Scott Baxendale
Well-known member
This video shows our process in detail. Warren Huart also has the best recording producing channel on YouTube.
The Baxendale Conversion Process for guitar remanufacturing.
TalismanRich
Well-known member
That's an excellent reconstruction. Well done, Scott.
Its funny. When I first heard Warren strumming the guitar, I thought "that sounds just about like what guys like Robert Johnson played". Those old guys often had some of the most basic, affordable guitars, especially when they started. If they made it big, THEN they might get a nice Martin or Gibson.
When finished, it really had a modern sound to it. How much of that is due to the change in bracing pattern from the cross braces to the x-bracing (since the top and bottom were the same)?
Its funny. When I first heard Warren strumming the guitar, I thought "that sounds just about like what guys like Robert Johnson played". Those old guys often had some of the most basic, affordable guitars, especially when they started. If they made it big, THEN they might get a nice Martin or Gibson.
When finished, it really had a modern sound to it. How much of that is due to the change in bracing pattern from the cross braces to the x-bracing (since the top and bottom were the same)?
Scott Baxendale
Well-known member
The improvement in sound is directly related to the difference in bracing. Our goal is to use our proprietary green tech process to transform these inexpensive guitars made with good woods into new remanufactured guitars with a professional level sound and playability and then sell them at prices working musicians can afford. The guitar in the video is made from all solid birch and was the cheapest full size guitar you could buy in the early 60’s at a price of around $19. My first guitar was a 3/4 size of a nearly identical guitar and I paid $12 new for it at Sears & Roebuck in 1964 right after seeing the Beatle on Ed Sullivan.
Silvertone on the headstock just means the guitar was sold through Sears. It was made by Harmony in Chicago.
Some of the higher end models of Harmony and Kay made guitars that we rebuild compete against pre war Martin and Gibson models that sell north of $10k. We have rebuilt well over 2000 of these type guitars over the last 15-20 years. We are recycling the endangered woods to avoid cutting down more rain forest trees.
Here is a recent clip that directly compares a 1959 Martin OOO-18 against a H162 Baxendale Conversion. The Martin is $6k and the Harmony is $1795.00 with new case and warranty. Both bodies are exactly the same size, shape and woods.
Papanate
Well-known member
It’s a good sounding guitar - but the 0018 is a fuller more rounded sound to my ears - but you certainly improved the dynamics of the Harmony - do you put any kind of Logo
on your conversions?
Scott Baxendale
Well-known member
The Harmony has more punch, amplitude and headroom. The Martin was $6k and the H162 Conversion is $1795. They were both made from the exact same woods around the same year.
The guy who purchased the Martin also bought the H162 as well which is always a good sign for us.
We put labels in all of our rebuilds.
This is a circa 1910 small body.
Here is another video of the H162 recorded with studio mics