Remember John Prine And His Guitars

John Prine

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist passed away on April 7th. His death was resultant of contracting COVID-19. He was one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, known for humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events, as well as serious songs with social commentary and songs that recollect melancholy tales from his life.

Prine was born and raised in Maywood, Illinois. He learned to play the guitar at the age of 14.

Chicago Old Town
School of Folk Music

As a teen he attended classes at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. This wonderful place brought students in touch with such great performers as Pete Seeger, Doc Watson, Odetta, Josh White, and Big Bill Broonzy.

Notable musicians that attended the school include Roger McGuinn, Frend Holstein, Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc, and Bob Gibson.


In 1966 Prine was drafted and served in the US Army in West Germany. He got a job in the service, in his words, “pretending to repair trucks”.

A young John Prine

After being discharged his brother got him a job working as a mailman. He did this for five years. The time spent on his route gave him the ability to think and formulate songs.


About this same time Prine began to sing at open mic nights at a Chicago folk club called The Fifth Peg . Initially he was an audience spectator, but seriously took on a taunt when someone said, “You think you can do better?” He then began to perform.

John Prine singing at The Fifth Peg

Chicago Sun Times movie critic, Roger Ebert, was in the audience one night and wrote an article saying, “He appears on stage with such modesty he almost seems to be backing into the spotlight. 

He sings rather quietly, and his guitar work is good, but he doesn't show off. He starts slow. But after a song or two, even the drunks in the room begin to listen to his lyrics. And then he has you.”

Prine with Bill Quatement,
Bonnie Koloc, and Steve Goodman

By 1971 Prine was playing regularly at the Earl of Old Town. Steve Goodman who was performing with Kris Kristofferson at another Chicago club. Goodman persuaded Kristofferson to go see Prine after their set was finished.

Kristofferson later recalled, "By the end of the first line we knew we were hearing something else. It must’ve been like stumbling onto Dylan when he first busted onto the Village scene." This lead to Prine recording his first LP in 1971.

Paradise, Kentucky

Prine wrote so many great songs, Paradise was gleaned from his childhood trips with his father to his father’s childhood town in Muhlenberg County Kentucky where his father and his relatives worked in the coal mines. All that remains of the town is crumbling debris.

Angel From Montgomery

He followed up with Angel From Montgomery, Hello In There, Linda’s Gone to Mars, Lake Marie, In Spite Of Ourselves, Dear Abby, Christmas In Prison, Illegal Smile, Far From Me, and so many others. He was a student of history, and people, and studied both before penning his lyrics.

John Prine in 2014 Concert

During his concerts, John Prine would use one to three different different guitars. He favoured Martin D-28's.

Prine with his 1968 Martin D-28

Indeed his most used guitar was his 1968 Martin D-28. Prine had the back of its neck shaved into a V-shape in the style of Martin Guitars of the 1930's. He stated this guitar never missed a concert in all his years of shows.

Prine with his Martin D-28

However on February 10th  of 2007 this guitar fell over backstage during the encore of Paradise when he was playing at the State Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan. John's guitar tech was devastated.

John just shrugged and said "Sh*t Happens, we'll get it fixed." It was taken to a local luthier for repair. John continued his subsequent concerts with his friend, Steve Goodman's D-28.

Martin LTD
John Prine D-28

In 2017 Martin Guitars actually produced a D-28 John Prine signature guitar. This beautiful model is limited to only 70 instruments. John Prine played a 1960’s D-28 his whole life, and he wanted his signature model to replicate his coveted Martin guitar.

This guitar is crafted with an Engelmann spruce top and gorgeous Madagascar rosewood back and sides. The Madagascar rosewood head plate is inlaid with pearl angel wings, a nod to Prine’s masterpiece and most commonly covered song “Angel from Montgomery”. The top bears an antique toner finish for a warm, aged appearance.

This model also features antique white binding, bone nut and saddle, an ebony bridge, and an ebony fingerboard inlaid with abalone pearl snowflakes.

John with his
Gibson J-200 (metal tuners)

In addition to his 1968 Martin D-28, which he uses mainly for finger picking,  Prine takes two Gibson J-200s for rhythm playing, one tuned down a whole step. One of the J-200 has silver metal tuning machines, while the other has plastic ivoroid tuning buttons.

His 1993 Guild JF-100, with Indian rosewood back and sides and Sitka spruce top, is kept at home for writing. In 2003 Prine was presented with a new custom J-200 Elite by the director of The Americana Music Association festival, which was sponsored by Gibson Guitars.

Late 1950's Silvertone
Model 653 

Prine received his first guitar in 1960 as a Christmas gift from his parents. It was a Kentucky Blue Silvertone acoustic model 653 with F-holes and a cream body and heart shaped top. He said for the first year he didn't know how to play it, but would stand in front of the mirror with a string around my neck with that guitar and I'd try to look like Elvis. Then his brother Dave taught him a couple of chords.

Prine says when he came back from the Army and his little brother had painted it purple during his "Hendrix phase."

John's Silvertone Guitar

Luthier Michael "Moses" Scribner refinished his Silvertone with a new blue metallic finish. Prine spent $400 restoring a $35 guitar. Anyone who loves guitars can understand.

Before being drafted Prine bought a Gibson Hummingbird with his 'mailman money' then took it to Germany, where the neck got cracked in the process.

In Germany he purchased a Framus acoustic guitar with a little amp for about $60. He had the Hummingbird repaired and sold the Framus.

Prine with Guild F-40
with Steve Goodman

During his career Prine used a couple of Guild guitars. His Guild D-35NT once belonged to his guitar tech, Gary Fish. He put a Dean Markley Pro-Mag pickup on this guitar. His other Guild was a D-40.

Prine with his Ovation
acoustic electric

In the 1960's Prine also played an Ovation acoustic electric. But then most performers used Ovation guitars during that era.

Prine's Ferrington Guitar
with 'Oh Boy' on the neck

Danny Ferrington built a guitar for John Prine. Ferrington offered to put Prine's name on the fretboard, but Prine declined and asked him to put "Oh Boy" on the neck.Oh Boy was the name of Prine's record company. He put two pickguards on the guitar because Prine plays very hard. Ferrington guitars are designed to be very light and rather fragile.

John broke that guitar more than a few times. The last time he fixed it, Ferrington gave the guitar a shiny black finish.

Prine also played a couple of electric guitars

One was a stock 1976 Stratocaster, with a black finish, a maple neck, and the larger headstock.

Prine's Music Man Silhouette

In 2001 Prine purchased a. Music Man Silhouette. The guitar had a white swamp ash body, with a maple neck and fretboard with 24 frets. It was a very light guitar weighing only 7 pounds.


In 1996 Prine discovered a lump in his neck. It was a cancerous tumor. He had surgery, which left him with his head permanently slumped to one side. But he continued to go on with life, write songs, and perform. Life was good until just a few weeks ago.

Fiona and John Prine

According to Fiona Whelan Prine, John's wife, John was planning a tour to support his most recent album, Tree of Forgiveness. He had never played a concert in Paris and wanted to go there. Against the advice of his manager, since the venue would lose money, a concert was held in a 500 seat theater.

Prine had trouble with his hip and could barely walk, but did the concert seated.

Upon returning home Prine had surgery on his hip. Afterwards he developed a bad cough. At his doctors suggestion both he and his wife were tested for COVID-19. Fiona's test was positive and she moved out of their home to quarantine herself. Then John developed the disease and was immediately hospitalized.

Prine passed away at Vanderbilt Hospital this past Tuesday. He was heavily sedated, but was with his wife, Fiona at his side. He is survived by his wife, John was the love of my life and adored by our sons Jody, Jack and Tommy, daughter in law Fanny, and by his grandchildren.

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