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Hank Garland's 1955 Gibson #3 Byrdland
In 1955 in collaboration with Nashville guitarists Billy Byrd and Hank Garland, Gibson developed the Byrdland guitar, the name of which is derived from their last names. Only three were produced in 1955. Billy is assumed to have got #1, Hank #2 and then a third with a Cherry sunburst finish was ordered by Hank.
Designed with jazz players in mind, the Byrdland featured the same 17" wide, 21" long spruce top body of the single cutaway L-5 CES, but with a shallower body, 2 1/4" deep as opposed to the full 3 3/8 " of the L5. The headstock has the flower pot emblem like the L-5 but has a narrower, 22 fret neck with a 23 1/2" scale length, 2" shorter than the L-5. Initially, production models were released equipped with the Alnico V pickups introduced on most high end Gibson models in 1954 but spaced closer together because of the shorter scale length, giving the Byrdland its distinctive sound. Humbuckers replaced the Alnico V pickups in 1957, along with the rest of Gibson's line.
Hank's, and possibly Billy's guitars were custom ordered with a single coil P90 pickup in the bridge position and like several of his other guitars, a Charlie Christian in the neck. Their guitars because of the pickup had only 20 fret necks.
Though Hank is pictured in early advertisements with what appears to be his #2 Byrdland N (natural finish), it features an L-5 tailpiece and a tortoise pickguard. His guitars when delivered would have the standard special designed three loop, gold-plated tailpiece engraved with BYRDLAND and a white perloid pickguard.
In 1956, the following year, 60 units were sold, compared to 41 electric Super 400s and 55 L-5CES models. Comparing prices, the Super 400CES listed in 1957 for $675.00 in sunburst, $700.00 in natural (blonde); the L-5CES was $600.00 in sunburst, $615.00 in natural. By 1957 the number of Byrdlands sold was nearly double the combined number of Super 400 and L-5 electrics sold.
Allen Arnold, who is brokering this guitar said to be Hank's #3 Byrdland, contacted Gibson about the serial number (A217XX) and was told that they don't have records of ownership only manufacture, but it was order number "3" in 1955. He said that when Hank custom ordered the #3, Gibson was reluctant to build it thinking no one would buy a cherry sunburst Byrdland.
This is quite likely the guitar played by Hank with Elvis when they performed in Tupelo, MS on September 27, 1957 during the period when Scotty and Bill had left the band, though at the time the guitar had a black P90 in the bridge position, not the current cream colored one.
According to Allen, Hank owned it until 1957 when Gibson took it back to put it in their archives but accidentally delivered it to Allen Music in Chattanooga for store stock. Charlie Chambers, a former Nashville sessions player in the 1950's and 60's and a teacher at Allen Music bought the guitar.
When Gibson realized the mistake they were unsuccessful at getting it back from Charlie, who went straight to the sessions with the guitar. Hank saw the case, asked him how he got that guitar and Charlie told him. Hank said, "Well you bought it, so it's yours," signed the back of it and told him the history of the guitar.*
The guitar has been in Charlie's family since. Charlie changed several parts on the guitar but kept most of the original parts except the truss rod cover. Charlie lost the guitar to his ex-wife 30 years ago. It has stayed untouched except for times his ex-wife let him record with it though now they have plans to put it up for auction.
Oddly enough, the guitar has a unique personalized metal truss cover almost identical to one on the Gibson SG used by Elvis in Easy Come, Easy Go except Charlie had his name on his.
The truss cover appears to have been an aftermarket accessory and has since showed up on three guitars, one, though not stock, on a '50s Gibson banjo. page added August 30, 2010 Please note that neither I nor Scotty Moore have anything to do with the sale of this guitar and though we've no reason to suspect its authenticity we can in no way attest to it. If and when we have further information or particulars about its sale we will post it. All info on the specific history of this #3 Byrdland is courtesy of and according to Allen Arnold. The history and specifications of the Gibson Byrdland guitar in general is courtesy Gibson and George Gruhn. * Hank Garland was Charlie's idol since he was nine years old. At eighteen Charlie was a B sessions player in Nashville when he bought the guitar. In 1997 he attended a big party for Hank and brought the guitar. Hank smiled, said he remembered the guitar and signed it then. Allen Arnold
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