Making a Blues Guitar

Subject: Making a Blues Guitar
From: Jeep man
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 09:31 PM

Your folks can help me a lot with my latest project. I want to play more blues with optional slide,etc.

I would like to fashion this from some old used axe.(I cant't buy another new Martin). My thinking is an old Jumbo Gibson, Taylor,
Wasburn, Stella or a good old Kay.

This instrument will be more or less permantely tuned in "D" or "G" and be mainly finger picked. Maybe raise the strings a tad, install a good pickup and let her fly.

I don't expect it to sound new and wonderful. Old blues songs are not sung and picked for that. Some of the best old blues I have ever heard was played on an old box that could have laid out in the rain and mud before it was salvaged.

Need Ideas, Jim

Subject: RE: Making a Blues Guitar
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 09:55 PM

Yard Sales and flea markets whould offer Kays and beater Harmonys with one inch high action on necks like baseball bats.

I'd hate to see you butcher a Gibson. Taylors maybe. They could stand a little more in the soul department.

Subject: RE: Making a Blues Guitar
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 10:29 PM

I've found that smaller bodied guitars are easier to coax a nice bluesy sound from than D's or jumbos. That's not to say you can't play blues on a big box (Rev. Gary Davis played a SJ-250) but 00 and 000 size guitars are more typical.

I'm currently fascinated by my little 00-15 Martin in open D tuning. I know you say "no more new Martins", but the 15 series guitars are so cheap that they don't even qualify. If I was buying something just for blues it would probably be the 000-15S Martin with the slotted headstock and 12-fret-to-the-body neck. Get it set up with slightly higher than standard action - maybe a custom cut nut and higher saddle - and play da blues.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Making a Blues Guitar
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 10:30 PM

Yo, JeepMan,

Go out and buy a brand new HW-640 Hohner. $200!!! Slides nice and has a big sound... I put a pickup in mine and been leaving the '64 Martin at home... Great gig guitar an'.................

.....................only $200......... NEW, dang it..............

Bobert

Subject: RE: Making a Blues Guitar
From: Mark Clark
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 12:20 AM

Buy this one in the next 38 hours and you'll be all set.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Making a Blues Guitar
From: Jeep man
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 09:59 PM

Thanks for the tip Mark. That looks mighty good. I will let you know the outcome. Jim

Subject: RE: Making a Blues Guitar
From: Mark Clark
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 12:58 AM

Caveat emptor of course but then you knew that.

Good luck.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Making a Blues Guitar
From: KateG
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 07:52 AM

Bdd-dubya-ell: I bought a 000-15S last year as my first "real" guitar. And you're right, she's got SOUL. Could'a spent more, but this one just reached out and grabbed me by the guts. Now I have to get good enough to do her justice.