Acoustic Guitars

[knockwood]

I am shit broke, friends and neighbors. I'm lucky in that I am nicely housed, too well fed, still have my wife and cats and one great guitar. So we're not talking rock-bottom broke. Just your basic nasty setback, hard-slap wakeup call, temporary shit broke that you pray is truly temporary.

Yet my stupid fingers still don't know any better than to browse guitars online. GAS, peepul. I done got myself some GAS. What a stupid thing. It's a desire for largely unnecessary shit that most of us create, I believe, out of thin air. Lunacy. But even knowing this, I get sucked in.

Anyway, enough of the philosophical shit. Ran across this, and now I'd love to have one. It's purty, and there's a sound demo if you scroll down. Also available in small body flavors:

http://breedlovemusic.com/guitars/oregon-series/d-smye

Who knows? Maybe by the time my crisis has ebbed to the point where I can safely waste money again, these things will actually be on the street. In the last few years, Breedlove seems to have introduced and then ditched several very exciting lower-pricepoint series. This has happened frequently enough that I pretty easily get some of their series confused with others and am not sure what's still around, what's not. So I hope this Oregon Series survives, because it looks awesome. Kind of wish the b/s were gloss, only because the wood is so damn purty it seems a shame not to pop it, visually. But WTF. I'm infatuated. 

[kwakatak]

Sorry to hear of your financial burdens, knock. I know how you feel. Are you still tinkering with the wood though? As for the Breedlove, I guess it's good that I gave up even looking so that ignorance is bliss. They never really did anything for me.

[knockwood]

Wood tinkering has ground to a halt, for the time being. I'm not yet in a setting that permits the setup of a proper workshop, so all my tools, wood, workbench, etc. are in storage. Guitar #3, which was very nearly completed before the move, is also in storage. I really wanted to get that one done pre-move, but in the end I stopped because I didn't want to rush it. I wonder if it's possible to leave off a French polish and then just start it up again a few months later. Guess I'll find out...

I've always liked Breedloves, but couldn't afford their upper-echelon guitars and didn't find anything in particular about their Atlas gits to draw me away from other stuff. Except the necks. Tried an Atlas once and it had one of the most awesome, comfortable necks I've ever tried. Somewhat of a chunky "C." But in the last few years they've turned out some very interesting stuff in an apparent quest to offer some instruments in the low-medium price point. Not an easy market at all, I should think. The Oregon series caught my eye. 

How is your building coming along?

[guitarist21]

Myrtle wood huh? Kinda has a spalted maple/koa look to it. Wonder how it sounds. I usually dig Breedloves for their pared-down appointments and this Oregon guy is no exception. Looks very sleek. Probably costs a zillion dollars though. Back away from the computer, knock, slowly and with your hands where I can see them.

JK I say look at pretty guitars. Gives you something to shoot for. Right before I started the gig I have now, I was pining after a compressor pedal made by a local guy. Played it once a week or so at a shop. Super expensive, but it definitely motivated me to work hard and set the money aside to eventually get it. Best of luck getting out of this funk, knock, I hope it is brief and painless!

[jamesp]

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knockwood wrote:

I wonder if it's possible to leave off a French polish and then just start it up again a few months later. Guess I'll find out...

The luthier who lets me sleep with her says it's no problem. Those guitars do seem GAS-worthy. Tho' for me they'd be in line behind a couple of power tools and another set of skis.

[DeepEnd]

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guitarist21 wrote:

. . . I usually dig Breedloves for their pared-down appointments and this Oregon guy is no exception. Looks very sleek. Probably costs a zillion dollars though. . . .

Actually street price is around $1,500. For a Made In USA all-solid guitar with electronics, that's pretty awesome. BTW, I also have a soft spot for Breedloves. I'd love to have one someday.

[kwakatak]

Sorry to hear that, knock. Your moved outside of Philly, didn't your? Those were my stomping grounds about 20 years ago. As for thel building, could you do it in a kitchen? I'm no expert on French.polish.so I couldn't tell you, but per reputation it should be pretty forgiving.

My build is trudging along but is really close. Freeman lent me his saddle slot jig and I've been practicing on scrap when I can but the RH really plumetted this week so I don't want to risk anything just yet so I've been painting or tending to sick kids. I also need to taper, inlay and Epoxy my fretboard then it's on to fretting. I think I'm going FP it too. The second build is on hold until then.

[Hudman]

I feel your pain.

It seems like Breedlove is closing out several models. They had a bunch marked way down 2 weeks ago. I wanted to pull the trigger on one of them but I moved my mom in with us a few weeks ago. We need to start looking for a bigger place. That means no money for guitars.

[poppytater]

 Love both looking and Breedloves.

[knockwood]

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jamesp wrote:  The luthier who lets me sleep with her says it's no problem. Those guitars do seem GAS-worthy. Tho' for me they'd be in line behind a couple of power tools and another set of skis.

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That's what I call comittment to luthiery! 

Thanks for the confirmation re. French polish.

Bad news/good news: I'm a poor citydweller, so I don't get to ski. But then, that's more loot to blow on guitars and guitar-related hooha. Eventually.

[knockwood]

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Hudman wrote:

I feel your pain.

It seems like Breedlove is closing out several models. They had a bunch marked way down 2 weeks ago. I wanted to pull the trigger on one of them but I moved my mom in with us a few weeks ago. We need to start looking for a bigger place. That means no money for guitars.

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I saw that MF was having a sale on Breedloves. Had a really nice looking 12-fretter that was literally half price (down to $750 from $1500). In better times, I'd probably have jumped on something like that with both feet. It's not at all that I feel I'm lacking anything, guitar-wise. I'm fortunate in that I've been able to hang onto one guitar that I really love. The whole GAS thing is never about a sense of *need.* I just love the whole adventure of seeking out new shit. I love the traditional stuff - Martin/Gibson - but also really enjoy new/different/innovative. Breedlove does some magical shit with their bracing, IMHO. 

Didn't you just move a couple years back? Man, that's rough having to move again. There are few things in life I like less than moving. But good on ya. Hope your mom is all right. 

[Opa John]

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knockwood wrote:

I am shit broke, friends and neighbors. I'm lucky in that I am nicely housed, too well fed, still have my wife and cats and one great guitar. So we're not talking rock-bottom broke. Just your basic nasty setback, hard-slap wakeup call, temporary shit broke that you pray is truly temporary.

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Knock, when you say "one great guitar", are you saying ONLY one guitar? You didn't let your D-15 go, didja? I'm almost positive you wouldn't have sold your Gibson.

[knockwood]

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Opa John wrote:

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knockwood wrote:

I am shit broke, friends and neighbors. I'm lucky in that I am nicely housed, too well fed, still have my wife and cats and one great guitar. So we're not talking rock-bottom broke. Just your basic nasty setback, hard-slap wakeup call, temporary shit broke that you pray is truly temporary.

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Knock, when you say "one great guitar", are you saying ONLY one guitar? You didn't let your D-15 go, didja? I'm almost positive you wouldn't have sold your Gibson.

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Sold the Gibson. Sold its jumbo brother. Sold the Tele. Sold everything.

Except for the D-15M. Wife wouldn't let me sell that one. I didn't argue. One great guitar. 

I also still have the first guitar I made (12-fret hog/spruce 000), which I like a lot. Don't quite have the stones to call it "great," but I'm in good shape for acoustic guitars. Still, they say 300 guitars is better than two...

[Opa John]

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knockwood wrote:

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Sold the Gibson. Sold its jumbo brother. Sold the Tele. Sold everything.

Except for the D-15M. Wife wouldn't let me sell that one. I didn't argue. One great guitar. 

I also still have the first guitar I made (12-fret hog/spruce 000), which I like a lot. Don't quite have the stones to call it "great," but I'm in good shape for acoustic guitars. Still, they say 300 guitars is better than two...

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Sorry to hear it. Well, at least you kept the one that, IMO, will do just about anything a guitar needs to do. I'm betting you're missing that Gibson already, though. Damned shame it's gone. I wouldn't worry about the Telecaster, though. Those are all over the place. Dime a dozen. Even top of the line is pretty cheap, all things considered. You'll be back on top in no time.

[OldTwelver]

Back to the original topic for a moment......

I can think of at least a dozen guitars I think I'd like to own. I wasn't that way in my previous guitar life ! Back then, you went to the best guitar emporium in your area, found a guitar that produced the sound you wanted, bought it, and then played the hell out of it. Sure, there were some collectors back then, but not that many of them. At worst, you might have 3 or 4 guitars in your stable. You were happy, and blissfully unaware of most guitars being produced. So, here's my take on things ......

The Internet causes GAS !!!! It's just sooo easy to look at all the guitars being produced, on-line, in the comfort of your favorite chair, and then "pine" after them day after day. Think of it as "guitar porn". Am I wrong?

Paul

[Opa John]

That's what I was saying only a week ago. I discovered guitar forums on the Internet just about four years ago. Up until that time I'd never had more than one guitar at a time except for a two week period back in February of '82 when I bought a new six string and kept my old 12 string for a couple of weeks until the new owner came up with the money to pay for it.

Within a year after getting on these guitar forums I'd bought two more guitars. Three months later I bought another one. Then a year after that, another one. Then I sold one, then three months ago I bought another one. A year ago I sold the one I bought back in '82.  

Did I lose ya yet? So...anyway, I've got four now and still looking at more of 'em on line. I really don't want or need anymore guitars, but I think I'm infected with some kind of sickness that comes on and then goes into remission for awhile.

Until I got on the Internet I'd also never heard of Musician's Friend, Just Strings, Zzounds, Music123, Strings and Beyond and a lot of other places. I'd never once been inside of a Guitar Center or Sam Ash Music store. Now I could go into either of them and find the bathroom with the lights off and wearing a blindfold!

Since discovering the Internet and guitar forums I've also bought and sold at least four fiddles (still have one), 3 or 4 mandolins (lost count), couple of ukes, an ass-load of harmonicas, couple of penny whistles, a few capos, lottsa picks that I hardly ever use, buncha new strings and a few other things I can't even find right now. Hell!! I'm even thinking about writing a country song about it!!

Holy Cripes! Is there no end to this madness??!! .....Oh, and BTW.......thanks Internet.....thanks a LOT!!  

[knockwood]

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Opa John wrote:

That's what I was saying only a week ago. I discovered guitar forums on the Internet just about four years ago. Up until that time I'd never had more than one guitar at a time except for a two week period back in February of '82 when I bought a new six string and kept my old 12 string for a couple of weeks until the new owner came up with the money to pay for it.

Within a year after getting on these guitar forums I'd bought two more guitars. Three months later I bought another one. Then a year after that, another one. Then I sold one, then three months ago I bought another one. A year ago I sold the one I bought back in '82.  

Did I lose ya yet? So...anyway, I've got four now and still looking at more of 'em on line. I really don't want or need anymore guitars, but I think I'm infected with some kind of sickness that comes on and then goes into remission for awhile.

Until I got on the Internet I'd also never heard of Musician's Friend, Just Strings, Zzounds, Music123, Strings and Beyond and a lot of other places. I'd never once been inside of a Guitar Center or Sam Ash Music store. Now I could go into either of them and find the bathroom with the lights off and wearing a blindfold!

Since discovering the Internet and guitar forums I've also bought and sold at least four fiddles (still have one), 3 or 4 mandolins (lost count), couple of ukes, an ass-load of harmonicas, couple of penny whistles, a few capos, lottsa picks that I hardly ever use, buncha new strings and a few other things I can't even find right now. Hell!! I'm even thinking about writing a country song about it!!

Holy Cripes! Is there no end to this madness??!! .....Oh, and BTW.......thanks Internet.....thanks a LOT!!  

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I only stumbled onto this forum in the first place because I was looking for a new guitar, years ago, as an ingnorant noob. I cannot remember the specific search that led me here, but it definitely had a radical effect on my new guitar quest... and every subsequent quest.

This forum, both directly and indirectly, has taught me about 99% of everything I currently know about guitars, although over the years I have lost maybe 38% of this knowledge by reading various threads posted by Totamus. But I still know about 61% of what I know...

So I have picked up a huge amount of knowledge from this place. The price, I guess, is GAS. And TAS. And WAS. And quite a heaping shitload of time. But worth it.

[guitarist21]

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knockwood wrote:

So I have picked up a huge amount of knowledge from this place. The price, I guess, is GAS. And TAS. And WAS. And quite a heaping shitload of time. But worth it.

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+1

[jamesp]

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knockwood wrote:
This forum, both directly and indirectly, has taught me about 99% of everything I currently know about guitars, although over the years I have lost maybe 38% of this knowledge by reading various threads posted by Totamus. But I still know about 61% of what I know...

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Truth so pure. However, it's worth noting that Totamus is a world-renowned authority on the ukulele. .