Fairbanks Owners!

[srick]

Wonderful, wonderful guitar! And with time, it just gets better. I don’t know what tricks Dale has employed to capture that magic, but there is magic in his builds.

My F-35 ‘Fox’ continues to blossom, sounding better and better. She was completed a little less than two years ago. Over the last year and a half I’ve tweaked it to almost feel like one of JT1’s little gems (who does your setups John?).

The high point was earlier this year - I brought it to a local house concert\open mic (at David F’s house) and heard others playing it. Holy cow, it sounded soooo good. I was beaming with pride and adoration.

Rick

PS - JT1, you missed that one - you were headed west to the Rockies.

[jt1]

Originally Posted by srick

Wonderful, wonderful guitar! And with time, it just gets better. I don’t know what tricks Dale has employed to capture that magic, but there is magic in his builds.

My F-35 ‘Fox’ continues to blossom, sounding better and better. She was completed a little less than two years ago. Over the last year and a half I’ve tweaked it to almost feel like one of JT1’s little gems (who does your setups John?).

The high point was earlier this year - I brought it to a local house concert\open mic (at David F’s house) and heard others playing it. Holy cow, it sounded soooo good. I was beaming with pride and adoration.

Rick

PS - JT1, you missed that one - you were headed west to the Rockies.

Sorry I missed that evening!

As for my setups, I do them. Really. Some years ago, Kim Walker gave me a clinic in setup.

Bring your guitars over!

[srick]

Originally Posted by jt1

Sorry I missed that evening!

As for my setups, I do them. Really. Some years ago, Kim Walker gave me a clinic in setup.

Bring your guitars over!

LOL - I have come to the same conclusion about setups! I even cut my own nut for the Fairbanks (with Dale's blessing).

And yes, a meeting of the minds would be a good idea!

[Robbypad]

I just now saw this thread.

On October 19, 2022, I became the second owner of the 2021 Fairbanks F-35 Super Smeck, originally owned by RWPierce. A terrific guitar a d still mint.

You can update the list.

Robbypad

[jt1]

Originally Posted by srick

LOL - I have come to the same conclusion about setups! I even cut my own nut for the Fairbanks (with Dale's blessing).

And yes, a meeting of the minds would be a good idea!

I, too, cut saddles and nuts. I also level and crown frets.

Let’s work on that meetup.

[dave42]

I have sold off a few guitars recently. I'm down to 5 acoustics that are 'keepers'. Today, these would be my last two if I were to make that move (I'm not thinking about selling anymore at this moment).

1944 J-45 Back story here
2020 F35 . Delivered January 2021 but mostly built in 2020. So which is it... 2020 or 2021?

[srick]

Dave - needless to say, you have very good taste and a keen eye for a good guitar! As for dating, I think we should go by Dale's serial number, so mine is 0620229 - June 2020, #229.

Too bad you don't live nearby - I would love to compare our two sibs.

Rick

[dave42]

0620228 here!
June 2020 it is.

[Silly Moustache]

We don't see Fairbanks guitars over here in the Uk - although Chris (Yrksman) has a Smeck apparently.

Most of my flat tops are modelled on pre-1934 Martin designs, but I have a Waterloo WL12, and a Santa Cruz "RS" - both modelled on Gibson designs.

The Waterloo could be packing its bags of, an F20 like this was knocking on my door :


As far as a Roy Smeck type but with a less flashy pickguard (scratchplate), and both 12 fretters of course!



Both would have to be "Deep body", 1 & 13/16" nut, and with Nick Lucas fret markers!
Not asking for much really, .... not really asking I s'pose, just dreaming.

[Guitars44me]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

We don't see Fairbanks guitars over here in the Uk - although Chris (Yrksman) has a Smeck apparently.

Most of my flat tops are modelled on pre-1934 Martin designs, but I have a Waterloo WL12, and a Santa Cruz "RS" - both modelled on Gibson designs.

The Waterloo could be packing its bags of, an F20 like this was knocking on my door :


As far as a Roy Smeck type but with a less flashy pickguard (scratchplate), and both 12 fretters of course!



Both would have to be "Deep body", 1 & 13/16" nut, and with Nick Lucas fret markers!
Not asking for much really, .... not really asking I s'pose, just dreaming.

Go for it, Andy! You deserve both!!! Run a WTB ad here in guitars FS
After a lifetime of music, why not???

Cheers

Paul

[dave42]

Hello Fairbanks fans! As I was my F35 yesterday, I was trying to remember...

When did the Gibson style headstock on Fairbanks guitars go away? Mine is a 2020. #228 has it.

I had a Kopp under construction when Gibson "told" Kopp to not build those anymore.

Thanks!

[srick]

Originally Posted by dave42

Hello Fairbanks fans! As I was my F35 yesterday, I was trying to remember...

When did the Gibson style headstock on Fairbanks guitars go away? Mine is a 2020. #228 has it.

I had a Kopp under construction when Gibson "told" Kopp to not build those anymore.

Thanks!

Paging John Thomas…

[jt1]

Originally Posted by srick

Paging John Thomas…

Well, uh, I don't want to reveal conversations. Let me put it this way. In June of 2018, shortly after Gibson's current administration took over the company, its employee, Mark Agnesi, posted a video stating, "To the manufacturers out there, we want you to know that you’ve been warned." Soon, guitar makers whose work bore similarities to Gibson guitars began receiving cease and desist letters from Gibson. A number of these guitar makers reached out to me (being the only law prof who spends a lot of time in the guitar world).

[dave42]

I just went through my emails.

Kopp got the letter from Gibson mid October, 2016... right when I was placing my order.

[srick]

It was a very ugly moment in modern guitar history. It speaks for itself. Happily, the luthiers who were threatened have prospered and grown in stature.