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Originally Posted by GNAPPI
I was going to add a please don't tell me no one dresses up like their idols as you see with motorcycle fanatics ... and then remembered a certain Joe must be making a good buck selling just that...
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12-01-2021 12:34 PM
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I never had a Gibson HR. Wish I had bought one when they were unpopular and cheap. I'm curious what Eastman has experienced with their oval hole models. They sound really good but appear to be waning in the face of traditional archtops. Not to mention Eastman discovering they can make more money with less skill on rock guitars.
I do have 4 oval hole archtops (counting the gypsy jazz model). At the volume levels I play at feedback isn't an issue. A sound hole (plus port) is a way to get a more complex and acoustic archtop sound without putting up the cash for a high end archtop maker.
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Originally Posted by Spook410
Ibanez Howard Roberts Sunburst > Guitars Electric Solid Body | Imperial Vintage Guitars (gbase.com)
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Originally Posted by Spook410
Gibson debuts the Generation Collection, the company's first acoustics to feature its new Player Port secondary soundhole | Guitar World
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
As for me, we have reached peak guitar. There is simply no space for more gear. I should sell some. But then I would have fewer.
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Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff
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Thank you Marty for sending the video of Howard. I loved it!
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Speaking of Howard Roberts - Al Lubesjeski of WQLN radio Erie, Pa (91.3 FM) will play some of HR's music on his excellent "Jazz, Ballads, and Blues" program this Sunday evening. Al's broadcasts are always interesting, and I'm sure this will be no exception. Listen online at WQLN Public Media - Listen Live to 91.3FM .
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Here's an Epi HR coming up for auction in Illinois USA in about a week (It has the wrong tailpiece maybe?)...
1968 Howard Roberts Epiphone Electric Guitar (#0457) on Dec 12, 2021 | Leonard Auction, Inc. in IL
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Originally Posted by Spook410
So you say…
Well I still have about 80% of the walls that don’t have guitars hanging on them, so I still have a ways to go…
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BTW got this at an estate sale yesterday—some cool midcentury furniture, but WAY overpriced. The good stuff was sold before I got there at noon anyway.
As you can tell from the back cover, Howard Roberts and the rest of the Wrecking Crew guys contributed. There are no individual credits on the album, so hope I can make out who was playing what.
My cat seems to find it somewhat interesting, at least. Must be a Jazz Cat.
Found it streaming on Youtube as well…nope can’t tell who’s playing what…
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Originally Posted by Easy2grasp
> Solid top
> 25.5" scale with ebony fingerboard
> Tree-of-life peghead
> Extra binding around the soundhole,top and back
I had a medium-long run through Gibson large-hole 1929-1935 L-4 and L-75 archtops. They are unique and hit the mark they're aiming for, which is more than can be said about many instruments. For that reason I've long been attracted to the Epi Howard Roberts even though I'm not drawn to solid top / laminated back & sides. But HR Customs were always out of my range and now even the Standards are more costly than I like to wager on. It looks like that ship has sailed past my house.
As for "Why was the Gibson HR never successful?," the response is, "How big is the market for a pricey, outside-of-the-box plywood archtop?" The Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel, Al Caiola and Howard Roberts guitars are all well made and people say that they do well at what they do. But chances are very low that you'll simply stumble into one. You have to say, "I really want to pay to show up with that one!"
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Originally Posted by Sam Sherry
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Now put one f-hole on that bad boy and you might have something!
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I picked up an Ibanez Lawsuit copy a few years ago and gave it to my father. It looked a lot like this, although not quite so mint. It sounds great, but has really small frets. Had I kept it, I would have to have needed to have it refretted for my heavy handed approach.
Edit:Just found a picture of mine.
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Originally Posted by iowa
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Originally Posted by gitman
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Originally Posted by Easy2grasp
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A poorly digitized slide of my 1967 Epi HR Standard bought in 1982 if I remember correctly.
It had a spruce top, a comfortable neck (not the "pencil neck" usually found on Gibson/Epiphone guitars of these years) with a medium scale unlike indicated in the 66 catalog. The acoustic sound was very nice similar to any Gibson f hole spruce top of this size, perhaps a bit more perceptible by the player, but rather different from the Gibson HR . You can see strictly acoustic versions in Standard and Custom in the 66 catalog (never seen one other than in pictures) The pickup was a suspended mini humbucking, with, no wonder, a tad more high end than a Gibson HB.
Afterwards I bought a 70 Johnny Smith and a 85 Ibanez GB10 with similar PUs. I sold them but kept my Epi. The only good reason to part with it was 12 years ago when I had the opportunity to exchange it for a 1938 ES150 !
These Epi HR are great!
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I recently got a Gibson HR Custom (dated 1974)
Reasons why I prefer it to the Gibson L5 CES :-
- the neck is slimmer than the chunky L5 neck so I find it easier to play on.
- It has 'fretless wonder' type frets, very low which allows superfast playing.
- The body is a bit smaller like an ES175 so more comfortable to play.
- 22 frets instead of 20 (the Pickup is right up against the fretboard with the poles under the 24f/2octave position so the extra frets are not really an imposition)
- Cutaway at around fret 19.5 instead of 18 allowing easier access to the top end.
- The FEEDBACK IS MUCH LESS. Measured by plugging the L5 and then the HR into the same amp and using a mobile phone db meter app as well as my ears to confirm that I'm playing louder on the HR without any feedback.
So..a somewhat love/hate design but for me it feels better and is more practical.
It has a wonderfully clear and true tone. One floating P/u and the slightly unusual treble & middle roll-off tone controls allow you to easily dial up the ideal sound. I really, really love this guitar.
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
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Guitars Inc. was comprised of Howard Roberts, Al Hendrickson, Tommy Tedesco, Bob Gibbons and Bill Pitman--the L.A. sessions guitar A-team.
Fresh Sounds has reissued two of their recordings on one CD; cool photo of the group, too:
Guitars Inc. Albums - Blue Sounds
John Galich
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Had a sunburst one too, can't locate a photo.
An interesting guitar with a unique sound, but I agree with the neither fish nor fowl comments. I also never felt as comfortable with a 16" full depth guitar as with a 17" one--I would have liked it more with a thinner body. Norlin-era quality and volute. I kept the blonde one for 6 years, doubt I ever gigged with it.
Danny
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Originally Posted by Marty Grass
Universal Audio Ox Amp Top Box
Today, 01:54 PM in For Sale