GEAR

1920 Dyer
Symphony
Style 7 Harp Guitar by
the Larson Bros.

Duane Noble
Harp Guitar

StacyHobbs

Harp Guitarist

THE
INSTRUMENTS

Stacy has had his fair share of instruments over the years. From vintage to new, limited runs, one-of-a-kinds, pawnshop specials, really specials, and a whole host of others. "As you journey through life as a guitar player, you attract different instruments which affect your playing style at that particular point in time", Hobbs says,"and if you're lucky enough you might just get to hold on to a few of them."

Stacy points out, "I played a Noble Harp Guitar back in 2004 and thought it was fantastic ! For me, the HG has to have a full rich guitar sound with a strong Low E. The Noble gave me that, and for that alone, it was worth the price of admission. The quality is unbeatable, the woods are choice, and the sound is unbelievable !!"

According to Duane, this is the 10th Harp Guitar he had built at this time. It features Walnut back and sides indigineous to CA. He and Gregg Miner collaborated on an "almost" Miner model that took a lot of the specs from Greggs' old Style 8 Larson Bros Harp Guitar and combining them with a more contemporary feel or style. The result was apparantly the "Hobbs" model. Stacy says "My Duane Noble Harp Guitar is perfect in every way imaginable, I really wouldn't change a thing, even down to the fretboard radius."

Woodchoppers Ball 2008

Stacy didn't always crave the new. In fact the old vintage guitars were much more to his liking until recent years. Stacy says "I really think theres something to the old wood, and you can feel the care that the Larson Bros put into their craft." He has owned over 4 of the apparently scarce 100 HGs the Larsons built. And to him, "They all have their own personality. My main Style 7 is the original one I purchased about 10 years ago. That HG has a first and second string on the guitar side that are out of this world !"

Photo by Jerry Jividen

Stacy has installed Fishman under the saddle pickups in all his HGs. He runs through a Fishman Pro-EQ and then into the house sound or his Fishman Solo Amp.

There is no need to write about the Larsons here. Bob Hartman, the Grandson of Carl Larson, has published at least 4 books on the subject. His latest, The Larsons Creations is a remarkable work regarding the importance of Carl and Augusts' legacy. Along with the much anticipated updated data surrounding these instruments, Bob managed to find an unpublished two song demo of the late Jimi Hendrix playing his Larson guitar in a motel room just prior to performing at Woodstock in 1969 !! The book also features Stacy as one of todays leading exponents of the Harp Guitar. "At any point in my life, If you would have told me my music would be on the same CD as Hendrix, I'd said you were crazy !!" Stacy is quick to note. "And thanks to Bob & Carol Hartman for making this all happen, they're very special people."

Two Style 7's the one on the right's mine, the one on the left
used to be!

Duane Noble and Stacy Hobbs

Photo by Susan Taylor

For more information on the Larsons, check out Bob Hartmans website for the latest in vintage vibe or if your looking for a new HG pay Duane Noble's website a visit.

For more information on Harp Guitars in general, we suggest www.harpguitars.net You should plan on spending some time there though, its loaded with information, thanks to Gregg Miner !!

Larson Style 7 circa 1920

Stacy performs Georgia on a 1912 Stahl by the Larsons

So as Stacy embraces the old and the new, his plans are to "sonically document" these rare and wonderful old Larsons and Stahls. "These instruments need to be recorded for posterity if nothing else" reflects Stacy. "They have a sound unique in-and-unto themselves, and the world needs to hear it!"

Bob Hartman enjoys my 1920 Style 7 Larson made Harp Guitar his Grandfather(s) built !