The "HOT LANTA" STORY
I just got off the telephone with Kurt Linhof.
I wanted to clear up a few details and get Kurt's approval to make this post.
I received more info than I asked for! Thanks Kurt.
Kenny Cordray and band just happen to be playing in Kurt's town.
They were staying at Kurt's house. What timing!
I first met Kurt in the mid 70s. He had quite a reputation for having
primo vintage gear and a wealth of knowledge. He was a good friend
of Billy Gibbons. His affiliation with ZZ Top is well known.
Check out page 175 in Tom Wheeler's book "American Guitars".
Note the photo credit on the guitar. Another amazing guitar found by Kurt.
Kurt I remember that guitar... there is another great story.
Kenny ... I have known well since I cant remember.. but it was back
there somewhere in the 70s. The last time I talked to Kenny about the Duane
Tobacco Burst was in 2000. Kenny wrote ZZ Top's hit "Francine".
Kenny I had to say it. Kenny is a killer guitar player... great guy ! ! ! ! !
Meeting Duane - Lining Up The Buy.
ZZ Top was opening for the Allman Brothers. Billy introduced Kurt to
Duane as," If anybody can find you a guitar this man can!"
Well.... and he did find Duane a guitar! And what a guitar.
Duane was looking for a TobaccoBurst. Duane's terms were,
"I'll pay you the cost of the guitar plus half...plus half of that!... plus half of that! !
...plus half of that ! ! !" it became a running joke.
The rest of the Allmans gave Kurt a shopping list of gear they were looking for.
The Sale Of "HOT LANTA".
The guitar was bought from a friend of Chris Cross's by Kurt.
Kurt traded a refin 54 strat #04XX plus some cash.
The headstock had already been repaired.
Kenny Cordray was after that guitar too. Kenny verifies all the above.
So Kenny has played and is familiar with the guitar before Duane owned it.
Kurt had the guitar for a couple months before delivery.
During this time he switched the PickUps. The Rhythm PickUp
was switched to the Bridge position. And the Bridge to Rhythm.
This was common practice among the early Burst connoisseurs.
As the Les Paul was designed originally as a solid body jazz guitar.
The higher wound PickUp was put by Gibson in the neck position to have an
even warmer tone. The other slightly lower wound PickUp produced a brighter tone.
As the style of music changed to Blues or Rock through bigger amps
the guitars were more balanced by switching the PickUp positions.
"Hot Lanta" PickUps - Bridge 8.7k and Neck 8.3k.
Kurt said he has only come across one PAF that was hotter than "Hot Lanta's"
That PAF was 8.99k. And Kurt has bought and sold lots of guitars.
Delivering The Goods
Kurt drove from San Antonio to New York - The Fillmore East Closing Shows.
The cargo included a "concentric" jazz bass for Berry, three tweed bassmans
and of course "Hot Lanta" for Duane.
When Duane received the guitar J. Geils Band was on the bill.
Duane tried out the TobaccoBurst against the CherryBurst. There was no comparison.
Duane was floored and "In Love". They also compared it to Geil's Cherry Burst.
Again no comparison. Jay lost affection for his own Burst and tried to sell it to Kurt.
He wanted one like Duane's new prize - "Hot Lanta"
Kurt has photographs from this joyous occasion one of which was posted on this forum
for a short period of time - Duane with both the CherryBurst and the TobaccoBurst.
Other photos hung in his mid 70s shop on W Gray and Montrose - Houston.
Kurt attended the Closing Fillmore Shows. He caught the Allman's performances
sitting on the stage leaning against the side of Greg's Hammond organ. Not a bad seat!
He continued on the road with the Allmans through August staying in Barry's and Duane's room.
Duane hired Kurt as his roadie. If someone brought me a guitar like that they would be my
best friend too! While Kurt was with the Allmans he turned twenty-one.
I just got off the telephone with Kurt Linhof.
I wanted to clear up a few details and get Kurt's approval to make this post.
I received more info than I asked for! Thanks Kurt.
Kenny Cordray and band just happen to be playing in Kurt's town.
They were staying at Kurt's house. What timing!
I first met Kurt in the mid 70s. He had quite a reputation for having
primo vintage gear and a wealth of knowledge. He was a good friend
of Billy Gibbons. His affiliation with ZZ Top is well known.
Check out page 175 in Tom Wheeler's book "American Guitars".
Note the photo credit on the guitar. Another amazing guitar found by Kurt.
Kurt I remember that guitar... there is another great story.
Kenny ... I have known well since I cant remember.. but it was back
there somewhere in the 70s. The last time I talked to Kenny about the Duane
Tobacco Burst was in 2000. Kenny wrote ZZ Top's hit "Francine".
Kenny I had to say it. Kenny is a killer guitar player... great guy ! ! ! ! !
Meeting Duane - Lining Up The Buy.
ZZ Top was opening for the Allman Brothers. Billy introduced Kurt to
Duane as," If anybody can find you a guitar this man can!"
Well.... and he did find Duane a guitar! And what a guitar.
Duane was looking for a TobaccoBurst. Duane's terms were,
"I'll pay you the cost of the guitar plus half...plus half of that!... plus half of that! !
...plus half of that ! ! !" it became a running joke.
The rest of the Allmans gave Kurt a shopping list of gear they were looking for.
The Sale Of "HOT LANTA".
The guitar was bought from a friend of Chris Cross's by Kurt.
Kurt traded a refin 54 strat #04XX plus some cash.
The headstock had already been repaired.
Kenny Cordray was after that guitar too. Kenny verifies all the above.
So Kenny has played and is familiar with the guitar before Duane owned it.
Kurt had the guitar for a couple months before delivery.
During this time he switched the PickUps. The Rhythm PickUp
was switched to the Bridge position. And the Bridge to Rhythm.
This was common practice among the early Burst connoisseurs.
As the Les Paul was designed originally as a solid body jazz guitar.
The higher wound PickUp was put by Gibson in the neck position to have an
even warmer tone. The other slightly lower wound PickUp produced a brighter tone.
As the style of music changed to Blues or Rock through bigger amps
the guitars were more balanced by switching the PickUp positions.
"Hot Lanta" PickUps - Bridge 8.7k and Neck 8.3k.
Kurt said he has only come across one PAF that was hotter than "Hot Lanta's"
That PAF was 8.99k. And Kurt has bought and sold lots of guitars.
Delivering The Goods
Kurt drove from San Antonio to New York - The Fillmore East Closing Shows.
The cargo included a "concentric" jazz bass for Berry, three tweed bassmans
and of course "Hot Lanta" for Duane.
When Duane received the guitar J. Geils Band was on the bill.
Duane tried out the TobaccoBurst against the CherryBurst. There was no comparison.
Duane was floored and "In Love". They also compared it to Geil's Cherry Burst.
Again no comparison. Jay lost affection for his own Burst and tried to sell it to Kurt.
He wanted one like Duane's new prize - "Hot Lanta"
Kurt has photographs from this joyous occasion one of which was posted on this forum
for a short period of time - Duane with both the CherryBurst and the TobaccoBurst.
Other photos hung in his mid 70s shop on W Gray and Montrose - Houston.
Kurt attended the Closing Fillmore Shows. He caught the Allman's performances
sitting on the stage leaning against the side of Greg's Hammond organ. Not a bad seat!
He continued on the road with the Allmans through August staying in Barry's and Duane's room.
Duane hired Kurt as his roadie. If someone brought me a guitar like that they would be my
best friend too! While Kurt was with the Allmans he turned twenty-one.