How about a welcome for our newest member Jack. Rattle the cage when you can. Mike
21 Comments |
 | Liz Williams says:
8/26/2011 10:39:57 PM
Hi Jack - Welcome to the best group on the hangout! They've already saved me from several huge mistakes. I like to test them regularly.
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 | Slidennis says:
8/27/2011 10:12:29 AM
I guess I bear some responsibility in influencing Jack's recent Weissenborn purchase. These hollow neck guitars border on addiction. Good to see you here Jack and welcome.
Dennis
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 | Grizz says:
8/27/2011 10:43:19 AM
So, inquiring minds want to know. What did you get Jack? hmmmmm How much did Dennis talk you in to spending. lmao You're absolutely right about the addiction. Good damn thing I don't have any money.
Mike
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x says:
8/28/2011 9:21:56 AM
Howdy, Jack.
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 | jacknj says:
9/27/2011 1:59:40 PM
I ended up getting a Waikoloa guitar. It was on one of the Ebay store listings for about $345 or so with a hardshell case, but it had a "make an offer option". I offered $310 and got it, along with free shipping. The best $310 I've ever spent. Though having a Weissenborn style guitar has been a longtime desire, getting this one now is Dennis' fault. We see each other at the resonator guitar meetings held each month in Hellertown, Pa. (Check out the group, PA/NJ forum if your in the area). I tried his Gold Tone and liked what I heard. When I got home I looked online and came across the Waikoloa. It does not have all the details of the better Gold Tones, but it was still made nicely. Since then I have made the following modifications: I changed the nut and saddle to Corian. The new nut is taller, about 3/8" above the fretboard, which allows for a capo to fit underneath. To add some style to the fretboard, I've inlaid a half diamond up against the nut, and a full diamond between the twelfth fret markers (inlays were thin layers of Corian). This is similar to the original details of the vintage Weissenborns.
I put on a set of EJ42's, but changed the .016 to a .014 for the first string. To finish things off, I installed a vintage DeArmond soundhole pickup. Like Dennis I will get or make a Weissenborn style guitae sometime in the future.
Jack
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| jacknj says:
9/27/2011 2:15:09 PM
Just a clarification of my previous post. The "guitae" is the Latin form of the word for guitar.
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| Grizz says:
9/27/2011 3:54:18 PM
Well Congratulations Jack and a job well done Dennis. lmao I hope you enjoy your Wessie as much as I do mine.
Mike
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| jacknj says:
9/27/2011 4:12:47 PM
Thanks Mike. It's a nice change from the resonator, though I end up playing some of the same things on both instruments. I even switch back and forth between tunings on both guitars ( Open D, Low Bass G, and Dsus (DADGAD).
Jack
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| Grizz says:
9/27/2011 6:05:26 PM
Hey Jack, myself I keep the Reso in G and the Wessie and Ohau's between D and different C tunings. I was working with Steve Dawsons instructional blues DVD with a variant of C. Interesting tuning. You should check it out. He also has a Hawaiian DVD for Wessie I may try sometime.
Mike
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| jacknj says:
9/28/2011 6:40:13 AM
Hi Mike:
I came across that C tuning a few years ago when I emailed Ferrell Stowe about his upcoming cd, "Stobro Blues". I'll have to try it again, maybe on my Oahu ( seems like everyone has or should have one of these to tinker around on). They have great bass response because of the deeper body. I found that Ferrell is now playing an HW acoustic guitar (some samples on YouTube). It looks like a similar size and shape as the Oahu. The sound I'm sure is a little better. These Oahus, the cheaper ones produced in large quantities during the 30's and 40's, are always available on Ebay, though it looks like some sellers think they have gold because they price them at $200 or more. They normally sell for under $100 or thereabouts. I'd like to get the better quality one with the larger body and the nice binding, but they generally sell for many hundreds of dollars (I don't want it that bad).
Jack
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| Grizz says:
9/28/2011 8:40:38 AM
I absolutely love my Oahu's. I picked up a late 1930's model that was "Mint" I swear I think the original strings were on it. I paid $169. You definitely can get them cheaper but most of those have issues. Now, over the Labor Day weekend there was one up for auction like I had never seen before. It was a three day auction ending on Labor Day. Duh. Well I snuck in under the radar and go it dirt cheap. We debated whether or not we liked it at first. (I got it for my wife) and when it got here we were in awe. It is close to mint. I have to take some photos and put them on my homepage. I am also going to post on SGF and here to see if it can be identified as to the year. Keep you eyes open. I am going to do it either today or tomorrow. But your right I have seen several in the $200-$300 bracket and some as high as $400. Now the uniqueness of this one maybe should bring more if auctioned right.
Mike
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| Liz Williams says:
10/2/2011 9:58:26 AM
Hi Jack! Welcome to the group. I have the Gold Tone SM and replaced the saddle with a 3/16 stainless steel rod, a Bob Brozman innovation. He puts them on his Weissenborns, which seems risky as it creates a steep string angle. Makes a world of difference in the sound though. And those Oahu's - I love my student version. It's got such personality. $99.00 on ebay and in great shape.
I just took delivery on one of the larger all-mahogany Oahus with the black and white binding, and I'm in heaven. It looks like it's been through hell, and I had to replace the rusted tuners, but the sound is so smooth and big with a deep bass. I've got it in open D with a set of Dunlop reso strings right now (thank you, Grizz). It's like going from a slightly cramped car with a spunky manual transmission (the student Oahu) to a big luxury car with a buttery automatic, if that makes any sense.
What kind of music are you working on?
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| Liz Williams says:
10/2/2011 10:03:33 AM
Oh Grizz - Is your Labor Day guitar that koa tonk style one I was tracking? I couldn't bid as I was out of town without a computer, but noticed someone got a great deal on a beauty of a guitar. I'd love to know it was you.
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| jacknj says:
10/2/2011 3:36:39 PM
Hey Liz:
Thanks for the welcome. I've been working on some Gerhard, Lindley, and original tunes based out of the DADGAD tuning. I like the Oahu, because I leave it out , ready to play, no picks, just the bar. Great resonance. I think I bought mine for about $75 a few years ago. The heel of the neck where it meets the body needed to be tightened and there were some minor cracks. The nut was changed to bone, and I reinforced the metal pyramid bridge by installing a metal strap inside the body and securing it to the two bridge screws that come through the top and are tightened with two nuts.
The Oahu you mentioned is a real nice instrument, and your descriptive comparison of it to the student model works for me.
Jack
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| Liz Williams says:
10/2/2011 3:48:27 PM
Hi Jack - The Oahu's really do have fantastic resonance. I hope to be that interesting when I'm in my 80s! That's a great idea for reinforcing those metal Oahu bridges. Would you mind sharing specifics about the metal strap you used? I'm picturing one of those silver-colored straps that hang right next to the L-brackets in my local hardware store. Is that what you mean?
I've never tried DADGAD. I think I'll go do that right now. Beats cleaning the house. :-)
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| jacknj says:
10/2/2011 4:35:21 PM
Hey Liz:
That's exactly the type of strap I used. I think it was a 4" one, and the pre-drilled holes happen to line up wih the two bridge screws. The DADGAD tuning is often used in Celtic guitar music, but is certainly not limited to that.
Jack
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| Liz Williams says:
10/2/2011 5:11:25 PM
The holes matched off-the-shelf? I just love it when that happens. I'm having an Oahu-based luthier day with a friend of mine (he has tools!) next week, focused on my 2 Oahus, so I'll pick up a couple of those.
Although I'm already getting superstitious about doing something that will interfere with the sound of this bigger Oahu. It keeps surprising me with it's loud big sound.
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| jacknj says:
10/2/2011 5:59:23 PM
I just checed the plate I used, and it had only two holes, so maybe I didn't use a mending strap after all. The mending straps usually have four holes. I probably used a long metal plate that comes with a double magnetic catch. That being said, the actual mending straps would still work though re-drilling holes might be necessary. These straps are thicker than the one I had used, so it will be even stronger.
If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for the larger Oahu?
Jack
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| Grizz says:
10/2/2011 6:56:20 PM
OK Liz. I made myself grab my small Canon and snap some fast shots. I want to re-shoot all my guitars outside if the weather ever clears up and the wind dies down. I much prefer natural lighting, I don't have to play around with it. Anyways there are 3 on my homepage. Check out the neck on this puppy. I am going to post them on here and SGF and see if someone can date it. I never asked and thought it may be full sized but when Fed Ex pulled it out of the truck it is a student model. But I love it nonetheless. I am keeping my eye open for a standard size "Bronson" instead of the Oahu. George Bronson was the half brother to Harry Stanley and they started the "Honolulu Conservatory of Music" in Flint, Michigan, in the late 20's which was the birth of the Oahu. They split up and Harry went to Cleveland and George went to Detroit. I have the whole story if anyone is interested, e-mail me at griz@speednetllc.com This whole business with the Oahu is like no other. I got the biggest kick out of it.
Mike
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| Liz Williams says:
10/2/2011 11:05:50 PM
Thanks for the clarification, Jack. I'll look for one of those straps - I know the ones you mean. I paid $355.00 for the big Oahu (plus shipping) and about $40 for the stewmac tuners. Sooo worth it.
Grizz - thanks for posting the pics. I'm going to go feast my eyes and send you an email for the whole Oahu story. I love these histories of makers.
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| Liz Williams says:
10/2/2011 11:10:23 PM
OMG - what a gorgeous Oahu! Thanks for posting those pictures, Grizz. Is that pearloid on the neck? Fabulous. Hey Jack - your welcome thread has become an Oahu thread. BTW - I hope you'll post recordings of your originals. Would love to hear some DADGAD.
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