This is old footage but for those aspiring flatpickers out there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEkVkJax2Co

Thanks a ton for that Winfield. Brings back a lot of good memories. I saw Norman,Nancy, and James at Lock Haven,PA back in late 70's or very early 80's ,whatever time frame they were touring together....same clothes....same instruments. I count it as one of the top 3 shows I've ever seen and that video proves why. It truly doesn't get any better than that.

A friend of mine had it on old VHS and it had seen it's better day.I was glad to see someone had posted it on Youtube,always been a favorite of mine.Check out "Nashville Blues"...

Brent,

I have a "Legends of Flatpicking Guitar" dvd that has several tunes from that concert on it, including Nashville Blues. The song that your link points to isnt on the dvd, but many others are, along with Rice, Crary, Doc, etc. I'll bring it up and you can burn it next time around. Thanks for the link, I've never seen that particular tune on video.

Thanks for posting that, Winfield. The Randall Collins/Done Gone medley is what sold me on Blake, my all-time favorite player. It's on a DVD called Norman & Nancy Blake - The Video Collection 1980 - 1995, still available from Vestapol/Rounder as far as I know. Highly recommended to anyone.

One question for anybody who ventures onto this thread: Any idea exactly what model that sunburst, slope shouldered, slothead [Martin] he's playing is?

Thanks to any and all replies.

Norman discusses in an interview a 1933 Sunburst D-28S (for slope shoulder) 12 fret dreadnaught, which he says he used for a short time. That could be the guitar he's playing in that video.

To find the interview, put "Norman Blake Interview" into Google and it should come up as the first listing. Lots of good info on his guitars

Thanks for the info Tom. Something else for me to chase after now.

Anyone try his signature Martin 12 fret Om shape guitar

Isha,I've tried 4 different Blakes and can't see any reason to own one.....

The only thing Norman B about those guitars is his signature. They bear no resemblance to the great guitars he plays!

Doc, I haven't played any of the Blake sig guitars, so I can't really comment on what they sound like. But if correct, I find it very, very sad. I could care less what Clapton puts his name on. But Norman.... At least I hope some Martin profits went to a good charity, which may be why Norman did it.

I'll go. I've played one of the Norman Blakes (recent, in a shop, hog back and sides with italian spruce top). Great guitar. Really has given me something to think about. I've only seen one, though, but it was different enough and open and full and light. Wider nut width would take some getting used to and yet, ironically, I've got an OM28V which I happened to have played that same weekend for the first time in a while, and I had more trouble with that at 1 3/4" than the NB which is 1 13/16", I think. Anyway, great sounding and great feeling instrument. Sort of reminds me of a steel string classical guitar being that it is 12 frets to the body and a wider nut, more akin to the classical. Maybe this one was better than the rest, but I thought it was a cool guitar.