NGD - 1926 Martin OOO-18 - River

Doug Young · #1 09-29-2020, 04:56 PM

Al Petteway put several of his older Martins up for sale a few weeks ago, and I couldn't pass up his 1926 Martin OOO-18. Really cool guitar, sounds great, and very comfortable to play. Getting close to 100 years old, and still kicking.

For an initial test run, I thought it'd be fun to record a tune of Al's. This is one of his older tunes, River, in Open G tuning.

ChuckS · #2 09-29-2020, 05:01 PM

Sounds wonderful!

rick-slo · #3 09-29-2020, 05:06 PM

Sounds good. I'm more interested in the mikes though.

Doug Young · #4 09-29-2020, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Sounds good. I'm more interested in the mikes though.

Yeah, also a new mic day. They seem to sound pretty natural. Set up for ORTF, with a swivel on each mic so you can adjust the angle. I haven't thoroughly AB'd them with anything but so far I like them. The Ear Trumpet guys promote their mics as being mostly for live use, tho I'm not really sure what that means.

TBman · #5 09-29-2020, 05:21 PM

Really nice Doug. The guitar sounds rich and full, enjoy it.

That's one of my favorite Al Petteway tunes. I like the tempo you chose. Well played!

Glennwillow · #6 09-29-2020, 06:05 PM

Man, Doug!

That was lovely! I listened to it front to back, twice! It sounds wonderful!

Well done!

- Glenn

Doug Young · #7 09-29-2020, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBman

Really nice Doug. The guitar sounds rich and full, enjoy it.

That's one of my favorite Al Petteway tunes. I like the tempo you chose. Well played!

Probably a bit slower than Al's original. I just learned it a few days ago when I thought of doing this video, so just going with how it feels to me.

Doug Young · #8 09-29-2020, 06:34 PM

Thanks, Glenn and Chuck!

jseth · #9 09-30-2020, 12:35 AM

Great take, Doug... really evocative and, somehow, ancient. No doubt helped along by the history of that old guitar...

Everything about the video was seemingly part of a set... the room, the view, the look of the microphones, the luster of age pouring off that guitar...

Really well done, on all the levels! Thanks.

(If that's your new "home studio", things are looking up for you!)

rémy64 · #10 09-30-2020, 06:35 AM

Good music and nice sound Doug, Bravo

islandguitar · #11 09-30-2020, 07:59 AM

Just beautiful, Doug! Made my day as I headed into my 3rd cup of coffee!! Congrats on a stellar guitar!

jklotz · #12 09-30-2020, 10:43 AM

That was really nice Doug. And congrats on a dream guitar!

MikeMcKee · #13 09-30-2020, 12:26 PM

That was nice! Congrats on a very cool guitar.
Out of curiosity..what are the nut width and saddle spacing on it?

Doug Young · #14 09-30-2020, 12:43 PM

Nut width is 1 7/8, saddle is 2 3/8. Surprisingly shallow profile on the neck shape, so that I don't even notice the wider neck, just feels really comfortable.

Mahogany back and sides, Adirondack spruce top, French Polish, apparently. It weighs slightly less than 3 pounds, so I'd say all the moisture in the guitar left a long time ago!

MikeMcKee · #15 09-30-2020, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Young

Nut width is 1 7/8, saddle is 2 3/8. Surprisingly shallow profile on the neck shape, so that I don't even notice the wider neck, just feels really comfortable.

Mahogany back and sides, Adirondack spruce top, French Polish, apparently. It weighs slightly less than 3 pounds, so I'd say all the moisture in the guitar left a long time ago!

Man, that sounds perfect!