This project took place in Memphis in 2006. Scotty met us with his ES-295 that he had just “borrowed” for the occasion from the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame next door to the Gibson Memphis factory right off Beale Street where this took place. Apparently Scotty can borrow his guitar from the exhibit there whenever he needs it and returns it when finished. It was pouring rain that day too so I was very appreciative of Scotty’s determination to bring the guitar regardless. This was a 2-camera shoot with Panasonic HVX-200’s; the cameras I used the entire time at Gibson and since.
I shot handheld on this with other shooter on sticks. We set up in a gutted ballroom, which gave it the look of an underground parking garage or something. The look is cool but the audio was kind of a nightmare. Reverb for DAYS, live in the room so lavaliere mike was the only usable audio source. Scotty had a tough time with the acoustics which is understandable, but it was a typical “make the best of it” situation. Gibson builds the ES series of guitars at this factory which are all the hollow or semi-hollow body electrics. ES-335, Lucille, and other jazz guitars are all made there. Nice facility that also used to house a venue, and was going to accommodate a satellite exhibit for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in this space where we shot; but that never ended up happening. Scotty is one of the most humble, unassuming and shy people I’ve ever met and one of the most important guitarists to the history and creation of Rock&Roll.
