Hey Calvin, glad to have you here. Things have been a little quiet as of late so maybe you're the one to spice things up. Mike
37 Comments |
calinva says:
11/19/2011 4:23:29 PM
Thanks for the welcome Grizz.I don't know enough about Weissenborns to spice up to much but I catch on pretty quick. I look forward to gathering some info.Cal
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 | Grizz says:
11/19/2011 5:33:25 PM
Well regardless, we are glad to have you here.
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 | Liz Williams says:
11/19/2011 11:48:53 PM
Hi Calvin - welcome to the group. I'm awaiting pictures of my Bear Creek Weissenborn-in-progress. So perhaps I can spice things up a bit and take the pressure off you ;-) I also know very little about these guitars, but it's sure fun learning.
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| Grizz says:
11/20/2011 8:13:22 AM
Oh Wait !!!!!!!!! There's more to come. You have only started. hehehehe
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calinva says:
11/20/2011 10:46:09 AM
I did bite the bullet and buy the Myrtle Breedlove that DHR has. I also talked to the builder of all of those and he has started his own company. Everyone else was backed up 6 months or so and I read alot of good things about them and heard some great sound clips. So time will tellI guess. Cal
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| Grizz says:
11/20/2011 11:02:38 AM
You must be speaking of Jayson Bowerman. When he was with Breedlove he made a replacement cover for the Baggs M-1 from wood that matched the guitar. I called Breedlove and they said he was the only one that did them and they had parted ways. I contacted Jayson and he made me one. I have to get some new photos of my Bear Creek with the Baggs and Jaysons cover on it. A friend of mine who had many Wessies, had a Breedlove Myrtle, maybe the one you have, and he liked it a lot. I know Ed Gerhard and Jayson worked together closely on the Gerhard models (with short frets) that Breedlove sells. DHR?
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calinva says:
11/20/2011 2:28:39 PM
Hey Grizz,It was Jayson Bowerman that I spoke with and we talked an hour or so. He told me about the covers for the Baggs and about his new venture building his own line.The Myrtle I'm getting is the last new one that there is.DHR is a music store in Ohio.They had it on sale and I was able to get it for a little less than the sale price with some other odds and ends thrown in,Jayson has a Weissenborn almost completed but it would be mid December and about a grand more than I spent. We talked about the ones he made for Ed and they were the only ones he did the raised frets on for the sixth string.Jasons website is Bowermanguitars.com.He said he was also back kind of part time at Breedlove in sort of a consulting role.He is a really nice guy and gave me a lot of info.He is also very proud of the 23 Weissenborns he built while with the company.My guitar won't ship until the first of next week so I'm all wound up about that.With the Holiday we just decided to wait until Monday after as they are only open Thursday thru Saturday and were afraid it may end up on a truck overnite somewhere.I'll have to ask Jason to make a cover for me.I don't know why I didn't think to ask him, too much talk about everything else I guess. Cal
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| Grizz says:
11/20/2011 4:36:28 PM
I have had extended conversations with Jayson as well, and you are right, a nicer guy you couldn't find. I don't go to his website, it's like looking in a candy store window with lint in you pocket. hehehe I didn't know he was re-associated with Breedlove. Hey, it's tough out there as an upstart. He has to do what he has to do. I was always intrigued at Ed fretting that 6th. Yikes!!!!!!!!! Of course him playing "Homage" was what sent me on my sojourn for a Wessie and I have never looked back. I know exactly what you mean about shipping. It is the time of year depending on delivery time I wouldn't want any instrument sitting anywhere over the weekend. Remember what Ed Gerhard said about Wessies, "there is a broken heart in every one" and Dave Lindley said "Weissenborns eat Dobros for lunch"
Mike
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| Liz Williams says:
11/20/2011 8:46:01 PM
Well, Calvin, I'd say a
What? A myrtlewood Bowerman? That's pretty spicy. Pictures, please!
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calinva says:
11/21/2011 12:01:33 PM
Thanks for the welcome Grizz.I don't know enough about Weissenborns to spice up to much but I catch on pretty quick. I look forward to gathering some info.Cal
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calinva says:
11/21/2011 12:15:14 PM
Hello Liz,It;s actually a Myrtlewood Breedlove which was made by Jayson Bowerman when he worked at Breedlove.If you go to DHR Mucic there are pics there as like you I'm waiting until next Monday for it to ship. Jason is building again at bowermanguitars.com and though limited the few pics there are wonderful.Also thanks for the welcome and make sure you post some of your new Bear Creek when it arrives.Is your Koa and which model?Cal
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| Liz Williams says:
11/21/2011 1:02:02 PM
Calvin, your guitar is breath-taking! If I didn't have deadlines to hit, I'd still be staring at it. What a stunner. You must be so stoked.
My Bear Creek-in-progress is an all-koa MK model, which is like a Style 1. The koa grain is pretty plain. However, it will have 2 upgrades: rope binding and the fancier fret markers, like a style 4. So really, an AC without the fancier tuners and the gloss finish.
I also bought a Bear Creek Kona model* used and it's with Bill getting a longer neck. Previously, it was a 23" scale and set up for spanish-style playing. It's a bling-monster of hyper-figured koa, and style 4 appointments, so I know the allure of such. I'll post pictures when they arrive.
It's better than Christmas, right?
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calinva says:
11/21/2011 4:13:26 PM
Hey Liz,I looked at several style 1's and really like a figured model a luthier in Australia had but getting it here seemed to be a headache.I really couldn't seem to get answers to my questions from him and did not want to take any risk.I'm happy with my choice and glad you liked it.It seems you've got all the bases covered with your choises.You are soooo right about a great Christmas.I did talk to Bear Creek about the MK model but 6 months was more than I could stand.I'm very good at waiting.Now it's time to look at tuneings ,strings and all that stuff.It won't be as long as it has been.Cal
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| Grizz says:
11/21/2011 5:29:56 PM
Now guys this is for me. Johnny Cash and I were kindred spirits. So frou frou is out of the question for me. The photo for this group is my BC. It is understated, which suits me. I looked at the Koa wish list 'horn for sale and I would have trouble sitting in my chair playing it, i would get dizzy. Too busy, if you know what I mean. Personally again, rope binding is just not me. So Liz, you and I both have the MK with upgrades. For me I also like the high gloss lacquer finish, I had one with the "satin" finish and I didn't care for it. So to each his own. hehehe Hey Cal who were you talking to in Australia? Was it Ellis? There are only three that I know of.
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| Liz Williams says:
11/21/2011 5:51:34 PM
It's funny how particular it can be, isn't it? The only thing I found distracting about the blinged-up, shiny kona model was the abalone position markers. Talk about distracted playing: I kept staring at them and missing frets. Very funny.
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| Grizz says:
11/21/2011 6:48:47 PM
Where did you get your Kona rocket? And the 65k question, how do you like it. Brozman plays his a LOT. You know we have Tony Francis as part of this group and he builds an outstanding instrument. Rob Anderlik has one. Only thing is these premiere Wessie builders are backed up and rightfully so. I would love to have one of Tony's but alas it isn't in the cards.
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calinva says:
11/22/2011 6:03:38 AM
Hey Grizz,I talked to Tony Francis and he was great about getting right back to me but he was looking at mid 2012.The other guy I talked to who had a few in stock was Richard Wilson.His figured style 1 was beautiful and the sound clip sounded great but hewas vague on the shipping and dutys or if there was or not.Cal
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calinva says:
11/22/2011 5:04:08 PM
Check this out earcraftmusic.com/used-vintage...de-guitar
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| Grizz says:
11/22/2011 5:33:56 PM
Nice!!!!! I have only ever seen one original Kona Rocket for sale. There was a Bear Creek listed quite a while ago but I wanted the standard Wessie. Not the same sound, nice but not a Wessie. Bob Brozman plays them a LOT.
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| Liz Williams says:
11/22/2011 6:33:39 PM
That's a beauty! Mike, I bought that Kona that was on my local Craigslist the price went down again, and I liked the sound. It's one of two Bill Hardin made before he had the right size plans for a Kona. This one has a slightly smaller body, just like Brozman's. In fact, they are sister guitars, made from the same wood. As a 23" scale guitar, it had a sweet, complex sound and plenty of dynamic range. It was hard to stop playing. None of that haunting Weissie vibe though. Just a pretty, comPlex sound that kept surprising me. Had plenty of bass more versatile than a Weissie, I think. As a 25" scale guitar, I expect it to have more bass. I'll let you know when I get it back from Bill, maybe in January.
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| Grizz says:
11/22/2011 7:17:28 PM
Well variety is the spice of life. I have become obsessed with the Oahu's. Lot's and lot's of research. I had 2 plus a Bronson. George Bronson was Harry Stanleys half brother. Together they started the Oahu Publishing Company in Flint Michigan. They had a parting of the ways and Harry went to Cleveland and George to Detroit. Being a native Detroiter I had to have a Bronson. It took a long time to find one. All of the ones i have are exc+ condition. You can see them on my homepage. Anyways I have been wanting a full size (the ones i have are "student models" or parlor size, if you will) Well it left Tennesse today There is a lousy photo of it on my homepage as well. It it's a Nick Lucas model K-71. I sold one of my parlors to help fund it and I now regret it. I got each one at an outstanding price and like I said exc+ condition. I think this one had the original strings on it. lol These I can kind of afford to collect. They are like Pringles. The sound from them to me is exquisite. I am guessing but i think it has a lot to do with them being kind of thinner, not like a Wessie but not as thick as a guitar. The sustain goes on forever. I had such sellers remorse I told Terry if he wasn't satisfied I would buy it back. Well he is happy. I really don't "need" it but it was my first. You know you never forget you first love and I loved that guitar.
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| Liz Williams says:
11/24/2011 9:13:13 AM
Like Pringles! They really are. I've got one the same shape as your not-yet-here Oahu, but without the bling and with some scratches. Totally different sound than my student Oahu. I predict you will forget all about the guitar you sold when you play this new one. Both of mine have problems though - the student model has a buzz that appears to be from a lose back brace, and the big Oahu has 2 cracks. An amateur guitar tech friend will fix them for me, just as soon as we can find the time. What will you do about that compensated bridge?
Now that we've highjacked Calvin's welcome thread (sorry Calvin) to sing the praises of Oahu's, will you report back when your new guitar arrives?
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calinva says:
11/24/2011 10:21:04 AM
No problem here Liz we're all in the same boat .I had a student model Oahu myself and wish I had kept it.There were no cracks or loose braces on it and it had a cool funky sound.Cal
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| Grizz says:
11/24/2011 10:27:50 AM
I had the guitar shipped from the seller to Doug Spencer / Short Mountain Guitars. Doug is a well accomplished luthier. He lives by and does a lot of work for the Opry musicians and a lot of the big name players. He was commissioned to repair a lot of the guitars damaged in the Nashville floods. Makes you sick. Anyways the dumb butts used spruce for the bridge plate. Too soft. He replaced it with a somewhat over sized maple and is more than happy with the outcome. Damn UPS is off Friday so it won't be here until Monday. I am so mad. Had I realize it I would have waited until Monday to ship or used Fed Ex, they are delivering Friday and Saturday. I don't like guitars sitting in the distribution center for 4 days
Sorry Calvin. Hey Liz maybe Calvin will be looking for an Oahu soon. hehehe
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| Liz Williams says:
11/24/2011 3:39:25 PM
No More Guitars!!!
(for now...:-)
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calinva says:
11/24/2011 4:49:39 PM
Me too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cal
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| Liz Williams says:
11/25/2011 10:39:58 AM
Huh. I thought for sure Calvin would be the first to agree with my last message. Wrong again. Hey Mike - What gauge strings are you using on your Oahus that are in DADF#AD? I think I've gone too heavy.
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| Grizz says:
11/25/2011 11:44:44 AM
John Pearse 3160's Phosphor bronze, D tuning, 015-018-027-038-048-060 I like these strings.
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| Grizz says:
11/25/2011 11:54:57 AM
I accidentally hit enter before i was done. I was reading this AGAIN and i ordered the Aloha's for the Oahu's and see what happens. michaelmesser.proboards.com/in...46&page=1 I really don't want to pull the top off. These are not braced like the modern Wessies. All of mine are latter braced. If you watch them as much as I do, one if the big things is the bridge, top or both pulling up. So I figure better safe than sorry. Actually the one I sold (insert frown) had the 3160's the two that are here now have Dunlop Resonator strings on them. The sixty is awful heavy. I am even careful with tuning it on the BC and it has Waverly's. JP actually makes a set with a .068 sixth string. There is a string tension calculator but it only goes to 056 on your sixth.
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calinva says:
11/25/2011 1:08:23 PM
Hey Liz, that Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! was me agreeing with you of course that's after my Breedlove gets here on Wednesday. It's going to ge a long wait.I guess that's the end of buying and deciding what to sell now.Can't keep them all,Cal
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| Liz Williams says:
11/25/2011 1:37:14 PM
Hey Calvin - I predict that you will so love that Breedlove, you won'teven be looking at other guitars for quite some time. Instead, you'll be obsessing over strings, just like Mike and I are. In that way this will again become your thread. Such is the magic of the resohangout.
That's a useful thread, Mike - thanks for it. I've got Dunlop's on my Gold Tone Weisse and my jumbo Oahu (which I swear is made our of Luan, that cheap mahogany they used to use for interior doors). The GT top pulled up so I tuned to down to C. That seemed to help. The bridge and top on the Oahu seem to be doing OK. I think it's the change in weather that is causing all the badly repaired cracks to open up. sigh. It's always something. Just this morning, the exhaust fan on my pellet stove quit, leaving me with a house full of smoke and fire extinguisher powder everywhere.
On days like today, one can really see the attraction in just not getting up in the morning. Except there would be no music, which would be intolerable...Aloha strings, here I come. I think I have a set somewhere...
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calinva says:
11/25/2011 1:52:22 PM
Hey Liz, that Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! was me agreeing with you of course that's after my Breedlove gets here on Wednesday. It's going to ge a long wait.I guess that's the end of buying and deciding what to sell now.Can't keep them all,Cal
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calinva says:
11/25/2011 1:57:20 PM
I also want to give a big thanks to Grizz for that link to MM's website really a wealth of info.I love this site.Cal
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| Grizz says:
11/25/2011 4:17:49 PM
Have you seen this? jldguitar.net/warped_tops/fixtop.html and here is the Stew Mac link stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special...311.64871 Read the reviews in particular on SM. Some are even putting them on as a preventative. Something you can do yourself, inexpensive and not permanent.
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calinva says:
11/25/2011 5:01:45 PM
Man I can tell it's been along time since I was on the Stewmac site.It's strange for me because every Martin player I know always waited for the top to belly a certain amount to concider it getting broken in and sounding good.Cal
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| Liz Williams says:
11/25/2011 5:48:10 PM
I have seen those JLD bridge doctors and would install one in my SM if they fit, but they are made for guitars that are deeper than the typical Weissenborn. On my someday to do list is calling the JLD folks and seeing if they'd make a custom version for me. It's pretty low on the list though.
Cal, I'm with you on this. There seems to be a new school of thought that guitar tops need to stay flatter than reality allows or good sound dictates. Every once in a while I go read what Frank has to say at frets.com to recalibrate. He has pictures of tops that are too bellied and tops that are somewhat raised but fine. My Gold Tone really does look like it's about to fold up, but I think my Oahu jumbo is just fine.
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| Grizz says:
11/25/2011 6:10:47 PM
Liz, if you read the reviews, several people had to make adjustments in the unit itself to make it work. there is not much to it from what I can see. If you go by this from the Gold Tone site, for the solid Mahogany Wessie, the Aloha or possibly the John Pearse 800's for Slack Key wold definitely work. One thing about GT they tell you up front so if you don't pay attention, well..........................
Warranty Disclaimer
Because of its construction, care must be given to the correct tuning and string gauges to avoid bridge, bracing and neck problems. The strings supplied (.014, .018, .026w, .034w, .044w, .056w) allow G, D and similar tunings. Your Weissenborn will not tolerate any additional excessive tension (such as E tuning or heavier strings) and will void the warranty. The string tension should be no more than 165lbs at pitch. There are several online string tension calculators available such as this one to determine correct string gauges for any desired tuning.
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