Vintage Hallmark Swept-Wing Guitar - Metallic Gold

[Paul Trotter]

So, I was lucky enough to come across what I believe to be quite a good find so I thought I share with you all...

I saw a Japanese hollow-body guitar on Craigslist that looked interesting. It wasn’t a rare guitar, or a valuable one but it looked nice and was really under priced. I agreed to meet the owner up at his home.

We meet, I liked the guitar and gave him $100 for it. As I thanked him and was starting to leave his home he told me he had another guitar he was considering selling....

He left the room and returned with an old beat-up guitar case…

As he opened it, he told me this guitar has some “special history”… “It used to belong to Robbie Krieger (guitarist for the Doors).”

He proceed to give me a very detailed history of the guitar. To summarize, he was good friends with the Doors Manager’s brother. That’s how he acquired it in southern California back in the late 60’s for $150.

The guitar was nicknamed “Batwing” due to its shape. Apparently Robbie and the Doors crew always referred to it as his “Batwing”. I now know that this model is the Swept-Wing made by Hallmark.

Apparently Hallmark guitars gave guitars to bands and this guitar was given to Robbie back in the 60’s. Robbie actually used the guitar, but was obviously more partial to his Gibson SG .

The owner who I bought it from was a very nice guy who was really happy to be selling it to a real Doors fan.

[dubtrub]

Great looking guitar with a neat history behind it. You are no doubt already aware that Bob Shade (a member of this forum) owns the Hallmark name and is remaking these guitars. There is a lot of information regarding his current products under our Clone section. Also the early association between Semie Moseley and Joe Hall is interesting. Apparently Bob Bogle of the Ventures is the one that originally designed the swept wing style guitar and Joe Hall took up the design after Bogle decided not to pursue it. See story here: http://www.hallmarkguitars.com/about/history.htm

[Paul Trotter]

Thanks Danny,

Yes, I spoke with Bob Shade not long after I bought the guitar. He was able to give me some history on the Vintage Swept-wings.

Thanks
Paul

[MWaldorf]

Wow - cool guitar!

[Veenture]

Great to get to see it. Notice that typical (non-roller) Mosrite bridge

[Bob Shade]

Holy gold flakes! What a rare beast!

Yes Paul reached me prior about this wonderfully rare guitar and I believe this was definately Robbie from The Doors Hallmark Swept-Wing guitar. Joe Hall told me prior to Paul getting in touch with me that he had definately given one to Robbie, so this adds up. The Doors were not huge at the time but popular on the west coast and signed, making records and performing live. There were more 60's LA and Bay area groups to get Hallmarks too!

The Doors also got Jordan amplifiers at the same time given to them as well which I have seen in vintage footage and photo's. Hallmark Guitars and Jordan amplifiers cross promoted at that time. If you speak to any artist who had a Hallmark Swept-Wing guitar given to or loaned to them, they always got a Jordan amplifier too.

This is the only gold flake vintage Hallmark Swept-Wing guitar I have ever seen to date. I am not trying to imply it is the only one produced while it was mentioned as a custom color in the vintage Hallmark sales slick, but it is certainly a rare Bakersfield bird.

Does anyone else out there have a vintage Swept-Wing? Let's hear from you! These are like tring to find a 50's Gibson Flying V. Exceedingly rare.

Bob Shade

[Paul Trotter]

Holy gold flakes! What a rare beast!

Yes Paul reached me prior about this wonderfully rare guitar and I believe this was definately Robbie from The Doors Hallmark Swept-Wing guitar. Joe Hall told me prior to Paul getting in touch with me that he had definately given one to Robbie, so this adds up. The Doors were not huge at the time but popular on the west coast and signed, making records and performing live. There were more 60's LA and Bay area groups to get Hallmarks too!

The Doors also got Jordan amplifiers at the same time given to them as well which I have seen in vintage footage and photo's. Hallmark Guitars and Jordan amplifiers cross promoted at that time. If you speak to any artist who had a Hallmark Swept-Wing guitar given to or loaned to them, they always got a Jordan amplifier too.

This is the only gold flake vintage Hallmark Swept-Wing guitar I have ever seen to date. I am not trying to imply it is the only one produced while it was mentioned as a custom color in the vintage Hallmark sales slick, but it is certainly a rare Bakersfield bird.

Does anyone else out there have a vintage Swept-Wing? Let's hear from you! These are like tring to find a 50's Gibson Flying V. Exceedingly rare.

Bob Shade

Hi Bob. Great to hear from you again. Thanks for posting that info!

[brutus]

What a great guitar! Robbie Krieger's gold-flake Hallmark Swept-wing-!! Incredible. It looks like the guitar you would play at Judy Jetson's wedding reception. Anyone want to guess on what it's worth?

[Bob Shade]

Less rare colors have gone for 4 to 5 K and this one has a star connection to boot.

I think it should be donated to my "Joe Hall of fame collection" and write it off as a non profit tax deduction donation.

Let's take a vote!

Bob

[MOSDAN]

Wow,Wow,Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great find!!! This is one of the coolest guitars I've seen and to be connected to the Doors makes it even more so. Lucky You!