Vintage acoustic day!

[Pastor of Muppets]

I changed career a couple of years ago (journalist to teacher) and I promised myself that when I qualified I'd but myself my first decent acoustic...today was the day.

I spent a couple of hours with a dealer who specialises in vintage and boutique acoustics, just trying out guitars. I really wanted something for fingerstyle and blues playing, but I went in with an open mind, just hoping that something would speak to me.

After a couple of hours and some lovely guitars (70s D28 and 18, Laravies, Laramies, Gibsons etc.) it came down to a 1965 Gibson LGO and a 2001 Martin 000-28.

The Martin sounded fantastic and would only have got better, but in the end the Gibson won as it was just the most playable of all the guitars I tried...just had that X factor. The Martin had a more complex and dynamic sound, but the Gibby felt so right I had to have her...

 

[shawnr]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

You did well--most of the LG's I've worked on have had problems like plastic bridges, adjustable saddles that wreck the tone, or just plain been abused.

Tortoiseshell binding is definately a rarity on these guitars, although I've seen other '60's guitars done that way.

Have fun.

 

[claydots]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

Tortoise shell binding is definately a rarity on these guitars, although I've seen other '60's guitars done that way.Have fun.

Nice guitar... really..... lovely guitar. I love a well worn in instrument that talks to ya.



On the tortoise shell.. I had a pre-Fender Tacoma thin-line acoustic electric that had tortoise front and back and neck! That guitar was killer.

Sold it to a fellow in Florida and he was happy to get it. Tacoma only made 200 of that model. EM-10-CE-4 I think was the designation.

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

You did well--most of the LG's I've worked on have had problems like plastic bridges, adjustable saddles that wreck the tone, or just plain been abused.

Tortoiseshell binding is definately a rarity on these guitars, although I've seen other '60's guitars done that way.

Have fun.

Yeah, I'd seen a lot of messed up ones; this is in ridiculously good condition given its age...I didn't knoe tortoiseshell was rare on these though, I guess I thought it was standard as the guy didn't make a deal of it or try to charge a premium.

 

[DazH]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

never seen tortoise binding before, it's nice.

 

[shawnr]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

Well, imitation tortoiseshell, anyway--probably why it wasn't treated as a premium. I've seen it on Martin D-12-20's and early '70's Gibson J-40's.

I bought an LG-1 at the flea market some years back for $2.00--it had no binding at all. Fixed it up and sold it on, I used to do that all the time, before ebay.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

Well, imitation tortoiseshell, anyway--probably why it wasn't treated as a premium. I've seen it on Martin D-12-20's and early '70's Gibson J-40's.

I bought an LG-1 at the flea market some years back for $2.00--it had no binding at all. Fixed it up and sold it on, I used to do that all the time, before ebay.

did you talk her down from 5 dollars you cheap bastid?:biglaugh:

 

[Guest]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

Very nice. Mahogany top, huh?

Isn't that what Robert Johnson used to play?

How does it sound?

PS: Love the tortoise.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

Vintage Gibby acoustics are awesome. I really dig a 60's SJ.

 

[shawnr]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

Unlike most of the current crop of ebay speculators, I don't try to grind people down on their prices--the guy asked for $2.00, I gave him $2.00.

A few years ago, a lady I did some odd jobs for had me clean out her basement, and ended up with some extra tools that i took to the flea market. I knew the usual wheeler-dealers would try to low-ball me so I took the current Craftsman catalog with me, you can't argue with Sears.

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

Re: Vintage acoustic day!

Very nice. Mahogany top, huh?

Isn't that what Robert Johnson used to play?

How does it sound?

PS: Love the tortoise.

Yep, mahogany all the way...I think it's similar to what Johnson played, but not the same. Sound is not as complex as the Martins I tried, notes don't blossom with the same clarity, but it has that Delta sound to it - I find it very hard to describe; it's rich but also thin, warm and yet still abrasive, if that makes any sense at all...

Bluesy. That's the word I'm looking for.