Loar LH-650

[garybaldy]

It's a Stringphonic Lang w/ a CC

That's a lovely guitar.

[RJVB]

They certainly make interesting products (but it's not very clear how you'd buy one or how much they cost).

The varnish of this one looks a bit ... rustic? in the photo, is that just the photo and lighting?

[2bornot2bop]

It's a Stringphonic Lang w/ a CC

I find it fascinating that guitar only has 19 frets also, just like the LH650.

Was that the norm for certain guitars back in the day?

[olejason]

They certainly make interesting products (but it's not very clear how you'd buy one or how much they cost).

The varnish of this one looks a bit ... rustic? in the photo, is that just the photo and lighting?

It's a very thin satin nitro finish. It's not gloss poly like you'd find on modern guitars. I think the idea is that it will wear and have more of a vintage guitar vibe. Some people also think thin finishes allow a guitar to resonate more freely, I'm not sure I totally agree with that but I like how minimal finishes look on guitars and always get them if given the option.

With Stringphonic you just contact Harry directly for inquiries. There are also a few American dealers who carry Stringphonic but I found it easier and cheaper to just buy direct.

[RJVB]

It's a very thin satin nitro finish. It's not gloss poly like you'd find on modern guitars.

The nitro finish on my Loar also has a bit of an aspect as if it's been applied with a brush (which I like), but in your photo you'd almost say it was dabbed, not stroked on

I fully believe that tops on acoustic guitars can be thin enough that adding too much finish will add a significant amount of thickness that's also going to be more or less viscous and thus have a dampening effect (cf. the internal friction in nylon trebles that explains their shorter sustain of esp. the higher frequencies). Whether or not this is a disadvantage on an e-guitar is debatable I suppose.

[2bornot2bop]

The nitro finish on my Loar also has a bit of an aspect as if it's been applied with a brush (which I like), but in your photo you'd almost say it was dabbed, not stroked on

I fully believe that tops on acoustic guitars can be thin enough that adding too much finish will add a significant amount of thickness that's also going to be more or less viscous and thus have a dampening effect (cf. the internal friction in nylon trebles that explains their shorter sustain of esp. the higher frequencies). Whether or not this is a disadvantage on an e-guitar is debatable I suppose.

Sorry, but no. I’ve owned some 125 guitars finished in Nitro, which is my personal preference. But I notice no difference in the LH650’s Nitro than any other arch top I’ve owned. I’m scratching my head over what happened to your guitar that it feels like the Nitro was applied with a brush?

[2bornot2bop]

It's a very thin satin nitro finish. It's not gloss poly like you'd find on modern guitars. I think the idea is that it will wear and have more of a vintage guitar vibe. Some people also think thin finishes allow a guitar to resonate more freely, I'm not sure I totally agree with that but I like how minimal finishes look on guitars and always get them if given the option.

With Stringphonic you just contact Harry directly for inquiries. There are also a few American dealers who carry Stringphonic but I found it easier and cheaper to just buy direct.

Here’s a guitar I once owned. I bought it used. I knew there was a very small chip on the side, that I knew about when I purchased it sight unseen.

But the Nitro had a completely different feel, and was laid on so heavily that it deadened the guitar’s acoustic properties completely! When it arrived I observed the chipped area that had gone down to bare wood. But there was no lacquer crazing anywhere. It must have been several millimeters thick. So unfortunately I sold it.

[olejason]

The nitro finish on my Loar also has a bit of an aspect as if it's been applied with a brush (which I like), but in your photo you'd almost say it was dabbed, not stroked on

Nitro is always sprayed on to my knowledge. When nitro is thinly applied without heavy plasticizers you'll be able to see/feel some texture to it so that might be what your'e seeing. IIRC the Loar guitars are nitro over poly and then buffed on top of that, which is a much different type of finish. It's thicker but should, theoretically, be more resiliant to dings and wear as compared to just a nitro finish. I am not sure what could account for your guitar looking like it has brushed finish but if you dig it that's all that matters.

[2bornot2bop]

Nitro is always sprayed on to my knowledge. When nitro is thinly applied without heavy plasticizers you'll be able to see/feel some texture to it so that might be what your'e seeing. IIRC the Loar guitars are nitro over poly and then buffed on top of that, which is a much different type of finish. It's thicker but should, theoretically, be more resiliant to dings and wear as compared to just a nitro finish. I am not sure what could account for your guitar looking like it has brushed finish but if you dig it that's all that matters.

Nitro over Poly? Really? How common is that? I’ve never ever heard of that!

[jim232777]

Nitro is always sprayed on to my knowledge. When nitro is thinly applied without heavy plasticizers you'll be able to see/feel some texture to it so that might be what your'e seeing. ... but if you dig it that's all that matters.

Sounds like a reasonable explanation to me. I have 2 guitars with nitro over spruce (1 flattop, 1 archtop); you can both see the spruce grain in surface reflections and feel it with a light touch. The lines are long and straight like brush strokes would appear.

Nitro over Poly? Really? How common is that? I’ve never ever heard of that!

Fender seems to do this on the guitars they want to advertise as having nitro. I agree that it defeats the purpose of going retro with nitro. I will say that my Road Worn Vintera Tele has a nice feel on the nitro body, and in the "worn" areas it looks like the poly is a very thin base coat. It surely won't wear like plain nitro, of course, but fortunately, I'm not going for the maximum wear effect in the purchase or my using it. (I fell in love with the neck so bought it for that.)

[2bornot2bop]

Sounds like a reasonable explanation to me. I have 2 guitars with nitro over spruce (1 flattop, 1 archtop); you can both see the spruce grain in surface reflections and feel it with a light touch. The lines are long and straight like brush strokes would appear.



Fender seems to do this on the guitars they want to advertise as having nitro. I agree that it defeats the purpose of going retro with nitro. I will say that my Road Worn Vintera Tele has a nice feel on the nitro body, and in the "worn" areas it looks like the poly is a very thin base coat. It surely won't wear like plain nitro, of course, but fortunately, I'm not going for the maximum wear effect in the purchase or my using it. (I fell in love with the neck so bought it for that.)

That’s funny. That Guild Benedetto guitar I listed was built by none other than Fender!

[2bornot2bop]

So no one answered my question.

Were certain guitars, in a former era, built with 19 frets? When did the 20 fret guitars begin, and why?

[John A.]

So no one answered my question.

Were certain guitars, in a former era, built with 19 frets? When did the 20 fret guitars begin, and why?

Many non-cut-away Gibson archtops had 19 frets, as did early ES 175's. I think (though not sure) L5's and L7's went to 20 when they grew to 17" bodies, and I think 175's went to 20 frets ca. 1955.

[2bornot2bop]

Many non-cut-away Gibson archtops had 19 frets, as did early ES 175's. I think (though not sure) L5's and L7's went to 20 when they grew to 17" bodies, and I think 175's went to 20 frets ca. 1955.

Thanks for clarifying that!

So the LoarLH650 is period correct. Fascinating since the company could have simply built a 20 fret guitar since it’s from this era, but no they instead chose to be era correct.

[dixiehwy25]

An update to this thread. I was lucky to find a brand new Loar LH650. How this guitar was never sold from over 12 years ago when the company stopped making them is beyond my understanding.

But I’m grateful to have it. I finally decided to attempt to do a setup on it. I’ve adjusted the action on the guitar to my liking, and now the action is low, even with 0.14 Bebop Rounds. The neck doesn’t possess the dreaded issue of so many of these guitars. It’s absolutely perfect.

For a $1k investment, I’m as happy as a kid in a candy store.

I can tell you I'm pretty happy with my "lowline" LH-300 I got a couple of months ago. It is pretty much new . It's been great to learn on and the thick neck doesn't bother me.
Now you have me wondering how this LH-650 would do against the Korean LH-550 (as I have come across a 550).

[Doug B]

That's a Guild, isn't it? So just to confirm-you're saying that Guild used nitro finishes, right?

Here’s a guitar I once owned. I bought it used. I knew there was a very small chip on the side, that I knew about when I purchased it sight unseen.

But the Nitro had a completely different feel, and was laid on so heavily that it deadened the guitar’s acoustic properties completely! When it arrived I observed the chipped area that had gone down to bare wood. But there was no lacquer crazing anywhere. It must have been several millimeters thick. So unfortunately I sold it.

[2bornot2bop]

That's a Guild, isn't it? So just to confirm-you're saying that Guild used nitro finishes, right?

That specific guitar is because I tossed all of my old photos. But mine was a Guild Benedetto built by Fender in Corona, California. The Fender finish was way too heavy and because of plasticizers used in the nitro didn’t even feel like nitro.

[2bornot2bop]

I can tell you I'm pretty happy with my "lowline" LH-300 I got a couple of months ago. It is pretty much new . It's been great to learn on and the thick neck doesn't bother me.
Now you have me wondering how this LH-650 would do against the Korean LH-550 (as I have come across a 550).

These LH-650’s have become extremely rare since they’ve not been made in a decade. It’s my belief most owners are keeping them. They’re a tough find on the used market. There’s currently one I’ve recently seen on eBay. That’s the first one I’ve seen for sale in several years.