Are they CRAZY!!!! Unloved treasures.
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 12:29 am
Last night, I took some rubbish to the garbage room of my complex. On my way out...I took a double take. Something was TERRIBLY wrong with this picture. I turned around and there on the ground next to the paper recycling bins was a gig bag, a dusty unloved promise of a guitar. I couldn't resist. I lent down and opened it. Sure enough, inside was a yamaha guitar that appeared to be in working order. I was in my way to the dog park, so I left the dirty bag where it was and rescued the guitar by placing it in the boot of my car.
Once home, I inspected it. It was chip in the peg head, there's signs of a shoddy repair on the base of the body where something appears to have come loose, it had rusty strings, the fret board was dry and the body was a bit grubby, the action is too high and it needs a set-up. But, otherwise it looked solid and OK.
I changed the strings, oiled the fretboard, polished it up and it sounds a bit thin by Ok and looks fine. It's a decent guitar for anyone wanting to play. I just CANT believe that someone would want to send it to the landfill rather than find a good home for it.
It's a Yahama F340. It's a dreadnought shape but feels smaller than normal. I used 12s on it and they feel too light. It doesn't have the depth or resonance of my guitars. Looking inside, I can see the bracing is massive, really thick compared to the bracing on either of my acoustics. The soundboard actually looks like it's striped too. I assume the spruce is not the same quality and rigidity as mine. But then, the guitar might just need to be played in and to open up a lot more.
Recommendation
I've just finished reading a book by Allen St James called Clapton's Guitar. It's all about Wayne Henderson and how the author watched him make a pair of guitars (one for Clapton and the other to auction for charity). It's a great read. It's a compelling journey to learn about Henderson the musician, the luthier and the sweet, kookie funny guy that he is. I learned a lot about the guitar making process too. There's a section that talks about how the bracing is a significant part of developing a guitar that really sing; too thick and it's potential to vibrate is lost, too little and the guitar blows itself apart.
So here in my house I now have an example of just how different the bracing can affect the sound of the guitar. It's fascinating really.
What now? Well I plan to find a good home for it. There's a garage sale coming up in our complex. I might just put it up for sale there. I'm asking around otherwise. I'm just looking for someone who will play it and enjoy doing so. I'm looking for some one who will give it a little love.
Have any of you come across any equally ridiculous examples of unloved instruments? I'm still shaking my head in disbelief.
Once home, I inspected it. It was chip in the peg head, there's signs of a shoddy repair on the base of the body where something appears to have come loose, it had rusty strings, the fret board was dry and the body was a bit grubby, the action is too high and it needs a set-up. But, otherwise it looked solid and OK.
I changed the strings, oiled the fretboard, polished it up and it sounds a bit thin by Ok and looks fine. It's a decent guitar for anyone wanting to play. I just CANT believe that someone would want to send it to the landfill rather than find a good home for it.
It's a Yahama F340. It's a dreadnought shape but feels smaller than normal. I used 12s on it and they feel too light. It doesn't have the depth or resonance of my guitars. Looking inside, I can see the bracing is massive, really thick compared to the bracing on either of my acoustics. The soundboard actually looks like it's striped too. I assume the spruce is not the same quality and rigidity as mine. But then, the guitar might just need to be played in and to open up a lot more.
Recommendation
I've just finished reading a book by Allen St James called Clapton's Guitar. It's all about Wayne Henderson and how the author watched him make a pair of guitars (one for Clapton and the other to auction for charity). It's a great read. It's a compelling journey to learn about Henderson the musician, the luthier and the sweet, kookie funny guy that he is. I learned a lot about the guitar making process too. There's a section that talks about how the bracing is a significant part of developing a guitar that really sing; too thick and it's potential to vibrate is lost, too little and the guitar blows itself apart.
So here in my house I now have an example of just how different the bracing can affect the sound of the guitar. It's fascinating really.
What now? Well I plan to find a good home for it. There's a garage sale coming up in our complex. I might just put it up for sale there. I'm asking around otherwise. I'm just looking for someone who will play it and enjoy doing so. I'm looking for some one who will give it a little love.
Have any of you come across any equally ridiculous examples of unloved instruments? I'm still shaking my head in disbelief.