This is to Grizz or any other members that have experience with this guitar. I am thinking of purchasing one of these and will not have the opportunity to play it before purchase. I wanted to get your opinions on tone, volume, projection etc. Grizz, how does it compare in tone to your Bear Creek? How much do you think these are worth? I am thinking of using this for low G open G for blues/rags, etc.
6 Comments |
 | Grizz says:
7/17/2012 8:40:47 AM
Evan. I LOVE my 71K as I do all my instruments. It is different than the Weissenborn but beautiful in its own right. Look at my homepage photos and you will see mine. I have a Baggs M-1 passive pup that I run through a Baggs Venue DI and in to a Roland Micro Cube Rx and I can get this sound youtube.com/watch?v=R2yKBmif-pI here is what Mike told me about this recording "Using both Mic and pick up will add greater depth. Of course critically the sound of the guitar will have the greatest impact. I find Wessie's have a thinner sound compared to my 12 string" well my 71K is as good if not better. It also is every bit as sweet acoustically. For one in the condition of mine look to spend upwards of $1500. You need to ask a LOT of questions when buying vintage Oahu's or the like. I bought mine knowing there was a slight issue with the bridge lifting so I had it shipped directly to Doug Spencer of Short Mountian, (the only one I trust with my vintage instruments) to affect a solution and that he did, without jeopardizing the vintage status. On the older ladder braced instruments this is unfortunately typical and if not too awful bad worth every penny for the "fix" I know that there will never be another problem in my lifetime. BTW I will use nothing but Newtone Aloha strings on my vintage Oahu's and Bronson. Also remember Regal made this model as well. Lastly no open G period. I go no higher than open D and I have one in C#m and another in C. It you want to play open G stick with the Reso you are asking for trouble with that tuning on these vintage instruments. You will either pull the bridge off or lift the top. Trust me on this.
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Mandorod says:
7/17/2012 9:29:58 AM
Thanks for the info, Grizz. The one I am looking at is an X braced model, probably outsourced by Oahu to Kay. Do you think low G (DGDGBD) would be too much string tension for one of these? Do you have one of the X braced Bronsons? What is a good source for the Newtone strings?
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| Grizz says:
7/17/2012 10:28:50 AM
X - Braced does in fact improve the top. You can get the Aloha's here stringsandbeyond.com/nealst15.html They have a great price, excellent service and are the only one's I know of stateside that handle them. Here are the tensions using the same gauge strings as the Aloha but remember they have a round light core. So the numbers will be lower. I am waiting on Malcomb to give me the particulars but here goes. Open G - 224.05lbs Open D - 181.24lbs Low G - 192.78lbs. Now for me I have no desire to use Low G so would I do it if I did? Sorry but I am anal so all I will say is maybe and leave it up to you. I tell people on these that the should probably not exceed the tension Gold Tone recommends for their new solid Mahogany Wessie and that is 165lbs however with the Alohas I am completely comfortable with the open D tuning. Have i confused you yet? Listen try open D you'll love it. And I have convinced Troy to add to his open D line up. :-) Maybe even talked him in to a Wessie.
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| Grizz says:
7/17/2012 10:31:03 AM
Evan, I apologize I forgot to answer your question. None of my Oahu's or my Bronson are X braced. I have a total of 5 combined and have only had bridge issues with two. But like I said I am careful.
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Mandorod says:
7/25/2012 8:57:45 PM
Grizz, Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Did any of your Oahus come with the metal bridge? I am looking at one like your 71K but it is X braced and has the original metal bridge. I am wondering if the metal bridge adds or subtracts from the overall tone.
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| Grizz says:
7/25/2012 9:30:44 PM
According to some the metal bridge adds to the sustain. My 51K that i just sold has a metal bridge and the Bronson has one as well. I can't discern the difference.
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