Hi! I have what appears to be a factory prototype of the early 70's earthwood 6 string flattop guitar. It is stamped inside "factory prototype 661". I have contacted Ernie Ball customer service directly with little info obtained...was hopping some of the experts here could give me some info! I know they made a short lived run of the earthwood 6 string around 1972... At least I thinks that's correct. This guitar would seem to pre date that. Any help would be most appreciated!
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koogie2k
Well-known member
Honestly, I can't tell you anything about it. However - need to post a pic. I would like to see it.
I work at a music store in San Francisco. I was leafing through an old Vintage Guitar magazine just now, and saw a photograph of a 1970's Earthwood acoustic bass and immediately realized that the headstock had the shame shape as a six string flattop that is on it's second go-around in our store. We had always assumed that it was some kind of Frankenstein, based on it's odd features: bolted-on tele-esque neck, wood pickguard, upside-down bridge, etc.
A bit of poking around on the internet confirms that it is in fact an Ernie Ball acoustic 6-string guitar. There is no indication on the guitar what it is. The neck is a bit wonky, with fairly high action & it does not intonate as well as I would like. aside from that, it has an interesting tone, and looks like something that would have been crafted by someone living in a tree-house, appropriately enough. Until today I knew NOTHING about this guitar, even though I sold it once & subsequently took it back in trade a year later.
A bit of poking around on the internet confirms that it is in fact an Ernie Ball acoustic 6-string guitar. There is no indication on the guitar what it is. The neck is a bit wonky, with fairly high action & it does not intonate as well as I would like. aside from that, it has an interesting tone, and looks like something that would have been crafted by someone living in a tree-house, appropriately enough. Until today I knew NOTHING about this guitar, even though I sold it once & subsequently took it back in trade a year later.
marvinmarvin
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Regarding your specific guitar I can't address. Still, I may be able to shed some light on the Earthwood or Earth Guitars produced by Earnie ball in the 1970's. While living in Newport Beach, California late 1970's early 1980's I was fortunate enough to be meet and be associated with a luthier by the name of David Santo ( Santo Guitars ). David is now deceased but made fine instruments on the West Coast in the 1970's & 80's.
David worked for Earnie Ball prior to developing his own line of hand made Santo Guitars ( David also worked with Michael Gurian in New York previous to moving West ). He mentioned his work at Earni Ball a number of times and specifically said he had made the first 300 Earnie Ball Earthwood guitars as well as other projects.
David eventually moved his work to Hudson Valley New York. He became one of the most respected North American Luthiers, his own guitars being limited to 10 -15 a year. All hand made & very pricy instruments. Hope this helps in some way. Regards, Marv
David worked for Earnie Ball prior to developing his own line of hand made Santo Guitars ( David also worked with Michael Gurian in New York previous to moving West ). He mentioned his work at Earni Ball a number of times and specifically said he had made the first 300 Earnie Ball Earthwood guitars as well as other projects.
David eventually moved his work to Hudson Valley New York. He became one of the most respected North American Luthiers, his own guitars being limited to 10 -15 a year. All hand made & very pricy instruments. Hope this helps in some way. Regards, Marv
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