If you need more guitar nerd stuff, here's my buddy, Andy Reiss showing off some cool guitars. He's been one of my favorite people for quite a while now and he's being interviewed by Joe Glaser. Joe did the work on my grandfather's 63 Mustang back when. It's a brand new channel, so I'm hoping you and I can give them a little jump start. Stop in, check out Andy's guitars and leave a comment telling them Otis sent ya. Good things will follow. ❤
https://youtu.be/e8-EJToJvxw?si=OgVev9ju4sr2aATq

I'm glad we have folks like Nathan to help preserve these fine old instruments.

Love this kind of stuff, repairing old vintage guitars so they hold up in tune, cheers Otis.

What a cool project and shop. Love these Saturday mornings with Otis and his folks. Great way to start the day. 👍

This was lovely .
Thank you both !!
I have my grandads’ Kay Silva banjo that he got in trade for a car repair . It’s a gem for what it is . I also have his very similar Kay jumbo .
Papaw was a farmer , builder and an auto shop and grocery store owner in a tiny town in Ohio .
I also only remember him playing on holidays or sometimes if it was just the dead of winter and too cold to work more than an hour or two at a stretch outside . All the men would come in and thaw a bit and then play for awhile before heading back out into the chill .
I also have the only music gear he ever bought new which is a 1956 Princeton amp and a matching fender 6 string steel guitar . He sprung for that because it was a bumper crop of corn that year 😏.
When I was a kid he mostly played steel as opposed to regular acoustic guitar and and when I asked him why he said , ‘ well , it’s a lot easier to play steel when your hands are all beat to hell .’ His always were .
He was a poor boy who survived ww2 and then put six kids thru college , debt free on a 6th grade , coal miners son’s education .
Greatest generation no doubt .
I am so very grateful for grandads , grandsons and luthiers all around and wouldn’t trade his instruments or more importantly my memories of playing music with him for anything .
He continues to be my hero and even tho he is long gone his tunes and soul still hang in the air when I play his gear  .
Also he grew up right outside of Galax  so he was legit as far as the Carter style .
I am also really grateful for the respect shown to a ‘lesser’ instrument . Whoever made it , it’s the use and the context that make it priceless .
Thank yall !!!

This is awesome. You have some beautiful friends. Love that your grandfather worked 40 years in a factory without missing a day and that you support labor unions. My Dad worked 40 years in the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Sparrows Point, MD. Proud to be a UNION MAN!

Stream Otis' music here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6rVU6yMZ8Mp6HiKpZWmAEW?si=eyII-KWHQF2mG7Ozynm2xw

-- Otis Tour Dates --
11/05/26 -Nijmege, Netherlands -Thiemeloods
11/07/26 -Groningen, Netherlands -TakeRoot Festival
11/09/26 -Westwoud, Netherlands -de Schalm
11/10/26 -Utrecht, Netherlands -TivoliVredenburg

You can buy my records, Cds and stuff here, if you're into that sort of thing..
otisgibbs.com

Sign up to my email list here:https://laylo.com/otisgibbs

Oh, When I was a youngster,Kays were everywhere. 60's/70's.

That is a super hell yeah. Look forward to hearing it.

That’s wonderful that you not only own the guitar, because it belonged to your grandfather, but that you will be able to restore it and use it to play… and keep it alive… alongside the memories of your grandfather… very nice and meaningful… good for you… 🕊️

Good morning, nice to know a guy like Nathan.

You are inspiring me.  I still have my mother's Hawaiian guitar from the 30s.  She played some on local radio in Syracuse.  It's in pieces and never a name brand or anything.  But I vividly remember her playing for my sister and me. Maybe I was 6??  !954 or earlier.  Beautiful.  Like many, she put it aside for her family's more immediate needs and work.  I would love to get it repaired, if only for display.  So you are motivating me to do that.  She was also my ally in 1963, buying me a Harmony Sovereign.  She could see/hear(?) I was committed to playing the one I had with bar-wire strings a half inch off the fretboard.  Now I play Martins and a favorite Seagull Folk Model.  More coffee, please.

Good episode! Brings back memories. My grandfather played guitar & fiddle, he loved getting together at different peoples homes & playing together. It's how my parents met.❤

Love this video!  I’m an amateur luthier/musician and it’s wonderful that you’re getting your grandfather’s Kay setup proper!  Love those old instruments

Can’t wait to see this guitar when it is finished. Awesome share. Thanks 😊

Such a great story.  I have two matching Harmony H-165's that my dad bought for me and himself. Both need a neck reset and I'm trying to talk a buddy of mine who has the gear and the know-how into helping me do it. Some of my earliest memories are of him playing Carter Family and Monroe Brothers tunes on his 1920s tenor guitar. He wanted me to learn Mother Maybelle style guitar which got me hooked on bass lines which led me into playing bass. Dad left this earth 16 years ago but his memory and legacy live on.

I have been amazed how few music stores have a luthier on staff.  Most have, at best, " guitar techs" and though some are good at what they do, there is no substitute for a trained luthier when it comes to re-frettig, neck resets and finish work, etc.  We have a precious few here in Louisville and if you are looking for a career in music I think you could make a good living in most American cities! I highly recommend Barney's Guitar service in Louisville.   Bill is a stand up guy and has 30 plus years of experience.

1950s Kay’s we’re most definitely made in Chicago!

Ways to support this channel.
https://www.patreon.com/otisgibbs

Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel.

https://paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=...

www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs

Paypal:  @otisgibbs
Venmo: @OtisGibbs

This Luthier aspect and the re- building is fascinating. This young man obviously has some exceptional skills. Good for both of you!