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Author Topic: Ladder Braced Jumbos  (Read 5899 times)

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Offline sabocat

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Ladder Braced Jumbos
« on: October 18, 2013, 09:33:39 AM »
While I cannot recall a time I have not had a few ladder braced parlors and concerts around, I have a special place in my heart for their larger kin.  I think if I could I would surround myself with Vega Profundos, Regal Recording King Carson Robinsons, Oscar Schmidt jumbos, and Harmony Sovereigns.   

At present I have two - a 1930s Schmidt-made Galiano Jumbo and a ca. 1960 block letter logo Harmony Sovereign. 

If you are a geezer, the Sovereign, of course, is an old stand by and often the first "good" guitar we owned.  We used to think of them as a poor man's Martin D-18.

The Galiano is a 14 fret, solid peghead guitar. It even has the position marker on the 9th instead of 10th fret.  I was, in fact, not even sure it was a Schmidt-made instrument when I first stumbled across it.  But it was playable, sounded great and at only a couple of hunded bucks I figured I had nothing to lose.  On top of that is just really cool looking.

So I am just curious if anybody else's heart beats a bit faster while their hands start sweating at the sight of a big box ladder braced guitar.

Here is the Galiano.


Offline frankie

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2013, 10:21:14 AM »
why, errm.... yesssss, precioussssss....

wasn't that guitar on neil harpe's site about, maybe 8 or 9 years ago? That's not a guitar easily forgotten... if it wasn't that specific guitar, it was very similar...  30s era, 14 fret, sssssunburssssst.... oh my.

Offline frailer24

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2013, 10:40:05 AM »
My old Sovereign is my absolute favorite guitar I currently have. Playing RGD on it, one really appreciates the percussive aspect to his numbers.
That's all she wrote Mabel!

Offline sabocat

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2013, 01:48:12 PM »
why, errm.... yesssss, precioussssss....

wasn't that guitar on neil harpe's site about, maybe 8 or 9 years ago? That's not a guitar easily forgotten... if it wasn't that specific guitar, it was very similar...  30s era, 14 fret, sssssunburssssst.... oh my.

No not the same guitar.   But I know which one you are talking about as Neil sent out a photo of it when I went to him for help identifying mine.  He also sent a pic of the Sovereign version.

Offline nobocaster

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2013, 04:25:12 PM »
oh yes..  I do love 'em.  Sweet picture there.  I bet it's a joy to play.  I am also in the Sovereign club.  I also have a ladder-braced Silvertone jumbo which is such a cool looking giant of a guitar!  I've been moving it around my shop"s back burner for years now. I got it in bad disrepair, but I hang on to it, patiently awaiting the day I actually have the time to work on a personal project. 

Offline Mr.OMuck

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2013, 08:16:08 PM »
Played a Giant assed Kay at Jalopy today , I think it belongs to Pat Conte. Its the one that Scrapper Blackwell is playing on his white t shirt Prestige record, I mean NOT that specific one but the Kay version of a J-200. Funky as hell, unique, interesting sound.

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Offline sabocat

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2013, 09:22:07 AM »
Those Kay-made jumbos are amazing sounding guitars. I actually like them better than the Harmony Sovereigns.  I am still regretting selling off my '53 Silvertone on which I had reset the neck and dumped the bizarre wrap around bridge and flimsy pickguard.  But I needed the cash to have another guitar on which I had put off repairs way too long fixed up.

Offline Mr.OMuck

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #7 on: October 19, 2013, 09:53:47 AM »
the bizarre wrap around bridge?

Got a picture of that Bridge? I don't get an image of anything familiar from that description.
My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music.
Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)

http://www.youtube.com/user/MuckOVision

Offline onewent

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2013, 10:38:34 AM »
I think sabocat means that the strings wrap around the bridge instead of the trad bridge holes and pins  Tom

Offline harriet

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2013, 11:45:32 AM »
Is this one of them? I don't know, if so, how its attached to the guitar, if the bridge is mounted with the end screws or if its glued. The string threads through the front.

[attachment deleted by admin]
« Last Edit: October 20, 2013, 11:48:25 AM by harriet »

Offline GhostRider

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2013, 02:34:29 PM »
Here's my ladder-braced Oahu Jumbo. All Mahogany, wide, fat V-neck. Probably originally for Hawaiian play, it was made in a square-necked version as well (Unkie Bud has one of those).

15 5/16" lower bout
1 13/16 nut
25.5" scale

Alex

[attachment deleted by admin]
« Last Edit: October 27, 2013, 01:47:06 PM by GhostRider »

Offline Norfolk Slim

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2013, 03:28:18 PM »
Now there's a nice piece of kit. I'm now looking for one like that. I don't have the space or cash but...

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Offline Prof Scratchy

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2013, 02:12:56 AM »
NS...if you're looking for ladder braced jumbo for about 80 quid or less, consider Egmond guitars from Holland...

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Offline Parlor Picker

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2013, 03:33:03 AM »
NS...if you're looking for ladder braced jumbo for about 80 quid or less, consider Egmond guitars from Holland...

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Luthier Rick Sellens aka rick218 is not overly fond of those and calls them "Eggboxes".
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So glad good looks don't take you through this world."
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Offline Prof Scratchy

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2013, 04:53:24 AM »
PP....Rick wouldn't like them. However they're cheaply made all birch ladder braced guitars of equivalent quality to many US made ladder braced guitars you'll find on ebay for a lot more money plus shipping plus customs duty plus 20% VAT. I've got one and it sounds great (for what it is i.e. a very cheap guitar)....you pays yer money...etc.

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Offline Norfolk Slim

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #15 on: October 26, 2013, 10:08:49 AM »
Thanks Scratch. Will keep an eye open. Last time you made me a suggestion like that I ended up with a kaykraft which I still have. That said I have a Michael messer wooden bodied reso coming soon so I really shouldn't be looking for more guitars! 


Offline Prof Scratchy

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Re: Ladder Braced Jumbos
« Reply #16 on: October 26, 2013, 12:24:44 PM »
You can't have too many! 

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