those cheap guitars were made with top of the line materials. most of the stuff was organic material not plastic. pre war materials were high quality, the wood alone was far superior, as it was usually made from really old trees with weather patterns that you will never see again. the craftsman even were all self taught by apprentice. times have changed automation and mass production and weather has made these guitars one of a kind. great video

God bless you for this video .. this is apart of our American history ...

Their hearts out. That's what they were playing.

Clearly the best bluesmen only played 8 string jacksons with emgs and floyds. Of course they didn't have mesa boogie mark 3s so they had to use marshall jcm 800s

My first guitar, which I got as a Christmas present 1964, was a Stella purchased at The T. Eaton department store in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and I think it was $24.95. It was a difficult neck to play and to learn on, but it made my first electric guitar, a second-hand National solid body electric (shaped like a Les Paul), a breeze to play. I was 15 back then, and I just turned 70 last month, and I’m still playing guitar. Thank your good Lord for my Stella, I wish I still had it today.

Hee hee 1972 got my first non-plastic guitar. It came from Sears. It's parlor size because I was just a little girl still, but it had steel strings and my God it hurt to play but I played and learned and bled...and then played some more. 50 years later and thru several guitars, back to a parlor guitar but with nylon strings now. It's a French brand. Decent.

1:59 They're a product of jEaHzZ

Absolutely. I own a 1941 Kalamazoo Oriole and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t sound exactly like those early Delta Blues recordings.

My first guitar was a Stella. I had no idea. Wow.

A wealth of information and history.. Thanks from England.. 💜

So that famous "cigarrette" picture of Robert Johnson was a selfie ! =)

Thanks for the video. My first acoustic was a Stella. My first electric was a Sears brand, made by Harmony. Just remembered the Sears guitar was called a "Silvertone".

I love videos like this. 👍😊 It could have gone on for another hour as far as I'm concerned. The Blues, The men and women who played it and the often overlooked, the instruments they used. What's not to love? 😊

Kinda reminds me of how Jazzmasters nowadays are super expensive when the indie musicians of the 80's bought them at pawn-shops for 200 bucks

I'm so glad this channel exists, so informative!

Great video. Once again I've been reminded that it isn't necessary to have the most expensive instrument (or anything) to make your mark.

I found this very interesting and informative. Your voice has a charm that I felt really suited the video.

Nice job putting this video together. Learned so much that I didn’t even know, about people I thought I knew something about. I appreciate that and the obvious amount of hard work and research you put in to give this such high production value.

That was really enjoyable. It sure would be interesting to see other historical videos in the future. You have alot of knowledge to share.

Your channel is so engaging and love your playing. So much depth and breadth of history along with talent playing. I've learned some cool stuff since your channel came into view.

Love the blues and watching your channel

I really enjoyed this video, thanks for making it. It wasnt something I'd ever thought about till I saw the thumbnail then I HAD to know!

Whow!!! Such a precious video like this is so hard pop up from KZfaq...thank you for the great job.

Yes!! I am sooo interested in the old blues and wondered what kinds of instruments were played. Thank you for this video.

I'm so glad I discovered your channel, Edward. This was a great trip through American Blues History. Thanks.

Fantastic stuff ! I love Delta Blues & blues from the depression era in general. Cheers from Bristol, England 👍 Btw , Subscribed ! Your playing is flippin wicked 👌

Keep pushing out the awesome content my man!

Great video Edward 😎🎸👍

Thank-you, Edward. Very valuable insights and grasp of this important history. Much appreciated!

Very interesting, fascinating blues I love playing! Some of those guitars are beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Cheers from France!

Wow! Thanks for this . I have never seen such a great collection of these great legendary bluesmen in one place. Thanks for a great history lesson as well.

Fascinating video. Thanks for making it.

Thanks for putting out this great informative video.

That was a great video man, I mean seriously, thanks.

Great video, thank you for making this video. Guitar is an amazing instrument and I’m grateful to have become a guitarist in my life, it’s the very thing that gives me peace, hope and joy within. Thanks again

Very instructive and interesting! I 💙 BLUES

Big Bill had a very unusual Gibson with a scroll at the top of the body. Beautiful instrument!

Great video. I learned as much about the artists as I did about their guitars. I recently discovered the blues and dont know much history, just that I love it now more than modern rock which I grew up on.

Very cool video! I don’t play but it’s cool to hear this history. Thanks dude

This is a great informative video..thank you for making this..love old delta blues.

I am so glad I ran across this. I like music and I like history and this is perfect!!!

Well this blew up! Great video man!

You are really doing great service to the subject. God Speed.

Loved this video man. Should make some more like this 👍🏻

Thanks for posting , as a long time builder and repairman . I have seen and repaired these instruments. It just proves you dont need much $ to get playing and singing.

Fascinating. Thank you.

Beautifully delivered narration.

going to a doctor's appointment last year and some guy was tossing out a guitar while doing a renovation for a house. it was a Stella. fairly good shape!

great video and a question i have asked to myself many times thank you!

Ed your playing is exemplary and keeps these styles alive brother, but these historical rundowns are just as cool. In just a few minutes you hepped people to the guitars that the delta & folk blues cats of those days did their work on. So cool...

Thanks for the great video!👍😎🎸🎶

Illustrates what I often say: Most forms of blues, as we know it today, are younger than jazz (with R&B, "Rock'n roll", etc. being even younger). Ragtime existed in the 1890s and jazz in the 1910s. Originally they were more syncopated variants of imported European cabaré, military and gypsy music. Styles that were good for improvisation. (This was before jazz took of and included more advanced elements from both Latin music and Stravinskij, Schönberg, etc. and also before swing and the modern drum set with hi hat + large ride cymbals were invented.)

Really good vid. As someone fascinated by vintage instruments particularly guitars this is instructional and moving. And the narrator's Southern accent adds authenticity. :-)

Hey Edward I love your videos. Could you make a video about HOW these men in rural states came to learn the blues? It'd be cool to hear all about what they did. Did they have weekly guitar lessons? Did they learn through records? Did they play for hours a day? Thanks!

This is a great you tube channel. Lots of historical information and music. 🎸👍

This was great thank you!

Fascinating information. Worthy of a like and new subscriber!

Edward - this is a great video! Your commentary is spot on about the old blues instruments. It also highlights the fact that the great form of music we call the "Blues" evolved on instruments that the common man of the time could afford. The Blues is not about having a great instrument it is about using what life lets you have to express yourself. If it is a second hand Kalamazoo, then make it your voice. Thanks for the commentary!

Very insightful. Thanks.

Awesome, thank you for this video.

Great video, thank you...i have and play the Gretsch Guitars G9201 Honey Dipper shown at 1:51; i dig it. I was shocked at how much more a metal body resonator responded so quickly and loudly then my wood body resonator i had before...

This was truly awesome

Thx EP. This is a great highlight for the mostly unknown Stella guitar.

I really enjoyed this. Thanks.

Thanks, great info. I bought a Stella a year ago, now reset and playable. You're right about the restrictions, but it sure has that Skip sound :-)

This video was awesome. Great respect for those old players. They made sounds that only those old “cheap” guitars could make. I have a nice guitar collection but I still enjoy pulling the Harmony out of its case from time to time. Again, great video.

NICLY DONE!!! thank you i enjoyed this vid very much!!!

Great video, lots of good info. A couple other features that really gave these old guitars such a particular sound were the prevalence of birch as a tonewood at the time, and the wide use of ladder bracing as opposed to more modern x-bracing.

Very well made short documentary. Thanks.

Phenomenal video!

Wow. These videos are awesome. Just binged this whole lot.

Really enjoyed this. Not too much talking. Very objective. Great job.

Great vid! great info, thanks!!

Great video, make more of these bro

I really enjoyed your video. When Harmony got the Stella brand, they made those guitars and other body sizes / brands they were still made in Chicago, U.S.A. until 1975 before getting bought out and went to overseas production.

Very informative! Thanks!

thank you. great report.

Thanks man!! Good info.

Great video and very interesting. Easy to listen to.

Very informative, well done!!

Nice video,your getting better at that plus your just a damn good player...thanks

LOVE this kinda stuff👍

Hey Edward. Thanks for this excellent, informative and concise presentation. I have never considered what kinds of guitars some of my favourite musicians played, I assumed that they all played National guitars for some bizarre reason. I recently came across a Dutch built guitar from 1945, which I am in the process of refurbishing. It has the luthiers signature and the date written inside in pencil, which I only discovered because the back fell off! I am looking forward to the day I finally get it strung up and playing to hear what kind of sound is going to emanate from down the decades. Cheers from New Zealand.

Great video. I'll subscribe if there's gonna be more like this. Amazing.

Great video. I have a 1923 Gibson L-Jr. Bought at a garage sale in the mid 80's for $300. Plays and sounds killer.

Great video. Thank you

The song Stella Blue is about those old blues guitars "🎶Dust of those rusty strings just one more time🎶"

Thanks for the very interesting video!

Fantastic video!

Nice, highly informative video; thank you very much

Loved this :)

Makes me feel better about my old guitars.

Gr8 video Ed ! Thanks ;)

I rocked a Stella acoustic and a Teisco electric that I got from a Western Auto Sports gear store!

Amazing video, props.

My hero, Paul Geremia, religiousy played a Stella 12 string like Blind Willie's. He detuned it. Paul has gigged across the USA since the mid 60's, playing old Blues. When I first saw him, I was studying the old Blues, spending 6 to 12 hours per day trying to learn it. Paul just blew me away by the ease with which he played. His skills, top notch. He had a stroke, got off the road... one of the hardest working acoustic musicians ever... driving himself in an old Plymouth... To emulate his sound, I found a Hofner 12 string at a used instrument store. I bought it because it sound very close to a Stella... $200. I put heavy gauge strings for the main strings, calculated the octave strings, detuned it down to a C. The thing roars. I love playing slide on it, doing the Johnny Winter version of Willie McTell's Broke Down Engine.... I'll play encores on it.... always a perfect way to end a gig.

Fantastic doco

Wicked tubie brother... Thank you very much.

Even today if you step into a real southern Juke Joint I doubt you'll see old Blue's guy's playing $2500 Les Paul's and $5000 boutique amps. More like Epiphone 335's, Mex Strats and old Fender and Peavey amps. They know most of your tone comes from your fingers.

Good video. Not only were most of these guys playing relatively inexpensive instruments, but those living an itinerant existence had these guitars out there with them in the heat, cold, rain, morning dew, you name it.