When Maroon 5’s guitarist James Valentine left Lincoln after the band’s Tuesday concert, he took with him more than just memories. As he departed for Minneapolis on the next leg of the tour, Valentine carried a unique guitar crafted from wood that once served as bleachers at Memorial Stadium.
This distinctive instrument was the brainchild of Phil Whitmarsh, owner of Old Market Guitarworks, who crafted the guitar following a suggestion from Tim Clare, Lincoln’s representative on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Clare’s spontaneous idea emerged during a discussion about Whitmarsh’s guitar-building expertise.
From Concept to Creation
“Well, I’m working on a book project with Regent Tim Clare, and he had heard that I build guitars from historic wood, and he was just kind of riffing in the moment and said, ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be cool to give James Valentine a guitar built from the bleacher wood from Memorial Stadium?’,” Whitmarsh explained. He quickly committed to the project with the concert date set for October 28, giving him approximately six weeks to complete the guitar.
While Whitmarsh has previously crafted guitars using wood from various historical sources, including a World War II-era battleship, this project resonated on a personal level. The connection to local musician Benjamin Kushner, a former collaborator who passed away last year, brought additional significance.
A Tribute to a Friend
“In a sense, it’s kind of a full-circle project,” Whitmarsh noted, reflecting on Kushner’s influence within the Lincoln music community and his friendship with Valentine. “His passing from cancer was really hard on Lincoln’s music community, but also musicians around the country that knew him and have played with him, and James knew him well enough that I heard that that had an effect on him as well,” Whitmarsh shared. The guitar, imbued with the spirit of Kushner and the essence of Nebraska, served as a heartfelt reminder of Valentine’s connection to the state.
Valentine, in a lighthearted social media post from downtown Lincoln and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, commented on his local celebrity status. “The one place in the United States where I get to feel like (Maroon 5 lead singer) Adam Levine for a second, you know,” he joked. “I get that kind of attention.”
Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, a street in Lincoln was temporarily named in Valentine’s honor. Despite receiving the guitar backstage and strumming it briefly, Valentine chose not to play it during the concert.
For those interested in Whitmarsh’s craftsmanship and guitar-making journey, further insights will be shared in an upcoming episode of “What If… Nebraska,” a Nebraska Public Media series highlighting innovation and creativity.
