Chad Thorne Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Back in 1969 I bought a Harmony flattop acoustic that had an offset, Fender-like headstock. Over the years I lost track of it until last week an old friend e-mailed me to ask me if I wanted it back. Apparently I lent it to her many years ago and forgot that I had! So I said "Yes!" and she's going to ship it to me. Here's a picture of it: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6232423&l=6a91bea64b&id=504863481 And I just found this info about it, which I never knew before: http://harmony.demont.net/guitars/H168/92.htm# I'm a happy guy!
picker Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 There's a song in that, somewhere... Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.
Eric Iverson Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 That's nearly a miracle, for a lost guitar to suddenly reappear. Closest thing was when I had given a guitar to this one guy at a church to teach kids with. He left, the classes ended, and a couple of years later I found that old guitar with cobwebs on it in a corner, so I took it home - more for sentimental value than anything else! Oh, and I use it to practice things in other tunings, so I can leave my stage guitar in standard.
SEHpicker Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Niiiiice... must be good karma! SEHpicker The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it." George Orwell
Caevan O'Shite Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 That's great! Cool looking guitar. Let us know how she plays and sounds, keep us posted. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Chad Thorne Posted February 10, 2011 Author Posted February 10, 2011 My friend corrected me, I didn't loan it to her, I sold it to her. Anybody know how to calculate 1977 dollars into 2011 dollars so I can pay her back? She hasn't asked me to but I want to. She tells me the truss rod is broken. If so I may decide to have it professionally repaired. As this is a guitar I had when I played righty I'm trying to decide if I should have it converted to lefty or not. What would you do, if you was me?
Larryz Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 It's nice to have some old honest friends, congrats on the reunion... Take care, Larryz
Chad Thorne Posted February 11, 2011 Author Posted February 11, 2011 Bumpy As this is a guitar I had when I played righty I'm trying to decide if I should have it converted to lefty or not. What would you do, if you was me?
SEHpicker Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 If you play lefty now, what benefit would there be for you to keep it righty? Jimi would vote lefty. SEHpicker The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it." George Orwell
Chad Thorne Posted February 11, 2011 Author Posted February 11, 2011 If you play lefty now, what benefit would there be for you to keep it righty? Jimi would vote lefty. Jimi would take drugs that would cause him to choke to death on his own vomit... One reservation I have is because my son is a lefty who plays righty, and I might like to keep it for him. I did think that, rather than routing the original bridge for a lefty saddle, I could remove the original bridge, replace it with a lefty (I have one). Then at some point in the future Cal or I could have it restored to righty playing.
SEHpicker Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 Jimi would take drugs that would cause him to choke to death on his own vomit... Does that mean he doesn't get to vote? Dude that's discrimination... SEHpicker The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it." George Orwell
Chad Thorne Posted February 11, 2011 Author Posted February 11, 2011 Jimi would take drugs that would cause him to choke to death on his own vomit... Does that mean he doesn't get to vote?No, but it does call his judgment into question...
Caevan O'Shite Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 Y' know, I think that I'd leave it "righty", I generally wouldn't make such radically invasive modifications (un-gluing, routing, gluing new parts, etc.) to an acoustic guitar unless it was quite necessary, particularly such an old/"vintage" one and especially one with such sentimental value. I'd clean it up, repair whatever needs repairing, put a fresh set of DR Sunbeam 13s on it, and give it a good set-up. New nut and frets at the most as far as "mods" go. Now, if it can be made to play and sound quite well, I might consider having a pickup and electronics system installed; perhaps by Dave Wendler? Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Chad Thorne Posted February 11, 2011 Author Posted February 11, 2011 Well, I do have a couple of nice lefty acoustic guitars, it's not like I need this one to be a player. I can probably wallow in sentimental memories just as well if I just noodle on it upside-down. Then my son can play it and really make it sing!
Bluesape Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Those are serious looking cracks in the top. I'd have the bracings and neck joint checked before putting 13's on it. Broken truss rod? Was there a trauma it was subjected to? Unless it means the world to you, I'd keep it as sentimental wall art, as I suspect the cost of properly repairing it would way exceed the value of the guitar. Sentimental affection notwithstanding, it could become a small money pit. I realize you're not concerned about resale value, but you could sink a lot of bux into it, and still end up with a guitar that won't compare to the much better guitars you own now, and it won't get played anyway. I suspect the cost of refurbing this one would buy another decent box for your son to play.... Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
picker Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Jimi would take drugs that would cause him to choke to death on his own vomit... Does that mean he doesn't get to vote?No, but it does call his judgment into question... Actually, Jimi would sign a contract with a London gangster who would take out an insurance policy on him before the contract ran out and then drown him on red wine while he was drugged on Seconal. However, that does still call his judgment into question... Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.
Bluesape Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Really don't wanna dredge up ugly theories here.... Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
Chad Thorne Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 Those are serious looking cracks in the top. I'd have the bracings and neck joint checked before putting 13's on it. Broken truss rod? Was there a trauma it was subjected to? Unless it means the world to you, I'd keep it as sentimental wall art, as I suspect the cost of properly repairing it would way exceed the value of the guitar. Sentimental affection notwithstanding, it could become a small money pit. I realize you're not concerned about resale value, but you could sink a lot of bux into it, and still end up with a guitar that won't compare to the much better guitars you own now, and it won't get played anyway. I suspect the cost of refurbing this one would buy another decent box for your son to play.... The cracks happened when my sister stomped on it one time when she was mad at me. (I have that effect on women sometimes.) They've been there maybe 40 years. Don't know the truss rod story, I just have Jan's assessment on that. Obviously there's a tipping point beyond which it wouldn't be worth it to me to fix. I'll have to make a decision when I get it back and can look it over. As for giving my son a decent guitar, already done that!: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=175020&id=504863481&l=6e6dd82838
Bluesape Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I knew he had one - that's why I said "another"..... Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
Larryz Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Those are serious looking cracks in the top. I'd have the bracings and neck joint checked before putting 13's on it.The cracks happened when my sister stomped on it one time when she was mad at me. (I have that effect on women sometimes.) They've been there maybe 40 years. Obviously there's a tipping point beyond which it wouldn't be worth it to me to fix. I'll have to make a decision when I get it back and can look it over. My son dropped an old Fender acoustic at the age of 16 which I bought in 1972 long before he as born and played at beach party fires, campouts etc...he bashed a big hole in it accidently which I coverd with electrical tape and I still play it once in a blue moon...but it brought tear to me eyes to see it bashed a little...it's my Willie Nelson...not worth fixing but I'm not going to throw away either...has a memory or two left in it... Take care, Larryz
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