Topic: The Holy Grail apprehended

[Mr.OMuck]

Today I saw and played my first 1920's Stella Twelve string ever! This is something I've wanted to do for forty odd years or so ( and odd ones they've been too). I popped into Rick Kelly's Carmine Street Guitars today to kill some time between things and he told me that he had a 20's Stella 12 in for repairs and that if I hung out he would put the tuners back on, string it up and let me try her out. I didn't need to be convinced, and in short order I was in Leadbelly-McTell heaven. This guitar, owned by Gene the plumber, was essentially an original body (spruce, mahogany) with a new but made to spec neck by I don't know who. It was piano on yer lap ecstacy. I am now contemplating developing an obsession. By far the loudest guitar I've ever played and thats saying something after my Gretsch Rancher! Rick has some nice things hanging on the walls including a 1910 Gibson L1? His bread an butter is making extra special tele and strat like electrics out of old wood which sound great, look great and are a fraction of the cost of vintage fenders. He also does all manner of repairs at very reasonable prices.http://www.kellyguitars.com/

[Parlor Picker]

Nice.  Looks like it might be a new bridge as well.

[Stuart]

Now that you've had a taste, there will be only one way to satisfy the craving...

For those 12 string players among us, Stew-Mac has recently started offering a set of tuners:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_slotted_peghead_tuners/1/Golden_Age_Restoration_Tuners_for_12-string/Details.html#details

I purchased a set and put them on my Martin--a big improvement over the originals.

[Mr.OMuck]

The very tuners Rick Kelly was installing while I awaited drooling and you're right it is a new bridge, but the whole original condition thing leaves me cold. The same reasoning could be applied to "The Victory of Samothrace" . Hardly original condition.

[Slack]

Did he have a price on it yet?

[Mr.OMuck]

It was just in for repairs. It is owned by Gene the plumber (Tambor) I think.
Or did you mean the Winged Victory? That I could sell you for...........uuugggghhhhh! Splat!@#$%^%$#@ Thud! Crash!

We are sorry Monsieur. Zis O'Muck fellow was trying to dispose uv one uv hour National Traezures! EE 'ad to be stopped!

[waxwing]

The very tuners Rick Kelly was installing while I awaited drooling and you're right it is a new bridge, but the whole original condition thing leaves me cold. The same reasoning could be applied to "The Victory of Samothrace" . Hardly original condition.

Yeah, but fortunately no latter day art restorer has tried to append new fabricated body and wing parts onto the "all original" remains.-G-

But, heck yeah, make 'em play!

All for now.
John C.

[Mr.OMuck]

append new fabricated body and wing parts onto the "all original" remains.

You'd be surprised...and appalled to know what goes on with "restored" artworks. But more to the point is that just as there is only ONE un-restored Rembrandt painting in the world (portrait of Jan Six), All but a few Stradivari violins, I am told have had various amounts of restoration work done to them from repairing a small crack to fabricating an entirely new scroll. A cellist friend of mine who owns a Guarnari used it as a sled going down a flight of stairs when she tripped. Splinters! Successfully and happily restored, sounding great. Yep keep 'em playing!

[uncle bud]

Dang, saw the picture and thought for a moment we were in for some O'Muck-o-Vision.

So did you ever think, holding the grail, "Maybe I'll just make a run for it"?  

[Mr.OMuck]

In my case that would be more of a "Limp for it". But...YES! However Rick keeps some maple necks under his workbench by the front door to lay about the heads of the shoplifters who frequent the West Village, and he's a friend o' mine.

[Rivers]

You need a Fraulini Angelina.

[Mr.OMuck]

I need a whole lot more than that I'm afraid.