Guitars..what do you play?

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 03:38 PM

Les Paul Junior 1987 reissue
1977 USA Strat
Home made SG Junior

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Slag
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 04:51 PM

Well, I've finally come clean about my guitars in the Blue Ridge thread and the Harmony thread. The BR-6S is my nicest guitar but if I just feel like strumming around it's the Harmony. For that brand and a classical with nylon strings, it has great tone and I don't have to be as careful.

I may start another thread as my third guitar I have not seen mentioned anywhere here at mon chat le boue poisson (is that right?). I inherited my Dad's guitar that he bought sometime in the 30's, I think from Sers and Roebuck's. It is a Playtime Delux. It is in pretty bad shape. The top has several splits running though it. Strings have cut deep grooves in the bridge and I just re-glued the edging around the sound hole back in place-again. Dad had cut the neck down in width and a little in overall diameter so that part is unfinished. The pickplate has "BOB" carved in it in big fat overlapping letters. I wished I'd have left the rattlesnake rattles in the sound box (from his 'Desert' days at Randsberg and Trona) but those are easily restored. The nut has about a dozen grooves in it so you can take your choice when stringing it or if you need to elevate a string off a fret. The black is gone off the fret board under the most played strings. Man! What a great guitar! The first one I ever heard, the first I ever strummed (while Dad made the chord I hit the strings) and the first I ever played on my own.

So's, if'n any of you know anything about this Chicago made guitar, let me know, OK? I'd appreciated. Needless to say, this is my all time favorite insturment, though I don't play it any more, and the strings are pretty loose as they are just for appearance sake. No, she's not for sale at any price, sorry. I just would like a little more information about her.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 06:02 PM

"Chicago made", eh, Slag? Well, it sounds a lot like a guitar that Chongo once busted over an infamous gorilla Capo's head in a fracas at the Downtowner Bar in Chicago in 1952. There wasn't much left of that one, sad to say, but Chongo has part of the neck and the head of it up on his office wall as a memento of the occasion.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Slag
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 06:56 PM

Sounds like it's in simian, er, I mean similar condition but no, I have all the parts. I thought violins and especially violin cases were the real Chi-town specialty. I also thought they played jazz in the Downtown Bar. Well, Chongo would know.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 08:41 PM

They do play jazz in the Downtowner. Chongo says the guitar was brought in by one of the Baboons he was playing cards with, and he grabbed it because it was handy at the time. I don't know if the Baboon was a guitar player. Maybe he was just planning to pawn it or something.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Big Mick
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 12:34 AM

I loved my Seagull, but a few years back United had their way with it. These days I play an older Canadian made Larrivee D-05. What an instrument that is!! I have yet to have a player pick it up that didn't love it. I still have my mid 60's Guild 12, and also play a Mexican Strat that I had the wizards of East Lansing (known as Elderly to you mortals) work over. I have fun with that thing. But the working axe is the Larrivee. Wonderful instrument.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: GUEST,Fossil
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 06:14 AM

1. My #1 guitar, she's a ColeClark Fat Lady 2AC. Made in Melbourne, Australia, Dirty Bunya (interestingly marked) top, Blackwood sides and back. Awesome sound now, and getting better with age.
2 my vintage '82 Sigma 12 . A loud and proud Martin D28-12, made to the same standards in Japan, using rather better woods and construction standards than C.F. Martin were achieving at the time, a lovely old guitar. Spruce top, rosewood sides and back. Was sitting out on the deck overlooking the sea last night, gin and tonic on the table, Sig in hand, thinking it doesn't get much better than this...
3. Hiding most of the time in the closet, I have a Tanglewood TW900 . Not a major name, a UK company using Chinese manufacturers, this was their top-of-the-range guitar a few years back. I bought it off an auction site when I first came to NZ just to have something to play. Have held onto it as it is just such a lovely thing, very sweet sound. I had it professionally set up a couple of months ago and the luthier couldn't believe how little I'd paid. Abalone inserts everywhere, perfect finish, gold Grovers, lovely woods. Comes out for parties and gIgs where no amplification is needed.

Guitars, you have to love 'em don't you?

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Wesley S
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 08:40 AM

"Guitars, you have to love 'em don't you?"

Oh my yes!


I have the same guitars I've had for the last few years.

A 1967 Martin D-18 I bought with my lunch money in 1969.
A Collings OM-2 with a German spruce top.
A Collings 000 12 fret slothead.

With those three I rarely even look at guitars anymore when I'm in a store. I wouldn't mind getting a National resonator or a Uke. The mandolins are my main instrument tho - and I'm pretty happy with those too.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 10:09 AM

Collings guitars are absolutely great, no doubt about it.

There are a whole bunch of pretty astounding luthiers in Canada now, many of whom were apprentices of Jean Larrivee. Among them are names like...

Marc Beneteau
Linda Manzer
Bourgeois (did I spell that right?)
Grit Laskin
Gord Barry

And then there's Larrivee, of course, which is a larger outfit now and makes a great many guitars.

Several people I know play instruments made by various of the above, and they're all superb. We are living in the golden age of guitars.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Wesley S
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 06:36 PM

Hmmm.... I thought Bourgeois was an American builder. I know that Ricky Scaggs band uses them. And when he was alive Stephen Bruton used one too. Even though he lived in Austin where Collings are built.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 06:48 PM

Well, maybe he is, I'm not sure. I just assumed he was Canadian because I keep seeing his guitars around here in Ontario.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 06:53 PM

It's Dana Bourgeois, and he is an American. He's located in Maine. Here's the website.

Bourgeois Guitars

They look like beautiful instruments.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 08:08 PM

38 year old vintage Framus Nashville Dreadnaught acoustic.

30 year old Fender acoustic.

The Framus is my perfect instrument, and always will be. My son now plays the Fender, which I gave him as a graduation present 10 years ago, but I still borrow it now and again.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: buddhuu
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 03:45 PM

I play a cheap Chinese guitar: a Vintage V300. I'm a sh*te guitar player, so it's more than good enough for me. If you stick it in the hands of a decent player it actually sounds pretty good.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 04:52 PM

bubblyrat.
I have the Fishman Dual pickup system installed in my Fylde Oberon guitar, Fylde Bouzouki, and Stephan Sobell Cittern. Combined with the Raven mixer pre-amp (as reccommended by Martin Simpson) sounds magnificent!!

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Peter Butler
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 05:17 PM

I play a Fylde Custom Oberon - made for me by Roger Bucknall last year (2009) - unbelievable!

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 07:29 PM

It looks like I will be playing an Irish Bouzouki/Cittern shortly. I have just bought one from Nick Apollonio. It should be an interesing change from 6 string guitar.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 07:46 PM

How many strings? And what's the scale length? Have you visited the CBOM forum at the Mandolin Cafe?

CBOM forum - Cittern, bouzouki and octave mandolin

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 08:16 PM

The description of this one is as follows:

Unique design 10 string 'guittern' tuned DADAD, CGCGC or variations; nice balanced sound loud enough for sessions or solo playing, extremely easy action with 2 neck adjustments for all seasonal humidity levels & string action height. Unique , builder designed pivoting heel joint allows for precise string clearance without buzz or hard pressing; simple and user friendly. Bridge saddle is compensated for individual string intonation and bridge is glued for better sound transfer. Soundboard is local Maine red ("Adirondack") spruce; back and sides are figured S. American mahogany with Philippine mahogany neck, ipe fretboard, bridge, and tailpiece bordered in ebony; Claro Walnut head veneer with sailboat inlay of tiger maple. The guitar type bridge provides a stronger , clearer sound than traditional floating unglued mando types, and the tailpiece takes the string tension without either forward or down pressure on the sound board, allowing for lighter ( but equally strong) bracing which is more responsive.
This rather unique cittern can be tuned a number of ways and with the bass string, Irish zouk players will find the depth of sound highly stimulating to their playing. A CD 'Cittern on the Dock of the Bay' is available and goes with the purchase, 2008 recording of 12 tunes and medleys , many original.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 08:19 PM

And here's the sale page:

Bell Cittern

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 07:27 PM

I see Vintage have just brought out a Gordon Giltrap model. Sounds interesting. Apparently its not cheap like the other vintage models.

I wonder how Gordon got involved with vintage

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 07:27 PM

Here's a link to my luthier's blog about my guitar;



The Wobblies guitar

Check out his other instruments while you're there.


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: GUEST,Pacemaker
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 11:32 AM

I see the usual standard comments on Ovation guitars here. I like mine. They make some cheap guitars and they make some great guitars. And everything in between. So do Martin and most other makers. Just don't try to compare a US-made solid top Ovation (very expensive new though) to one of the cheaper laminated ones.
People have decided that a guitar made partly from plastic can't sound good - that's a pretty strong prejudice that is hard to break.

And the bit about how they slide off your lap. I just don't understand that part. Never happens to me.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: banjoman
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 05:41 AM

As well as more banjos than I care to count, I own, and play several guitars:
Ovation Folklore - circa 1982


Lakewood Circa 1995

Washburn 12 string - 2009

Taylor Ce ?? 2010

All are very playable and the Taylor probably has the best overall sound. The Washburn is a really great instrument with a very low action for a 12 string. They all are used for different venues, songs & mood etc.
I also hav a 1960(s) Hawk Jumbo -remember them- which I bought for £12 back then. Its looking a bit battered and needs a new top nut, but it still plays and brings back a lot of memories of where it all began

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: EllenV
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 08:10 PM

Wow, somebody raised this thread from the dead.

Well, guess I'll answer it anyway. :)

I play an awesome vintage Yamaha FG-730S.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 07:13 PM

A cheap Jay Turser like this one. It plays quite well and does me well enough for the times I do pick up a guitar. I have a Fylde Falstaff that used to sound great but it needs repair but although I keep meaning to get it fixed, other things always seem to take priority.

Subject: RE: Guitars..what do you play?
From: Angrybean
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 07:31 PM

I have 4, all lefties.

Tanglewood acoustic Woody
Richwood gyspsy jazz acoustic Brown
Rally Gibson 335 copy Cherry Red
Stagg electro-acoustic Black

Maybe get a banjo next. LOL.