A little bit of love for the Acoustic

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26-01-2018, 09:16 AM
FrankenWashie

A little bit of love for the Acoustic

The FrankenLab has given my Tak some much needed TLC and a desperately needed fretboard clean and new string set. 013-053 D'Addario Phosphor Bronze for those that are interestedhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...93521a73dd.jpg

Clean boards are slick boards
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...84be70f924.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...647e8f7527.jpg

I know Takamine isn't everybody's cup of tea, but this one is a favourite, big, boomy, projects well and rings clear.

What acoustics do you sling? What is your favourite and why?

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26-01-2018, 09:20 AM
churchie

Interesting bridge.

I have a Washburn, but my next acoustic will be a Maton
26-01-2018, 09:23 AM
JohnH

Looks nice; love the bridge and the rosette. I have a Cort that I was given by a friend which I really like, and also a $10 junk shop acoustic that I fixed up for my wife that I also quite like. I don’t play much acoustic to be honest, but really hope one day I can find a bit more time to spend with it
26-01-2018, 09:37 AM
Joe3334

I've got a Yamahahaha
26-01-2018, 10:25 AM
dave.king1

I have a 1970s Marina dred, surprisingly ok for a Chinese instrument of that era
26-01-2018, 11:51 AM
Marcel

2 Attachment(s)

Some time in the early '70's I got my Fender F-25. Not a loud player but it definitely has some soul... It saw nearly every teenage and twenty-something party I ever attended, plus quite a few stints at the beach...

When I joined the RAAF in the '80's it had to get 'indelibly marked' so my name was boldly engraved on the headstock... me thinks it is destined to never leave my side...lol

Photos were taken in May last year.
26-01-2018, 01:12 PM
DrNomis_44

I've played a Maton Acoustic in the past and thought that it was a really nice guitar, would love to get myself a nice Maton Acoustic/Electric one day.
26-01-2018, 03:24 PM
Brownsworthy

I currently only have a Riviera classical with pickup that I picked up at the markets, 20 odd years ago, for $15 that I painted when in high school.

I did have an Ovation that was sadly stolen, in a break in, along with a bunch of other guitars, amps and pedals. It was a beautiful guitar and had such a lovely sound almost 12string like though the curved back wasn't the best for a bloke with a bit of a gut.
26-01-2018, 03:44 PM
JohnH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brownsworthy

I did have an Ovation that was sadly stolen, in a break in, along with a bunch of other guitars, amps and pedals. It was a beautiful guitar and had such a lovely sound almost 12string like though the curved back wasn't the best for a bloke with a bit of a gut.

Ah, man. That sucks
26-01-2018, 04:18 PM
Sonic Mountain

I have a Fender Dreadnought style that I really can't stand to play- its too big and unfriendly, a very cheap Monterey electric acoustic, campfire guitar which I really like for its size and a 3/4 Valencia classical guitar (known as 'The Hippy Guitar') which is probably my favourite of all of them to play.

I'd rather plug one of the electrics in any day.

I've played a few Matons and they would be my pick if I were to outlay some serious $. Wonderful guitars.
26-01-2018, 04:53 PM
corsair

Samick Greg Bennet OMCE -18 bought in 1998(-ish) in Christchurch, NZ when I suddenly needed an acoustic for stagework, and I didn't have one at all! Oddly, it's OK - reasonably credible as a pure acoustic but plug it in and electrify it and it comes alive and sounds really good through the PA!
I also recently found a couple of Vantage acoustics here in a pawn shop in Hervey Bay and bought 'em both for $300; they are Matsumoku guitars from the early 80s and are very, very capable guitars.
I sold my Maton in about 1976 to fund the "next big thing", which was an Ovation... which I never, ever bonded with and hated; moved it on for an Ibanez 12 string acoustic in about 1982...
26-01-2018, 06:22 PM
Dedman

I've looked at the Gretch Jim Dandy acoustics.....nice little parlour size. but I just know I'd never play it. LOL
27-01-2018, 05:42 AM
Fretworn

Currently playing an Alvarez. I had an vintage Takamine for a long time. Back when they still had Martin rip-off headstocks like this one...
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._EST._1962.jpg

It had a really thin neck and was really difficult to play, but I persevered with it for about 20 years.
27-01-2018, 06:07 AM
FrankenWashie

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave.king1

I have a 1970s Marina dred, surprisingly ok for a Chinese instrument of that era

A brand I've never heard of, I shall look it up.

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27-01-2018, 06:42 AM
dave.king1

2 Attachment(s)

Here ya go FW

Attachment 24467 Attachment 24468

My brother wanted to leave his Tak with me instead but I felt he should be hanging onto it because it was better and I wasn't really an acoustic type of guy, so he went and purchased a really nice Maton and gave the Tak away ( bastrad :D )
27-01-2018, 07:38 AM
FrankenWashie

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave.king1

Here ya go FW

Attachment 24467 Attachment 24468

My brother wanted to leave his Tak with me instead but I felt he should be hanging onto it because it was better and I wasn't really an acoustic type of guy, so he went and purchased a really nice Maton and gave the Tak away ( bastrad :D )

Lovely clean looking guitar Dave.

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27-01-2018, 08:13 AM
Andy40

looks good FW....13's eh....ouch!
27-01-2018, 10:47 AM
FrankenWashie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy40

looks good FW....13's eh....ouch!

The FrankenLab has a penchant for heavy handedness Andy.
27-01-2018, 05:47 PM
Simon Barden

5 Attachment(s)

Here are my acoustics in order of acquisition, earliest on the left.

Attachment 24472 Attachment 24473 Attachment 24474 Attachment 24475 Attachment 24476

So we have:

1) 1999 Takamine Santa Fe DSF-48C. Bought new. The original digital DSF pre-amp was a battery eater and I replaced it with the Cool Tube model. It now sounds a lot better when plugged in and new batteries won't be needed mid-gig. Nice but not outstanding when played acoustically due to its fairly solid feedback reducing construction, but it shines when amplified. Solid spruce top, laminated rosewood back and sides. Mahogany neck, ebony fretboard.

2) Martin DR Acoustic. A well used guitar before I obtained it, this has a great action and the Fishman soundhole pickup was a bonus for the price. Solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, mahogany neck.

3) Nylon strings means this must be my Yamaha CG-171SF (love the snappy name) flamenco style guitar. Solid spruce top with cypress wood back/sides and an ebony fretboard gives it a brighter tone than standard classical guitar. It has a nice sound to it and was obtained via eBay from nearly new at a quarter of the cost of the new price.

I've replaced the original plain and slightly creaky machine heads with a better and fancier looking set.

4) Tanglewood TW145-12 SC twelve-string guitar. This was an utter new bargain and the B-Band pickup system sounds fantastic. Solid cedar top, laminated mahogany back and sides. The body is quite small but quite deep (Tanglewood's 'folk' size). It's so clear and jangly and I love this guitar. I should really play it more!

5) 1965 Gibson Country Western. It's been a working guitar and as a result has a few knocks and scrapes in the finish, but is structurally sound. The clear lacquer has darkened considerably over time, and it's obvious where the lacquer has worn away over the binding as the binding shows through as almost white. The neck is thin, so it's easy to play.and the action is good. It's a very light guitar, almost nothing to it, and has a corresponding light tone to it, not like a typical dreadnought at all.

Solid cedar top, solid mahogany back, sides and neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard.

I've replaced the tuners with identical new types, as one was very bent and one was rather stiff - obviously keeping the originals safely stored away. I initially replaced the original ceramic bridge with a Tusq one (which supposedly improves the sound but I didn't notice any difference). Since I took this photo I've replaced the whole adjustable bridge with a solid bone one and replaced the cheap plastic bridge pins with some bone ones. Obviously the new bridge looks a bit chunky but it has cured the slight rattle on the top G and E strings.

I generally use 0.012"s or 0.013"s on the Takamine and Martin, the lightest set of strings that I can find for the 12 string (normally 0.010"s), high tension strings (currently Aquila) for the Yamaha and 0.013"s for the Gibson. The Gibson needs heavier strings to help bring out the low end and could really do with even heavier strings on the bottom three strings.
27-01-2018, 07:07 PM
FrankenWashie

Your Tak and mine share many features Simon, mine is my go to for acoustic playing, closely followed by the Dobro. If I’m feeling hip and un square, then I’ll play my Eastman arch top.
27-01-2018, 07:14 PM
Simon Barden

Yes, the Tak plays like butter, just wish it had a slightly better acoustic voice. But the anti-feedback stiffer construction does leave it lacking slightly there. It's not bad, just a little 'polite'.
28-01-2018, 03:49 AM
FrankenWashie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Barden

Yes, the Tak plays like butter, just wish it had a slightly better acoustic voice. But the anti-feedback stiffer construction does leave it lacking slightly there. It's not bad, just a little 'polite'.

I have the opposite problem with my EN20, it booms probably due to the jumbo body construction, though it is acoustic electric though I’ve never really used it that way.
28-01-2018, 06:58 AM
JohnH

Just found this old photo of the junk shop guitar I fixed up for my wife. I think it's a Canora brand, but I'll have to double check. It was $12, and a lot of work lol. It's had two new bridges since then, and two new nuts. It's almost right, but I'm still getting better at these things. I quite like it though - parlour size, silver wound strings, very twangy.

https://i.imgur.com/pcfZpJ8.jpg
29-01-2018, 04:51 AM
chrissyinbkk

Got myself an Epiphone pro 1 to learn to actually play a guitar early last year and is the one i take to the lessons... even though bought brand new the action was horrendously high so had it set up properly, even the tutor thinks its a good guitar now.

Then tonight we have bought an unseen Takamine 335 off Ebay..... we shall see when that arrives.... apparently originally bought in NZ circa 1995....
29-01-2018, 06:15 AM
FrankenWashie

Very nice John, lovely looking bit of gear. I like your mandolins as well.
29-01-2018, 06:17 AM
FrankenWashie

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrissyinbkk

Got myself an Epiphone pro 1 to learn to actually play a guitar early last year and is the one i take to the lessons... even though bought brand new the action was horrendously high so had it set up properly, even the tutor thinks its a good guitar now.

Then tonight we have bought an unseen Takamine 335 off Ebay..... we shall see when that arrives.... apparently originally bought in NZ circa 1995....

Is that a G355SC 12 string Chrissy?
29-01-2018, 06:22 AM
chrissyinbkk

Don't know about the "SC" but it is 12 string Frankie yes
29-01-2018, 08:02 AM
JohnH

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankenWashie

Very nice John, lovely looking bit of gear. I like your mandolins as well.

Thanks FW. I’m quite proud of the reverse scroll mandolin - I saved it from the skip, and it had no fretboard, no tuners, varnish was falling off all over the place. It was only the second instrument I ever repaired, and there are an awful lot of mistakes in there, but it works again and it looks ok.

My wife’s guitar was a similar amount of work - new fretboard, new stain, new tuners, new tailpiece, etc. I just found all the photos I took of the process, so maybe I’ll make a build diary.