WeenieCampbell.com
The Unwound Third => Gitfiddles, Harps, Washboards & Kazoos => Topic started by: frailer24 on February 18, 2013, 12:46:18 AM
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I have a 1968 Silvertone badged Sovereign that I am working on. My question is, I know Mance Lipscomb used one, but, would it be good for anything besides dead thumb stuff? Larry
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about every musician captured on the george mitchell collection would probably agree that you have a pretty fine guitar there.
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Here are some players that at one time or another supposedly played a Harmony Sovereign (although there are a couple different models. I think that the H1260 was the most popular):
Sam Chatmon
Howling Wolf
Mississippi John Hurt
Melvin ?Lil? Son? Jackson
Robert Curtis Smith
Robert Pete Williams
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It ain't called "Sovereign" for nuttin' bro! ;)
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I used to play one all the time until the top bellied up too much -- the intonation is really off. One of these days I'll see about getting the thing re-braced but it'd probably cost more than it's worth. A great all around blues guitar, IMO. I had one pretty much just like Mance's, forget the model number. I think it's a 1203, late '50s.
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I used to play one all the time until the top bellied up too much -- the intonation is really off. One of these days I'll see about getting the thing re-braced but it'd probably cost more than it's worth.
or.....
possibly a perfect specimen for sam collins songs with a slide?
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Thanks a million, just reset the neck, waiting for the glue to dry. Can't wait!
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I used to play one all the time until the top bellied up too much -- the intonation is really off. One of these days I'll see about getting the thing re-braced but it'd probably cost more than it's worth.
or.....
possibly a perfect specimen for sam collins songs with a slide?
Good idea! I had a nut extender on it for a while and played it lap style but that sounds more fun.
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Here are some players that at one time or another supposedly played a Harmony Sovereign (although there are a couple different models. I think that the H1260 was the most popular):
Sam Chatmon
Howling Wolf
Mississippi John Hurt
Melvin ?Lil? Son? Jackson
Robert Curtis Smith
Robert Pete Williams
And Big Joe Williams. Of course, his was tricked out with a pick-up and (frequently) duct tape. Most photos of Big Joe from the 60's show him with his Sovereign.
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And Big Joe Williams. Of course, his was tricked out with a pick-up and (frequently) duct tape. Most photos of Big Joe from the 60's show him with his Sovereign.
You forgot the extra 3 strings. :-P
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I had one in the 1060's bought it new. I have a recording somewhere where I am playing blues on it form about 1969. Great blues axe.
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It is done! Strung up, in tune, and playing "Silver City." Best $20 I ever spent!
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Biggest mistake of my life was swapping an early model Harmony Sovereign for something more "modern" although I can't remember what ! I now play a thirty-something year old Japanese made F95 Fender acoustic-a fine guitar.
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It is done! Strung up, in tune, and playing "Silver City." Best $20 I ever spent!
We need a video of that!!! come on!
I'm in the midst of resetting the neck on a 1203 myself....so far so good!
(https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk285%2Fcsabick%2FAF19FA9F-5BFD-474C-BB7E-B70FA0FEDEF9-1226-0000015DD8ECB78B_zps594efef6.jpg&hash=7ff5274ccd41bae27dbde63f753c149d8d675e79)
Cheers,
Blue
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Nice to see a post from Blue in VT after all these years! You've been conspicuous by your absence here and on the Larriv?e Guitar Forum. Welcome back.
Let us know how the work on your guitar goes.
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:D Howdy Parlor....great to see you are still hanging around here...
I had a serious lull in my guitar playing after the birth of our second child...but two years later I'm getting back into it and playing out a little. Also the work on this guitar has gotten my juices flowing as well.
Anyway...great to see WeenieCampbell still perking along.
Cheers,
Blue
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Blue, I apologize, but I have no way of filming or even taking a photograph now. Your 1203 looks as if it won't be nearly as troubling as mine. A word of advice: In regards to the dovetail, yes it is up much higher than your run-of-the-mill guitar, and a bit narrower in my case. Hopefully I can get some film up when I see an old friend next month.
-Larry
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When I reset my 1203 last year, that dovetail space was right under the 15th fret, no hassle at all. The one thing I didn't expect was for steam to come blasting out of the truss rod cover at the other end of the neck - have a cloth ready for that greasy mess!!! Or better yet, plug the hole...
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Well, I used a heat gun on the dovetail (after removing binding and wrapping with wet cloths), have been using it for everything from Son House to Hobart Smith. Simply put, this box rocks!
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My Sovereign needs a neck reset. How tricky is it to do? Any tips and hints would be great. I'll be attempting the job with a friend who has a fair bit of experience in guitar repair.
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My Sovereign needs a neck reset. How tricky is it to do? Any tips and hints would be great. I'll be attempting the job with a friend who has a fair bit of experience in guitar repair.
You might want to check this link:
http://harmony.demont.net/kamikazie.php (http://harmony.demont.net/kamikazie.php)
Cheers
Pan
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Or you could ask Mr Murray, Lee!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
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Or get on the bus to deepest Sussex and hand it over to Rick Sellens who will do a fine job. In fact, curiously when he has had his hands on any acoustic guitar, it always seems to come back sounding better. Just ask Blueshome...
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Thanks for the info and tips folks!
Mr. Murray and I are going to do this together - I figured it was about time I started to understand how to do my own repairs. I've a done a few small things but this would be a great introduction and I'd get my Harmony Sovereign back into gigging condition
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Good luck, Lee - I'm confident Jim will see you right.
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Often thought about repairing my guitars together with Mr Murray. He would do the work and I would watch.
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One thing you really want to make sure of - there are several - have some good denatured alcohol ready to wipe on any areas that get blushed - you don't have lots of time to to this, and it removes the blush and restores the clarity to the finish.
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Well, it has been a while since I spoke of my old Sov, but here goes. I found it's a '66 jumbo model, my first neck set was not that great. I later had a luthier friend re-do that. Currently strung with Martin 80/20 extra lights, and looking to upgrade the thru-saddle and (ugh!) pinless bridge. Still my favorite all-around box!