Acoustic guitar made by Roger Buckmaster
Object No. 2005/21/1
Australia has had a relatively recent history of guitar makers primarily from the 1960s to the present. The museum collection includes several makers of acoustic guitar such as Graham Caldersmith and Jim Williams as well as two electric guitars, one made by Maton of Melbourne and previously owned and used by Harry Vanda of the Easybeats and a Kord-King pedal steel guitar. This guitar is significant for the collection as it was made by Roger Buckmaster in the mid 1970s when there were relatively few professional makers producing numbers of instruments or were at least in their early stages of guitar development. Buckmaster originally worked at the Maton factory in Melbourne in the 1960s and went on to study violin making in England. Although known as a violin repairer and maker in Melbourne he has also made guitars for many years and is currently producing several models of banjos sold both in Australia and overseas.
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Summary
Object Statement
Acoustic guitar with case and accessories, wood / metal / leather / fabric, made by Roger Buckmaster, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1976
Physical Description
Acoustic guitar with case and accessories, wood / metal / leather / fabric, made by Roger Buckmaster, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1976 Acoustic guitar with six steel strings. Cross-braced Sitka spruce soundboard with Indian rosewood back and sides. Sides feature carved inlaid decoration of gum leaves and flowering gum blossom. Back in same style features carved inlaid lyre bird with the date "1976" carved at top. Inlay done in maple. Neck made of Honduran mahogany and features very ornate mother of pearl inlay along length of ebony fretboard which reads "RO Buckmaster". Heel of neck has carved decorative pattern. Fixed steel bar in neck which straightens when strings are tensioned, similar to Martin design. Bridge of makers own design with rosewood veneer. Neck has strap button on left side of heel suggesting originally set up for a left handed player. Hard black guitar case with moulded lid and reddish brown crushed velvet inside. Compartment in case contains spare bridge peg and two string packets.
DIMENSIONS
Width
408 mm
Depth
115 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Made by Roger Buckmaster in 1976. All carving and inlay on back and sides of body done by Roger Buckmaster with a stanley knife. Maker estimates this is about his twentieth instrument. Geometric image on headstock designed by friend of maker who subsequently died. Maker has used this image ever since in memory of his friend and collaborator.
HISTORY
Notes
Said to have been wanted by rock star Rod Stewart during Australian Tour but maker refused to sell.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Roger Buckmaster, 2004
Acquisition Date
10 January 2005
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