The Jimmie Rodgers Special

One of the Most Famous Guitars in America

We work with the curator at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum here in Nashville from time to time. What a privilege it was to have been asked to recondition one of the the most famous guitars in the country: Jimmie Rodgers’ 1928 Weymann guitar.

In 1929, Rodgers made a short film called The Singing Brakeman; his career was already in high gear. He began touring the country on major vaudeville shows and became the first country artist to endorse an instrument: the Weymann Jimmie Rodgers Special. Though it was not the guitar used in the film, the Weymann was featured in Rodgers live performances until his death in 1933.

The guitar now belongs to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and has been on display there for many years. When they reached their 25th Anniversary of operation, they asked Clint Black to play a single song on it during their celebration that was televised from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. We were asked to check the guitar over and get it in playing condition; what an honor it was to just hold it.

This guitar was reported to have been stolen at one time. I don’t know the story, but I bet someone out there does….

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