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  #76  
Old 05-09-2021, 08:52 AM
Busdriver63 Busdriver63 is offline
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A good friend and music mate went to Fran’s Music in North Adams, Mass. in 1970. I was looking to upgrade from a Harmony, not sure of model. Fran talked me out of a D-28, said the wood wasn’t as good. He had a Loprinzi, (never heard of them before)and a Gibson Blue Ridge Custom. I bought the label,figuring Gibson had the name. I never got the D-28, but about five or so ago I picked up a Loprinzi for $100 that needed lots of work an cleaning. I still have the Gibson, my friend passed away about a year ago. Never got to say goodbye and how much I enjoyed the time playing guitars for anyone that would listen. Every time I hear one of songs we would play on the radio I think of him. RIP Al
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  #77  
Old 05-09-2021, 10:17 AM
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Mark Stone Mark Stone is offline
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Default How did you get the oldest guitar you have?

My oldest is a K. Yairi Conquistador. I traded a Gibson J-50 for it in 1978, and still own it because of its awesome tone and sentimental value.
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  #78  
Old 05-09-2021, 12:48 PM
FrankHudson FrankHudson is offline
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I'm surprised by how many great guitars or at least good guitars are listed as the one's they've held onto the longest.

I've had three acoustic guitars for more than 40 years. Two are still played some. One, the first I bought, isn't. Here's my answer to Wade's questions:

How did you get the oldest guitar you have?

I was quite poor, but I managed to get together about $40 at the end of 1974 to get a cheap nylon string (I think it had a sticker on the headstock that said "Checkmate") from the leftover from Christmas table at a JC Penny's. I wanted to play an instrument and write songs, and it was the cheapest thing I could afford to do that.


And what’s made you keep it?

At first to use it to learn on, and to start writing songs. It was my only 6 string acoustic for a decade or so. Wide chunky neck, black painted fretboard was just the top surface of the neck. Fairly large classical shape all-laminated body with paint or decals suggesting a rosette or binding.

By the time I got a better acoustic it was nothing of any worth, so it never was at risk of becoming a trade in. Eventually I stopped playing it and got an inexpensive used Yamaha for those times when I want to pretend I'm Willie Nelson and play nylon string.

Nowadays I'd probably have to toss it into dumpster, and someday that's what'll happen.


what do you especially like about it?

I got it out a few years ago, restrung it and recorded a piece playing it for my project. It's not a rich toned instrument, and while not ideal action-wise, it was still playable. Holding it reminds me of being poor, working with folks even poorer that I was, and the adventure of learning to write and play music. That's just a memory that'll go when my memory goes.
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  #79  
Old 05-09-2021, 01:48 PM
Gordon Currie Gordon Currie is offline
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I grew up in a lower middle class family that was always strapped for cash, so my early years involved many cheap 'copy' guitars. I didn't own a name brand until 1977.

After becoming a fan of Bruce Cockburn in 1977, I searched for Larrivee everywhere. They were difficult to find in the US. Luckily they had just opened up their first dealer in WA state in 1980-81.

I paid $1200 in 1981 dollars for their bottom of the line cutaway. Everything was spruce over rosewood in those days. I could only barely afford the base model, so no gorgeous Wendy Larrivee inlay for me.

I can still recall the feeling of handing over all that cash. It was like buying a used car, except it ended up taking me to some very different destinations!

The guitar has mellowed a bit, but has also gained in expressiveness. It will be with me until the end.
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  #80  
Old 05-09-2021, 02:11 PM
TJN TJN is offline
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I still have a Seagull S6CW I bought in 1998. My dad died in 1997 after a 10 year battle with ALS. My mother's Alzheimer's was getting worse and to say that I was stressed out would be an understatement. Three possible solutions came to mind; start drinking, see a shrink, or find some fun way to take my mind off of these issues. I had a cheap (don't think I paid more than $50 for it) Yamaha guitar I had bought years before and took some lessons at the local music shop. They got a shipment of Seagulls in and I thought they sounded a lot better than the Yamaha I owned so I traded it in. The Seagull is currently on loan to my brother-in-law.
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  #81  
Old 05-09-2021, 04:02 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is online now
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We’ve dealt with both ALS and Alzheimer’s in my wife’s family, though fortunately not at the same time. “Stressful” would be an understatement.


whm
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  #82  
Old 05-09-2021, 05:13 PM
rule18 rule18 is offline
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My oldest guitar (1974 Gibson Dove Custom) found it's way to me by chance over a decade ago via another AGF member although neither of us were here at that time, nor did we know each other.

Why do I keep it? Because it sounds, looks and feels like an old Gibson dread in all the right ways!
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  #83  
Old 05-09-2021, 05:31 PM
FLRon FLRon is offline
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My oldest guitar is my 1964 Martin D-21. This guitar was purchased new by my father in law and he played it until it was given to me in 2013 when he passed away. He was a Pastor for many years and as such his guitar provided some of the music for several decades.

It is in need of a neck reset and a couple of cracks repaired, thus it stays in the closet while I keep searching for someone reasonably local to do the work.
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  #84  
Old 05-09-2021, 08:29 PM
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Jim Owen Jim Owen is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phil0021 View Post
Traded a '71 D-28 for the fingerstyle dream I needed - a '73 00-21 that I still love to play.
Cool guitar. Where in blazes did you find a 00 21, Phil? In the 70s I rarely saw any Martins that weren’t Dreads. I think I bought the only 000 18 I ever saw for sale.
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  #85  
Old 05-09-2021, 08:42 PM
rstaight rstaight is offline
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The oldest guitar I have is a second hand Fender knockoff that my parents bought for me. I was in 4th or 5th grade. I am 62 now.
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  #86  
Old 05-09-2021, 08:44 PM
phil0021 phil0021 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Owen View Post
Cool guitar. Where in blazes did you find a 00 21, Phil? In the 70s I rarely saw any Martins that weren’t Dreads. I think I bought the only 000 18 I ever saw for sale.

My local dealer showed it to me in the Martin catalog (which I still have) and pointed out the wide nut which I needed. I ordered it from the factory, having never played or even seen a 00. It had just ceased to be a production model, so I had to wait for it to be built; but it was well worth it. I still love it to this day.
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  #87  
Old 05-09-2021, 10:33 PM
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Jim Owen Jim Owen is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phil0021 View Post
My local dealer showed it to me in the Martin catalog (which I still have) and pointed out the wide nut which I needed. I ordered it from the factory, having never played or even seen a 00. It had just ceased to be a production model, so I had to wait for it to be built; but it was well worth it. I still love it to this day.
Cool story, Phil. I’d a been really nervous ordering sight unseen then. You got a winner.

Where in the foothills are you? I’m a Moravian Falls boy, but lived more of my life in the triangle. Now I split time between Georgia and NC.
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  #88  
Old 05-09-2021, 11:16 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is online now
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I had a stock 1974 00-21, the sound of which I loved. But I didn’t care for the wide neck, which I found uncomfortable to play, and wasn’t a fan of the slotted headstock, either.

So I eventually sold that guitar but years later had another one made at the Martin Custom Shop with the neck and headstock I prefer. I’m very pleased with it, because 12 fret Double O’s are one of Martin’s greatest designs: loud, powerful, projective and with a surprising amount of bass response.


whm
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  #89  
Old 05-10-2021, 03:47 AM
phil0021 phil0021 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Owen View Post
Cool story, Phil. I’d a been really nervous ordering sight unseen then. You got a winner.

Where in the foothills are you? I’m a Moravian Falls boy, but lived more of my life in the triangle. Now I split time between Georgia and NC.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Owen View Post
Cool story, Phil. I’d a been really nervous ordering sight unseen then. You got a winner.

Where in the foothills are you? I’m a Moravian Falls boy, but lived more of my life in the triangle. Now I split time between Georgia and NC.

Shelby. 40 mi west of Charlotte & 70 mi Southeast of Asheville - an hour from Chimney Rock & Lake Lure.
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  #90  
Old 05-10-2021, 05:21 AM
Don W Don W is offline
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My oldest is a 1980 Ovation Legend. I bought it new at Wurlitzer here in Mass. They were pricing them really low ($400 with case) as no one wanted a "plastic guitar". Mine was acoustic with no electronics and sounded as good as the Martins that were priced at 1K. Still love it and contrary to common belief it does break in nicely and has gotten really nice sounding over the years.
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