"Hobo's Lullaby" Heirloom Guitar by Ben Gitty Baker - Made From Railroad Wood

Crafted by Ben "Gitty" Baker from deeply storied salvaged railroad wood. Decorated with real photos of American hoboes from the 1930's. Played on-stage in New Orleans.

This is truly an heirloom instrument, filled with the legends and lore of American railroading and musical legend. The sound box was crafted from wood salvaged from a steam locomotive water tower in Bellevue, Ohio - the sort of water tower that American hoboes would gather around, and leave their moniker marks on, while waiting for their next train to catch out on. To honor that storied past, Ben decorated the front and back of the guitar with real black and white photos of hoboes, giving it a unique and rustic look. The white oak neck was salvaged personally by Ben Gitty from an old stone hopper that loaded narrow-gauge cars with crushed limestone, on an island in Lake Erie near where he grew up.

Then a couple of years ago, New Orleans musician Brett Gardner contacted Ben, asking if he had a 3-string Hobo Fiddle-style guitar that his band The Cigar Box Serenaders could use on a forthcoming studio album. Ben sent this instrument down, and it became part of New Orleans musical history, being played both onstage at live gigs and on the band's album (see photo of musician Russell Welch playing it).

Once the album was done, Brett sent it back north to C. B. Gitty headquarters, and now Ben has (reluctantly) decided to offer this amazing guitar to a lucky collector. Strung with three nylon strings and tuned to G-D-G, this instrument was built to be played, but would also grace any display or collection. IT has a 17-inch scale length (same as Ben's Hobo Fiddles) and 16 frets. Overall length is 27 inches and the soundbox measures 9 x 12 inches. A 1901 Indian Head Penny is nestled under the hardwood bridge, both to dial in the intonation and also hearken back to days long past. A 1931 railroad number nail is set into the headstock for the same purpose.