Crazy-Cool Vintage German Archtop...

Retroman1969 · #1 07-31-2011, 09:50 AM

Spotted this on eBay. Some may look at it as kitschy, but I love it!

spiral · #2 07-31-2011, 10:15 AM

[edit] strike that. Looks like Neubauer were their own brand. Body shape and inlays are very similar to Hoyer guitars. Looks awesome.

hot ford coupe · #3 07-31-2011, 10:54 AM

Kitschy? No way. If that sounds good, it would be a cool axe to own.

kamlapati · #4 07-31-2011, 11:40 AM

Absolutely beautiful. I want it.

Vihar · #5 07-31-2011, 11:56 AM

I love it. But flats on an acoustic archtop?! lol

spiral · #6 07-31-2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vihar

I love it. But flats on an achoustic archtop?! lol

Why not? Works well. Not bad, just different.

Vihar · #7 07-31-2011, 12:27 PM

Yeah it makes a sound. I know cause I put them once on a flattop too. lol Never again!

spiral · #8 07-31-2011, 12:32 PM

But music on a flattop?! lol.

Vihar · #9 07-31-2011, 12:56 PM

TruthHertz · #10 07-31-2011, 01:21 PM

I LOVE all that Mother Of Toilet Seat on the headstock! I NEED this guitar, and then I need to get a Harlequin clown suit to play it in.
David

mongrel · #11 07-31-2011, 01:31 PM

Just crying out for a repro Charlie Christian pickup.

mr. beaumont · #12 07-31-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongrel

Just crying out for a repro Charlie Christian pickup.

Ain't it though? Man, I'd play the mess outta that guitar.

AlohaJoe · #13 07-31-2011, 02:50 PM

Tastefully overdone, flash without bling... I like it!

voxwerx · #14 07-31-2011, 03:14 PM

I've got this guy listed as one of my favorite eBay sellers- he sells anywhere from 2 to about 8 vintage German archtops a month (sometimes mandolins)- I've enjoyed LOOKING at every one of them.

caravan · #15 07-31-2011, 03:52 PM

click here:
NEUBAUER

bigdaddyguitar · #16 07-31-2011, 04:21 PM

That's one cool looking guitar!!!

Retroman1969 · #17 07-31-2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlohaJoe

Tastefully overdone, flash without bling... I like it!

Ha, beautifully put! Just what I was thinking.

Classic CC on it would be great!
And thanks for the Neubauer link. Those are all cool as hell.

Uli · #18 08-01-2011, 02:09 AM

Hi, Retroman: If you're into this sort of thing you should check out this adress as well

Musikkeller || Deutsche Vintage Gitarren

From my personal experience: These old guitars, nice as they might look, require a lot of strengh if you want to play them. But it's beautiful to see them develope (or re-develope) sound. With mine, (old Höfner from the 1970ies) you can almost exactly tell which frets have been used and which haven't. Which means, you will have to spend quite some time on the instrument to get it going.

Retroman1969 · #19 08-01-2011, 03:32 AM

Thank you for that. There is some cool stuff on there. I especially like:

I understand what you're saying about the playability issues. I wonder what a good fret-leveling and neck adjustment (along with nut filing, etc. ) would do for them?

Uli · #20 08-01-2011, 03:48 AM

It certainly depends on the instrument. I took mine to a luthier for a nut replacement (which helped, to some extent). He told me that, in general, one should be careful with these old guitars and avoid putting too much stress on them, f.e. by using very heavy strings.
Re. neck adjustment. Be careful. Some of the older guitars did not yet have a trussrod.

Honestly, sound and playability of these old instruments are not up to modern standards, no matter how good you try. They are rather collector's items. At least that's what I think.

Retroman1969 · #21 08-01-2011, 04:04 AM

I don't have enough experience to say, but my instructor would certainly agree with you. He's been a working musician in anything from symphony's to big bands and jazz or blues combos for 55 years, and he must have over 30 guitars.
I once asked him what he thought of some vintage guitar or something and he replied "I don't mess with them. It's amazing what technology and modern techniques have done."

Hammertone · #22 08-02-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uli

It certainly depends on the instrument. I took mine to a luthier for a nut replacement (which helped, to some extent). He told me that, in general, one should be careful with these old guitars and avoid putting too much stress on them, f.e. by using very heavy strings.
Re. neck adjustment. Be careful. Some of the older guitars did not yet have a trussrod.
Honestly, sound and playability of these old instruments are not up to modern standards, no matter how good you try. They are rather collector's items. At least that's what I think.

Yes, I agree entirely. If any of you have any guitars labelled Lang, Roger, Todt, Roal, Aschado, Wolfrum, Hoyer Special, etc., just let me know. I will take them off your hands and relieve you of the burden of owning them.

Patrick2 · #23 08-05-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlohaJoe

Tastefully overdone, flash without bling... I like it!

Hey man . . . this has been troubling me for a long time. So, I just have to pose the question to any and all who care to answer;; Am I the only one who sees AlohaJoe's photo in his avatar as an optical illusion??? Sometimes the cut away appears to be another section of wood sitting above the guitar. Then, when I look away from it and back to it quickly a few times, it appears to be the cut away that it is. It's really crazy man . . . . .

spiral · #24 08-05-2011, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick2

Hey man . . . this has been troubling me for a long time. So, I just have to pose the question to any and all who care to answer;; Am I the only one who sees AlohaJoe's photo in his avatar as an optical illusion??? Sometimes the cut away appears to be another section of wood sitting above the guitar. Then, when I look away from it and back to it quickly a few times, it appears to be the cut away that it is. It's really crazy man . . . . .

I don't see that particular one but illusions drive me crazy. My brain is lying to me. This one is the worst:

YouTube Video

ESCC · #25 08-05-2011, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick2

Hey man . . . this has been troubling me for a long time. So, I just have to pose the question to any and all who care to answer;; Am I the only one who sees AlohaJoe's photo in his avatar as an optical illusion??? Sometimes the cut away appears to be another section of wood sitting above the guitar. Then, when I look away from it and back to it quickly a few times, it appears to be the cut away that it is. It's really crazy man . . . . .

Nope.

Send me whatever it is you're drinking - then I'll take another look.