http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/acoustic/more/lap-steels/weissenborn-style-1-lap-steel-acoustic-koa/?gclid=CPaw7qjjnbICFeaDQgodox4Atg
There's an original Kona for sale on ebay right now too.
What was that? You're feeling bad about missing my birthday and wanted to make it up to me? ;-)
21 Comments |
 | Tom_Noe says:
9/5/2012 3:54:58 PM
IMHO, the best sounding Weissenborns are all-koa models built before 1927, when they began beefing up the tops to increase volume. The Style 1 at CME, with the long bridge, Henry Stadlmaier stamp, and V bridge pin configuration, was built in 1925.
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 | Liz Williams says:
9/5/2012 8:25:39 PM
Fascinating, Tom. Thanks for sharing your knowledge of these guitars. What do you think of the price on this one? Worth it for the increased possibility of a getting a great-sounding guitar?
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| Tom_Noe says:
9/5/2012 9:23:21 PM
I think it is a tad high, but not that far out of line. I notice a few scratches and dings, but on the plus side it appears to be all original, including the tuners. It has a repaired back seam, but it isn't noticeable in the photos. MCE says it has opened up. I don't know about other guitars, but an interesting phenomenon associated with Weissenborns is that they sound a bit tight when they haven't been played for a long time, and then they "open up," suddenly giving a fuller, richer tone, usually after just a couple of hours of playing. I've noticed this, and others have said the same thing.
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 | Gitman44 says:
9/6/2012 12:42:54 PM
If I had an old Weissenborn, it would always be "opened up" because I'd never put it down... :-)
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 | Bob Blair says:
9/6/2012 8:32:47 PM
I'd love to have the Kona!
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| Liz Williams says:
9/6/2012 11:15:02 PM
Tom - The Takamine classical guitar I played in college did something similar, but intermittently. Never did figure out what made it sing or not.
Now I want an original Weissenborn even more. What remarkable guitars.
Andy, I know what you mean. I just got home from a 19-hour day and I know I'll be up another hour playing my Bear Creek MK.
Bob - It looks like the Kona didn't sell. maybe you'll get your chance!
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| Bob Blair says:
9/7/2012 5:29:35 AM
I was thinking about getting a modern luthier to make me a Kona style guitar. If I get a vintage instrument at some point it will probably be a Style 1! But I was talking briefly to David Lindley at the Edmonton Folk Festival and he told me that he used a Kona in that incredible solo on "To Know Him is to Love Him" from the "Trio" album (Ronstadt, Parton and Emmylou) and that has me thinking about it. It would be nice to be able to try a few, but easier said than done.
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| Tom_Noe says:
9/7/2012 6:43:53 AM
A luthier who makes wonderful Konas is Neil Russell at Celtic Cross Instruments in Vancouver BC.
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| Liz Williams says:
9/7/2012 8:54:51 AM
Seeing a Celtic Cross style one Weissenborn is what got me started playing! Neil does beautiful work. I've got a Bear Creek Kona, which I love and can also recommend. Somewhere online (no time to look it up - sorry), Sally van Meter talks about the Kona as having a "happy" sound and the hollowneck Weiss as having a more moody, haunting sound. The extrovert (Kona) and the introvert (hollowneck) is how I think of it.
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| Liz Williams says:
9/7/2012 9:04:31 AM
Oh, the heartbreak! Someone just let a Celtic Cross Kona go for $1250.00 on the steel guitar forum. With a fishman pickup installed.
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| Liz Williams says:
9/7/2012 7:24:53 PM
Looked into it and the Celtic Cross blackwood Kona is both gorgeous and still available. Seller is out of town for the next 3 days, so you'll have time to wrestle with your conscience. Please: someone buy this guitar and save me from myself.I don't want to post the seller's email here, but if you're interested in buying, PM me and I'll give it to you. Here's the post on the steel guitar forum:
bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewto...?t=232896
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| Bob Blair says:
9/7/2012 7:32:03 PM
I saw that Liz. I am thinking of trying a new pedal steel though which I think takes me out of the running. I have an older CC Weissenborn-style (my first, bought from a friend a few years back) that is a great instrument. I spend a good part of my time on an island not far from Neil's shop and I was thinking maybe I would get him to build me one. I've never met him but want to.
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| Bob Blair says:
9/7/2012 7:35:11 PM
And then to add to the discussion of Canadian West Coast instrument builders have a look at what my friend Grant Wickland on Saltspring island is doing. banjosonsaltspring.com
His resonator veenas are just amazing.
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 | jacknj says:
9/7/2012 8:46:45 PM
In response to Bob, when he mentioned Lindley playing a Kona on the Trio album, I remembered seeing a youtube live version of "To Know Him is to Love Him", but Lindley was playing electric guitar, while someone I didn't recognize was playing a Weissenborn, pretty much duplicating David's album solo. Good viewing.
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| Liz Williams says:
9/7/2012 8:57:50 PM
I remember that video, Jack. Those voices!
Well, Bob, someone else is going to get a good deal on a CC Kona. Lucky for me, my living space is small. Otherwise I'd be drowning in guitars and dumpster-diving for lunch.
There seem to be several good instrument builders in Western Canada, eh? Larrivee, Celtic Cross, Rayco, this banjo builder...and one I'm forgetting.
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x says:
9/8/2012 1:21:45 AM
Wow. Just took a look at the Bob's friend's website- some fantastic instruments. Those veena (or is it "veenas"?)- Fantastic!
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| Bob Blair says:
9/8/2012 11:19:27 AM
Jack that was Steve Fishell (aka FIsh) playing the Weissenborn on that. Fish has written about how that came about - Ry Cooder had played the electric guitar part on the record and (at Fish's suggestion) Lindley had done the slide solo. But Cooder was not available for the tv spot so they had Fish duplicate the solo and Lindley do Cooder's part. He said that Linda Ronstadt was very apologetic about asking him to duplicate the Lindley solo rather than play it his own way. Liz there is a guy in Vancouver who makes, among other things, weissenborn-style instruments. I forget his name right now but he is well thought of. There is also a brilliant luthier in High River, Alberta named Chuck Shifflet who has made at least one great reso.
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| jacknj says:
9/8/2012 11:38:18 AM
Thanks for the info. Bob. Cooder and Lindley, two of my favorite musicians.
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| Liz Williams says:
9/8/2012 12:01:16 PM
Weezy - I know, isn't he amazing? Bob, your friend Grant is so inventive and does beautiful work. Did you see the box dobro? This guy doesn't stop. My favorite is the parlor veena though: I'd never have thought to put 20 string on a steel guitar that small. Much more than a banjo builder. He seems to be Harry Manx's go-to luthier too.
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| Liz Williams says:
9/8/2012 12:05:08 PM
I was wondering who that guy was in the video. Now I have someone else to dig up on You tube. Thumbs-up for Ry Cooder.
Also, I agreed to buy the Celtic Cross Kona, minus the pickup. Shhh. Don't tell my conscience, there will be hell to pay.
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| Bob Blair says:
9/8/2012 3:19:32 PM
Way to go Liz!
Steve Fishell was the pedal steel player for Emmylou's Hot Band for years. He does a lot of producing these days.
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