Marty Stuart’s Mission: Preserving Country Music’s Legacy Through Iconic Guitars
Marty Stuart’s remarkable assortment of vintage guitars and country music artifacts stems from his profound thankfulness for the genre’s rich heritage, which also fuels his musical creativity. This collection is not merely a gathering of rare instruments; it represents a personal commitment to safeguarding vital pieces of American musical history that risk being forgotten.
A Passion Ignited in Mississippi
Growing up in Mississippi, Stuart began his journey by collecting autographs, set lists, and used guitar picks from visiting country artists. At the tender age of 14, he joined the band of bluegrass icon Lester Flatt, a pivotal moment that allowed him to gather memorabilia and build relationships with many influential musicians whose legacies he would later strive to protect.
The Urban Cowboy Era and a Call to Action
As the urban cowboy trend surged in the 1980s, Stuart witnessed a decline in customary country music’s popularity. Vintage instruments and priceless artifacts began vanishing into pawnshops,private collections,and international markets,prompting him to realize the urgent need for someone to safeguard the genre’s history.
“The pioneers of country music were being overlooked and forgotten,” Stuart reflects. “Thier costumes, manuscripts, instruments, and everything related to the traditional country music scene were fading away. Guitars were either ending up in George Gruhn’s shop or being traded in local pawnshops. Collectors from Japan were coming to Nashville to snatch up pieces of our culture. It felt like we were losing our family heirlooms.”
“It felt like we were losing our family heirlooms.”
– Marty Stuart
A Mission Solidified with Johnny Cash
stuart’s resolve to preserve country music’s heritage intensified after he joined Johnny Cash’s band in 1980. During a tour in the U.K., he visited the Hard Rock Cafe in London, which had recently begun showcasing guitars and memorabilia from famous musicians.
“I truly appreciated what they were doing,” Stuart recalls. “On the flight back to america, I realized my purpose. I decided to dedicate myself to preserving as much of the old-world country music culture as possible. This is a vital part of American culture that has been neglected, pawned, and discarded. I became serious about my mission.”
The Legacy of Clarence White’s Telecaster
One instrument that epitomizes this mission is the sunburst 1954 Fender Telecaster once owned by country-rock innovator Clarence White. This guitar was not just a tool for White during his time with the Byrds; it is regarded as one of the most significant Telecasters ever crafted.
This Telecaster was equipped with one of the earliest Parsons/White B-Benders, an innovative mechanism created by White and Byrds drummer Gene Parsons. This device allowed guitarists to raise the pitch of the B string by a whole step, mimicking the expressive sound of a pedal steel guitar.
“It is undoubtedly one of the most enchanting guitars I have ever played.”
– Marty Stuart
The concept for the B-Bender originated during a 1967 recording session for the country duo Vern and Rex Gosdin. White expressed a desire to bend a string while playing harmonics, jokingly suggesting he needed “a third hand.” Parsons, who had a background in machining, began to ponder the possibility of creating a mechanical solution.
Initially, Parsons designed a prototype that utilized a floor pedal, but White was not interested in that approach.
“If I wanted to play pedal steel,” he told Parsons, “I’d just play pedal steel!”
Collaboratively, they developed a system of levers and springs activated by the guitar’s strap button. By pressing down on the neck and releasing it, White could seamlessly bend the B string while continuing to play normally. The original mechanism was crafted from pedal-steel components mounted to the back of White’s Telecaster, covered with a wooden frame and Masonite. While later versions became more sophisticated, the original remains unique.
Stuart appreciates this originality.
“It’s an indescribable guitar,” he states. “You could line up a hundred Telecasters, and when you plug this one in, it has a voice that stands apart. It is truly one of the most magical guitars I have ever played.”
The guitar’s distinctive character is not solely attributed to the B-Bender. A custom hot-wound Stratocaster neck pickup, designed by pedal-steel virtuoso Red Rhodes, adds to its unique sound, creating a tone that Stuart believes is irreplaceable.
A Personal Connection to History
Stuart’s relationship with this iconic instrument began long before he became its owner. Clarence white’s brother, renowned bluegrass mandolin player Roland White, was instrumental in securing Stuart’s position with Lester Flatt. Stuart later resided in Roland’s Nashville home and developed a close bond with Clarence’s widow, Susie White.
“I laid my checkbook on the table and said, ‘Susie, name your price.’ She could have asked for much more, and I would have gladly paid.”
– Marty Stuart
In 1980, Stuart visited Susie’s home in Elkhorn city, Kentucky, intending to purchase a 1954 Stratocaster she was selling. Recognizing Stuart’s admiration for her late husband’s artistry, she also presented him with Clarence’s Telecaster, inviting him to spend some time with it.
“She asked, ‘That’s what you realy want, isn’t it?’” Stuart remembers. “I replied, ‘Absolutely, I would love to have it.’ She said, ‘Let me think about it.’”
“Later that afternoon, she said, ‘I’d be happy to sell it to you.’ So she sold me the ’54 Strat, clarence’s Tele, a couple of his Nudie suits, and a wealth of Byrds memorabilia for just $1,450.”
“I was in disbelief.I had essentially laid my checkbook on the table and said, ‘Susie, name your price.’ She could have asked for far more, and I would have gladly paid.”
Since then, the Clarence Telecaster has played a pivotal role in stuart’s music. It features prominently on tracks like ”I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome” from Saturday Night and has been his steadfast companion on stage for many years.
While the $1,450 price tag has become legendary among vintage guitar enthusiasts,Stuart has never regarded Clarence’s Tele as merely a collector’s item. To him, it is a functional instrument, a unique musical voice, and a tangible piece of American history-the very cultural treasure he vowed to protect on that flight home from London.
