Meet Hedley Jones, the UNKNOWN Jamaican Inventor who Beat LES PAUL to the Electric Guitar!

[@thadjones7261]

Thank you Brad, he's my Grandad and still the coolest guy i know, he was still writing for one of the local news papers up to the time of his death. and fun side fact he also built and installed the very first traffic light in Jamaica in 1951, Thanks again for this he was man of many firsts.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thad jones Thank you for your comment. Your Grandad was clearly a special man. Do you know if his autobiography is going to be published?

[@thadjones7261]

@@TheGuitologist My uncle his eldest Hedley Jones Jr. actually has it and they are working with a publisher in California where he resides so yes they are pushing to get it published i will keep you in the loop. I am an official subscriber to your channel now and i sent the link to the rest of the family..

[@LTJR.]

I'm very envious and simultaneously happy for you. Both of my grandfathers died when my parents were young, and I consider it one of the low points of my life. That was a long time ago and better to digging all your grandfather's accomplishments. Sounds like a really lively, clever soul.

[@TheGuitologist]

@@thadjones7261 Thank you for keeping me in the loop on the autobiography. When it comes out, send me a review copy and I'll review it here on my channel to help give it some exposure. Thank you!

[@imannonymous7707]

Respect

[@hedley007]

Well well well, I’m Hedley Jr. I just saw this today and let me say this is the coolest representation recorded about who he really was. He also made the first double neck Bass and Guitar and the bass had 6 strings among other inventions. Would be nice to have a chat! Happy New Year.

[@TheGuitologist]

Your father was an inspiring and talented man. I would love to talk sometime soon! Send me an email and we can set up an interview. Bradlinzy at gmail

[@koolaidsouljajones6145]

So when would we be able to have a talk

[@davidplatt8915]

H.G. Jones was quite a man and ahead of his time. I enjoyed this episode very much. Thanks for this episode, Brad.

[@TheGuitologist]

thanks for watching. I agree. What an amazing man.

[@cherylnelson3637]

Indeed!!I agree!

[@jamesomg6222]

Hi Brad, been thinking a lot about you recently here in Ireland. It's horrible to witness all the trouble you have had with KZbin. You may think this is silly but I lit a church candle for you and your family on St Patrick's Day. Sending you strength and good wishes. James

[@TheGuitologist]

I don’t think that’s silly at all. Thank you, James. I’m touched by that.

[@jamesomg6222]

@@TheGuitologist Thank you for all your great content. I honestly believe the good guys win in the end. You my friend are definitely one of the good guys.

[@elephantsmemory3142]

@ian miller I assure that we are not all god botherers in Ireland Just a few too many

[@TheGuitologist]

If you enjoy videos like this, please support them by supporting my sponsor: Save 15% on Native Sons Straps www.nativesonsgoods.com/

[@IanThatMetalBassist]

If you're planning on doing more of these historical type videos, I'd love to see you talk about Paul Tutmarc and his Audiovox brand

[@dr.johnpaladinshow9747]

Nice job Brad. We all still want SPF, but this was really interesting. These types of vids require lots of time, research & editing.

[@utubehound69]

This was great .

[@needles23]

Wow....I'm amazed by this. An incredible Renaissance man, who achieved amazing things without getting, or indeed even asking for, the recognition he deserved. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. This man deserves to be talked about.

[@keefjunior4061]

Damn. I'm of the mind we should have a little crowd funding in appreciation of this guy. If this is truly whose responsible for all the endless hours of enjoyment, therapy, and stress relief, I feel a debt to him. Lord knows Ive supported Leo and Les well enough!

[@michaelcarman1564]

Thank you for telling me about this remarkable man. I feel that I should have known about him 40 years ago. I shall enjoy catching up with him.

[@TheGuitologist]

Lots of reading resources in the description. Apparently, he had an autobiography which remains unpublished. Hopefully this video helps spark enough interest for someone to publish it.

[@mykeadaptiv5828]

I knew about his history with sound systems, but never knew about the guitar stuff. Well done! Jamaicans are some of the most resourceful people on earth.

[@ivandee4011]

A very big THANK YOU, and much appreciation for producing this doc, Brad. This unsung hero will not go unknown.

[@Andluth]

Thank you for this video! I have been involved in guitarmaking for 30+ years and had never heard of Mr. Jones. A great piece of Guitar history!

[@AndrewAHayes]

Hedley deserves much more recognition in the wider guitar community, what a life he led!

[@strat0871]

Thanks for that story Brad, I didn't know this man, he was a pure genius, 100 years glory !

[@nicksalvatore5717]

This should be your highest viewed video. This reminds me of one day when I went down a rabbit hole learning about the man who invented slide guitar and the hawaiian steel guitar, Joseph Kekuku. Criminally unknown, I thank you for sharing this important historical information.

[@willmorrison1022]

What an incredibly inventive man. So many fingers in so many pots. What a shame that we don't pay attention to the rest of the world, we're missing out on some real genius. And this man definitely qualifies. Thanks very much for informing us of this great man.

[@butchlauer]

Great story Brad, so many times in history it is not who is first but who is most exposed to the masses. Dance hall culture of the islands owes everything to Mr. Jones for bringing so much behind the scenes support to nourish the island art.

[@hdosch]

This is an incredible documentary. I would love to see his legacy more widely recognized. He was a true pioneer. Thank you for sharing this.

[@ivandee4011]

Brad, I thank you wholeheartedly for publishing this report about Mr Jones. I just wish he was alive to receive the recognition he truly deserved. I also wish the best to you and your family, in these trying times. Bless you for the videos!

[@LitesLAB]

That was great Brad! I love that you take the time to shine the light on unsung hero’s who otherwise may never be known. Amazing work! Thank you :)

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks for watching, brother man.

[@TheGadgettracker]

Labors of love are the most prized. Keep it up. It won't go unnoticed.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Brad, you’ve outdone yourself! Fantastic mini-doc. That guy was brilliant. Do more of these. 🔥🔥🔥

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks. I probably will if it does well. TBH, these types of videos don't usually do well for me, so they're more of a labor of love.

[@frieswijk]

Great video about a man I had never heard of. And after this video, I'm a bit ashamed I had never heard of him. Thanks Brad

[@TheGuitologist]

frieswijk you and me both.

[@MrLaulew]

Thank you for such great writing about Mr Jones. Met him in Montego Bay when I was the 19 years old keyboard player at the then Seawind Beach Resort. He was also the president for the Jamaican Musician Union at that time. As I can recall, Mr. Jones had a small shop, (can't recall the street) in Montego. This was the go place to repair mostly organs or that's what my eyes were focused on because that was my instrument at the time and he was our go to repair person. Very humbled person. Never knew he died.

[@blackbirdpie217]

An amazing genius with many talents.

[@54fighting5]

I heard that he actually built up a warehouse full of electric guitars... But ran over them with a bulldozer. A practice still in use today....

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

Yeah they were deemed "defective". Gotta keep up that quality control...

[@egg5474]

I almost believed that I could get a hold of one goddammit lol

[@surfnomad5405]

Great story man. It's awesome that you took the time to celebrate the distinction of this neglected genius. I will think of Mr Jones as I spin some Marley and crank the bass. Thank you.

[@optimumamoeba3308]

Excellent video, I can't believe that I've never heard of this guy, what an awesome dude.

[@buzzbabyjesus]

I've been a fan of Jamaican music since the '70's, and I thought I knew a fair amount about the sound systems, but I didn't know any of this, and it has put things in historical perspective. Thanks!

[@TheGuitologist]

He IS the inventor of the Jamaican Soundsystem. The entire culture owes itself to him. I could have done an entire video just on that aspect of him alone. Lots I didn't even touch upon. Plenty more in the reading links in the description.

[@buzzbabyjesus]

@@TheGuitologist Without the sound systems, not only would Jamaican music not be what it is, DJ culture in general, which includes Hip Hop, might not have happened like it did. I believe Rap owes it's origins in part to Jamaican DJ's "toasting" over the usually instrumental B-sides of the hit. Where did Jamaicans move when they came to New York? Jamaica, Queens, of course.

[@shearfury147]

soooo glad your making videos Brad...you rock

[@robertsartino6610]

That was an awesome insight to a true pioneer of modern music and guitars!

[@jameskerr9509]

Thank you for bringing the work of this pioneer to the world. I had heard about him some time ago but never met him.

[@tommymcentyre]

Great segment Brad. I also thoroughly enjoyed learning about an obscure but important early guitar pioneer. We need diversions in these trying times. Good work!!

[@chrisdurante2544]

Extremely interesting. That man was a bloody genius. Thank you for this eye opener. Now , back to my bench to get this right........

[@deweydecimal1446]

I bet he and leo fender have a lot to talk about and share in the Great guitar hall of fame in the sky. Awesome dude!

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Until the world can heal and get over Corvid 19, we need to be entertained and this content is so important. You should never loose your desire to learn and if you had not brought this man's story to light, who would have known. Bravo Brad for all your efforts! Keep us informed! Thanxz

[@michaelkornet1227]

Good to see your videos flowing again Brad. KZbin would be a much worse place without them. Cheers mate.

[@melvynobrien6193]

A number of people were working on a LP-style guitar in the 30s and 40s, including Appleton. My father built a guitar using pickups developed from tank parts, and he built a PA system that was borrowed by many bands visiting Ireland, including George Shearing, in the late 40s and 50s. Ronnie Scott started in my father's band, as did Bobby Lamb, who recorded many albums with Frank Sinatra in the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. Another good video, dude.

[@jamesomg6222]

Hi Mel what was your father's band in Ireland called? I might have seen them!

[@13Hangfire]

Wow! Amazing history lesson to start my morning! Thanks for the knowledge Brad:)

[@OfBronzeandBlaze]

Thank you so much for bringing light to this! Such an amazing gifted man!

[@erikavery8083]

*mind blown* I DID NOT KNOW THIS!!!!!!!! Thank You Brad!!!!!!!!!

[@spookyf1]

Beautiful journalism Brad, such an important man that we should have know about sooner. At college we briefly learned about a UK Jamaican Sound System that was so powerful it had hundreds of volts on the speaker outputs to feed his massive speaker arrays!

[@peterrabbit4034]

Loved this. I am a student of music and history, and I had never heard of this amazing man. The real legacy of Les Paul is his invention of multi-track recording on the mid 1950's.

[@kampfkustomer2343]

The real legacy of Les Paul isn't changed much. He still was one of a few people who had a similar idea around the same time. However neither the Log nor the Les Paul were copies of the Slingerland in the way the Automatic was. And I seriously doubt that Lester knew of this guy at the time. Les Paul also had his first chart hit with multitracking in 1951 - not the 'mid 50s.' His recording experiments with it began in the late 40s.

[@thetasigma6434]

Brad, I think this ranks as one of the best videos you've done. Thank you for introducing me to this amazing music pioneer!

[@mauricedibert2635]

This deserves more than one thumbs up. Good stuff Brad!

[@mikehartke1535]

That was totally killer, no filler Brad. Keep it coming!!!!!

[@rockindavebyron3960]

WOW!!! This was EXCELLENT!!! What a pioneer this man was!!! Thanks so much for sharing this info Brad, we need more content like this, absolutely GREAT!!! Stay safe my friend, Rock On & God Bless!!!

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks, Dave.

[@RedGibsonsRock]

Hedley Jones was one of those guys. Bright, inquisitive and ambitious. It's doubtful the words "I'm bored" ever came out of his mouth. He had the same quality that guys like Paul Bigsby, Les Paul, Leo Fender, Merle Travis and "App" Appleton had. If they had an idea they wouldn't rest until they made it happen. Their innovations weren't confined to one narrow area. Thanks for introducing me to this remarkable man!

[@kbmitch]

Great video!! It shows that Hedley was a genius, well ahead of his time. He should be recognized by the world for coming up with all of these inventions before anyone else. Les Paul was a genius as well but credit should go where credit is due.

[@TheGuitologist]

Correct. And I want to stress I'm not taking anything away from Les Paul here. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@filonome]

Great video, Brad! The name rang a faint bell but I didn't know anything about him. I dig this genre of videos from you. Hopefully there are more to come! I always enjoy your amp tech videos too particularly, but honestly I've not been bored or disappointed with anything you've posted. You have a great voice for narration, I'd watch a full length documentary if you ever narrated something that long. Hope you and the family are staying healthy and god bless you all!

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks Jon. I appreciate the words of encouragement. I'd like to do more of this kind of researched video in the future. They take a lot more time to research and edit, but they are more rewarding for me.

[@dazuk1969]

Hang on a mo...did this dude really build the first electrified Guitar in 1940 ??...WHY DONT WE KNOW ABOUT THIS DUDE !.......this is without doubt...the best upload i have seen this year...Mr Jones..you are a frickin legend...as a guitar player, i feel ashamed that i dont know about you...but i do now, and will finding out a lot more about you now...God bless you Mr G for bringing this to our attention..peace.

[@TheGuitologist]

Dam Mad He built the second solid wood body Spanish guitar...that we know of

[@cody181818]

As a guitar player thank you for the knowledge and now i can show my appreciation to a man who mad the instrument i lve and that has made the world a beter place and gave us so many bands.

[@thomasjarosz7406]

Brad, That's some interesting facts that are overlooked to this day. God bless

[@joebikeguy6669]

Really interesting history lesson. Nicely done!

[@farangkinok]

Really enjoyed that, what a great legacy he left to Jamaica, needs to be more widely known for sure

[@Kris-P343]

Great Bio, He was an amazing man who I didn't even know existed...Now I do. Thanks Brad!

[@highvoltagebeaver6640]

Brad, this format is AWESOME! Please make it a series!

[@Peasmouldia]

Brilliant episode Brad. The word legend is much overused and consequently devalued these days, but not in Hedley's case. True legend. Hope all well with you and your tribe. Blessings and prayers sir. Ta.

[@framusburns-hagstromiii808]

Thanks for another great video! I had never heard of this fellow and I thought I had a pretty good grasp of obscure makers .....many thanks for dropping some knowledge about someone who deserves credit and recognition. Good one!😀😀👍👍🤗🤗👏👏👌👌

[@garyhardman8369]

Truly a prodigy I would have still been ignorant of this gentleman if you had not told me. Thank you.

[@deltataango]

awesome little documentary I never comment, but this is worthy. I met Doc Kaufmann many years ago (actually helped. me fix my old Strat) and he is another more-or-less unsung early pioneer of electric guitardom. Thanks again! Peace brother!

[@semperrockosuarusgiganticu7452]

I am so glad to hear someone finally tell his story. I have a couple of les Paul's but primarily play my 2006 Ibanez RG 350 dx. Inexpensive, but what a workhorse. Occasionally I will play my 75 Ibanez Les Paul Custom, but I treasure that guitar. More of a les Paul than either of the ones I have and almost worth as much. Great video dude. Carry on. Semper Fi.

[@barryrudolph9542]

This by far is one of your best videos and your narration is better than most pros. Thanks for sharing the Hedley Jones story, there is no doubt that he was a man of many talents and a genius.

[@jerryross821]

Brad, this was a GREAT piece!! I love learning new things and I LOVE history. Again, just a great piece and such a rich life mr. Jones lived. Thanks for bringing him to our attention!

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks jerry.

[@mekahargat7357]

My great grandfather finally gets recognized for his achievements 👏

[@jeffweller4878]

Wow nice editing skills. This well put together video took some serious time. Way to curate and condense a lot of misinformation succinctly time lined with sources.

[@shaft9000]

Thanks for this, Brad. I'd read some tidbits about him over the years, but I think this is the first guitar-nerd-focused video on YT about him. It's surprising that it took this long for anyone to do it yet.

[@TheGuitologist]

Agreed. When I started reading about him, at the behest of a viewer of the channel, I knew I had to do a video.

[@327ewok]

incredible video brad one of the best yet, hedley jones was a jack of all trades and he made the first solidbody electric out of mahogany and rosewood

[@pabcrane]

Fascinating. Thanks for the information.

[@scottdunn2178]

Love this new documentary style, Brad. Can't wait to see what's next.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks, Scott. I appreciate the feedback.

[@scottdunn2178]

@@TheGuitologist Thanks, Brad. I pray God will watch over you and your family. 🙏

[@steveblease]

Damn... He was one busy dude.

[@eldonjamieson8434]

Great bit of history. Thanks for making us aware.

[@jakedyer2674]

I’ve watched this twice now, this is an awesome episode and a lot of inspiration. One hell of an inventor and resourceful engineer. I wonder who made the very first electric Spanish guitar though, Carter’s vintage guitars claimed to have the very first one ever made from 1932 (ro-pat-in was what is said on the card) but I like his design haha looks kinda like an old rickenbocker steel. Great video as always and I can’t wait for more like this! I’ll have to show this one to my buddy Alex Neal. He sent you an old fender PA 400 (I think that’s what it was) that I traded him for his old broken silver tone 1482 amp. Neat little amps! I digress haha keep up the awesome work! 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@mjobusch]

I'm so glad you're keeping the content coming, Brad -- this is great stuff. SPF was more fun -- but this is PBS-worthy, or better: Brad -- the David Attenborough of guitar! I love it.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks for watching and taking time to comment!

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

He's the next Ken Burns. Maybe we can call him Ken Cools?

[@54fighting5]

@@SimpleManGuitars1973 Lol I see what you did there😁

[@tombaker8045]

outta the park with this one Brad !

[@BrandochGarage]

Thanks for this super interesting bit. Would be nice to see more in depth stuff about that sound system itself! Very cool post!

[@RootzofMusicInc]

Headley was a Great personal friend for whom I have lots of respect on many levels. When I was an up coming musician in Montego Bay ,he had set the precedence by which we should conduct ourselves professionally. He was the president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians union for the western half of Jamaica while Sonny Bradshaw being in charge of the Eastern half. Man there was nothing that he couldn't repair at his shop in Strand street in Montego Bay including machining of the worm gear needed for my dad's eight millimeters moving picture projector. I'm happy to have gone to Jamaica in 2017 and interviewed him over a couple of days, we shared a lot. That year when he passed, my non-profit organization Rootz of Music here in Florida presented our Jamaican Music Excellence award posthumously of course, at our annual event that year. The presentation was already planned for a little later date, then he passed. Let me not be remiss that he was a phenomenal Guitarist and composer in addition to all his accomplishments.

[@TheGuitologist]

I am glad to have discovered Mr. Jones, and wish i could have met him in his lifetime.

[@interpolagent9]

Thanks, Brad. I really enjoy informative history videos such as this one. I miss SPF but if this is your new direction, count me in. I eat this stuff up.

[@wewwllad6841]

Recently found your channel but this vid rocks, would love more of this type of content :)

[@robnic52]

Fabulous video Brad. Hedley was someone who just got stuck into jobs and never wasted a moment of his life. And that split amp sounds intriguing. It must have bi-amped the treble, mids and bass to run the separate bass cabs with no crossover network needed. Clever chap, I'd love to see a schematic.

[@truthteller1951]

Best story ever! Then ending should be, “Mr. Jones 9 children have filed a cease and desist against Gibson 😂.

[@BockwinkleB]

This is a good way to replace SPF. Do deep dives into guitar history. You seem to know a lot about some of the more obscure stuff. I'd still rather have SPF, but we all know about YT.

[@VodkaSelekta]

I agree I'd love to see some more guitar history type stuff if SPFs are out of the question. This was a pleasant surprise today

[@sbeavers99]

I have to agree with the agree-ers. It's times like these when we need some solid home-schooling. Everything in this vid is something I didn't know before. Thanks Brad!

[@keefjunior4061]

Karl Vocoda It'll never replace our beloved SPF's, but it's great content! I needed a break from all the covid related news.

[@cowboy7x]

BoognishBockwinkle What the hell is SPF? Damn I'm in acronym hell again. ( And it's 3 AM pre coffee).

[@willmorrison1022]

@@cowboy7x Sh*t post Friday!

[@jeffmo1018]

Great history lesson. What an innovator.

[@hrsey71]

wow that's pretty awesome! some of the greatest inventors have either been ignored completely or bought and shelved by its greedy counterparts. thanks for the great info!

[@phil42069205]

Wow! Several nuggets of information in this one. Well done sir.

[@timscarrow9151]

I had never heard of him.The history lesson was really fun thank you. Great production. You're a pro dude.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

The man was an absolute genius and an icon in the music & electronics industry. Thank you for sharing such cherished information! Subscribed.

[@TheGuitologist]

My pleasure!

[@PizzaShrimp]

great video! glad to see a upload. this guy seems like a beast.

[@brianveestrom6784]

Great piece of research and story telling Brad. Thanks!

[@johnstrand7456]

Fascinating!! Thanks for posting this wonderful story!!

[@tres913]

Nice job Brad. Fascinating subject. Thanks.

[@thomaskafafian2871]

Glad you're back at it again Brad. Sometimes the universe tells us that it is the wrong day to quit sniffin' glue. Keep the videos coming brother.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Fantastic video, Brad. Super interesting and super well made. And it'll keep the youtubes from interfering with yer stuff! Good man, looking forward to more.

[@charlesjoynes9497]

Is it just me, or does the newspaper photo of Mr. Jones look eerily like Robert Johnson?

[@roylle6346]

Yes it does

[@MrMeadfoot]

Excellent stuff, I'll be re-visiting your older videos mate, just in case I missed any !

[@marccarter1350]

Your English accent old chap at about 3 minutes is very convincing ?:-) l Was told about this by some old Jamaican guys years ago as a kid. I always remember the story about one of the first electric guitars hailing from the sunny state! Never knew the fine details. Great research Brad!

[@alphabeets]

Get outta here! I had no idea. He deserves this recognition. Thanks!

[@mark64tanner]

What an amazing innovative, imaginative man. Thanks heaps for sharing this Brad, we need to make sure we have documentation of these Pioneers and you are doing a great job of enriching the Digital Library for generations to come. Kinda miss the fun of SPF but totally understand. All the best to you and yours Brother. Take care.

[@The_AOJ]

Great video! Very cool to see my Grandfather’s work being displayed.

[@TheGuitologist]

Glad you enjoyed it! Your grandfather was an amazing man.

[@stevenedwards4470]

This was so interesting. I can't believe I've never come across him in my guitar related readings. I saw a guy grind a lens for a telescope once. That shit is complicated and requires expertise, This man was talented.

[@JDin17603PA]

Fascinating piece. Thanks Brad.