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Occasionally you get lucky and one that got away returns.
Ironically, I'd sold her to acquire an L5, and it was a trade of an L5 that brought her back. Funny how that happened.
Napolitano Primavera. She's without a doubt one of the finest all around 17" acoustic archtop's I've owned.
Lucky for me she remained local. It's been a good day for 2b. Yes indeed.
Last edited by 2bornot2bop; 03-21-2015 at 11:54 AM.
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03-20-2015 03:43 PM
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I was hoping it was gonna be the Super Kenny Burrell
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Too beautiful for words!
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No, I've got the Super's covered with this pair. They're keepers too. But I wished they were sunburst instead. Hey, you can't have everything.
Originally Posted by ingeneri
I was hoping it was gonna be the Super Kenny Burrell
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Congrats Greg!
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Thanks Joe. Thanks all! Originally Posted by losaltosjoe
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Great news Greg. Well played.
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Nobody provides vicarious archtop thrills like 2Born!
What was it about the Napolitano Primavera that prompted the re-acquisition? Play-ability, tone, looks (amazing BTW)?
Best wishes, and congratulations! Jeff
PS: I really like the Super Eagle on the right in the photo!
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Oh my...
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Hi, thanks Jeff! Well, the short answer is - All of the above. That and over the course of a few years, and more than a few guitars, I've decided upon the 'best of the best' "for me." Originally Posted by helios
I only parted ways with the Napolitano to acquire a guitar I'd not yet owned, a Super 400, which availed itself at a great buy...but at the time I already had an L5CES and an L5WesMo on the way...so as much as I didn't want to part with the Nap' something had to go. That's how it is when you're retired.
As it turned out the Super 400, I'd bought blind, wasn't at all to my liking. Additionally, I owned several other acoustics later that to my recollection paled in comparison to the Nap. So the memory of the Nap' had its clutches in me. Sometimes you don't realize what you have until it's gone. I've known a woman or two in my life I could apply that phrase to as well.
Try as I did the Nap's new local owner, who owned a Campellone, and an Andersen, among many other guitars, fell in love with the Nap' and refused to part with it...He exclaimed it's one of the finest acoustics he's heard...and being in his late 70's he'd played a few...But then the rose tinted L5CES arrived. This morning the Nap's owner arrived for a test drive of the L5, and the rest as they say is history.
The L5CES was the only remaining guitar on my bucket list to reacquire. The L5 didn't eclipse the tone of the single inset HB SE...so it had to go. But it served its purpose as acquiring it allowed me to reacquire the Nap.
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If the thought of selling that Nappi ever crosses your mind again . . just remember the old saying . . . "only a fool makes the same mistake twice".
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Congrats.Wonderful story and Beautiful guitar.
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Originally Posted by Patrick2
And if feeling foolish, I have dibs.
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2b, I know these are material things but it's much more to nut jobs like us. Nothing comes close to the piece and serenity you achieve when sitting down with a guitar that speaks every word you are trying to say. The right one pulls the magic out of your hands. The right guitar makes all the years of practice all worth while. I am happy for you buddy.
You know this forum is a special place. No one else will really understand how it feels to make such a connection with a hunk of wood. Except for us privileged, accomplished - guitar players.
Tell her I said, "welcome home". And tell her to relax and get comfortable for a while..
All the best to you two bee...
JD
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Happy NGD, a really nice guitar!
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Something in the world seems to have gone very right. Congratulations.
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Stunning guitar. That headstock shape and multi binding is beautiful!
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I loved it the first time around and it is still stunning the second time around. Congrats!
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HNGD : Leave the L5, take the Napolitano! Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
No, I've got the Super's covered with this pair. They're keepers too. But I wished they were sunburst instead. Hey, you can't have everything.
By the way... what is that speaker behind your 400s? A DIY subwoofer?
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Great eyes, although not a DIY sub. It's called a Bailey. It's made by a Pacific Northwest speaker designer Terry Cain, as a seamless match to his Cain & Cain line of horn loaded speakers. The speakers capture the human voice and natural bass as well as any speaker I've heard. They're easily driven with a 8 watt SET amp. Audio is another money pit hobby of mine. Originally Posted by travisty
here's a shot of the C&C speakers the sub goes to.
Last edited by 2bornot2bop; 03-21-2015 at 12:02 PM.
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Aha. I should have reconized the family resemblance to the Abbys.
I have long thought planars/EMS and horns had synergies (but they do require different power sources) though I've never tried to run them together.
Being from out there are you a bottlehead?
I am a horn guy too. And in any case, it looks like you are a man after my own heart (multiple TTs)
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Yes, the headstock and top have 9-ply binding. while the fretboard, pick guard, and f-holes have 5 ply's of binding. Originally Posted by bananafist
For those not familiar the 'primavera' was Arthur Napolitano's top flight acoustic archtop. My luthier swore the top was tap-tuned.
Rather than the typical sticker placed beneath the bass side f-hole Arthur hand signed the top with an additional inscription that reads "god bless us all."
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Bottles? Did someone mention "bottles?" Originally Posted by travisty
Aha. I should have reconized the family resemblance to the Abbys.
I have long thought planars/EMS and horns had synergies (but they do require different power sources) though I've never tried to run them together.
Being from out there are you a bottlehead?
I am a horn guy too. And in any case, it looks like you are a man after my own heart (multiple TTs)
Yes, I'm a dinosaur who believes it just sounds more like music if it has a tube in it.
Yes, I"ve 10 TT's...don't even ask!
Over 40 years I've come full circle. Beginning with SS integrated's, like most of us did in the early 70's, I migrated to Electrostat's for their realism and lush midrange...but as you well know larger 'stats require lots of clean power. I ran 'stat's with SS high watt Class A mono's for years. But I kept coming back to the joy of tubes...which on many 'stat's is a match made in heaven.
I use a hand wound Inspire pre and power amp. created by Dennis Had of former Cary Audio fame in his retirement, for the C&C's and I bi-amp the M/L's with a tube amp on the panel's and a SS amp on the woofers. The mini pair of 'stats is simply to allow me to get my 'stat fix after I lost my former listening room due to home downsizing. This entire setup was chosen to accommodate a small room....which is why there is gear stuffed wall to wall...there's a full sized keyboard out of sight on the far right. In my former room I ran a large pair of ML 'stat hybrids.
Last edited by 2bornot2bop; 03-21-2015 at 02:13 PM.
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Figured you'd know Bottlehead out your way. Nice folks.
Don't know Inspire/Dennis Had. Did know Cary.
Love the CLS. 10+yrs ago I ran MLs with big VTLs. Great match. Issue is never wattage but minimum impedance. Switched to big horns (with isobaric dynamic woofers) and smaller tubes (and some weird old Japanese sand amps) subsequently. Lots of TTs too. Mostly Japanese DDs but some old MS belt drives and a Steve Dobbins TT litter the place too when set up.
sorry for taking this OT!
I love the Primavera (and a lot of your other gitfiddles!). Didn't see the inscription tho...
I'm guessing I am not going to find one of my own easily...
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Greg,
Nice listening room and Great archtops. Congratulations on the new (old) guitar. It's a beauty. The Sunburst L-5 with the Super Chief looks like it's a winner, too. Those D'Armonds really make those guitars sing, IMO.
The two Heritages are gorgeous blondes, too. What's the guitar amp on the left?
GT
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