The World's Largest Private Rare and Vintage Guitar Collection: Songbirds Guitar Museum | Reverb.com

Vince Gill and Johnny Smith give us an exclusive look inside the new Songbirds guitar museum. With over 1,700 specimens from the 1920s to the 1970s, the museum is now the largest vintage fretted instrument collection in the world.
Read more about the Songbird Guitar Museum here: goo.gl/ais7eq

[@rockboy360]

Wouldn't it be better if this was a museum/recording studio where musicians could actually use these guitars for records? Then they wouldn't go to waste.

[@78sevenfold]

I had the same thought. What if anyone could access these instruments, more like a library than a museum?

[@Gretev1]

Are you putting any of your belongings up for rent? How about your bed when you‘re not sleeping in it? Put your belongings up for rent and maybe the rest of the world will follow suit after you have set an example instead of imposing your imaginary economics on them.

[@baileyward1]

@@Gretev1 there saying letting them record on site not taking the guitar elsewhere

[@andyc5392]

I just read a description and it is a studio where you can use the museum instruments….I’d like to check it out…but not until “masks required” does the way of the dinosaurs

[@bobabooey4537]

There is no waste here. Musicians have their own guitars to play in studios.

[@donculig2525]

"got into it 4 years ago"...32 Bursts.......

[@darianoechslermgp]

Don Gold Exactly what I thought😂 or "there are 8 Esquires with two Pickups... we have 7 of them"

[@BluesBroken]

he's gotta have a few quid I'd say.

[@RavnerRavner]

he's no artist. he's a business man.

[@gedmason6387]

Guitars are meant to be played and loved. Everyone of those guitars has a personality, people want to hear them, meet them, enjoy them.

[@connormadison5168]

I understand keeping ONE example for historical purposes, but 32 bursts??? Six of 8 two-pickup Esquires. Guitars were built to be played!!!

[@Gretev1]

Connor Madison guitars were built to be sold

[@mrgravityrune9089]

@@Gretev1 played

[@Gretev1]

Mrgravityrune mind your own business. By that I mean, worry about what you do with your own property. What other people do with their property should not concern you. Nor should it concern you why a company builds guitars and what they want their customers to do with it. It is perfectly harmless to hoard 32 bursts and never play them. No matter what the owner does you will never notice the difference.

[@nezarbadadi1140]

@@Gretev1 f u c k y o u

[@Piece-O-Pie]

Totally agree!

[@nylonsteel]

Guitars in glass cases...set them free

[@DansRailroad2011]

Really is sad. They were meant to be played and enjoyed, Not to sit and rot in a glass case for the rest of eternity.

[@kacperkucharski9461]

nylonsteel the guitars are actually still used by musicians. They are rented out for live usage and studio work.

[@biologicalstepdad9082]

they're objects... not animals or people. you don't "set them free". you get what you pay for, and do what you want with them.

[@cgavin1]

To be fair a lot of these are now very elderly ladies. They probably do need a secure environment and air con.

[@Gretev1]

Yes, let‘s set historical artifacts free and expose them to a high likelihood of being destroyed. The Mona Lisa should not be in the Louvre either.

[@where7847]

"theres only 8 and we have 6 of them" this place is a fucking waste of great guitars

[@dadasha]

What the fuck would you do if you had one of them 8?? Playing smoke on the water in your bed room??? I don't think so!

[@jeremiahmcguire1463]

GE smith has a 2 pickup Esquire. The reason you some of them exist is if you returned the guitar to fender with $15 they would add the second pickup.

[@scrotewart2186]

@@jeremiahmcguire1463 thanks for the info ❤️🙏

[@joebryant8500]

Well you'll be pleased to know that, due to Covid, the museum has been closed and the collection broken up. Happy now? I'm sure that whichever rich people have bought most of the instruments play them lots.

[@jeremiahmcguire1463]

@@joebryant8500 why would that please anyone?

[@chrisherbolsheimer4573]

This honestly makes me sick. I have said for awhile now that it's going to be sad when all of the great vintage gear is only available to look at in museums because working players can't afford them.

[@dmorris2587]

Paul Hopkins because they're awesome and should be played? what a stupid question. they were made to be played not locked away in a glass display case.

[@nielmurfz838]

Chris Herbolsheimer to true their should be an rspca for guitars

[@donrutter6765]

Make your own. I bought a through neck Jay Turser les paul copy and hot rodded it. Better than any off the shelf les paul I had since the 80s, and a hell of a lot cheaper.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

its already happened,i used to own a 69 les paul custom tuxedo and paid $600 in 1986.go price a 1969 les paul custom black tuxedo and you would be amazed to know the decimal place moved to the right.this is the scourge to guitars that barret jackson is to musclecars,in the late 80's i could buy a hemi cuda for 10 grand,now they are 1-2 million dollars.the internet destroyed a lot of things i loved from the past and has dumbed down the universe.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

a jay turser never is,never was and never will be better than any gibson les paul in existence,ever. ive owned many cheap les pauls,sorry it just aint going to happen.some of them play great but theres absolutely no chance in hell jay turser will ever put gibson OR epiphone out of business. even any of my epiphone les paul customs would embarrass your jay turser into hiding in both looks,style and play-ability.im sure you love your guitar but when you own something cheap you try to justify or compare it to something not cheap,it isnt even in the same realm my friend. even if you love your vintage yugo,it will never be a ferrari

[@CotymoG]

It's cool that they love these instruments and all, but it always makes me a little sick to see great instruments hoarded away instead of being played.

[@mikelawct]

CotymoG bingo

[@Killenmachine05]

I agree, I think places like this should have special tours you can book where you can be allowed to play some guitars under careful supervision in a controlled enviornment where nothing can go wrong.

[@chunk4funk]

CotymoG ... you're right. When some fake tan, hair club for men wearing at least a $5k suit tells me about a humbucker esquire, there are only 8 and he's got 6 .. that makes me sick. Those guitars aren't meant to sit behind glass with their own AC system, probably nitrogen. They're meant for Derrick Trucks to play, for a lucky beginner to own and never play any other guitar for ever .. Brian May-esque. Dude is a twat, people like that, are attention whores and pyromaniacs too. He'll burn his place down & destroy everything.

[@rohw0016]

they are preserving. these instruments WILL be played again, just not by you. they will outlive us and some. generations from now they will be thanked. think long term. buy a collings and play that, not vintage instruments.

[@CotymoG]

Vintage instruments that are great instruments ARE MEANT TO BE PLAYED. Nothing will change my opinion on that.

[@squinteastwood7012]

The 1697 molitor Stradivarius is still being played today so why not these beautiful beasts...Pretty sad really

[@ebeep]

It's as good as broken if not played. Like buying a car and not driving it. Pointless.

[@ebeep]

A 10 million dollar 1961 Ferrari 250 GT is being wasted because it's not being driven.

[@ebeep]

Sorry Paul, but you are taking liberties with context in order to support your conclusion. The Ferrari is not an errand or daily commuter vehicle, I'll give you that, but if it's not at least a joyride machine then why bother? My point is that items too precious to use for their intended function are literally useless. A guitar can only sound spectacular if someone picks it up and plays it. Not sure what the point is otherwise.

[@ebeep]

...and we're still at opposite perspectives. Guitars that deserve to be on display are guitars that don't play well or sound good.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

yes,there are plenty of historic guitars that sound horrid as hell.there are plenty of vintage guitars with cracked head-stocks,warped necks,separating pancake bodies,sloppy neck pockets,worn frets,butchered electronics and home brewed nastiness,dont kid yourself not every vintage guitar is restored to perfection or has remained unplayed in a case for 50 years.

[@angryheb1]

Vintage guitar prison camp.

[@leestevens5546]

Nicely put.

[@isaidgooddaysir2585]

"..collection includes 34 Les Paul "Bursts" from '58 to '60." - What kind of museum needs 34 examples? It's obscene.

[@tommieberggren3324]

They scream to get out and be played, but the prisonguard : - Nein !

[@t.bandito4615]

A museum is created to preserve knowledge, if these reserves did not exist, a lot of new studies that are performed on vintage instruments would be a nightmare to perform. Its a necessary type of evil.

[@tysonrinker5958]

No shit

[@danielminch4448]

This is the reason why vintage gear is so expensive

[@TheGalwayFarmer]

blame Norman....

[@richardrybinski2320]

wrong...the reason is supply and demand......there are millions and millions of guitar players and only a finite number of desired vintage guitar....the price is dictated by the market....supply and demand. Besides, anybody who buys a guitar as an "investment" is on the wrong track, imho...

[@Bradp18]

Beautiful guitars, but I don't see the point of hoarding them and not having them doing what they were designed to do- make music!

[@7James77]

While I don't care for the type of guitars it is about preserving the history of the music those instruments created. There are plenty guitar shops, go to one of them and play those guitars.

[@larrygeetar9309]

I thought it was ok and cool when I started watching. But the longer it went on I turned the other way. By the time he proudly showed they had thirty-four, '58-'60 LP 'bursts, I was done. Since there were only about 1,700 produced in those years, that is a joke. Why have thirty-four? Aren't five or ten (still outrageous) enough? He probably low balled every owner so he could amass this obscene collection of instruments. This is what's wrong with "vintage" collectors and the prices.

[@7James77]

Don't hate the player, hate the game

[@richardrybinski2320]

I happen to know that over 50 other bursts were rejected for inclusion here...please tell me where I can get a burst at a "lowball" price.....I have a '60 that I've had for years.....I would charge wholesale if I ever sold it, but I'm afraid I'm going to my grave with it.

[@Gretev1]

Why does it bother you that he owns 34 bursts as opposed to any other number? It‘s his property, don‘t worry about it. There are plenty of guitars able to be played by musicians. Besides, even if he put all of his bursts up for sale, none of the people displaying their jealousy in the comment section would be able to afford them even if they tried to lowball the owner.

[@mariomanningfan]

@@7James77 "This is what's wrong with "vintage" collectors" I'd call that hating the game

[@7James77]

@@mariomanningfan They are rare guitars worth every dime.

[@mikeharcourt28]

Can’t help thinking that whilst it’s nice to be able to view these all together it’s tempting fate to have so many irreplaceable rare instruments in one place. If the place ever caught fire that would be such a tragedy!

[@garycrant4511]

That's a hell of a lot of firewood confined in one vulnerable place. Hope they have fire, flood & other disaster evacuation plans in place.. Ideally those guitars should be dispersed widely out here in the world being played...

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

one bump to a 58 les paul on a guitarstand and it has a broken headstock,value plummets from $500,000 to $5000

[@arborist460]

Gary Moore said his sounded better after the headstock got broke..

[@richp67]

The door to 'The Vault' is air tight, and there is a halon fire suppression system installed!!!

[@spoonylove]

I just visited there today, and my very first comment was "I hope they have amazing fire suppression in here, cause there are too many prized guitars in one building"

[@arthurias7693]

@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 you could sell the original plastic for more than $5,000, and the original PAF pickups for over $10,000. No way a burst with a broken headstock is going for anything under $50,000.

[@stevenedwards4470]

Nice. I agree with the others tho. It would be nice to think that they occasionally get rotated and played. And hording 58 and 59 bursts is a little obnoxious

[@PeterIovine]

I agree, but I think they are doing this to preserve history. That's why its a museum. The original american flag isn't meant to be put on a flagpole, its too priceless and meaningful to be used. In light of that, these guitars aren't meant to be used and played with such a priceless value on it.

[@stevenedwards4470]

Maybe that's just an idea we've grown used to and accepted. I saw a thing recently on Premier Guitar that showcased Duane Allmans 57 Gold Top. The current owner lets it reside at an Allman museum in Macon Georgia called The House I believe...and he allows people to play it from time to time. I thought that was a nice idea and gesture. Not impossible under supervision

[@PeterIovine]

It would be nice to hear some of these, but perhaps not the best idea to sell these to players that can potentially hurt the guitars value.

[@patrickmclean9975]

Love the collection! Those guitars are meant to be played! They want to be played! Very cool though

[@sambolle4921]

Hey! I played Songbirds and had a wonderful time. The whole staff- owners to cashiers- were great people, and true fans of music and guitars. They were pulling guitars out of the cases, letting us play them. It's really unrealistic to think you could just disperse these pieces of history out into the world and they'd be okay. There are car museums, art museums, and instrument museums. No way around it. I had a fantastic time there, and you should go if you're a fan of all things guitar/ bass!

Many people seem to complain that these guitars are meant to be played, however the really old ones might be too fragile to still be used. On most of them you might need to change out some parts to make them usable etc. So it's great that these are being preserved in their original state.

[@victorbarnes6898]

The Fender Esquire came with the neck pickup rout and you could get Fender to install a neck pickup at a later date.

[@averyadrian1534]

Honestly this is a guitar graveyard...

[@BoyajianDon]

I remember the days when I lived in Ithaca, I'd go over to Rumble Seat, play an original 58 flying V, a 59 Burst, and a 52 tele all in the same day...glad I had the chance to do stuff like that, because it seems I may never get my hands on the old classics ever again.

[@GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy]

Amazing collections of guitars there! One day every guitar will become a rare vintage guitar, given enough time. Looking at my guitar collection now and thinking that one day, a hundred years from now, someone will be looking at my Stratocaster and Les Paul inside a glass case in a museum, lol.

[@99micah1]

They won’t...

[@dadasha]

FOH!

[@mjs2016]

Not modern shit. Never

[@daveduffy2823]

Just wait for the avalanche of used guitars once everything gets back to normal. The values will drop.

[@willsmith4710]

Pretty shitty to hoard 34 bursts. Not a fan of this at all.

[@Killenmachine05]

then buy them yourself... ohwait.

[@daw162]

Sucks for someone now who thinks it's really going to make any difference in their playing or what they record (it won't), but it does mean that they'll be preserved for future generations rather than lost in closets until a fire or damaged some other way.

[@ClassicK1rk]

Haha. Yeah just ask Joe Bonamassa

[@truthfulrobot9295]

Will Smith right? I understand maybe one or two but dang. Collectors need to relax sometimes lol

[@truthfulrobot9295]

Will Smith id understand on collectors pieces but then again.. id still rock it out, then put it in the glass case and pretend nothing happened haha

[@stevehornshaw4478]

Amazing. Beautiful guitars. Love how you recognise guitars as a social catalyst. Just love the vid. It hit my nerve and weak spot. Thnx so so much.

[@moddim]

I had the pleasure to play the Fender 49 Prototype last summer while visiting this museum. The tour guide was pulling some guitars out and just hands it to me so I can hold it while he explained the guitars story.

[@josh.t]

Ignore all the comments. These guitars need to be preserved. I've been to Songbirds and I've seen the collection, it's breathtaking. And yes, I wanted to play on them, but these guitars NEED to be preserved.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

what they dont need is to have their value artificially inflated like barrett jackson and the blue chip crowd did with muscle cars,a hemi cuda is 3 fucking million dollars.

[@wildbillhackett]

While I admire lots of well-made guitars, with age I've learned that the only perfect guitar with all the features you want is the one you build yourself.

[@jackgauthier5624]

Chattanooga, TN Nice stop with Songbirds as well as the train museum.

[@bryanmannoia8410]

awesome collection!!

[@gilsanderson3275]

As far as a two pickup Esquire goes, many players added a neck pickup to their Esquires... Springsteen comes to mind....if done well, even many of the cork-sniffing experts would have difficulty telling for sure. While I, like many of you, don't really like the idea of these instruments being "behind glass", I also think this is what museums are for....to preserve history for the public, and ensure generations to come can at least see early models. I also agree that many modern guitars are as good or better than old models. My personal collection of guitars is now down to four electrics, and other than a 1960 Les Paul Jr, none are "collectible" ....they're just "players" that I play. I don't envy anyone's vintage or iconic instrument...I would prefer this museum to 1960's era Pete Townsend getting ahold of them. I'd rather visit this facility than see someone's stamp or coin collection.

[@Chickenpickenfool]

Sorta like a zoo. You can see the guitars but no no you can touch em...I totally disagree with Vince when he said new instruments dont have a history. Well, That 54 strat didn't have any history when it was new. Vintage guitar hoarding is a rich man's game. Sorta like old vintage cars. It's a BIG money game. Stock market aint got crap on vintage guitar appreciation

[@DaigoParry]

Philip Broussard Guitar is going the path of violins. The average recording/touring professional can’t afford them without taking a loan. A decent violin costs 5 figures. But guitar music is born out of this REBELLION against the classical tradition, but alas, it is becoming more like them. Violin collections are in museums and in rich men’s vaults.

[@Southernguitar74]

Surprisingly, on a not so busy day this museum is totally cool with taking these guitars out and allowing people to hold them. I have no strong opinions either way about this collection, other than it is impressive, and I'm only stating that they will allow people to hold them and take pics, etc...

[@ozemg32_ozem_goldwire]

Excellent presentation. Excellent, beautiful guitars! 😁😍 I am still gathering new information everyday on guitars. Mind you, guitars, synthesizers, and bagpipes are my favorite instruments in the world. They are my passion. Anyways, thank you so much for posting this video. You all have a great day, everybody! 😉

[@saleksa]

I have been to this museum and it is awesome. Great opportunity to check out the holy grail of vintage guitars that I would have never been able to do otherwise. Definitely would have paid extra to play a few. Excellent job to the owners!

[@GuitarExpress]

I would love to hear those guitars live someday.

[@MrUltraworld]

I have a few customers with large collections (over 500 guitars). But they play them. They have a few rooms with a few amps in the middle and they go from one guitar to the next. We spend an entire day playing them. I bring my tools and repair anything that needs attention. But this collection is just sitting around, growing hair

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

500 guitars is insane as well,thats 2 different guitars a day for almost a year and a half.

[@kylecravens6501]

I never got the chance to visit, I'd love to see them open this up again!

[@khayward60]

Yeah, I agree these need to be played.

[@telecasterbear]

I love the nylon saddles on the tune-o-matic bridge

[@dveplmr]

Being a long time git-box player, like many out there, I refuse to go thru this "museum", and I live in Chattanooga. Hell, I'd want to play em, get the fell of em, like ANYone would a 54 Strat, or a 63 Rick, etc.. If you can't get your hands on them, what's the effin' point?.. They're guitars!! It would be like a "Great Pastries of the World" museum. "Mmmm boy, the strudel under that glass sure looks delicious"!

[@kyleolin3566]

Nunyo Bidniz If I went There, I'm sure I could talk somebody into letting me play a guitar.

[@nilsonsoma]

Kyle Olin no.

[@kyleolin3566]

Knilz I don't know. I'm pretty persuasive. The other night I was watching a band play, and I managed to talk the guitar player into letting me take a rip on his $3000 Ernie Ball... Did I mention that I was half cut?... Yeah, apparently I'm (That guy)

[@DaigoParry]

That strudel under the glass sure looks delicious.... BUT YOU CAN’T EAT IT!!!! Mwahahahaha!!!

[@Jason-wo5rr]

It's an amazing collection and it's just a shame that they're all behind glass. I personally believe that instruments are meant to be played so I can only hope that these are occasionally loaned out for special occasions just so they can keep some mileage going. You wouldn't mothball an old car because you know what'll happen to the engine if you do. Second thought, how would you like to be the luthier for this place? Everyday it's the same pressure. Careful! if you break that it's only half a million dollars!

[@Saltee]

Person: So your family looks well. My mom: 3:09

[@A.R.B.J.]

Someone needs to tell Mr. Smith that this isn't a contest to see how fast he can speak.

[@WildCatGuitars]

Love it! Very rad.

[@evvignes]

2:57 Esquires came pre-routed for the neck pickup.

[@patmcgroin9848]

I prefer my guitars "free range"

[@Greg-rd8qr]

Awesome!

[@christaylor9446]

Despite what a lot of people say... this is a cool place. Yes it would be especially cool to play all of them as much as you want but what happens when some idiot drops one and it breaks. I love Songbirds!

[@TJjjjjjjjjjj]

@ 2:55 Esquire’s already have the cavity routed for the neck pick up under the pickguard

[@johnfoulkrod4835]

My guitar mind would be on serious overload. 😎🎸

[@benwhitaker1231]

Carter Vintage Guitars in nashville had a 1958 les paul that is recorded the first ever sunburst les paul. it had a e piece top. $625k. This place is where that guitar should be

[@jeffreyogden7354]

I love that people love the guitar as much as me(and others) if it wasn't for the passion people have for music and the creativity of it these instruments probably would not exist. In a world where all we could do is just look and imagine what would be possible, places like this would be heaven. But now we take great guitars and keep them away from the hands that made and could possibly make great music. It breaks my hart to think that our kids will view the guitar as a work of art instead of a tool to create something beautiful.

[@RagggedTrouseredPhilanthropist]

I can't believe how many negative comments there are here! These aren't locked away for no one to view, they are genuine historical artefacts being beautifully displayed for everyone to enjoy. If someone gave me the choice between having those instruments spread around the world being played at gigs I probably won't attend, or all in one fantastic museum where I can see them ALL I'd choose the museum every day. I think a lot of the comments just stem from bitterness/jealousy.

[@joeyvanostrand3655]

Keeping them locked behind glass has stolen the voice from every single one of them.

[@bristleconepinus2378]

My first electric was a Telecaster, bought in 1965...for two reasons, 1. It was cheap (then) and 2. Freddy King played one.

[@drskolbe]

My first thought was the same as a lot of these comments, what a shame that these instruments are locked up. But then I thought about it and I realised that the guitars that are made today are just as good and these are really historical pieces. If they were out in the wild they would just get trashed and lost which would be a greater shame. I agree that it would be good to let studios borrow though.

[@joepasco1420]

old pauls ect are great. but alot of the new stuff can play and sound just as good in the right hands. Mark said, an old guitar is all he can afford. i say bs. i build my own and they sound and play amazing. mayby one day theyll put one of mine in a museum.

[@richardrybinski2320]

my old '57 PAF goldtop is on display there....kinda cool!

[@paidassassin12]

This is in my home town. So sad to see it shut down :(

[@joebryant8500]

They're reopening the space as a performance and education space, but never will we see those cabinets again, filled with that collection again. Collection has been broken up, the new space will only have a few of what once was.

[@OhForFucksSake-xp3hf]

VINCE STILL THE MOST HUMBLE DUDE

[@Ballsarama]

Some interesting comments here. First, these instruments will be played again. Extremely valued Stradivarius violins are owned and played today by top classical musicians. Stradivari's "golden period" from 1700 to about 1725 (400 years ago) can be worth millions of dollars and are played out. There's such a thing as insurance. The same will be true for LP's from the '50's and '60's which are only in the hundred of thousands of dollars and are only 60 some years old. Classical music wasn't a passing phase and is still played today...the same will be true for rock & roll and other forms of music to come. Sometime in the 2400's there'll be some performances of vintage rock music...most likely played on the original instruments and equipment. Some valued guitars are, like art, automobiles, and buildings thought of as an investment and are collected by the well-heeled to save their money with these items. Sometimes those collections, for various reasons, get auctioned off and the items get dispersed into the general population. Since value is relative, one might pick up a '59 LP quite reasonably after a nuclear holocaust assuming there are any in a vault somewhere. Being a guitarist and buying guitars from the '70's on...I've sold a number of them off. The one thing I noticed is that people like Rick Nielsen (who I know), Bonamassa, and Slash are working guys who paid their dues and have the luxury of being able to buy the valued guitars from the '40's, '50's, and '60's as investors and players. Others are just investors. There's a limited number of those guitars. It's funny, but the guitars that would never have been considered valuable in the '70's like a National Valpro 88s...things like that are now being collected with increased prices. Most likely the guitars that are considered midline or lower, like maybe the knockoffs made outside the US today will be the big investment in 50-100 years. The popularity of guitars and guitar playing has gone down over the years. The troupe of hallowed players from the golden period are aged and will be gone in the next 20 - 30 years. Guitar enthusiasm has waned for the young in the recent years...as pop music and it's production and meaning in society has changed. There was a great incentive to play guitar during the rock & roll period...it was the cool thing to do...we didn't have I-phones, snowboards, etc., but now...not so much...it's just not that important...like buying a muscle car or any car for that matter today, like I said, we didn't have things like Lyft and Uber. However, the smaller numbers of today's players, it seems to me, are better technically than the players years before. Ultimately, there are less people taking up the guitar...but the ones who do are true believers and very talented. I've found over the years that the valued guitars can be very nice to play and own, but my belief now after 40 years of being around the guitar market is that...a good guitar for playing is where you can find it. The golden era players like Richards, Clapton, Page, Hendrix, Bloomfield, Gibbons, etc., chose certain guitars because they played well. The LP Bursts from just before that era were judged failures and discontinued by Gibson for the SG shaped LP...but high profile players recognized their quality and started using them. History might repeat itself. Some of the independent guitar builders today might be making the next "holy grail" guitars now that won't be recognized in their time and will have to await a group of perceptive players to uncover and popularize them and then go on to make music as astounding for the future as the rockers were for the past.

[@laurencekenyon2222]

I still can't get over how great the collection is. I was there a week ago and I still am excited. Go there. One of the best places I've ever been.

[@truthfulrobot9295]

When i grow up, i want to be a guitar collector like him hahaha

[@gerrithooyer]

"Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious guitar collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can." Or was that about something else?

[@Keithphotorama]

It’s year 2023. There’s a guitar store in just about every town throughout the entire USA and the rest of the world. That’s a lot of guitars and most importantly a lot of players. Then we have the Information Age which is speeding up everything that it overwhelms everyone at any level of playing abilities. A few decades from now it’s guaranteed that no private collection will be able to showcase today’s massive talents. Nope, don’t waste time thinking about it. Therefore, Songbirds collection will seem like a novelty a few decades from now.

[@NishHammer]

HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@johndoe6156]

There was a vintage Les Paul in a shop here in France, one day it was not there. The seller of the shop said "ho yes, this rich guy bought it, he said that it will impress his hosts to see it on his wall..."

[@kevincozens6837]

What an amazing collection of instruments. One of my first questions would be how many of the 1700 instruments are left-handed? :)

[@jhneilson]

Is that Eddie Cletro's Strat at 1:10?! Oh how I'd love to play that guitar...

[@rockboy360]

And that's what heaven looks like guys...

[@alexpenny9416]

i will happily sleep with anyone and everyone AND spend my savings to own this collection. ESPECIALLY to play them. id never leave them. just non stop playing

[@mattryan2489]

It could be the rarest guitar and I could care less about seeing it. I want to play it and experience how it feels in my hands. What is so interesting about going to look at a bunch of guitars? I guess the connection they have to certain period and/or people from times old? Thats like going to a restaurant where they have cases of leftover paint that famous artists used. its a damn shame.

[@petiewheat82]

Apparently the main thing about old acoustic guitars is that the old wood resonates better for some reason and sounds amazing. I don't see how this would help that much with an electric. There must be a huge stash of old-ass wood somewhere that could be re-cut and made into acoustic guitars that would sound pre-aged.

[@braddietzmusic2429]

I'd pay good money to see these played by Vince Gill. I wouldn't pay anything to see them behind glass like this. Anyone hearing me?

[@brotzmannsax]

I feel the opposite, I would pay to drool over these beauties, but wouldn't pay to see...who's Vince Gill?

[@gillesthibault429]

The fact is Vince Gill would most likely be allowed to play ANY guitar he puts in his mind to play.

[@gillesthibault429]

Vince Gill is only one of the best sessions guitarists ever. A fixture of Eric Clapton's Crossroads guitar festivals. 21 Grammys. Over 26 Million albums sold... in a few words the perfect unknown...

[@ckcool5281]

Amazing collection there, wonder if they have a copy of Brian May's red special

[@kevinherd3437]

You Tennessee boys have done a great job building museums and preserving the roots of American music, Joe Chambers and the hall of fame collection his efforts have produced have made the state a must for me as soon as things open. Really Important what you've done here, thank you

[@joebryant8500]

Sadly, the facility closed due to Covid. The collection has been partly broken up, the rest is no longer available to the public to see.

[@misubi]

So bullshit that the rarer and lovelier the guitar the more likely a rich a-hole is gonna put it behind glass and never play it again.

[@Southernguitar74]

Just because a guy is rich doesn't mean he's an a-hole, and if they purchase it, it is their property. Why do you have a problem with what someone does with their own personal property? Sounds like you are the A-hole.

[@arthurias7693]

If you don't like that, then spend your life making a fortune and purchase the vintage guitars you love. Complaining is for losers.

[@donr8838]

is Vince wearing a Hank III shirt ??? how cool is that ...

[@NowWhatRTheyUp2]

Question regarding the Esquire's with 2 pickups. The Esquire's have a slimmer neck than the Telecaster. Could they have been special order?

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

they should all be released into the world and put on sale in shops so players like me can buy them like in the good old days...it's like going to a zoo!! makes me cry..

[@Dinkus324567]

Esquires came from the factory with a neck pickup rout. How does he know someone didn't just add the neck pickup and pickguard sometime after buying it?

[@jakereed7799]

RIP songbirds

[@callumhastie1280]

Does anyone know what Stratocaster the guy is holding (silver with all-rosewood neck)? Thanks

[@1101964]

Dont get it ...guitars should be played ....its a wank show ....

[@KountryCuz1]

Thats A Great Collection their ♫

[@AZCobraman]

To all the people whining about collectors.....It's OK, we are still making new guitars and even if this guy didn't have 34 'Bursts you still couldn't afford one. ;o)

[@Faigh_as]

AZCobraman there is people who do have that money!

[@thebreatheeasy]

I don't know if I could handle being in a place like that. it would be like when I was little "no don't touch that" "you'll break it"

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Did I miss something? No mention of where this museum is, in either the video itself or the Reverb.com notes?

[@KountryCuz1]

Did Ya'll have A Kountry Cuz Custom Lap Steel ?

[@AzaelVI]

I understand some of the complaints saying these guitars are meant to be played or one person shouldn't have 32 bursts and so on. But look at is this way, the average person would not have the opportunity see these gems one their own if they were spread all across the globe. Like any other museum, the general public gets to experience these historical pieces in a central location and at a far cheaper price.

[@miguelscserra]

Guitars are meant to be played. They need to be played, not kept away. Imagine what some guitar players would do with one of these, yet they still keep them locked

[@heymynamesaidan7918]

Honestly he should make it a subscription based recording studio area, you pay a certain amount a month to come in and use the guitars in a recording studio

[@drinkspecials]

Thank you.Vince Gill. I love3 that stuff. Ill be visiting!!!

[@peterlefrancois5558]

This is heartbreaking Leo Fender is rolling over in his grave seeing all those guitars behind glass. Vintage guitar hell if you ask me.

[@gibsondrummer]

“Collecting” is just a different word for selfish hoarding

[@Schlumbucketreturns]

The rarest pieces really shouldn't be played. There are millions of great player-grade instruments available. The idea that these rare instruments are so vastly superior as player instruments is largely a myth perpetuated by people who can't play worth a shit.

[@devoro9412]

Next they're gonna build a wall around em to keep all the musicians out!!!! Set the sun burst free!!!!

[@LCMSM]

What’s happening to the collection now that Songbirds is closing?

[@joebryant8500]

Broken up. Some left, which may be used in the new facility which will be a performance and education space. But never again will we see this collection in one place.

[@davecarakasavage919]

They need to be played....

[@dannywoody5497]

Sure glad I was around when a lot of these guitars were on stages and you hear & play them. Also the amplifiers, now that they have become collectibles and investments to me it’s sad. However, this trend forced me into building my own original vintage designs so the story has a positive ending