You could say he has the "Midas" touch!

He’s Doug Gabriel, an entertainer who has been named Branson, Missouri’s Male Vocalist of the Year four times. The Doug Gabriel Show has also been named "Best Morning Show" in Branson for the past two years.

Besides a lot of high energy and excitement, The Doug Gabriel Show features one of the world’s only Mufftars, an electric guitar with a body crafted from an automotive Midas muffler.

"It’s from a 1969 Thunderbird, to be exact," Gabriel explained, "and I also own one built from a 1972 Buick."

The unique instrument was developed in 1978 by Doug’s father, Don Gabriel, who at the time, owned a Midas Muffler franchise in Cedar Springs, Iowa.

"My brother Donny and I both wanted to become professional musicians someday. Dad thought it would make a great gimmick to help us break into the business, so he made us each a Mufftar," Gabriel revealed.

Gabriel started playing conventional guitars when he was 10 years old. His professional debut came with the band "The New Relations" in 1972.

A few things have changed since then, but the strategy was successful. Donny gave up music and chose a career in the motel business, turning his Mufftar over to Doug. Don Gabriel, Doug’s father, gave up the muffler shop and now serves as Doug’s manager. But Doug himself has become a rising star, singing and playing in his own featured show at Branson’s Starlite Theater.

Doug owns the only two Mufftars in the world and even though they’re over 20 years old, they’re still in perfect shape. That’s not surprising considering the fact that all Midas Mufflers carry a lifetime warranty.

"The baffles inside the muffler are still intact and that helps the instrument create a sound that is brassier than a conventional electric guitar," Gabriel explained.

It’s also more difficult to play because the muffler’s inlet tube extends parallel to the guitar neck and can restrict some chords and finger movements.

The Mufftar is a nightly feature in Gabriel’s popular family show, along with his wife Cheryl and sons Joshua and Jordan. The Doug Gabriel Show has been featured in Branson for 14 years and includes a 15-member cast of singers, musicians, comedians and even a ventriloquist.

Although cast members have changed from time to time, the Mufftar has steadfastly remained one of the show’s top attractions. A replica of the Mufftar is included in Branson’s nearby Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum. The unique instrument has also been featured in Hot Rod magazine and People magazine.

Because the popularity of the instrument has grown over the years, Gabriel and his staff are in the process of developing new avenues of national exposure for the Mufftar.

If you’re visiting Branson, you can see The Doug Gabriel Show at the Starlite Theater every Tuesday through Saturday at 9:30 a.m. There’s also an evening show every Friday night at 8 p.m. Tickets are $19 and kids age 16 and under get in free. For more details, call toll free at 800-954-8554.

"The Mufftar’s only drawback," Gabriel revealed, "is that playing it is an exhaustive effort."