Murchfest II

**Hammertone** · 09-10-2022, 03:20 PM

Yes, there was a Murchfest I, last year.
This year's version was 33% bigger than last year's (FOUR people), and mostly focussed on acoustic archtops, and I'll post a bunch of pix later that might be of some interest to some of you. Here are just a few, for you to get a general idea of what was involved. I was too busy playing guitars to take lots of photos, but I managed to grab some shots. More to come, including examples from Gibson, Slaman, and Campellone. The Gibsellone Award fit right in with the L-5C and Johnny Smith. It was ... brain-hurting fun.

**QAman** · 09-10-2022, 05:34 PM

That's my old 1991 D'Aquisto .....a great guitar.

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**floatingpickup** · 09-10-2022, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by QAman

That's my old 1991 D'Aquisto .....a great guitar.

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Yes, we played your old D’Aquisto. It sure is a wonderful instrument. It was a fun day, playing a bunch of mostly vintage archtops with friends.
Keith

**pcjazz** · 09-10-2022, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

Yes, we played your old D’Aquisto. It sure is a wonderful instrument. It was a fun day, playing a bunch of mostly vintage archtops with friends.
Keith

Sorry I missed that! - Paul

**wintermoon** · 09-10-2022, 09:23 PM

Cool beans, that Stromberg looks different than the 400 you guys had back when. Is it a 400, Deluxe, G-3?
Does Glenn still have the '39 blonde L-5?

**floatingpickup** · 09-10-2022, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Cool beans, that Stromberg looks different than the 400 you guys had back when. Is it a 400, Deluxe, G-3?
Does Glenn still have the '39 blonde L-5?

Wintermoon:
The Stromberg is a Deluxe. The Master 400 was sold a few years back. Yes, Glenn still has the ‘39 blonde L5. We had that one out too and it sounded fabulous. I think Hammertone took some pictures of it, so maybe he will post one when he gets a chance. The day wasn’t really a “fest”. It was just four friends, who love old archtops, getting together to visit and play.
Keith

**Hammertone** · 09-10-2022, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

...Does Glenn still have the '39 blonde L-5?

The Tony Bradan L-5N! It's a superb guitar:
Murchfest II-img_2538-jpg

**Hammertone** · 09-11-2022, 02:48 AM

Action shots, comparing the sound of the three Johnny Smith pickup-equipped guitars:
-Gibsellone Award (w/JS pickup) and an old L-5C (parallel-braced, w/JS pickup);
-Gibsellone Award (w/JS pickup) and a Campellone Special, w/acoustic Heritage Super Eagle looking on. Note the Polytone Mini-Brute V - the coolest of the Mini-Brutes;
-JS and L-5C (w/JS pickup);
-Ben Bishop with the little D'A Excel, w/Slaman Sister #1 and Bigfoot looking on.

**Hammertone** · 09-11-2022, 02:56 AM

Glenn Murch, Ben Bishop and Keith Murch, with refreshing beverages in hand.
Th-th-that's all, folks!

**wintermoon** · 09-11-2022, 03:48 AM

I remember that Excel, Glenn sent me some shots of that and the wall of archtops back in the snail mail days when he got a Grover Imperial from me for that '39 L-5.
iirc that DA is smaller than the typical 17" Excel? Or I may be thinking of another guy that has one just like it.
I think that's how I became acquainted w Murch Music. And he was cool enough to turn me onto another old blonde L-5 from another Canadian shop.

**floatingpickup** · 09-11-2022, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

I remember that Excel, Glenn sent me some shots of that and the wall of archtops back in the snail mail days when he got a Grover Imperial from me for that '39 L-5.
iirc that DA is smaller than the typical 17" Excel? Or I may be thinking of another guy that has one just like it.
I think that's how I became acquainted w Murch Music. And he was cool enough to turn me onto another old blonde L-5 from another Canadian shop.

Wintermoon:
You are correct…the Excel is a little under 17”. It’s a very comfortable guitar that was originally made for someone named “Margot”. IIRC, the Grover Imperial you got for Glenn was for the blonde New Yorker that is hanging on the wall in a few of the pictures. It came with five Imperials and one Kluson Sealfast.
Keith

**RJVB** · 09-11-2022, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

[SIZE=3]This year's version was 33% bigger than last year's (FOUR people), and mostly focussed on acoustic archtops

What, no love for that M4 that invited itself?

**Hammertone** · 09-11-2022, 03:54 PM

The Stromberg got some love, no worries!

**Hammertone** · 09-11-2022, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

Wintermoon:
You are correct…the Excel is a little under 17”. It’s a very comfortable guitar that was originally made for someone named “Margot”. IIRC, the Grover Imperial you got for Glenn was for the blonde New Yorker that is hanging on the wall in a few of the pictures. It came with five Imperials and one Kluson Sealfast.
Keith

And it fits right in!

**Max405** · 09-11-2022, 09:34 PM

That looked like a great time.
Keith I’m jealous. 1st it must be so cool to have a brother who is a great player like you. 2nd, that GJS is Beautiful. It looks a lot like the one I used to own. It looks good on you! You seem to be really happy with it. Does it match up to the best of the best?
Hammer, thanks for sharing. The Gibsallone looks amazing. I hope it is treating you well!
Joe D

**floatingpickup** · 09-12-2022, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by Max405

That looked like a great time.
Keith I’m jealous. 1st it must be so cool to have a brother who is a great player like you. 2nd, that GJS is Beautiful. It looks a lot like the one I used to own. It looks good on you! You seem to be really happy with it. Does it match up to the best of the best?
Hammer, thanks for sharing. The Gibsallone looks amazing. I hope it is treating you well!
Joe D

Thanks Joe. I do love the GjS, but I must say the two D’Angelicos are my favorites of all the guitars we played. There is just something about them that doesn’t seem to be found in any other guitars. Having said that, the Johnny Smith is not far behind and has the one of best feeling necks I have ever experienced.
Keith

**A. Kingstone** · 09-12-2022, 04:12 PM

Glenn is such a great guy. Bought a couple of amps and my Sadowsky from his beautiful store.

**Stringswinger** · 09-12-2022, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

Thanks Joe. I do love the GjS, but I must say the two D’Angelicos are my favorites of all the guitars we played. There is just something about them that doesn’t seem to be found in any other guitars. Having said that, the Johnny Smith is not far behind and has the one of best feeling necks I have ever experienced.
Keith

Where does the D'Aquisto fit in that comparison? I hear you about the D'Angelicos being special guitars. John was the master builder of the archtop guitar for sure. Those of us who have played and owned them know this for a fact.

**floatingpickup** · 09-12-2022, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Where does the D'Aquisto fit in that comparison? I hear you about the D'Angelicos being special guitars. John was the master builder of the archtop guitar for sure. Those of us who have played and owned them know this for a fact.

SS:
We only briefly played the D’Aquisto that day, because our guest guitarist (Ben) is more of a fan of vintage instruments. I’m also a bit of a sucker for all the bling on the D’Angelicos. I have played the D’Aquisto many times and it’s wonderful. It was originally commissioned by QAman and he speaks highly of the guitar. I feel like it’s a more modern sounding guitar than the D’Angelicos, but I probably should A/B them again. My brother and I are hoping to have another special guest later this week who happens to be a big D’Aqusito fan. I’ll pay a little closer attention to the differences when we play them this time.
Keith

**wintermoon** · 09-12-2022, 08:45 PM

" I feel like it’s a more modern sounding guitar than the D’Angelicos"

That's always been my impression of them, typically a little more refined sounding but not necessarily better.

**Glennm** · 09-15-2022, 10:52 AM

Thanks for all the kind comments. We had a great day and hope to do it again.

**QAman** · 09-15-2022, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Glennm

Thanks for all the kind comments. We had a great day and hope to do it again.

Hi Glen - hope you are still enjoying the D’Aquisto. I remember my visits to Jimmy’s shop like they were yesterday - and that was 31 years ago.

I told him one day that guitar would help fund a retirement home in the mountains. Jimmy loved the solitude of the woods / mountains.

As I’m sitting in that mountain home right now on a crisp …sunny ….early fall day, it brought back lots of memories of that guitar and my friendship with Jimmy D’Aquisto.

Stay well….

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**Glennm** · 09-15-2022, 02:16 PM

Hi Steve
Great to hear from you! I’m envious of that retirement home in the mountains!

I’m still loving the guitar, I tried the large bridge bass but put the narrow one back on to avoid getting any discolouration on the top.

If you’re ever up this way maybe you’d like to drop by and play it for a while?
someday I would like to get a digital version of the construction video. I have the VHS but it’s a copy from a another copy and I did digitize it but the quality is not great.

Thanks
Glenn

**QAman** · 09-15-2022, 02:36 PM

Glen,
Thanks for writing back. I had three bridge bases made for that guitar. The first two Jimmy made, and the third from my good friend John Monteleone. It sounded it’s best ( to me) with the narrower Monteleone.

Hopefully we will meet up some day in the not too distant future.

I have the original VHS tape, and a CD made from the VHS from the 90’s, but the quality is not the best. Perhaps I should send the VHS out now for a digitized copy. With all the advancements in technology the quality will likely be better.

Please keep in touch

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