A Rare Guitar

[JCH]

Rugby socks



I live in the middle of the Mojave Desert, and wear shorts probably about 350 days a year. That's not me in the guitar case picture, but I took that picture while wearing shorts, and ankle socks. (white ones) I used to think they were odd, but I've grown to accept them as the norm. They're cooler, and much more comfortable so I converted a long time ago. Board shorts' became common attire when they started putting pockets on them. I think the long shorts that extend below the knee look ridiculous. NBA uniforms have looked stupid for years, but that's a suitable (pun intended) representation of what the sport has become. I'm old, and biased too. I can't believe how some people dress themselves.

I did the setup on the guitar yesterday. It didn't need much. I cleaned it up, re aligned the neck, made a small truss rod adjustment, and serviced the electronics. It plays really nice. I took a few more pictures, and recorded the pickup dimensions and specs. If anyone's Interested, I'll post up some gut shots, and share the pickup data.

 

[rayc]

Yeah, we need fuel injection down under or the carbies won't work.
What's with "skins" under shorts these days - "Oh, I'm going for a walk to the shops. I'll just pop on some skins under my shorts so I look like a doofus athlete wannabe, (or maybe my lycra bicycling suit)."
I'd love to look inside the 12. Does it chime on it's own or would it need a compressor?
Has the centre bald bloke embarrassed himself?

 

[JCH]

lol, There are a lot of hungry butt's on that squad.

I've got some work I need to finish, but I'll get some pictures of the XII up for you later. I just stepped in for a minute.

 

[JCH]

Here you go Ray,

 

[rayc]

Not too grotty for it's almost 48 years.
Thanks for the pix and the humour.

 

[acidrock]

I love that guitar, it's off the beaten path. I'm bored with Strats and LPs.

I have a Danelectro 12 string and it plays like a dream, super easy to fret.

My way of describing an electric twelve string is that if a six string is a piano a twelve string is a Hammond organ. One is more clear and concise the other just fills in all the empty spots.

 

[rayc]

Dano 12s are 800-900 dollars down under! Silly prices.

 

[acidrock]

Dano 12s are 800-900 dollars down under! Silly prices.

I bought mine for $150 new about twelve years ago. I was shocked by how smooth the neck was for such a cheap guitar. The pickups leave something to be desired, but that's the Danelectro sound I guess.

 

[kip4]

Thanks for sharing and the laughs.

 

[stevieb]

Isn't it common on these to tune a half step down, and use a capo?

Seems to be fairly common with acoustic 12's, because it reduces string tension. Anything less than Martin/Taylor/Gibson acoustic 12's seem to not live well under all that neck/bridge tension.

I once had a Mosrite Celebrity 12-string. Picked it up CHEAP at a garage sale in New Orleans. Dropped in, asked the old black woman if she had any guitars. She said, and I swear this is true, "I gots a old handmade guitar in the attic. I calls it "Willie" 'cause that whats the man who left it here was called." I crawled around in a very low attic- had to literally crawl on my belly- and finally found it. The guy had SANDED ALL THE FINISH OFF WITH A HOUSE SANDER, leaving a very rough finish but not gouging through the top veneer anywhere except under the pick guard. Brought it home, carefully sanded it smooth again, and determined it originally had a sunburst finish. I had never refinished a 'burst, but was determined to return it to original appearance. About 3 or 4 times, I pulled it back out of the case, set it on my work bench, and just stared at it for about half an hour- I could never be brave enough to start the refinish. Ended up selling it, made a good profit but I wish I'd been bold, or at least refinished it cherry (another factory color option) myself. Have not yet owned another electric 12 string.

I do have a Epiphone hollow body electric body I got cheap- someone before me began to convert it to lefty, filling the knob/switch holes and drilling ones on the other side. I was told by a good luthier it was not worth repairing, but I have considered making it into a "log" guitar, putting something like a 2X4 inside the body so it becomes basically a solid-body set neck guitar that looks like a hollow body. Even have a 12-string neck from an Epi acoustic.

I have a left-handed Arbor 12-string acoustic that has the most wonderful produced tones I ever heard- sounds much better than either the Yamaha or the Ventura 12's I once owned and flipped over to play lefty. I like the 12-string sound, personally, but it's not for everybody or every day.