#16
|
||||
|
||||
For guitars that are associated with a blues/ragtime sound and look,...
In the $2-3K range, any of John How's ladder braced guitars are an excellent choice. In the $500-600 range, the Washburn 125 anniversary model is a bargain. If you can find one, a Martin OM-15 or the easier to find 000-15s for the mid range of $700-1000K are great choices. That I have most of these guitars shouldn't in any way color my opinion. |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Great blues have been played on many different types of guitars of all ranges of price. Archtop, dreads, grand concerts, resonators, prob even nylon strings.
My experience is that the best blues are defined by the player. Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFymnrJSe8k Buy what you like and then study from the best. YMMV hans
__________________
1971 Papazian (swiss spruce/braz RW) 1987 Lowden L32p (sitka/ind RW) 1992 Froggy Bottom F (19th cent. german spruce/koa) 2000 Froggy Bottom H12c (adir/ind RW) 2016 Froggy Bottom K mod (adir/madrose; my son's) 2010 Voyage-Air VAOM-2C http://www.soundclick.com/hanstunes (recorded on Froggy H12c) |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I picked up the 125th anniversary pictured in my post for a lot less. They are being blown out on Ebay, in some cases with "make an offer listings". Very resonant, super fun little guy! But it has the most prominent V neck I've ever played. Works for me, but if you don't like a V, stay away! |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
I used to wonder what the best blues guitar out there was, then I got my Greven L-00v. That answered it for me
|
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Now, my 00-15 12-fret is something special, and seems to be close to that sound I am hunting. My dad's 1949 000-18 is awfully close too. However, neither fit that "mojo" and I am still wanting something a little more.
__________________
I may have a few Martins and Fenders... and a serious purchasing problem. |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Sounds more and more like you need a parlor/O with mahogany back and sides going by that "hollow" tone you're chasing. But for versatility's sake I'd still vote for a J-45 style which can be very dry and Mahogany-ish, and the shorter scale gives you that "snap" if you pull on the strings, which most people associate with smaller guitars, but a gibson scale pulls it off beautifully on a full size guitar. Or on a flyer perhaps a mahogany top Larrivee L series? Longer scale for good slide work (my preference, not an accepted standard), Mahogany thump. Basically a slightly more sophisticated big brother to your OO-15. Although if you want smaller body, 12 fret, etc it may be worth a visit to the Larrivee forum. They always have Forum-only special edition guitars made. And you know how that goes... People get all excited, and competitive and buy one without thinking too much, and then it turns out they didn't really want a 12 fret L with Italian spruce top, they just got swept up in the "I'm getting one too!" feeling. Lots of them have been made with Hog tops. Makes for some great deals in the for sale section |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Quote:
I would love to know what you eventually discover that matches the sound your blues-wise ears are searching for. |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
Well, you might want to try a Minstrel, made by Dan Roberts, late of Santa Cruz and before that a custom builder for Gibson. The Minstrel is Dan's take on a 1940's Gibson LG-2. Here's Denny Earnest playing one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knguu...eature=related.
And being played with a slide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=posXqxTl0c0 Nice tone and for a custom, not expensive. That said, you can get a real LG-2 (sunburst finish) or LG-3 (natural finish) for about the same price, and these days, often less, or an LG-1 (ladder braced) for way less. The old LG's do have some mojo, something you won't find in a new git. I also think a good J-45 makes a good blues guitar. Can't agree about the Santa Cruz VS version of the same guitar though. I've owned both, and the SC is a much fatter tone. You may like that, but it's a more modern sound than an old J-45 or Southern Jumbo. A nice old Gibson J-50 might be a good choice also if you don't need the sunburst finish, and their cheaper than a vintage J-45. Not mentioned here yet is a Martin 00 or 000-17. I haven't played one yet, but I would think that would be a good choice as well. You can often find a vintage one for very reasonable prices (depending on what your version of "reasonable" is). |
#24
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
(And) If I wanted a National tricone, I'd buy another one,... but the first one didn't suit my taste, so it's doubtful. Third point, I bought my Washburn for a lot less too, I'm being kind to the one for sale in the classifieds. Remember,.... different strokes. |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
As to the 125th anniversary pricing, you didn't mention there was one in the classifieds, but even so, saying they cost a lot more than you or I paid may be being kind to the seller in the classifieds, but ethically, I don't owe anything to that seller. The going rate is the going rate... |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
Find the one with the missing B string pole and you are REALLY authentic. These scream. Stick one in a 100 dollar Harmony H-165 (hog top) and it kills the blues. Real Lightnin' HOpkins tone.
__________________
Pogreba Baritone Weissenheimer 'Weissenborn style" (awesome!) Lazy River mahogany weissenborn style Lazy River short scale weissenborn Mainland Tenor Uke Last edited by mstuartev; 08-08-2010 at 04:24 PM. |
#27
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#28
|
|||
|
|||
Mine is one of the older 6 pole piece models with the fat round screws. Half the head of the B screw is broken off. It also is one of the ones with the coated external wires with a full on jack attached. I can jump it from guitar to guitar. I love that old hunk of metal
|
#29
|
|||
|
|||
It'll come as soon as you apologize for shilling that 125th Anny... See it's all in the perspective...
|
#30
|
|||
|
|||
[QUOTE=blue;2309015]Nothing personal, but it kills me that folks drop $3K on a copy of a guitar that cost six bucks back then. You can find a used brass National tricone for half that, and it cost $125 when that stella cost $6. Now I know that comparison is irrelevant, and that you're buying a "custom" guitar in every sense of the word with the ladder reproductions, but a $3K stella? Really?
[QUOTE] Lordy, gotta admit I was thinking the same thing (although when the Tricones came out they were only around $65.00).
__________________
"You start off playing guitars to get girls & end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails" - Ed Gerhard |