John Lee Shannon Plays A 1965 Guild M20 Acoustic | Let's Hear It

This is Episode 23 of Let's Hear It! Host Gary Waldman chats with musicians, instrument builders, music store owners, songwriters and more who have an instrument they love.
In this episode we are joined by the Brooklyn guitarist John Lee Shannon, who shows us his 1965 Guild M20 acoustic guitar and his great finger-style playing on his composition, Neal's Guitar Rag.
John's new acoustic instrumental album is out on October 2nd. Check it out here: tompkinssquare.bandcamp.com/a...
John's website: www.johnleeshannon.com/
Follow John on Instagram: / johnleeshannon
History of Guild Guitars: guildguitars.com/our-company/...
Nick Drake and his guitars: nick-drake.tumblr.com/guitar
Follow Gary Waldman on Instagram: morebarnmusic
Let's Hear It! theme song written and performed by Jon Graboff
Graphics by Abbey Ley: abbeyleydesign
Video Editing and Logistics: Ben Birchfield: grateful_benji

[@MichaelMcBride58]

He finally starts playing at 14:29.

[@telespanker]

The Hoboken M20 is a hobo’s dream and the Martin OM-21 is a cold blooded banjo killer, there is no job that bad girl can’t turn in! Both of these boxes are surely humming in the hands of JLS. Love the record!

[@7dc379]

Beautiful guitar. Beautiful playing. Beautiful song.

[@LetsHearIt]

Glad you liked it!

[@liannesmith233]

Really enjoyed this. Great story and beautiful song. I'm a singer-songwriter and even ** I **agree that we need more instrumental music out in the world.

[@bobgreen8142]

I've been a singer-songwriter in the past but my voice is shot so I'm working on instrumental solo acoustic guitar pieces. I'm loving working this way, but it remains to be seen if anybody else likes it.

[@noburonoburo5723]

So Funtastic sounds this Guitor M-20

[@cdbrown30]

Acoustic guitar is my favorite! Always enjoy playing one!

[@velofeloproductions8877]

I have a new, California-built M-20 and love it! Most amused to hear "I figured if you had one decent acoustic, that's enough." I've got a fair collection of acoustics and one electric (Strat), which is enough electrics.

[@bobgreen8142]

I also have a new US M20, having owned an M120-E, and I love it, having made the transition from dreadnought style guitars about 2 years back. So playable, and it sounds beautiful to me.

[@rmzzz76]

The modern USA built M20 Guild sells is actually a lot different than these vintage models. They new USA M20s have a 1 3/4" nut width and the bracing/voicing was changed a bit, the braces are longer and scalloped... Outside of buying a real vintage one, the closest you can get are the early GAD Guild M120 models. They were built overseas, but are all-solid Mahagony wood with the 1 11/16" nut width found on the vintage models and the bracing is based on the historic M20 as well... If you can find these on the used market they go for around $600-800. They had Satin finish on them too... I own the new Westerly collection m120 and it's a good little all-solid wood travel guitar. They kept the m20 style bracing, but I wish they would have left the finish Satin and the nut width 1 11/16"

[@Gratefulman1965]

Nice, J.L.S. Really love Mid Atlantic, Native & Frisco. Great playing man!

[@pneumaticman5927]

This was just fantastic, and his playing is beautiful. I’m restoring a ‘69 harmony H165 all-mahogany right now. Can’t wait to see what it sounds like.

[@lindamorgan2678]

I have a 58 approx and I love it and would not change the ladder bracing to X either. Enjoy it

[@pneumaticman5927]

@@lindamorgan2678 THANK YOU for that feedback! I needed to hear that

[@lindamorgan2678]

@@pneumaticman5927 I have over 18 guitar 14 vintage looking for that special guitar sound and comfortable to play size neck etc. Had this one in my hands for 2 minutes and thought WOW my search is over !!! On the way home stopped for a train and had to grab it and play it again. Say no more can hardly wait to get rid of alot of the others like 15 of them ha ha.

[@lindamorgan2678]

@@pneumaticman5927 Would love to try this one out though for sure. I finger pick and I do like the ladder bracing for some reason. Also have a 60's Suzuki version of the Yamaha "dynamic" will never sell that one but would love to get my hands on the yamaha and try it out I bet it is better than mine especially the all solid one

[@markeverson5849]

My guitars sit around a lot I've had them for decades but recently I pulled my guild out my all mahogany I think it's an M20 it has a round back from the 1970s possibly I'm not sure the tag fell out of it but I recently now that I have a phone and learning how to use the internet I mean come on all you got to do is Google an artist and a song in the chords and you've got it right in front of you it's amazing in the old days nothing was so easy as what it is that you kids have now at your disposal. So I've been playing the old Buck Owens Tunes from when he first opened up and started playing his show back in 1966 and I think it sounds great on my guild with my singing I'm really excited about learning some of these old songs like loves going to live here Act Naturally together again, waiting in your welfare line I learned just yesterday and Bakersfield. And you know the truth is I really surprised myself I've never had any teachers or training but bought my first guitar way back in the '70s anyways just never pick them up that much and never became much but with Google in my phone like Buck Owens the chords are just basic chords that I knew already and so it made the whole experience amazing I think I might have talent sounds great on this old mahogany Guild

[@user-ux5td1ir3r]

I Love acoustic guitar it takes me away

[@bobgreen8142]

Great playing and an ace tune!

[@markeverson5849]

For the demo thanks! you know my old Guild mahogany I think from the 1970s has a rounded back and his on this demo had a flat back? Know anything about that sir? wave in a hand Mark southern Missouri Ozarks USA

[@Dannick]

I like that bro , i have sub to you , thanks 🎸🎶🎶😇

[@LetsHearIt]

Thanks!

[@mseminara]

I don’t believe Nick Drake ever used a Guild M20. From what I heard, it was just used for the cover art. I believe he actually recorded with a Levin acoustic.

[@YorkshirePiper]

@Evan Hodge drake used multiple guitars.

[@bobgreen8142]

Nick is certainly pictured with a classical guitar but the sound on the records is undoubtedly a steel string guitar.

[@misorodzinak8829]

I've seen a comment (can't confirm if it is true, but it seemed reasonably plausible) here on youtube by someone who saw Nick Drake live. He said that Nick was playing the M-20 that night. Apparently Nick mentioned during the gig that the guitar was indeed not his own but only borrowed, and that he would have to return it soon. Take it with a pinch of salt though.

[@joedown962]

Very nice guitar but its lack of high frequencies and overtones make me think it's mainly a mythical and overrated fuitar. Just my 2 cents.