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I wouldn't mind clowning around with this one!


onewilyfool

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Posted

ha! Bozo Guitars!!

 

One would wonder why someone would pick that for a name...

 

but, then there's those pictures posted in the add and it becomes a bit clearer!

 

LOL!

Posted

Headstock is sure "different". What a name for a guitar...

 

So that is serial number 1 of ...1? msp_unsure.gif

Posted

Sorry guys, that's the man's name... Bozo (pronounced "Bo-zho") Podunavac, a Serbian born master luthier / guitar builder who emigrated to the U.S. in 1959. He was raised in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and served his apprenticeship with master luthier Milutin Mladenovic and graduated in 1950. He moved to Chicago, when he came to the U.S. and for a time worked in the repair department of a musical instruments dealer and manufacturer. In 1964 he opened his own shop and began building guitars with his name "Bozo" on the peghead. Bozo apprenticed in the old world tradition of his homeland, and builds the finest, highly ornate instruments. Bozo had some health problems and stopped building his handcrafted instruments. He was then "rumored" to have died in the early 1980s, and as the Mark Twain saying goes, the rumors of his death were greatly exaggerated. Bozo is now in his 70s, and lives in Lindenhurst, Illinois with his wife, Mirjana. He has resumed building custom order guitars again, both ornate and plain, all with that unique "Bozo" sound.

 

I played the club circuit in Chicago during the '70s and had the honor of playing a few of his guitars and they are truly amazing. I'm very happy to hear he is once again making these fine instruments with the very unique headstock design...and funny name. IMHO, his 12 strings were the only competition with the Guild 12s. Amazing sounding guitars.

 

Now, if only Michael Gurian would resume making his incredible guitars.

 

DC

Posted

Leo Kottke was an early disciple of Bozo guitars. He used them to great effect as you can easily hear on his early records. I did a show with Leo in the 80's when he still used them. I was clearing his guitars from the stage while Leo chatted with John Denver in his dressing room. I bonked his Bozo on the the door frame while bringing it in the room. Boy, was my face red. No harm done though.

Posted

You are a lucky man, Rob, having close access to a lot of cool musicians.....Good on ya!. He could nickname that one "Bonk"...sounds as good as Bozo [scared]

Posted

Sorry guys, that's the man's name... Bozo (pronounced "Bo-zho") Podunavac, a Serbian born master luthier / guitar builder who emigrated to the U.S. in 1959. He was raised in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and served his apprenticeship with master luthier Milutin Mladenovic and graduated in 1950. He moved to Chicago, when he came to the U.S. and for a time worked in the repair department of a musical instruments dealer and manufacturer. In 1964 he opened his own shop and began building guitars with his name "Bozo" on the peghead. Bozo apprenticed in the old world tradition of his homeland, and builds the finest, highly ornate instruments. Bozo had some health problems and stopped building his handcrafted instruments. He was then "rumored" to have died in the early 1980s, and as the Mark Twain saying goes, the rumors of his death were greatly exaggerated. Bozo is now in his 70s, and lives in Lindenhurst, Illinois with his wife, Mirjana. He has resumed building custom order guitars again, both ornate and plain, all with that unique "Bozo" sound.

 

I played the club circuit in Chicago during the '70s and had the honor of playing a few of his guitars and they are truly amazing. I'm very happy to hear he is once again making these fine instruments with the very unique headstock design...and funny name. IMHO, his 12 strings were the only competition with the Guild 12s. Amazing sounding guitars.

 

Now, if only Michael Gurian would resume making his incredible guitars.

 

DC

 

You forgot the part where he moved to San Diego in the 1970s and 1980s. That's when I heard of him and visited his shop on College Avenue to inquire about joining his lutherie school. Which of course I never did and the rest is, as they say, history.

 

 

FMA

Posted

You are a lucky man, Rob, having close access to a lot of cool musicians.....Good on ya!. He could nickname that one "Bonk"...sounds as good as Bozo [scared]

Yes, Rod, it's been a fun way to make a buck these many years. Here's a shot of Leo from last year I think. He's playing my J45,

 

leofast.jpg

Posted

Yes indeed, Bozo guitars are known as high quality instruments.

 

I had only seen his acoustic production prior to this posting.

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