Tony Hunt Guitars

[novi]

Hi, everyone. I am new to this discussion group and look forward to sharing info and learning from you guys.

I just got a Tony Hunt Guitar last month. I know it was made in early 80's. I like this guitar a lot but just can't find much info about this guitar maker. I think Tony had a brand names called; "Classic" and "Pro Classic" in those days. He was from Arkansas originally and his company might be called Guitar Clinic? Tony made two guitars for the lead guitarist of The Ventures; Nokie Edwards. This is one of them.

About a month ago, someone from Australia was selling a blue Tony Hunt 12 string guitar on eBay with starting bid of $5000! The listing was on for only for a few days and then disappeared.

Here is the photo:







I appreciate if anyone who know about Hunt guitars can help me to
solve this mystery.

Best wishes to everyone,
Novi

[VintAxe]

Hey Novi,

That is a beautiful guitar, no wonder you are infatuated.

Do you think it is built by the same Tony Hunt that builds reproduction Baroque keyboard instruments?

I've got nothing on him so far but I'm still looking. sb

[novi]

Thanks, VintAxe for your reply. I think Tony only built guitars. Here is his catalog sheet. (provided by Bob Shade of Hallmarks Guitars, Thanks, Bob) Hope that will bring back someone's memory.

[novi]

The one Nokie was playing in this concert is the other Tony Hunt Guitar I mentioned earlier. Nokie ordered two guitars from Tony back in 1980.

Both Hunt guitars have similar walnut color body, but each with different type of neck & headstock, the one Nokie used here has Bigsby palm pedals on 2nd and 3rd strings, mine doesn't. Both have Scruggs banjo tuning peg on the low E-string. (Nokie loves to raise and low low E-string to get that special effect. Listen to his "Bumble Bee Twist", "Secret Agent Man" etc..)

The guitar case is Nokie's personal flight case. It is super sturdy and heavy with some Northwest airline stickers on it. Obviously, he used it often when touring in Japan. Nokie cut the foam inside the case to fit Hunt guitar.

This guitar is not for sales. I am just sharing the info with everyone. Tony Hunt has gone through some hardship in the last 10 or 15 years, no one seems to know his whereabout. I am trying to find out where is he and how he is doing now.

[novi]

In September 1981 issue, Guitar Player Magazine Interviewed 3 members of The Ventures (Don. Bob and Nokie), Nokie talked a little bit about Hunt guitar. Nokie was photographed with his Hunt guitar.

G.P: " Who built the custom Nokie Edwards model guitar you're using now?"

Nokie: "A guy from Little Rock, Arkansas, named Tony Hunt. He's a real Ventures fan, and he wanted to make me a guitar. He wanted to build it just exactly the way I wanted it. I like the old Fender neck, like on my Telecaster, so I gave him eh measurements and he duplicated them exactly. T told him I wanted this Scruggs tuning peg on the low E. and Bisgsby Palm Padals--that stretch the string a whole step, half step, however you want to set them--on the second and third strings. On my Telcaster I've got four Palm Pedals."

Many thanks to Art Greenhaw for mentioning this information to me. Art is singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, producer, and art director for a variety of record releases in the gospel, country, and country-rock fields, and he continues to lead the world's longest-running country band, The Light Crust Doughboys. Art Greenhaw and The Light Crust Doughboys are the 2003 Grammy Award Winner.

[novi]

A good friend in Japan just found and sent me a 1994 Japanese CD which showed Nokie and the Tony Hunt Guitar on the cover. Note the banjo tuner at the low E-String. This is the exact guitar I have now. The songs on this CD are Ventures tunes and some Japanese songs.

I am still searching for info about Tony Hunt and Hunt guitars. Even Nokie has lost track of Tony long time ago. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

[bobby taylor]

[jedistar]

[novi]

[novi]

I have acquired another Tony Hunt guitar recently. From my close examination, research on line and comments from my guitar luthier, my guess is that this was a project guitar put together by Tony with the available parts in '80's.

The guitar body seems to be an old Gibson melody maker ('60's) shape, don't know it was an old body or remake by Tony, the neck seems to be made by Tony. (Don't know why he put a Gibson logo on the headstock. I was told Tony was Gibson luthier at one time.) A lot imported parts from the '80s (tuners, input jack, volume/tone knobs) were used on this guitar which make me believe it was assembled in the late '80's.

There are a lot similarity between this guitar and Nokie's Hunt; back pad, phrase switch, Mosrite bridge etc. The tone is different than Nokie's Hunt because of the mini pickups being used vs. full humbucker pickups.

If anyone has information or knowledge about this guitar, please let me know. Thanks.

[novi]

See repost.

[Smusic4life]

[Smusic4life]

[VintAxe]

Hi Ron.

Sorry to hear of Bob's passing but glad to know he had 75 years to enjoy this life. At what point in his life was he a brick mason? Seems like after 1962 or so he would have been able to make whatever money he needed through his Ventures connection. From your post it appears that he and Nokie were still on good terms in the 80's. You would think that would be enough of the band to go to Japan and earn a years income.

Did Bob and Nokie pick up their Tony Hunt Guitars on the same day? That must have been a good day for you.

Glad to hear Tony is well in Perry County. His work has earned a revered place in guitar history.

[Spud1950]