The Monkee's Gretsch

[octagon]

In which other Monkee song videos did Mike play this guitar

[brianeharmonjr]

Wow, I forgot how bad they were at playing along with the track. That is painful to watch.

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Them stout-legged feeeemale wimmins ain't too painful to watch, though...

[paologregorio]

I think they used it in "Valerie", where the playing along was equally off-not that anyone would be able to play that nylon-stringed flamenco riff on a Gretsch.

[octagon]

I think they used it in "Valerie", where the playing along was equally off-not that anyone would be able to play that nylon-stringed flamenco riff on a Gretsch.

Mike had this Gretsch in the versions I could find.

[lennon211]

Nesmith had a number of Gretsch guitars supplied to him for the show. Early on it was a sunburst Viking (I believe). Then his "signature" guitar, a Gretsch 6076 (that should be the right model) blonde 12 string similar in body to a Country Gent, but with triangular fret markers. In the second season of the Monkees, Gretsch had made the red Monkees model and that's the season that they will play that guitar in the most.

[lennon211]

Wow, I forgot how bad they were at playing along with the track. That is painful to watch.

The audio is way out of sync with the clip...not that that helps the miming much.

[paologregorio]

The playing along on "Valerie" is better than I remembered. I suppose I should have You tubed the vid before commenting, but it's still not the best.

Nice pair of Super Beatle amps in the back. Anyone else besides me ever have one of these monsters? They look cool, but I'll take my AC 30s or Fender Twins any day of the week.

[rob_u]

Actually the 12-string belonged to Nesmith before he was in the Monkees. There's a segment where they showed the actors original screen test/interview, and he carried the guitar in with him.

[brammy]

When the Monkees first came out I thought to myself (age 12) "wow, I know I'll never be able to play like George Harrison but if I could EVER play guitar as well as Mike Nesmith, that would be the ULTIMATE".

Hmmmmmm.... I should have set my sights higher.

[jingle_jangle]

I can't speak to Mike's ability on the geetar, but his stature as a songwriter/commentator on "culture", can't be diminished. His laconic, sardonic, skills as a satirist are top notch. Don't forget that he was the winner of the first Grammy ever given for a video--for "Elephant Parts" in 1980. The quality of his musical output remains high to this day (probably he does, too.)

My 10-year-old daughter, Juliana, is named for a lovely song on his "Tropical Campfires" album.

[johnallg]

Elephant Parts is fantastic! "We don't need no stinkin' nachos!"

[jingle_jangle]

Yes, and The Marines Are Looking For A Few Good Men.

[johnallg]

Yup, I gotta get a copy of this. Been years since I last watched it.

[mfb]

I can't speak to Mike's ability on the geetar, ...)

As I recall from an "up-close" with Mike circa 1977 , his guitar abilities, if not flashy, were fine. He played an ebony LP custom at the time.