A friend of mine owns a 1930s Gibson Kalamazoo - round hole flat-top, small body, V-section neck. A real cheapy in its day probably, but it does have that "old" sound to it.

My luther friend Ian owns an early (1910s) Martin guitar and equally early Gibson mandolin. We once played them as a duo at the Royal Oak Folk Club in Lewes - and I have to say that it's almost as though instruments of that age play you! They have a distinct sound and timbre from that period, and this limitation - if it is one as such - almost forces the modern player into choosing a repertoire that suits the instruments. We did Jimmie Rodgers' "Waiting For A Train" and I can tell you that this pair added a whiff of authenticity to the performance.

But - to return to topic - I wonder what Jimmie Rodgers strung his instruments with...