Members jjang1993 Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280078549943&indexURL=1#ebayphotohosting im surprised at how much i payed for this got this guitar, i thought vintage guitars are expensive. looks like its a classical guitar from it being strung with nylon strings. how hard tension strings rip this guitar apart?and with all end strings do i still have to tie em at the bridge?
Members Dan Hall Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 I had a stella of about that era. Purchased out of a Hardware store window in Silver Creek New York for the princely sum of $5.00. I didn't understand bridges and intonation at the time and eventually destroyed the guitar in a fit of weird. I recall that it was made mostly from Masonite. They were steel strings as I recall. Stella did make some hardwood guitars out of things like ash and maple once upon a time. I don't think you got one though. Hope I'm wrong.
Members steve_man Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 Man, that seems a little steep for that axe, but maybe I'm crazy.
Members javaCat Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 That is steep for it. But hey, it may be amazing. One question; whyd you pick this one?
Members babablowfish Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 With all due respect to my esteemed colleagues, I must disagree. IMHO, provided that the neck is not warped, you got it at a good price. That Stella is the same guitar as my Harmony and Regal. These guitars are prized for their funky tone and are great for playing slide blues (not that I know how to do that) and are perfect for playing '30s tunes - Pennies From Heaven, Brother Can You Spare A Dime, Sonny Boy, Its A Sin To Tell A Lie, etc. etc. (these I do). I use extra light guage steel strings and tune down a full note because so many of these have necks that have warped. They have no truss rods so once they go, that's it. You may have to fiddle with the bridge to get the intonation right. A drop of machine oil on the tuners will also probably be a good idea.Again, these are cool guitars and you got yours at a decent price.Here's a picture of mine:' alt='>'>
Members Dave W. Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280078549943&indexURL=1#ebayphotohostinglooks like its a classical guitar from it being strung with nylon strings.how hard tension strings rip this guitar apart?and with all end strings do i still have to tie em at the bridge? Hardly a classical, someone just put a set of nylons on it. If they have been on a long time, better for you, less stress on the neck, but that guitar was made for steel strings.
Members T.B. Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 I agree with Baba's nice find and at a decent price. I'm guessing whomever played this guitar, used Nylons because of the concerns Baba's mentioned. Use extra light or light steel strings. I like La Bella's Silk & Steel strings: Light Gauge -- 011 -014 -023W -031 -041 -051 (Or, any of the string manufacturers Silk & Strings offerings) If you wish to stick with nylon strings checkout: D'Addario's Folk Nylon Strings, ball end. Really nice, saves you the hassles of having to tie the string at the bridge.TrinaP.S. Dave is right, this guitar was made for steel strings though.
Members Tony Burns Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 Congrats on your new member to your family !
Members Hudman Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 You got a good price if the neck is in decent shape. It looks like it has steel AND nylon strings on it.....
Members KATMAN Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 I've seen some Stella's for $200 at a local shop,so $50 is a good deal.
Members MattSkibaIsGOD Posted February 11, 2007 Members Posted February 11, 2007 hey Babablowfish, nice axe and nice Aqualung CD.
Members jjang1993 Posted February 12, 2007 Author Members Posted February 12, 2007 hmm how much do u think it would be to get a new nut on that guitar. im afraid when i get it ill find that the nut will be shaped for nylon strings. could i just buy a new nut, take out the old one with a chisel and hammer, or tools like that, and just super glue the new one in? there are two cracks on this guitar, will this affect the tone? could i just use masking tape(i know im very cheap) to seal the cracks. would this kill the finish?
Members guitarcapo Posted February 12, 2007 Members Posted February 12, 2007 No adjustable rod. Flat fingerboard. Plywood top.Bad tuners. Not my cup of tea
Members babablowfish Posted February 12, 2007 Members Posted February 12, 2007 No adjustable rod. Flat fingerboard. Plywood top.Bad tuners.Not my cup of tea I totally respect that. These old Harmony Cheapos are like getting an old running Nash Rambler Metro. Not many folks would want to ride around in one, but for some it would be totally cool. When I first got my Regal, I was so entranced that I played it exlusively for a few months, totally ignoring the Guild D4 I had at the time. Despite its many drawbacks, including the flat fret board, tuners that stay in tune for about 1 song & difficulty getting the intonation right, I just love that funky tone. Oh well, different strokes for different folks.
Members jbylake Posted February 12, 2007 Members Posted February 12, 2007 I totally respect that. These old Harmony Cheapos are like getting an old running Nash Rambler Metro. Not many folks would want to ride around in one, but for some it would be totally cool.When I first got my Regal, I was so entranced that I played it exlusively for a few months, totally ignoring the Guild D4 I had at the time. Despite its many drawbacks, including the flat fret board, tuners that stay in tune for about 1 song & difficulty getting the intonation right, I just love that funky tone.Oh well, different strokes for different folks. Speaking of Regal's does anyone have any experience with the regal round neck Resonator? I play mostly blues, electric, and rarely acoustic, but I've thought about recording some 'experimental' stuff, with a resonator. However, about the only guy around me that sells this kind of stuff, sells very high-end $$$ Resonators. I know me, and I know I'll play around with it for a while, and it'll end up setting around collecting dust sooner or later. Therefore, I'm not willing to cough up $1,000 - $3000 for one. Have seen these Regals go fairly cheap, 2 or 3 hundred, but I don't want to go so cheap as to have something that is literally going to fall apart in my hands, or sound like total junk. So, in that respect 2 or 3 hundred, is an equally bad investment if it's total junk. Any thought's, experience with these? Thanks. J.C.
Members Burningleaves Posted February 12, 2007 Members Posted February 12, 2007 The prices sure have climbed on those kinds of guitars. I remember not 6-7 years ago picking up models like that for $2-$10 at yardsales. I used to hand them out to my nephews, nieces and friends kids. They are fun guitars overall.
Members jbylake Posted February 12, 2007 Members Posted February 12, 2007 The prices sure have climbed on those kinds of guitars. I remember not 6-7 years ago picking up models like that for $2-$10 at yardsales. I used to hand them out to my nephews, nieces and friends kids. They are fun guitars overall.You know, you used to be able to find some real treasures at Yard Sales. But that was before EBAY. Now you go to a yard sale and see a total piece of junk (worth maybe 25$ at the most) with a $100 - $150 dollar price tag.Trying to be a polite person, I'll make them an offer, and the response is "no-way, I can get more than I'm asking on EBAY." "thinking quietly to myself - good...that way you don't sucker punch some young kid looking for a first axe".......
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 12, 2007 Members Posted February 12, 2007 hmm how much do u think it would be to get a new nut on that guitar. im afraid when i get it ill find that the nut will be shaped for nylon strings. could i just buy a new nut, take out the old one with a chisel and hammer, or tools like that, and just super glue the new one in?there are two cracks on this guitar, will this affect the tone? could i just use masking tape(i know im very cheap) to seal the cracks. would this kill the finish? Unfortunately to have a new nut made for it will cost you what you paid in the first place. My suggestion would be to try to figure out what it is made out of (plastic or bone) and get a small piece (if it is bone just used some cow bone from a butcher shop). Powder some plastic or bone with fine sandpaper, put a little in each string slot and drop in some superglue to partially fill the slots. File new slots (nut files are expensive but welding supply shops have little calibrated files or use a little jewlers file). If you decide to make a new nut here is the proceedure, but it might just be playable as it is http://p082.ezboard.com/ftheunofficialmartinguitarforumfrm2.showMessage?topicID=7676.topic The correct way to fix the cracks it to cleat them from the inside with some little pieces of wood. Sometimes linen or other cloth materials are used - I used some medical gauze tape to reinforce the f-holes on my mandolin. Saturate in white or yellow glue and put on the inside of the crack.
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