age.  Electronics are fine.

I weighed it at 8 lbs 7 oz.  That is about a pound more than my H-530s.  Then I noticed it has a full center block, which someone must have custom ordered.

The absence of a cutaway, a bit of a fatter neck (not like a '58 LP though, and the center block accounts for the weight difference.

This is a 2011 build.  Back then Heritage made custom changes on signature guitars, I'm almost sure without the artists' consent.

 

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