Me with 1951 Gibson...

[PeruvianSkies]

I thought i'd share a picture of myself with my grandmothers 1951 Gibson acoustic guitar, which is in fairly great shape consider it's age and that it has been used quite a bit. I got this guitar when she passed away a few years ago. She is the original owner and paid $80 for the guitar new in 1951. Despite being a slightly smaller body it blows away any guitar made today in overall volume. The sound also has the classic blues-ier, thicker and fat low end sound that is common with Gibson acoustics.

[brulaha]

I'd be happy to take it off your hands for $100. Hell even $120??? You'd have a nice tidy $40 profit eh? Good deal!!!

[Rich-n-Texas]

Oh my you're handsome. Hey GMichael, you live in Pennsy too now. How 'bout? You two... nudge nudge, wink wink...

:ciappa:

[PeruvianSkies]

Oh my you're handsome. Hey GMichael, you live in Pennsy too now. How 'bout? You two... nudge nudge, wink wink...

:ciappa:

Rich...what's up with that?

[Rich-n-Texas]

A wisecrack directed at GM.
No PS, I don't swing that way.

Sorry to crap on your thread.

[ForeverAutumn]

It sure is purty!

What a treat to have a guitar bought by your Grandmother! She must've been one real cool old lady. I'll bet not a lot of women were buying guitars in 1951. And $80 was probably a whole lot of money back then!

I've never really thought about what I'd do with my guitars, but that makes me want to keep my 20 yr-old Yamaha in top notch shape so that I can pass it on to one of my nieces 40 or 50 years from now.

[basite]

It sure is purty!

What a treat to have a guitar bought by your Grandmother! She must've been one real cool old lady. I'll bet not a lot of women were buying guitars in 1951. And $80 was probably a whole lot of money back then!

I've never really thought about what I'd do with my guitars, but that makes me want to keep my 20 yr-old Yamaha in top notch shape so that I can pass it on to one of my nieces 40 or 50 years from now.

$80 in 1951 would be about $650 now (thanks inflation calc) so that's pretty much money, add the fact that this one's pretty unique, and in a really good state, it's worth a small fortune.

I love the finish btw :)

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[L.J.]

What!!! Your a dude :confused5:

[topspeed]

Great looking guitar :).

The old adage of "They don't build 'em like that anymore" definitely applies to musical instruments. I'll never forgive myself for selling my K series Zildjians. :mad2:

[PeruvianSkies]

It sure is purty!

What a treat to have a guitar bought by your Grandmother! She must've been one real cool old lady. I'll bet not a lot of women were buying guitars in 1951. And $80 was probably a whole lot of money back then!

I've never really thought about what I'd do with my guitars, but that makes me want to keep my 20 yr-old Yamaha in top notch shape so that I can pass it on to one of my nieces 40 or 50 years from now.

Yeah, she was a very cool lady! Very unique for sure. She did her own thing and didn't care what others thought. I contribute much of my love for music to her, although she mainly played country tunes and NOT today's type of country, but pure Country Western. Her husband also played a bit as well, although none of them were professionals.

The guitar is in superb shape and the only modifications that were done is changing the tuning pegs to modern ones because the original ones were starting to break, but I kept them in case I ever want to restore the entire guitar and put them back on. The body condition is in good shape with only blemishes due to natural usage over the course of 56 years.

Funny story...the day that she bought the guitar (again for $80, which was alot because 6 years prior to that she worked on a farm making 30cents/bushell of beans) she was driving home with my grandfather and a trunk in front of them was hauling a bunch of stuff and it spilled out and hit their car. The driver kept on going and didn't stop. One of the items that fell was a guitar case....she kept the case because she bought the guitar and didn't have a case, so talk about strange occurance.

[ForeverAutumn]

Funny story...the day that she bought the guitar (again for $80, which was alot because 6 years prior to that she worked on a farm making 30cents/bushell of beans) she was driving home with my grandfather and a trunk in front of them was hauling a bunch of stuff and it spilled out and hit their car. The driver kept on going and didn't stop. One of the items that fell was a guitar case....she kept the case because she bought the guitar and didn't have a case, so talk about strange occurance.

That's a great story. Do you still have the guitar case too?

[PeruvianSkies]

That's a great story. Do you still have the guitar case too?

Yeah I do, it's seen better days, but it still gets the job done.

Also, back to the wage thing. The reason that I know around 1946 how much money she made was because a few years ago (around 2000) she applied for her first job since then cause she raised 4 kids and had her last kid at age 36, which was my mom. Anyway, she was asking me how to fill out her application and when she listed her previous employers she listed jobs from the 1940's and when it asked her wage she put how much she made per bushell or basket when she picked vegetables and such. LOL. What a character!!!

[bobsticks]

Very nice. Very, very nice.

To echo Speedy's statement, I too feel that they just don't make 'em like they used to. I have my own horror story about opting to sell a first-year PRS for next to nothing in preparation for a move. In retrospect, I should have sold my car, or given plasma, or something...hold on to that beauty.

Thanks for sharin'.

[PeruvianSkies]

Very nice. Very, very nice.

To echo Speedy's statement, I too feel that they just don't make 'em like they used to. I have my own horror story about opting to sell a first-year PRS for next to nothing in preparation for a move. In retrospect, I should have sold my car, or given plasma, or something...hold on to that beauty.

Thanks for sharin'.

I only have 3 guitars....this one NEVER gets usage these days, but I do have a Taylor 314CE that I use as my main guitar as well as a PRS Custom 22 for electric guitar purposes. I know that there are some people that have dozens of guitars, but my feeling is that when you find a few perfect ones you don't need any others.

[ForeverAutumn]

I do have a Taylor 314CE that I use as my main guitar

DROOL...:arf:

A few years ago I had a nice little win at the casino and used the cash to buy myself an Ovation, which I enjoy playing. Last year I picked up a Taylor for the first time and I fell in LOVE. Now I dream about selling my Ovation and buying a Taylor.

[PeruvianSkies]

DROOL...:arf:

A few years ago I had a nice little win at the casino and used the cash to buy myself an Ovation, which I enjoy playing. Last year I picked up a Taylor for the first time and I fell in LOVE. Now I dream about selling my Ovation and buying a Taylor.

When I was in the market for a new guitar I was at the time playing my Larrivee, which I really really loved. I got a huge deal on the Larrivee when I bought it because the guitar shop was moving and had a huge clearance sale, so I bought the guitar for $650 instead of $1500. What a steal! I was very satisfied and really didn't "want" any other guitar. However, for some strange reason the Larrivee developed a bizarre case of breaking strings, mainly the D or G. I heard stories from other people about certain tension on Larrivee's or that the bridge might cause strings to break over time.

Anyway, after playing out a few times and having strings break in the middle of performance I decided to sell that and was in the market for a Taylor, which was the ONLY guitar I felt rivaled the Larrivee without spending too much more. So, I went to the guitar shop and sat down for a few hours without looking at the price tags on the Taylors. I don't really like Martin or the new Gibsons, so I ruled them out. I tested out about 12 Taylors and settled on the 314CE, which in my opinion smoked the others despite being about half the price as some. I have also played some of the 700 series, which are nice, but not worth paying over $3,000 for. I got mine for about $1300.

So if you are in the market for a Taylor I would highly recommend the 314 as a superb middle of the Taylor price range that is a true winner. It gives me the bright tone as well as the deeper full rich sound. A perfect mix.

[ForeverAutumn]

A small word of advice, not that you asked...

I appreciate the advice. The first Taylor that I ever picked up retailed for about $4,000 US and was on sale for $3,500 CDN. A gorgeous bright orange with lots of inlay, it was a beautiful thing to look at as well as play. Since then I've played some less expensive Taylors and, while they don't have the aesthetic appeal of the first one, they have had beautiful sounds.

While I play at least one of my guitars (as well as the Ovation I have a Yamaha that I bought 20 years ago and will never, ever part with) almost every single day, I only play for myself. I've never played in front of a crowd and am very self-concious even in front of close friends. So, I really can't justify the cost of even a lower end Taylor except as a personal treat.

While there's no doubt in my mind that there's a Taylor guitar at some point in my future, it would have to be one kick-ass deal (like the one you got on your Larrivee) or a really good used one for me to be able to justify it. But I love going into the guitar shop to dream.

[dean_martin]

Beautiful guitar, PS! I'm planning to get my first acoustic since trading a Silvertone acoustic (and a Univox Mosrite copy) on a '66 Fender Mustang many years ago. I finally sold the '66 Mustang last year after wearing down the frets. New frets would have been not only too expensive, but also if not done correctly it would have diminished the value. I couldn't play it anymore. The only lead I had on the fretwork would have required me to take it to a guy in Birmingham who would have shipped it to a guy in Nashville. I wasn't too comfortable with that. I was torn between keeping it and passing it down or getting another guitar I could play. I ended up with a Japanese made Jaguar with a little $$ left over. I also have a Japanese made Jazzmaster from the mid 80s. The Japanese quality is right up there with the US made Fenders, but they're cheaper. They may not be as collectable, but they represent better value for a players' guitar, IMO. I still have a Princeton Reverb tube amp from the 70s that isn't going anywhere. I'm takin' my amp with me when I go.

I knew a guy in Mobile, AL who used to have a vintage stringed instrument shop - guitars, mandolins, banjos, etc.- in the late 80s and early 90s. His niche was Gibson acoustics like yours. You've got a real treasure there. Interesting side story - the blue Mosrite that Pat Smear played during Nirvana's InUtero tour passed through my friend's shop. You used to be able to go to pawn shops and second hand instrument stores and find all sorts of vintage guitars for reasonable prices. The prospectors (many from Japan, I'm told) hit the used US market in the early 90s and snatched up everything they could find. Now, you almost have to be a wealthy investor/collector to aquire one of those fine old instruments.

[PeruvianSkies]

Beautiful guitar, PS! I'm planning to get my first acoustic since trading a Silvertone acoustic (and a Univox Mosrite copy) on a '66 Fender Mustang many years ago. I finally sold the '66 Mustang last year after wearing down the frets. New frets would have been not only too expensive, but also if not done correctly it would have diminished the value. I couldn't play it anymore. The only lead I had on the fretwork would have required me to take it to a guy in Birmingham who would have shipped it to a guy in Nashville. I wasn't too comfortable with that. I was torn between keeping it and passing it down or getting another guitar I could play. I ended up with a Japanese made Jaguar with a little $$ left over. I also have a Japanese made Jazzmaster from the mid 80s. The Japanese quality is right up there with the US made Fenders, but they're cheaper. They may not be as collectable, but they represent better value for a players' guitar, IMO. I still have a Princeton Reverb tube amp from the 70s that isn't going anywhere. I'm takin' my amp with me when I go.

I knew a guy in Mobile, AL who used to have a vintage stringed instrument shop - guitars, mandolins, banjos, etc.- in the late 80s and early 90s. His niche was Gibson acoustics like yours. You've got a real treasure there. Interesting side story - the blue Mosrite that Pat Smear played during Nirvana's InUtero tour passed through my friend's shop. You used to be able to go to pawn shops and second hand instrument stores and find all sorts of vintage guitars for reasonable prices. The prospectors (many from Japan, I'm told) hit the used US market in the early 90s and snatched up everything they could find. Now, you almost have to be a wealthy investor/collector to aquire one of those fine old instruments.

During the mid 90's when I started playing guitar I noticed what seemed to be the tail end of secondhand shops having really cool things, like guitars. It seems that we are in a new era where things like the Internet have caused a bigger ripple and people are not really using secondhand shops nearly as much, most of the stuff they carry nowadays is just junk. Also, people have access to information much easier and knowledge is power. Before, people couldn't easily find the value of things and so they might be a widow who is just 'getting rid of' her husbands stuff and sells off his guitars for hardly anything to a local pawn shop or even in a garage sale. These days she googles the guitar findds out it's worth a mint and either holds onto it or sells it for a decent sum of money. For me, my grandmothers Gibson is priceless and is worth more than any dollar amount simply because it's unique and has setimental value. You can't put a price on that, and like others have said...they don't make em' like they used to and here is a classic example of just that!

[Worf101]

But it has too many strings.. Here's "my girls"

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Worf101/My%20Pics/DSC00132.jpg">

'68 Fender Jazz (replacement neck), 68 Les Paul Recording Bass, 70's Kawai FIIB, Custome Made Mark Leue Speical, Rennaisance Plexi and Custum Fender Jazz. Nice guitbox you got there though...

Da Worfster

[ForeverAutumn]

Nice collection there Worf. That Custom Fender Jazz is a beauty. Are those stripes wood inlay?

[PeruvianSkies]

Worf,

Every guitar player needs at least one good bass playin' friend.

[Worf101]

Actually F.A. the sripes are different woods, solid blocks not inlays. The, wings are mated to the different interior woods. They call it a 'hippie sandwich". A term used to describe the "Alembic" brand basses that first featured numberous types of wood.

Oh yes P.S. every guitbox player needs a bass playin' sidemen. Drummers drink too much.

Da Worfster

[PeruvianSkies]

Actually F.A. the sripes are different woods, solid blocks not inlays. The, wings are mated to the different interior woods. They call it a 'hippie sandwich". A term used to describe the "Alembic" brand basses that first featured numberous types of wood.

Oh yes P.S. every guitbox player needs a bass playin' sidemen. Drummers drink too much.

Da Worfster

Worf, can you play fretless too?

[Rich-n-Texas]

Pardon the interruption...

I had no idea there were so many musicians here.
Please explain the following terms:
What is a riff (I think I understand what this is but how is it different from a "lick"?
What is a lick?
What is a hook?

Thanks.

[PeruvianSkies]

Pardon the interruption...

I had no idea there were so many musicians here.
Please explain the following terms:
What is a riff (I think I understand what this is but how is it different from a "lick"?
What is a lick?
What is a hook?

Thanks.

Rich,

Here is how I define them:

Riff - is a repeated chord progression, which is typically laid down by the rhythym instruments.

Lick - is a short passage like a lead part of the music through a melodic line

Hook - is essentially the part of the song that you remember, it's the main melody of the song.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Okay. I think I had the meanings of riff & lick reversed. A riff can be provided not just by an electric or lead guitar, but also by a rhythm guitar or even keyboards right? And it's essentially the heartbeat of the song? A lick is an instance where the lead guitarist goes off on his own, but not completely in a solo mode, correct? And hook means the obvious... "I'm hooked on that song."

[ForeverAutumn]

This is a great question! There's some good descriptions with audio samples on Wikipedia.
Riff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riff)
Lick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lick_%28music%29)
Hook (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lick_%28music%29)

Although, I think that the Blues Traveler's said it best in their song Hook, "the hook brings you back".

[GMichael]

Oh my you're handsome. Hey GMichael, you live in Pennsy too now. How 'bout? You two... nudge nudge, wink wink...

:ciappa:

He's cute, but no going in through the out-door. Does he have a sister?

[Rich-n-Texas]

...short rhythmic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm), melodic, or harmonic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic) figures repeated to form a structural (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_form) framework.
This statement would then reinforce my comparison to it being the heartbeat of the song. On the DT video the band was talking about and writing a list of riffs on a whiteboard, so I guess they then use them to form the foundation of each song, no? And yeah, and I love the samples Wiki lists: In-a-Gadda-da-Vida twice and Smoke on the Water!

On to Licks after I do some work here at work. :sosp:

[GMichael]

This is a great question! There's some good descriptions with audio samples on Wikipedia.
Riff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riff)
Lick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lick_%28music%29)
Hook (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lick_%28music%29)

Although, I think that the Blues Traveler's said it best in their song Hook, "the hook brings you back".

Hey, your hook is a lick. But the lick leads to a hook so it's cool.

[Rich-n-Texas]

He's cute, but no going in through the out-door. Does he have a sister?
You realize that was a Led Zeppelin album do you not?

And,,, where have you been? That quote was waaaaaay back on page one! :prrr:

[GMichael]

You realize that was a Led Zeppelin album do you not?

And,,, where have you been? That quote was waaaaaay back on page one! :prrr:

Duh........

And yeah, I somehow missed this thread. I've got some catching up to do.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Duh........
Sometimes it's the smallest things he says that just KILL me.

Back to my studies...