D'Angelico 1964 Special #2159 Sunburst (one of the last 6 built before his death)
This guitar was built by John D'Angelico in 1964 for an amazing working musician, one of the most recorded guitarists in history: Harold Bradley. This commissioned Special model is in near-mint condition and features a D'Armond Super Chief pickup. As Rudy would say: "RIDICULOUS flame!" on the back and sides of the guitar, and on the back of the neck. This was one of the last 6 guitars that D'Angelico worked on before his death later that same year. Serial #2159 comes with its original hardshell case.
Harold Bradley was part of the Nashville A-Team of session musicians in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, the crew that inspired John Sebastian's Lovin' Spoonful song, "Nashville Cats". Bradley's playing can be heard on records by a vast array of artists including Perry Como, Joan Baez, Buddy Holly, Ivory Joe Hunter, Pee Wee King, George Morgan, Hank Williams, Burl Ives, Henry Mancini, Connie Francis, George Beverly Shea, Hank Snow, Jim Reeves, Charley Pride, Leon Russell, The Everly Brothers, Gene Watson, Marty Robbins, Freddie Hart, Conway Twitty and Roy Clark.
Rudy knew Mr. Bradley as a lovely gentleman who used to visit his original shop on 48th Street all the time through the '80s and '90s. He told Rudy some amazing stories about Elvis Presley and many other Nashville musicians.
