My guitar collection - Tacoma

 
 

Jerry Jones started out as a repair man based in Nashville, TN in the ‘70s. Around 1978, he started Jerry Jones Guitars. Zac Childs has this informative YouTube video on the history of this company. As seen, although Jerry Jones Guitars had their own Neptune models, they also specialized in high(er) quality versions of Danelectro designs. Among the popular models of the latter company were their electric sitars. The Jerry Jones Baby Sitar, based on the Danelectro model with the same name, is a simplified version of the Master Sitar, which is based on the famous Danelectro Coral Electric Sitar. The latter model has an additional set of sympathetic strings, which are all 10s and, according to this FAQ, are tuned as follows (long to short): D--F#(+)--G(+)--A(+)--C(+)--A(--)--G(--)--F#(--)--G(+)--A(+)--C(+)--D(+)--D(=), where ‘+’ is ascending, ‘--’ descending, ‘=’ equal, and the longest string is tuned to a D equal to the 10 fret of the 1st string of the sitar. Focussing on the sitar part of both models, there is only a slight tonal difference because the Master Sitar has a semi-hollow body consisting of a poplar core sandwiched between 2 Masonite layers whereas the Baby Sitar’s is solid, here in a Cream Gator finish. The guitar further has a white plexiglass pickguard with a vine motif, a single “home-spun” lipstick-tube pickup, volume and tone controls, properly intonated “buzz” bridge, and a curved knee rest for playing comfort. The maple neck has an Indian rosewood fingerboard with a 14½” radius, 21 frets, 1⅝” nut width, and Gotoh closed tuning machines on a beautifully shaped headstock with cool logo. The scale length is 25” with the truss rod accessible at the heel. Jerry Jones retired and sold all the assets in 2010 and there is no current website for this brand. However, here is the archived website for Jerry Jones Guitars from 2010 containing the snapshots for both models referenced above.

 

Jerry Jones Baby Sitar

The story behind this electric sitar

Year:

Serial number:

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This Jerry Jones Baby Sitar, purchased from Ken’s Guitars on Reverb, is in almost pristine condition. Jerry Jones Guitars used 9s on the Baby Sitar. This one has been professionally setup with 10s with the .010 high-E swapped out for a .011, hence .011--.013--.017--.026--.036--.046 for the actual string gauges. Serial numbers moved around over time starting on the headstock and finally ending up as a sticker in the control cavity with the first 2 digits indicated the year of the build, as is the case here. What made this sitar extra attractive was the presence of a rare original hardshell case. Most other Baby Sitars I had been eying, if not all, came with a gig bag. The guitar is currently in transit. More to follow.

The story behind this guitar

2002

026125

D’Addario EXL110 Nickel Wound Regular Light (10-46) (with .011 as high-E)