How many instruments do you own?

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 07:21 PM

Unfinished ottavino (octave spinet) from Woods kit.

Investigating this (not for me, I think - I was never any good at woodwork) I somehow ended up reading about clavichords.

I want a clavichord now. Curses!

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Don Firth
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 11:49 PM

I've been through a fair number of instruments since I first took up the guitar in 1952. My first guitar was a $9.95 Regal, which, fortunately, was tunable, had a fairly soft action, and the intonation was on, even if it did have the kind of tone you'd expect from a guitar made out of old apple crates.

In 1954, I bought myself a Martin 00-18 steel-string guitar (I felt like a junior executive with his first BMW!). But about a year later, I started taking classical guitar lessons, and my new teacher told me that the 00-18, with its steel strings and narrow fingerboard, wouldn't be suitable. So I traded it in (got a very good deal!) on a Martin 00-28-G, Martin's top-of-the-line classic.

I spent some time in Denver, Colorado, in a physical therapy sanitarium there (trying to alleviate some of the ravages of polio when I was two years old), and since my room was open all the time and anybody could walk in and make off with the guitar, I got a Harmony 173. The same dimensions as the Martin and it sounded okay, but it was a fraction of the cost of the Martin. Just in case.

In the late Fifties, I took a whack at the 5-string banjo. I got a cheapy ($35.00) and a copy of Pete Seeger's instruction book and record, and set about learning to play the thing. Eventually, I got a long-necked Vega "Seeger Model." About $300 at the time. Great machine! I got pretty good with the thing, but when it came to performing various places, lugging my guitar (primary instrument) AND the banjo (bloody thing in its case weighed a ton!) was a real chore, so I just didn't use it that much and eventually sold it. But given a couple of days with a banjo, I think I could pick it up again pretty fast.

In 1958, the Seattle Classic Guitar Society was organized, bringing together a few dozen classical guitar enthusiasts, including a number of really fine guitarists. AND guitars! I was introduced to several European made instruments, and although my Martin classic was a respectable instrument, serious classical guitarists regarded it in the same way car buffs who owned Bentleys and Ferraris would regard a Chrysler sedan. Nice. It'll get you there. But—

I soon got myself a Vincente Tatay, made in Barcelona. Not all that expensive, but a very rich sound. That's what Richard Dyer-Bennet played early on, before he got his Manuel Velazquez.

A couple of years later, a friend and member of the guitar society came back from Spain with an absolutely outrageous flamenco guitar—which he had made for him by luthier Arcangel Fernandez. And it cost him a mere $100 American! Bill helped me order one like it, which I got a year and a half later, total cost about $175, which included import duty and air freight from Madrid. Not saying this was a great guitar, but shortly thereafter, I learned that Montoya, Sabicas, and Mario Escudero were all playing Fernandez flamenco guitars. This demanded that I learn some flamenco, which I did from one of the guitarists who was playing at the Spanish Village exhibit at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair (Flamenco dancing show several times a day, and Antonio was one of the three guitarists accompanying them and playing guitar solos).

Well, to cut a long story short(er), I went through a number of other guitars in the following years, often because I didn't want to take guitars like the "Arcangel" to some bash where someone would stumble and pour beer into the soundhole or walk off with it when I went to the john, so I did have a couple of fairly good "beaters."

My current stable of instruments: I still have the Arcangel Fernandez flamenco, which, I discovered, is worth over 100 times what I paid for it if I were to sell it through a broker such as The Guitar Salon, that deals only in fine classical and flamenco guitars!! They sold a 1961 "Arcangel" recently for $18,000! Oy!!

I also have a classical guitar that San Diego luthier José Oribé had made in Japan to sell under his label as a "student guitar." I got it as a sort of "beater," but was surprised at how good it sounded. It was a dead ringer for the José Ramirez concert guitar that Segovia played and Christopher Parkening currently plays, but it was one-tenth of the price. I gained a real respect for the instrument when I was asked to do a program of folk songs for the Seattle Classic Guitar Society membership a few years back. Now some pretty high-priced lumber appears at these meetings, and everybody there assumed that the guitar I was playing was a José Ramirez because it looked and sounded like one—even a couple of people who owned Ramirez guitars! Not too shabby!!

A decade or so ago, my shoulders gave out from a lifetime of walking with aluminum forearm crutches, so I had to take to a wheelchair. I can't play a full-size guitar when I'm sitting in the wheelchair (lower bout of the guitar and the right wheel want to occupy the same space), so I went on-line shopping for a small-bodied travel guitar. After reading lots of web sites and reviews of travel guitars, I settled on a Go-guitar made by Sam Radding of San Diego. He makes them for both steel and nylon strings. And actually, I have one of each. They have a pretty good sound for such a small-bodied instrument, and I've actually used the nylon-string Go for a couple of concerts and several other performances. It looks like a canoe paddle with strings, but the tone and volume, if not impressive, is adequate. A few people have asked me after performances if it were a "period instrument" of some kind.

So—I currently have the Arcangel Fernandez flamenco, the Oribé classic, another classic made by Juan Alvarez when he was an apprentice of Arcangel Fernandez which I lugged around the halls of the Cornish College of the Arts music department when I was going there during the Sixties, and the two Go-guitars.

Speaking of "period instruments," I recently discovered the Baroque guitar. Five "courses"—double strings like a lute except for the highest in pitch which is single, and tuned like the top five strings of a modern guitar—small body, very ornately adorned.

A Baroque guitar being played by a young local woman, who, in addition to teaching guitar and lute at a nearby college and concert touring, last I heard she was also treasurer of the Seattle Classic Guitar Society:   Elizabeth Brown

You're not about to find a Baroque guitar hanging on the wall at your local music store. They're made by the same kind of luthiers who make lutes and such. Quite pricy.

So—not this week. . . .

Don Firth

P. S. My wife Barbara plays keyboards. She has an Estey pump organ and a small reed organ that can be collapsed into a box about the size of a foot locker. She also took a shot at learning the guitar, then the Celtic harp, the "hog-nosed" psaltery (famous in Medieval tapestries), but she feels much more at home with keyboards. It would be nice to have a baby grand piano for her to play (she plays really well; Chopin, Beethoven, Debussy, all those guys), but not enough room in our apartment, even if we got rid of the Estey. I'd like to get her a good touch-sensitive (responds like a regular piano) electronic keyboard, but only with her trying it out first and approving it.   So I can't really surprise her as I'd like to.

She used to play alto clarinet in her high school marching band. She also has a lovely soprano voice. We've done a number of performances together. She sings in the church choir.

Scattered around the apartment we have baskets loaded with penny whistles and recorders of various sizes, and over the years people have given me such things as Jew's harps, kazoos, an African thumb piano, a couple of things I can't put a name to, and one shaky egg.

I think that about covers it.

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 02:10 AM

@Harmonium Hero, I think you win for the most instruments.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 02:18 AM

Top prize should go to anyone who owns a working Mellotron....

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 05:03 AM

Top prize should go to anyone who owns a working Mellotron....

Too true! But can anyone think of a folk album with a mellotron on it??? I can't, but you'd think it would be the perfect thing for muckle ballads. Imagine if Dolly Collins had used one. Mellotrons remain my main keyboard fantasy, although I hear Pip's plea...

I want a clavichord now. Curses!

...with a certain empathy, although they are very quiet.

Back in the real world, Rachel & I were testdriving a MicroKORG in Liverpool yesterday with a view to adding one pretty soon. Not sure if it had a clavichord setting but as replacement for our little-used lap-top harmonium it's going to be ideal.

*

John's mention of rebecs reminds me I've got two, both by Tim Hobrough: a wee one and a curious bass which was recently gifted to me. Naturally, I have an Ideal Fantasy Rebec too - the Goerge treble which you can buy at the EMS for a mere £630. It looks like it's been made in a Year 7 woodwork class but it's the finest sounding rebec I've ever played by a long chalk - if anyone knows the Clemencic Consort's iconic recordings of the Cantigas de Santa Maria*, then think of Michael Dittrich's Rabe Morisco on Cantiga #25 and that's the sound right there! Priced for wealthy posh early muso types for whom paying over the odds for badly made (but authentic) instruments is par for the course, I'd maybe buy it a half that - hell, or tha sort of money I could get a genuine 18th century violin (complete with ghost) and have enough left over to get a couple of half-decent bows. Still, any fiddlers passing the Salts Mill at Saltair anytime soon go have a look. And be sure to check out the bhajis, pakora & samosas at the Spar in Shipley whilst you're passing...   

* Add this to your 70's Folk Albums, Pip!

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 06:11 AM

I just added a Deering Boston banjo to my herd.

Ah! The Scientology Banjo people...

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 09:29 AM

Surely the Incredible String Band must have featured a mellotron at some stage...?

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 09:39 AM

I'd like to have a vintage Theremin. A marimba. Xylophone. Nice accordion. Hammond B3.Pipe organ. Pump organ. Hurdy Gurdy. Monkey.
=(:-( ))

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Bounty Hound
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 09:53 AM

Harmonium Hero, the original quote was (I think) Ralph McTell, and was 'If a man knows how many guitars he's got, he hasn't got enough!'

Sadly, I know how how many I've got, and for the record:

Three steel strung acoustics
One nylon strung acoustic
One thinline tele fitted with an acoustic bridge
One Acoustic bouzouki
One tele style electric bouzouki
Two acoustic mandolins
One tele style electric mandolin
Two banjos, one 5 string one tenor
Two autoharps in various states of disrepair!
One dulcimer


John

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 11:01 AM

Lots of changes from 10 years ago when I last posted to this thread.

Voice.
4 Marc Beneteau flattops,
2 Joshua House flattops,
Joshua House guitar shaped mando-cello-like-object,
Moon mandolin,
Peter Cox mandolin,
Godin fretless 5 string bass,
Ernie Ball-Musicman/OLP fretted 5 string bass,
Samick 4 string bass,
Homemade 4 string bass,
GoldTone Irish Tenor 4 string banjo,
GoldTone 5 string banjo,
Kala soprano ukulele,
Mahalo baritone ukulele,
LaPatrie classical guitar,
Wolff Brothers violin,
Dobro wood body resonator guitar,
Regal steel body resonator guitar,
Fender Aerodyne Telecaster,
Fender Stratocaster,
Gretsch Electromatic,
Godin LG,
Godin Progression,
Godin Richmond Belmont,
Ibanez Artcore,
Autoharp,
Excelsior accordion,
Yamaha digital piano,
2 djembe (one of which my youngest got made for me in Ghana),
Various hand drums,
Various rhythm/percussion instruments,
Rainstick,
Various pennywhistles,
Various amplifiers,
Plus various guitars in varied states of disrepair in my cellar, on consignment in a music store, or student grade loaners not worthy of mention. I may have forgotten something.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 12:43 PM

Counting harmonicas, or just harmonicas that still work?

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 04:06 PM

Surely the Incredible String Band must have featured a mellotron at some stage...?

If only...

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 29 Oct 12 - 01:07 AM

Oh, heck, I guess I'll play too...

Guitars:
Santa Cruz OM-PW
Martin DC-28
Martin 00-15
Martin J12-15
Gibson J-45
Gibson archtop (low-end, circa 1966)
Guild jumbo 12-string
Wechter Pathmaker
Loprinzi dreadnought
Alvarez classical
Fender Stratocaster
Yamaha ES-335 copy
Dean wood-bodied round-neck reso
Gold Tone/Beard squareneck reso

Master Works 16-15 hammered dulcimer
Dusty Strings D-10 (12-11) hammered dulcimer
Self-built hammered dulcimer
Antique hammered dulcimer built into a lidded box

Alvarez 5-string banjo
Dixon 5-string banjo
No name open-back tenor banjo
Gibson mando-banjo

Flatiron flat-top mandolin
21-bar Autoharp
Jerry Read Smith bowed psaltery
Cooperman goatskin bodhran
Remo synthetic skin bodhran
Bagful of assorted percussion stuff

and if amps count
Fender Acoustosonic Junior amp
Marshall very much NON-acoustic amp

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: GUEST,Moothie man
Date: 29 Oct 12 - 05:01 PM

Got to 64 harmonicas and lost count

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 01:42 AM

If we just get the right one. Our lives will be completely changed.
=(:-( ))

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Jenny S
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 02:24 PM

Too many

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: redhorse
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 02:46 PM

If you know how many you've got, you're not doing it properly................

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: selby
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 05:39 PM

Tell me why you are all putting lists of saleable instruments on the internet?

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 06:01 PM

In the hope that someone comes along and pinches the bloody things thus saving us the job of getting shot of the feckers ourselves - which we'd never do anyway. Then we may start afresh, or just concentrate on just the one, like sensible people do.

In my case it would be the baroque oboe. Or the tenor saxophone. Or the trombone. Or the electric bass. Or the guanzi. Or the shakuhachi. Or the lyra viol. Or the Fender Rhodes. Or the Roland Gaia. Or...

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 01:54 PM

I put my list on another forum here. On that forum I can keep editing it as I remember more. But I am not going to try listing the small percussion thingies.

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: foggers
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 03:14 PM

Well I can only speak with certainty about my own collection, as Him Indoors has many items still packed away in boxes since we moved house.

I own 3 guitars; 1 Takemine electro acoustic, 1 baby Tanglewood, one Ozark single cone resonator
4 banjos; Wildwood Troubadour, Gold Tone White Lady, Ozark travel banjo anda Keech banjulele
7 Appalachian dulcimers; one Ledford, one Yocky, one McSpadden ginger, one Hora, 2 made by my OH and a Ken Bloom bowed dulcimer
3 ukes; cheap laminate soprano, koa laminate concert, mahogany tenor
1 entry level fiddle
1 Charlie Hind double ocarina
5 recorders (all sizes from sopranino to bass)
Keyless flute
Thumb piano
Several percussion items (shaky eggs, cabasa, dan moi mouth harps, tibetan finger cymbals)
And me own big gob.....

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 03:17 PM

One guitar, 6 harmonicas, and lots of spoons in my cutlery drawer.

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 03:31 PM

I dont, I am just using them temporarily until i pass onto heaven, then with a bit of luck i might get somethimng better than a Stagi

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 09:20 PM

Too many.

Not enough.

Subject: RE: How many instruments do you own?
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 07:36 AM

+1: this morning I bought a Yamaha fife. The size of a D whistle but side-blown and very cheap. I can't do much with it yet, but where would we be if we only bought instruments we could already play?