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You could gig and teach with such a precious object, but having it seriously travel? Not on your life!
So, I plead with you to choose a Gibson or Hofner or whatever else...Last edited by Ol' Fret; 04-19-2016 at 12:13 PM.
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04-19-2016 12:09 PM
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'52 or '53 Tele and an old Vibrolux Reverb would do it for me.
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04-19-2016, 12:30 PM #53destinytot Guest
Vintage or luthier for me.
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On the day of my 60th birthday last year, I gave myself a Collings I-35 deluxe, purchased from a forum member, and it's been terrific. I've also got a smaller-bodied Campellone on order to celebrate my retirement in the (hopefully) not too distant future. It's nice to commemorate life's bigger moments with a new guitar -- or two. After that, I think I'm done, guitar-wise.
Originally Posted by rio
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If you've read about this from me before, then I apologise now and you should move on.
For the rest of you....I was in pretty much this position last Summer. I had been made redundant/downsized/laid off by my employer after 15 years. The payoff worked out to about a year's money, net of tax: so I had that long to find a comparable job before things would get tight. Not that easy at 58 years old. However..........after 2 weeks I had an interview, after 3 I had signed up. With the settlement money I paid off bills, cards, mortgages...and had some play around cash for me.
I already had a jazz archtop I love, my Vestax D'Angelico NYL-5. Perfect neck for me, warm sound, slim body (the guitar, that is - definitely not me!). However, not long before that, I had bought a Yamaha semi, with which the bonding wasn't going as well as I had hoped; so my mind was on maybe replacing a guitar I should never have sold, a 355. And then in Denmark Street in London, I saw it. A D'Angelico NY-SS3 semi, same era as my archie. Same neck. Same colour. Similar tone but with that 335-style "chirp". I played it. I loved it.
So it was the right guitar for me at the right time, simple as that. I didn't have to think about it; it was the kind of thing that would almost make a man believe in Fate. I could have scratched an archtop need that I didn't really have, but now I have the matching pair to cover all the sides of my music. And they're great, they do different things and so I have no qualms that I should have made a different purchase.
I hope that that your choice turns out to be as easy as mine was.
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Benedetto Bravo Elite. Yes please.
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Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco
Just out of curiosity, why is this so cheap? Within this context, what does a "very good" condition actually mean ? If there were cracks that were repaired, what they have to disclose it ?
For the record, the only gear I may buy in the next intermediate future is an Axe Fx to create a stereo set up with my Kemper.
If I were to ever win the lottery, I would commission Ken Parker to build the ultimate acoustic arch top, non-cutaway .
That doesn't count as GAS in my book.
Short of that, I have been quite happy for sometime now with the small number of guitars that I have. Basically, I play three electrics: an early 60s L5C, a Solomon Imperial I bought from Roger here, and a Sadowsky Jim Hall.
I know this may sound blasphemous, but I enjoy playing the Jim Hall the most. The neck is amazing .
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An L5-CES, or if the sum were substantial an original D'Angelico.
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If I sold the house, I'd buy :
An Eastman ER4, ... AND, an Heritage H 575 Custom, ... AND, a Gibson Tal Farlow, ... AND, a Gibson L5 CT, ... AND, a Sadowsky LS17, ... AND a Gibson ES 350 T or a Byrdland, .... AND a Gibson L4 CES, .... but no stinking Tele ....
Rant :
I just got today the amount of money needed to get that lovely Heritage H575 I was looking at for some days, but it just sold today, and not to me ! and they are not so common around here.
So if I sold the house, I'd ....
(tiny voice : What'd you do, Daddy ?)
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Originally Posted by Hammertone
No, it's from @1945. In the world of Stromberg, this is one of the good ones. Originally Posted by oldane
Last edited by Hammertone; 04-19-2016 at 04:32 PM.
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Very interesting replies! I have been doing some soul searching and will likely go the L5CES or L5 Wes route. I have always wanted one. And electric sound is more of a priority than acoustic, otherwise I totally understand the Johnny Smith replies. The main thing to balance is L5CES I can find an older instrument, but I have only heard good tone from the Wes models and they are notably different sounding than the CES to me - small but noticeable differences.
The tough part will be where to buy. I can't really travel right now because my daughter is with me every other day. I am in between NYC and Philly, though, so that presents opportunities to visit some good stores with day trips. But then there is stuff like archtop.com and being tempted to order the nice looking 1970 L5 they have in stock...waiting for used instruments to come into stores could take a while and patience is not my virtue.
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Take your time to try as many L5's as possible and buy the best of them! At least that's what i would do. Have owned three so far, kept two of them. If possible take your daughter with you, she will be excited too.
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Jabberwocky,
Your comments encapsulate the reasons why owners of the L-5CES seek them out
and why it is such a desirable instrument. I completely agree that if I had to choose
only one guitar and rid myself of all others , the L-5CES would be it, no question
about it. It is held in such high regard that when testing the qualities of a number of
SS amps yesterday , I deliberately chose not to use it ,as it might colour my judgement
and divert attention from the purpose of the exercise. Because it sounds good through
any amplifier which I have.
I get a greater kick from playing this instrument than any other , I ration myself playing
it or I would play no other.( my rainy day instrument)
When I bought it, I also tried first two Byrdlands,and a Wesmo and would have settled
on the latter, until the dealer gave me the L-5 to try, ( all newly arrived Crimson Custom
Shop models) there was no contest, although the Wesmo was really good also.
I reiterate your suggestion, to ask Danny W's opinion or any seriously inclined owner.
Your post prompted me to use the L-5 tonight, laying idle in its case. and as i've come to
expect ,in perfect tune. Groyniad and I have had conversations previously extolling its
virtues .
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NSJ, Good question. It's really a guitar buyers market. Maybe not enough folks know what it's like have one of the original masterpieces. Its not BS. Mine spends most of the time in the case, getting stared at. But when I play it, I realize it's perfection. Originally Posted by NSJ
It will sell.
JD
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Originally Posted by JazzNote
Fixed!!!
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I would buy a Heritage Super Eagle and a Taylor 612ce Nylon, or if I could find one a Gibson Super 400ces in Natural finish.
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Ha! My daughter is my life, but I might fall into your first suggestion.
E: I have never had a nice nylons string...dangerous seeing the TaylorLast edited by rio; 04-19-2016 at 10:09 PM.
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Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco
No question it would be like crème de la crème in terms of playability; but I would be concerned about a collapsed top or a neck reset. And would have to bring a qualified person to really inspect it in person.
Just to be cautious. Thankfully, I'm not in the market and don't anticipate needing a new guitar. I'm playing Roger's Solomon guitar that he sold to me in order to buy his 1928 L5 as I type this.
But since this is a throw caution to the wind and money is no issue thread, I guess I would modify my original answer and get both a Ken Parker build and a vintage DA guitar .
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I'd get a PRS...I'll sell you one...pm me...CHEERS
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I love 15 inch guitars. I would find somebody to build me one with a carved spruce top and mahogany back and sides. I have a Heritage Sweet 16 right now that seldom gets played. I might even get them to make me a "Sweet 15".
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seriously: i wouldn't dare joking about "trading a daughter" Originally Posted by MaxTwang
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Wow! That D'Angelico at Pickin' Parlour looks beautiful and, for what it is, very reasonable, anybody tried it/know anything about it?
Now, ya don't see those in the UK guitar stores!
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If it hadn't been so difficult getting guitars across the border from US (need of certificates for origin af woods etc.), i could have been tempted by this. Some (for example Barry Galbraith) liked the 17" Strombergs better than the big Master 300/400 because they felt they projected better. Listen to "Always" on Hank Garland's "Jazz Winds" to hear how a 17" Stromberg sounds. Originally Posted by Hammertone
No, it's from @1945. In the world of Stromberg, this is one of the good ones.
Last edited by oldane; 04-20-2016 at 07:10 AM.
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I am glad to hear that knowlegable people still find DAs to be special. I bought mine from a luthier. So it was easy because I trusted him. He was insanely honest. It was a great experience. Originally Posted by NSJ
No question it would be like crème de la crème in terms of playability; but I would be concerned about a collapsed top or a neck reset. And would have to bring a qualified person to really inspect it in person.
Just to be cautious. Thankfully, I'm not in the market and don't anticipate needing a new guitar. I'm playing Roger's Solomon guitar that he sold to me in order to buy his 1928 L5 as I type this.
But since this is a throw caution to the wind and money is no issue thread, I guess I would modify my original answer and get both a Ken Parker build and a vintage DA guitar .
JD
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04-20-2016, 10:04 AM #75destinytot GuestI almost wish I hadn't seen that! Originally Posted by oldane
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Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
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