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Lead Belly guitar history cannot begin without knowing Leadbelly. Huddie Ledbetter, born in the United States in the 18th century, was a revered figure in folk and blues music. He rose to fame playing multiple musical instruments, including the guitar, piano, accordion, mandolin, violin, and harmonica. He was a highly skilled musician and one of the greatest legends of the 19th century.
Lead Belly began playing a 12-string guitar during the 1920s. He acquired a new Stella guitar similar to the one currently on loan from The Lead Belly Estate and Archives. His music first became popular in the African-American community.
Leadbelly’s 12-String Acoustic
| Made In | USA |
| Model: | Stella Auditorium |
| Body: | Mahogany |
| Top: | Sitka Spruce |
| Neck: | Mahogany |
| Scale: | 26.5″ or 25.4″ |
| Nut Width: | 1 7/8″ |
| Weight: | 4 lbs |
| Fretboard: | Ebony |
| Frets: | 20 |
| Tailpiece: | Chrome plated steel |
| Electronics: | N/A |
| Bridge: | Ebony |
| Inlays: | N/A |
| Trussrod: | Adjustable (2 neck rods of carbon fibre) |
| Bound: | Adjustable (2 neck rods of carbon fiber) |
| Case: | Hardshell |
| Design: | Fancy wood marquetry, rosette, and top |
The Leadbelly guitar can be heard in popular music that people love and remember now. For example, “Midnight Special,” “Black Betty”, and “Goodnight Irene.” It’s not just about the songs but also about the artist who played them. His music remains a significant influence on rock and roll.
Other than Lead Belly, legendary musicians have played this famous 12-string acoustic guitar. They include Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash.
Check out this link to learn more about the best 12-string guitar in history.
Body of Stella Auditorium
Lead Belly’s 12-string acoustic guitar is a Stella Auditorium. It has the signature smaller body with two body shapes: dreadnought and auditorium. The sides and neck of this guitar are made of mahogany, and the top is of Sitka Spruce.
Top wood
The top is made of Sitka spruce. Spruce is a light-colored wood with a fine-grain sequence. This wood tends to give our guitars a much more quintessential appearance. Spruce has become the most highly rated wood for acoustic guitars. The Sitka spruce stands in contrast.
Tonality
Mahogany tonewood is multifunctional, such as being exceptionally sturdy and resistant to wood rot. This kind of wood is very reliable and far less prone to distortion than others. As a result, luthiers around the globe depend heavily on it.
However, its popularity is due to much more than sturdiness; the tonal characteristics of the sound are also important. The tone is balanced and has solid foundations. Also, mahogany seems to have more sustain and resonant frequency.
Fingerboard
The fingerboard of the Leadbelly guitar is made of Ebony. Ebony is indeed the sturdiest, heaviest, and most bendable if compared to any other type of wood. Its sturdiness makes it possible to reduce wear and tear dramatically while keeping your guitar in good condition for a long time.
Ebony is also resistant to rot, like mahogany, and is considered stable. So, the finishes on Ebony have always been surprisingly smooth. The Leadbelly guitar is generally modeled in a rounded shape widely recognized as a radius. This shape makes playing more convenient and enjoyable.
The scale length of a Stella Auditorium 12-string guitar is around 25.4 inches to 26.5 inches. In addition, the fingerboard has inlaid signs, typically small dots, to assist the player in locating their way all around the neck. The fretboard is wide enough to hold all the guitar strings.
Bridge
The Stella Auditorium’s glued bridge was an innovative design. It enhanced the tone and sustain of the string instrument.
The maker of the Leadbelly guitar was German luthier C. F. Martin. He glued the bridge to the top of the guitar. It allowed a stable and resonant connection between the strings and the body. Every classical guitar bridge now features this bridge style.
Find out why a 12-string guitar’s bridge is different here.
Weight
Leadbelly’s 4 lb (11 oz) guitar is exceptionally lightweight compared to other 12-string guitars, but its unique tonality and sound make it a distinctive instrument. Heavier guitars can provide a more solid and stable feeling. They also have greater resonance and sustain. Many people like the grounded and substantial instrument.
Tailpiece
The chrome-plated steel tailpiece is a unique feature of the Leadbelly guitar. It makes the guitar sound amazing, giving it a more harmonious, fuller, and vibrant tone. The tailpiece holds all the strings, maintaining its structural integrity.
Ideal Genres
Musicians often use the 12-string guitar in folk, country, and blues music. Leadbelly played a variety of genres, including gospel, folk, blues, and pop. Leadbelly guitar is versatile enough to play various musical styles, including rock music.
Lead Belly’s Influence on Kurt Cobain
In the early 1990s, during Nirvana’s fame, Cobain expressed his deep admiration for Lead Belly and his influence on his music. Cobain was particularly drawn to Lead Belly’s raw, vibrant guitar-playing style and poignant songwriting.
In 1993, Cobain played and sang “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” at MTV Unplugged in New York. This definitive performance brought the song to the attention of the modern rock and pop audience.
Right before playing the song on the MTV Unplugged show, Cobain said that he had been offered to buy Lead Belly’s guitar for Five Hundred Thousand Dollars by a representative from the Lead Belly estate. He jokingly recalled asking his label boss, David Geffen, to purchase the guitar, but Geffen refused.
Pros of the Lead Belly Guitar
Craftmanship: Made in the USA, ensuring high-quality craftsmanship
Sound: The Stella Auditorium model offers a balanced and resonant sound
Tonewood: Mahogany is a dense wood that produces a deep, resonant sound. Sitka Spruce is a lightweight wood that produces a bright, clear sound. The combination of these two woods creates a guitar with a sound that is both rich and clear.
Cons of the Lead Belly Guitar
Electronics: Lack of electronics may limit connectivity options for specific performance settings
Lead Belly Guitar’s FAQs
- What Makes A 12-String Guitar Bridge Different? - July 18, 2023
- Richie Sambora’s Beautiful Ovation Double-Neck Guitar - March 17, 2023
- Lead belly Guitar 12-String Acoustic - March 17, 2023
