Celtic Cross Weissenborn Hawaiian Guitar

Neil Russell of Celtic Cross Instruments in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, made this brand of Weissenborn Hawaiian Guitar. (Originally Herman Weissenborn created this Weissenborn style instrument in the 1920’s and 1930’s era.) The distinguishing features of this style of a lap slide guitar are that the strings are raised and the neck of the guitar is square and hallow. Kat found the guitar pictured left in a small, family run business in Edmonton, Alberta and it has become the cornerstone of her live performance as well as her ‘go to’ songwriting axe. She says that “the Weissenborn’s deep, resonant tone and close relationship to the human voice are mysterious and inspiring musically. Every time I pick up this instrument I get very excited that something really cool is going to happen and she has never let me down”. Kat strings her Weissenborn with a custom set of Newtone Strings, uses a Sherman Slide and Flux Capo.

www.celticcrossinstruments.com

National Estralita (Resophonic)

National Estralita is a wood-bodied single cone resophonic guitar. This is a multi-purpose instrument as it performs well as both a rhythm and lead instrument. The tone is a deep, beefy bass as a bright top-end. A beautiful guitar to play with a depth of presence that is difficult to find in a metal-bodied guitar. Kat strings her National with D’Addario Phosphor Bronze custom, uses a Shubb Capo and a one-of-a-kind glass slide made by Slaymaker Slides.

Vintage Gibson LG-2 (1947-51)

This “Little Guy” is an unbelievable instrument! Impossible to get an exact year on this instrument due to Gibson record keeping in that era, this guitar has monster tone and volume. Features of this guitar are: X scalloped bracing, a Red Spruce top, Mahogany back/sides and Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Kat bought this guitar at the recommendation of her friend, Thomas, and has never regretted that decision. This is a sweetheart of an instrument and is used for recording and local performances only. No more flights for this little beauty. Kat strings her Gibson LG2 with D’Addario Phosphor Bronze EJ-17.

Minstrel Minnie

'Minstrel Minnie' named after blues woman Memphis Minnie McCoy is a fretless Menzies Gitjo made by Jeff Menzies from Toronto. Kat created the design in collaboration with Jeff after extensive research on 1860's Minstrel Banjos. This instrument is all natural except for the tacks that hold the head in place. Minstrel Minnie consists of a walnut rim and neck, friction pegs, gut strings, bone saddle and is a 'grain measure' open back. Kat plays Minstrel Minnie in her own variation of claw hammer/ frailing styles and blues slide.