Author Topic: Oahu ladder braced guitars (Read 4458 times)

rjtwangs · « **on:** February 11, 2008, 09:21:06 AM »

Not to hijack this thread, but does anyone have experience with Oahu ladder braced guitars form the mid 30's??

RJ

Slack · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2008, 09:22:51 AM »

Don't be shy, start a new topic.

rjtwangs · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2008, 09:37:50 AM »

Slack please delete one of these threads, no need for two of them!!

RJ

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2008, 09:44:36 AM »

Yes - I've got a couple of Oahus and I love them to bits. The first thing to note about Oahus is that they weren't made by Oahu. Oahu was the music publishing company that ordered up the guitars from different manufacturers and sold them/rented them/gave them away with music lesson subscriptions. I'm sure Neil Harpe has a great deal of info on Oahus in his fine book on Stella guitars. My two Oahus are, first of all, a small bodied all mahogany guitar with checkered binding and a 'semi-slotted' headstock. I think these were probably made by Kay. It has a beautiful sweet voice and is currently strung up as my 'Lottie Kimbrough' guitar with the octave G string. The second Oahu I have is the very ornate, tree of life jumbo model. I've only seen pictures of square necked versions of these, but mine has a round neck. Unfortunately the guitar has had a couple of modifications, one being a bridge doctor, and the other some rather nasty looking 1970 tuners! It does have its original custom fitted case and must have been quite a high end instrument in its day. The neck has a very modern feel to it, quite slim overall, and I had wondered whether it had been at some stafe modified from a square neck? If so, it's an excellent job. Maybe somone who's seen another roundneck version of this model could advise? Anyway - long story short, oahus are great, and the mahogany ones are plentiful and still cheapish on ebay.

waxwing · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2008, 09:51:34 AM »

rjt, if you 'Remove' your post from the other thread it will remove the thread.

All for now.
John C.

rjtwangs · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2008, 10:21:45 AM »

First to Prof Scratchy, here is the guitar I bought last night...it is from 1935, the only modification has been a new bridge. seen in the photos. It is all mahogany, top, s/b, tortoise shell headstock overlay, with a round neck and in near mint condition. Any thoughts Prof ?? I would love input from everyone about this guitar. John C. I don't seem to able or allowed to remove the other post?

RJ

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Slack · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2008, 10:30:43 AM »

Quote from: waxwing on February 11, 2008, 09:51:34 AM

rjt, if you 'Remove' your post from the other thread it will remove the thread.

All for now.
John C.

Not any more, we changed that.

Forgot about the other topic, I'll look at it and combine.

Thanks for the heads up

NotRevGDavis · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2008, 10:32:35 AM »

RJ I'm glad someone here bought that- I was considering adding that to my collection of ladder braced guitars but alas tax time didn't come soon enough.

An L and a Stella in just a few weeks you lucky dawg.

uncle bud · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2008, 11:21:09 AM »

That checkerboard Oahu looks something like Michael Browne's Oahu, which is a very nice guitar IMO. His was actually a conversion from a squareneck I believe. The headstock on his is different than this one, one of those oversized Oahu headstocks. Some Oahus are better than others. Most were cheap, as far as I know, but some were "cheap". The goldleaf ones have a good reputation.

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2008, 01:05:20 PM »

That's a nice looking Oahu. I saw it advertised on IGS and was sorely tempted myself. I'd be interested in your report of how it sounds.

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2008, 02:00:58 PM »

Looks like a beaut RJ! Got my gitar drool faucets goin'!

rjtwangs · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2008, 02:23:08 PM »

Straighten UP O'Muck, get a washcloth and wipe the drool, when I get the guitar I'll bring it up to NYC and let you play it for a few hours...

RJ

banjochris · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2008, 06:28:13 PM »

A friend of mine has one of those gold-leaf patter Oahus. It's one of the loudest acoustic guitars I've ever heard.
Chris

Parlor Picker · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2008, 01:09:38 AM »

RJ, you are getting together a collection of really fine looking guitars. You could start your own "guitar porn" site.

I'd like to hear a sound sample of the Oahu some time.

rjtwangs · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2008, 07:37:23 AM »

Thanks PPicker, I appreciate your appreciation of my guitars!! I'm hoping to slow down a bit as I still have another 3 guitars being built, which will bring me up to 9 acoustics, as well as my 2 electric guitars. Jim Merrill is building me a custom OM-18, which will be his first guitar with hot hide glue construction, it will be a bit fancier than the usual OM-18, ivoroid binding on the body, neck and headstock, custom purfling around the top and a variation of the Martin torch on the headstock. The Merrill should be here in May.Then there are the additional two Greven's, the first to arrive will be a 12 fret 00-18, slotted headstock. with an ebony fingerboard and an ebony pyramid bridge, this one should be here in mid March. Finally John is building me a 00-45, Adirondack over Brazilian that he has had for over 30 years. The 45 will also have a tortoise shell headstock overlay with a variation of his naked 'White Lady', this guitar will be here by the first week of October, my birthday present to myself. Thats all I have in the works...

RJ

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2008, 11:42:49 AM »

If I can figure out how to attach photos, here are pics of the two oahus referred to earlier...

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Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2008, 11:45:33 AM »

PS: Not my feet! These are American feet attached to the American person who previously owned this guitar...and very fine feet too!

rjtwangs · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2008, 12:45:00 PM »

Very very nice Prof!! I have two questions, do your guitars have round necks or square necks? They are both 12 fretters?

RJ

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2008, 01:54:48 PM »

Yes they both have round necks and are twelve fretters.

rjtwangs · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2008, 02:05:25 PM »

Quote

Some Oahus are better than others.

That is true about all brands and makers, no??

RJ

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Author Topic: Oahu ladder braced guitars (Read 4458 times)