Gareth Pearson Meets Merle Travis's '68 Gibson Super 400

#SongbirdsFoundation #VaultSessions #GarethPearson
Episode 11 of this season's Vault Sessions tells the whole story of Gareth Pearson. Hailing all the way from Cwmbran, Wales, UK, Gareth was raised on Americana, bluegrass, and folk music, taking personal inspiration from the likes of Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Clarence White, Leo Kottke, Tommy Emmanuel, & Chet Atkins.
Imagine our surprise when this "Welsh Tornado" shocked us with his masterful Travis style picking... on Merle Travis's own guitar, no less!!
Guitars & Songs:
0:37 - 1968 Gibson Super 400 CES (owned & played by Merle Travis)
4:26 - "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes
7:23 - "Cannonball Rag" by Chet Atkins and Merle Travis
8:43 - "I'll See You in My Dreams" by Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler
10:35 - "Oh By Jingo!" by Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown
These sessions help keep the music alive by helping the Songbirds Foundation raise money to buy guitars for kids. Check out our website to find out more-songbirdsfoundation.org or stop by and visit the Songbirds Guitar & Pop Culture Museum here in Chattanooga, TN!
Open hours: Wed, Thurs, Sunday 12-6; Fri & Sat 10-6 EST.

[@scottholmstrom5832]

The tune around 10:30 is Oh By Jingo

[@SongbirdsFoundation]

That's RIGHT! Thank you so much for helping us on that one! Such a fun one...

[@SergeUnplugged]

Brilliant performance, thanks team for inviting Gareth

[@oddjobtriumph1635]

Year i was born ....Beautiful instrument in very talented hands

[@ScottsGuitar]

I haven’t seen Gareth in years. The boy has become a man!

[@brownsfan7753]

Love this!!

[@marlintaylor2687]

GARETH!!!! 🤘😃🤘That Super 400's a great fit, Hoss (hope your Maton isn't jealous)!

[@goodyyy6171]

Gareth ❤❤❤

[@shinnpick]

Always entertaining!

[@markjohnson9485]

Wowwwww! Just wow!

[@charlieparker2773]

HE'S A VERY TALENTED GUITARIST AND IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THE YOUNGER PEOPLE KEEPING THIS MUSIC GOING 🎸🎸

[@boco1951]

Swell stuff

[@MrMikepresley]

Gareth did justice playing Merle's guitar; I wish Epiphone would do a Super 400, just so that I could play one!

[@raytaylor372]

Epiphone Emperor is basically a Super 400 plus a half inch.

[@marcusparadizo1927]

Fantastic

[@American-Dragon]

I like the JOAT

[@musicplaylists59]

what was the last song he played? sounded amazing!

[@Goldenrod01]

‘Oh by jingo’

[@satanshog]

Great playing, What's the song that starts at about 38 seconds in?

[@Bcarn1998]

I believe it is white heat

[@Bcarn1998]

He plays it better adding that bend

[@satanshog]

@@Bcarn1998 Thank you much appreciated

[@boco1951]

What year is that Super 400? Looks like 48 more than 68

[@dekedickersonilikerecords2393]

It's a 68 that has been retrofitted with P-90 pickups and a Bigsby by Merle (this is the guitar Merle gave to Thom Bresh in the 70s).

[@SingleMalt77005]

Where on earth did Gareth buy it?

[@Patrick-fm5dk]

What are the two switches on the guitar? Looks like two different pickup selectors