Topic: New (New or Old) Guitars

[bighollowtwang]

Whoa - I am in awe of the Lyra. Bet it sounds amazing...it sure looks amazing.

Here's some better pics of the Stella:



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[natterjack]

Thanks Bighollow. Todd had to do a lot of work to get it playable again, but it was well worth it and now it sounds as good as it looks.

I don't know if you have the Oscar Schmidt catalogue reproduction thats knocking round (you can get it at Elderly or stellaguitars.com). It has you guitar in it - model 5025-T. $45 for a dozen!!! I've attached a scan of the page.

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[bighollowtwang]

Thanks for putting that up, I hadn't seen that before!

[Coyote Slim]

Wow!  I wish I could order those guitars at those prices right now!

[Rivers]

I picked up a hot little number on Saturday, a 1955 LG-1 Gibson. Have been looking for a ladder-braced Gibson for a while and this one exeeded my wildest hopes. Traded it straight-swap for a guitar I wasn't playing.

Condition is astounding, VG++, this baby has been under someone's bed for 50 years, no crazing, no dings or bad scratches, all 100% original, no rust on the Klusons. The guy threw in a perfectly fitting Chinese knock-off Geib-style case. Will post pics when I get a moment, you will not believe it.

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[Parlor Picker]

I picked up a hot little number on Saturday, a 1955 LG-1 Gibson.

Look great.  What does it sound like?  I've heard the (ladder-braced) LG-1 can vary and is generally speaking not as good as the (X-braced) LG-2.  They often come up on eBay, but not in that kind of condition.

[waxwing]

Wow, looks great, Riv. I missed the pics yesterday you must have added them later. Welcome to the world of ladder braced guitars.

PP- I guess if you like lots of sweet sounding overtones you would consider the sound of an X braced guitar "better". Playing old country blues makes me want to hear the "sinewy punch" of the wood more and I've played a few ladder braced mahogony LGs that have that in spades.

I think, if it has the sound, you've got a great score there, Riv. Can't wait to hear it.

All for now.
John C.

[slidnslim]

 Oh man I love them Rivers,congrats, I had one of them
 leaned it up for a minute beside the barn door and my father
 ran over it with the tractor!

 those LG-1's have a real good country blues sound don't they?
 
 Kenny,

[Rivers]

It's a great player and sounder, that clinched it for me. In fact it's so underplayed it hasn't really opened up yet, sound and feel is that of a new guitar. I've been playing it a lot quite vigorously and imagine I can detect it opening up already.

Fret wear is confined to the first three (fat!) frets and is minimal, about 6 months' worth of my own playing. It's the real deal, has a patina of age, yellowed binding and tuners, varnish is clearly old but intact, zero physical damage, no refinishing that I can detect. I took the Klusons off and the original dessicated lubricant flaked off the wood.

Re. bracing I like the ladder braced sound. I have sufficient really good X-braced guitars and was well aware of what I was getting into. I pick it up and find myself playing Blind Blake tunes, first time in years. Ladder bracing kicks back at you much faster and has a more, um, intimate character and an altogether different feel. Too tight! You can really lean on the bass runs and they stick out like the dog's proverbials. I am so happy with this guitar!

[waxwing]

I'm cracking up just reading your post. You better bring it out if you visit SF! USAir will definitely let you carry it on.

All for now.
John C.

[rjtwangs]

This is my new one, It's a wonderful Greven L00v, I love it!! It sounds and plays great...

RJ

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[Mr.OMuck]

Here's some better pics of the Stella:

Wow! A Beauty! Is that paint or a decal around the sound hole? Congrats.

[Slack]

This is my new one, It's a wonderful Greven L00v, I love it!! It sounds and plays great...

Thats a real beauty RJ... love the small sunburst.  I'd love to her it as well - do a sound sample!

[eagle rockin daddy]

ok, ok, I'll jump in, my main fingerpickin guitar is a 1959 000-28 that was retopped around 1971 with a german spruce top, herringbone trim and scalloped braces.  I've spent way more on repairs than it cost new, and it finally is perfect.  It needed a new fretboard, so I had -42 style inlays for it.  Greven pickguard.  Gold waverlies with snakewood buttons were a bit of a luxury, but they are great.  I got in in 1973, freshman year in college. It is the only material thing in the world that I would miss.

Mike

[slidnslim]

 Beautiful,that looks like a guitar to you could get attached to!

 Kenny,