This guitar was born the year Edward VIII was crowned King of the UK (and the Dominions, Emperor of India as well though debatable, UK was still a gigantic empire on which the sun never set)!... and the year he abdicated as well!... (I love "The Crown" series ;) )... with old detuned strings like these I like to play the acoustic bridge part in The Prodigy's "Breathe" masterpiece...
Mary, that's a very cool find, and beautiful in a careworn way. Looking forward to things you will create with it. Blues will likely come off with a grreat tone with that instrument. Great find!
Berlin Olympics took place in 1936 and even back then the olympics were quite a big thing where manufacturers started to produce new products and / or olympic editions .... without the IOC licence needed nowadays
What a great a acquisition. If I may add my 2 cents, go down to the super market and buy some lemon oil for furniture and give the fretboard and body a nice coating. Let it soak in for a bit and then wipe off with some paper towels. The neck will feel wonderful and the body will shine up nice. And I'm sure the guitar will love you for it.
I’ve played thousands of guitars, and I can tell you that if you picked up a 1936 guitar that plays like that with just strings and a little TLC, you indeed have a find! That guitar has more than vibe, it has a lifetime of its own... its own history. You can only imagine where it’s been, and who might have played it. Elvis was 1 year old when it was new. Congratulations! Enjoy joining into the history of a fine guitar.
Yes indeed, and maybe with not the best string choice either. Also, as someone else noted, these were designed to play loud with a pick, which Mary might want to try.
I love how she doesn’t use like the first 15 minutes of the video to just plug things and describe how they got the thing, unlike many other youtubers, she just gets right to the point
If you like Mary's approach to her videos you should look up Justin Johnson. He follows a similar style. No plugging for lesson bundles I r whatever. He's a very talented young man and all of his videos have a very good amount of useful tips and strategies for improving your playing abilities.
David Rawlings from Gillian Welch fame plays a 1936 Epiphone Olympic. It really is a beautiful instrument and yours doesn't seem to need a neck reset which is amazing. A great find!
Now. it's the time to test it by Marcin Patrzalek :D (Beethoven's 5th Symphony on One Guitar) or at least his (Paganini's Caprice no. 24 on One Guitar) recon it won't last to the end haha
That is a floating bridge. It’s supposed to be that way. Epiphone, at that time, was sometimes considered better than Gibson. Measuring to get intonation right will be very satisfying. I have a 1940 of the same guitar. Sounds amazing! Clean and condition the fingerboard and frets and your good to go. Isn’t it exciting?!?! It’s like meeting a ghost!
I have a floating bridge on my banjo and my mandolin. Adjusting the bridge intonation seems very similar to adjusting the intonation on a fixed bridge except that you have to kind of come to a compromise between each of the strings with how the bridge is positioned and angled.
This guitar needs nothing. It's perfect the way it is. You know who the happiest one is? The guitar. She is being played again and making music instead of hanging on a wall. Best of luck.
I learned to play on a guitar exactly like this. My father was in the Navy and bought it from a shipmate who was transferred and needed money. He gave it to my mother, who played it for many years. (My father didn’t play.) I was born in 1953 and first picked it up in 1960 at the age of 7. It started me on a musical journey that has taken me around the world. I’ve played professionally for over 50 years, and it started with this guitar. Yours looks in better shape than the one I learned on. Sadly, it was lost in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many memories here. Thank you for reminding me, and enjoy this beautiful piece of history.
@@off6848 That might be it. I don’t have the serial number, but it had a partial refret and the first 3 or 4 frets were a different size from the rest. It also had a hole in the side, lower bout I believe. The pick guard also had a half circle cut out of it from where we installed a pickup. I’d love to see it if you have any pictures.
I recently bought a used Yamaha LL16 ARE as a guilty pleasure to replace the 1977 Yamaha FG150 that I had and traded it for a first-generation 1979 Ovation guitar back in the day. Something I regretted for many years after purchasing. By accident, I found an older model Yamaha LL16 ARE in a guitar room with guitars costing $2500 to $8000 and yet guitars at $500 sounded amazing. I bought it and it is now my songwriting guitar. The woods are amazing, a combination of Rosewood backs and sides, Birch bindings, Mahgony and Rosewood neck, and Spruce top. The guitar looks amazing and sounds like a high-end Martin. Mary, I get it, the joy and potential creative energy of a guitar with history and character. I can see the joy in your eyes and the adventure of a new find, a partner to the adventure. Congrats!
It's a jazz-guitar bridge, the same kind mandolins use until now, these are usually not glued so they move and thats good, you can easily adjust intonation and string height.
This lovely instrument will have gone to sleep, like an old violin. As the months go by and as you play it more and more it will wake up and start to resonate again. I'm a bass player and my brand new bass wasn't sounding very good, but now it's 10 years old and it can really sing. Give your lovely guitar lots of love and lots of cuddles then you have a great partner for the rest of your days. Enjoy. Xx Steve , from Durham UK.
It was such a pleasure to see and hear you getting more comfortable and then falling in love with this guitar. I love the distinctive sound it makes. This was lovely. Thank you.🙂
Watch for movement on the neck daily now that it has tuned tension on it, look for signs of stress where the tailpiece fastens to the body. Detune it if there's neck movement or signs of stress. The necks on these guitars were reinforced, I believe, with a cantilever brace, 80+ years later hopefully it's still doing it's job. Tap around the whole surface area of the top and back of the body to check for rattles/looseness of the internal bracings. If you suspect a loose brace inside, especially on the top, again, detune the guitar when not in use to lower the tension/stress on the body and prevent cracking, warping/bowing. If you suspect multiple bracings have looseness detune it and leave it be until you get it to a luthier. Check the whole guitar for any cracks. Judging from the sound you are getting from it, I would guess that the bracings are good but at the same time that's sort of silly for me to say just hearing it on a youtube vid. Do you see signs that it had a pickguard on it? Just curious. Seems to be in very reasonable condition for it's age, again, just by seeing and hearing on youtube. These were kind of the lower end of the Epiphone line but at the same time, the condition, sound, you have something special there it was still a quality instrument in it's time for the price. A pre-WW II, pre-Gibson take-over Epiphone, treasure it!! It's said Epiphone was outdoing Gibson but when WWII hit Epiphone struggled and never recovered, resulting in Gibson buying them out and basically making sure the quality of the instruments under the Epiphone name didn't surpass Gibson's line. Maybe you've already thought of everything I said here but if not hopefully everything checks out and you're a little more comfortable with your buy and handling the instrument until you can get it to a luthier. Nice buy!!! The case was scary though lol.
Yeah, well... Gibson has been failing at the whole "Epiphone must not be higher quality" thing for a couple decades now. :) I kinda hope the case isn't original, so that she has no particular reason to save it, because it's just nasty. I bet it smells like decaying wood, too, and I wouldn't want that around a wood instrument.
When I heard the first notes, I thought And then you played... and brought tears to my eyes. That guitar took 85 years to find it's home! I hope to hear a lot more from it and from you. Thank you.
There is a similar guitar in the corner of my mother's house that my father use to play. Now I'm curious if it's the same guitar or not. I want to tell you that the emotion coming through your music on this video was indescribable. I feel so many emotions when listening to your music. There were tears just during the few bars you sang. Your voice is mesmerizing. Your talent touches my soul. I had to subscribe. Not to mention the valuable information you freely share about this field of music. I wish you many blessings.
I have an guitar that was given to me at the age of 16 when it was 80 years old. Now it's 138 years and still has the best tone I've ever heard. You have something well worth fixing.
Gibson Epiphones are also high quality and sound just as wonderful... not saying you, just saying a lot of people seem to think epiphone is the squier of Gibson. It isn’t. It’s more like the mexican strat of fender. High quality instruments, just built in different countries for cost savings purposes. Just a cheap mod away from top of the line quality
@@zimvader25 A few of the modern Epiphones are "high quality" but most aren't. Under the hood they are often quite different, with the outward appearance of looking similar. They can play great and even be just as nice to actually play as their Gibson counterparts, but it's so much more than just the same guitar made in a different country. If you know anything about guitar lutherie, you know Epiphone and Gibson are worlds apart, even if Gibson are/were notoriously inconsistent. So even with my cheap Gibson Tribute T with it's multi-part maple cap, most people can barely find the centre line, let alone the other two pieces. Even on an entry level Les Paul, the bookmatching on a non-fancy maple cap is top class. Epiphone don't even bookmatch, they make up stock lumber from chunks of wood, carve it, then veneer it to make it look pretty. That's like an solid oak table, or an "oak" table from Ikea. If you want to see my Tribute, here: i.imgur.com/xFauVa6.png
I think of all the music that a guitar has played and each time you play it, the music memory is added. I wish a guitar could play back what was played on it. Enjoy adding to this old guitar`s life.
This is the sweetest sounding guitar I have heard in a long time, and the vocals were pretty damned good too. This would make a great recording guitar.
I’m certain someone has mentioned to have the tuning gears checked, oiled and tightened. That will improve tone, intonation and ease of tuning the instrument. Then oil and clean the fretboard and polish the fret wires. Also polish the body with a non oil based cleaner like Smith’s polish. It’s a very organic sounding play. Try NICKEL Martin strings to get a more period correct sound. Love, TJ
Tuning gears can't affect intonation because they are past the nut. Intonation is only affected by fretted notes and bridge placement. Tuning stability is a different thing.
David Rawlings is most notably known for playing a 1930s Olympic with Gillian Welch. Some of the best acoustic music (and vocal harmonies) out today, in my humble opinion.
Lol.. that reminds me of last week when in a fit of absolute rage, I picked my genuine 57' Telecaster, up by the end of it's neck and damn near swung it into a wall. Low e dropped about 15 cents but that was all. Tough little diddys!
The poor thing has probably been laying in its case for years feeling like an orphan that nobody wants. You have given it a home Mary and I can feel its joy and happiness coming to life through its voice that hasn't had a chance to speak for years until now.
@@victorman88 🤣🤣🤣 poor Nickleback man, they get dragged so much. I don't really understand why? I'm sure they're rich enough to not care but then again as artists it must be get to them deep down.
@@jonathannewby5795 lol, I do that 🙈🤣 I'm well aware that it's bizarre and there's probably some underlying reason why I do it but I do project human feelings onto inanimate objects. Same with food, I hate leaving one chip, or one anything on my plate, I have to either leave two things or eat everything. I wouldn't say I go as far as feeling joy or pain from the objects but I don't like to think I could be potentially causing it pain. I'm a fkn weirdo man 🤣
@@melodyvalentine8779 Well said (don't worry, I understand the logic of what you said, just teasing really, it shows you have imagination). It's a pity these old guitars become more expensive, often impossibly so. A few years ago I foolishly passed up a beautful guitar from 1890. However, there are always overlooked, underestimated bargains to be had, even new or nearly new. I have just bought myself three fab, used (as it turned out unused) guitars online, just important to ask the right questions, though older guitars can sometimes be harder to play unless properly adjusted. Have a nice Christmas🎄.
Just as a general guide on the floating bridge. The 2 "points' on the f-holes actually point to where the bridge should be generally set. So, if it ever does fall off, you can quickly just place it back between the points and you will be 95% of the way there.
I have recently found the same guitar in a vacant renal unit. It had four nickel wound number 9s on it I only replaced the missing strings on it, tuned it and also was amazed by the rich tone of it. Mine is the same color.I am very happy to find your video on the same instrument .
Remember that in the 30's the guitar was primarily a rhythm instrument in an orchestra or a big band, not usually a solo instrument.Try using a pick and bang out some chords like a guitarist would have done in, say, Artie Shaw's or Benny Goodman's band. That's was most likely the customer to whom your guitar was aimed.
you’re also supposed to use heavier strings and a higher action. these guitars when played correctly(proper Big Band Jazz style) have a nice loud/ warm tone
@@the_based_and_trad_protestant That's not to say playing one the "wrong" way won't yield valid results. The Les Paul was intended for jazz and jazz-based pop, and look what happened. Ms. Spender will undoubtedly coax unexpected sounds from this instrument.
I bought a basically perfect condition May Bell parlor from the 1930s recently, too! Paid only $450 for it and it has a beautiful, if quaint sound. Came with its original case.
That's a thing of true beauty and so cheap for what it is. Stop complaining about the dust and enjoy. Think about the decades of people who have played it.
@@dumpwoodhere Nowhere in my comment did I complain about the guitar, and I wouldn't have spent $450 on it if I didn't think it was an incredible piece of art.
It's in really good condition, for it's age, almost 100 years old. I think it would be good for the Big Band sound, ie. Stray Cat Strut. A great wall hanger. Wood Sounds better with age. Nice find. AL USA
What absolute treasure to see this venerable instrument in such respectful and appreciative hands, and to witness the luck of it being in such surprisingly good playing condition, and then your beautiful playing and clear joy. What were the chances of it being so good? They say good instruments find their owners, rather than the other way round... And I love that attitude about custodianship. Everything's just perfect here. Thanks so much for sharing.
Imagine the number of artist who have lovingly made music with this instrument. When you hold it in your arms, it’s as if you are holding everyone of those people through the ages right back to the very persons who felled the tree that it is made from.
try a small amount of distilled vinegar on a rag that is rung out, leaving the rag damp... place the damp rag inside the sound hole and you may also put one in the case. It will remove the musty smell and restore the wood smell.
You might contact Keith at 5 watt world, he is an historian, player and friend of Rick Beato...... I am sure he could help with the history, and it might even become content for him too! Cool guitar!
@@andym2612 well, the Norlin to modern era. Austin really doesn't know anything about pre-Norlin Gibson and basically nothing about archtops. I'll give him credit for the Norlin era in particular though. He knows some minutiae about the models from that period.
It is an amazing guitar... yes, a whole review please. Those new strings simply added life to a formerly neglected instrument. It now oozes with original vibe! Congrats Mary!
When you can get a luthier to examine it, you will probably find it needs a fret job or at least "leveling," which will definitely enhance action. It sounds very much like a 1930s f-hole. The bronze strings are probably a bit too bright for it too. How many 84-year-old guitars are still playable, and even that sonorous? Congratulations.
I'm not an expert by any means but I understand this is called a "floating bridge" meaning it isn't (usually) attached to the top. Some have little pins to keep them in place but if yours has no pins, you can move (slightly) the bridge to establish/maintain proper intonation. Again, I'm not an expert but used to have a modern arch top and that's what I was told. Beautiful instrument!
You would never want to pin the bridge on an acoustic arch top. It's fine for stuff like the Gretsch electrics and such, where it really is all about the pickups so they can be built quite heavy, or even laminated; but on an acoustic you are just pushing the limits of the instrument too much if you do that.
Beautiful! I bought pretty much the exact same guitar, only it’s from the 40s for $250. The best part is finding all the songs that live in the guitar. It will never be truly ‘yours’, you have to respect the history and let it talk to you and reveal its secrets. My advice is control the humidity. Do Not let it dry out!
So glad to see how happy you are with your purchase. I got my first vintage guitar a year ago. It's a 1964 Hagstrom 2. My cousin worked at a school as a custodian and they were cleaning out the art department storage room, which used to be the music room back in the day. His co-worker grabbed a guitar case and was about to chuck it into the dumpster when my cousin asked if it felt like there was anything in it. Turns out there was. It was in great condition (other than the first 5 frets being worn down) and in the original case with vintage Gibson flat wounds on it (I know this because the original string packaging was in there as well). I had my Lutheir friends refret it and it is my favorite guitar! I know it is a mental thing, but it just FEELS better and more special than any other guitar I own.
ssshhh!..(don't talk about Hagstroms!) i need to find a 60's "Condor" so don't raise market prices; a school friend had one & it was the easiest playing & insanely good-looking electric guitar of those times. & it'll do Blues Rock just fine!
@@MrZootalores well I only said it "feels" better! You just said it's the easiest playing and best looking electric guitar! Lmao So which one of us is gonna drive up the prices?! Hahahahaha 🤣🤣🤣😉😁
Wow Mary, what a cool piece to find. It is beautiful and sounds lovely. It is wonderful to see it in the possession of someone who will care for it and enjoy it as much as you will.
Love a quick string change on an old guitar, resurrecting it and bringing life once again to it. As always your beautiful voice and touch makes this video so memorable! Cheers Mary!
I really like the term "caretaker", especially with this guitar. It gives that sense that it's not just a piece of property, but it'll (hopefully ) endure and continue to make music long after we're gone.
Keep it! The value will only go up. I bought a 1919 Gibson L-4 in 2018. Richard Gere had the same one, and it sold for ± twice the price that I paid. The prices have already gone up in the last 4 years. What's also interesting to know, is that there is NO VAT on instruments that are over 100 years old (at least in Europe, that is)! Oh, and DON'T get rid of the case, but restore it! On Reverb they ask a couple of hundred bucks for these old cases! I used some bands of Tolex and textile glue on the edges. And I bought a new leather handle with two buckles for it.
Imagine how much time has passed since this beauty was made. And this sound: like an old man whose voice matured over the years telling you storys of his live. Such old instruments are something very special. I hope someday I own one of these storytellers too.
what a beauty, and what a sweet mellow sound. Archtops May not project the fat bottom of a dreadnought but they punch above their weight in the mids/highs… which I think (don’t quote me!) is why they were invented. greetings from Chicago, Mary, you are wonderful. (and I still love-love your Last Train “saga”).
THAT is a beautiful find! And it is what Tim Pierce would call "Player Condition". It's not so perfect you have to tiptoe around it, you can play it and enjoy it without worrying about a scratch or something.
Some Lemon oil on the fingerboard is probably a good idea....and on the saddle as well. Just enough to wet the surface then buff with a towel or microfiber. I have an Epiphone Hummingbird and a Sheraton. The acoustic has excellent playability, excellent build and finish but lacks low end. The Sheraton is absolutely wonderful. Great find on the new/old acoustic.
It's so easy to say that guitar was made to end up in your hands.. Love all your videos but this gave me goosebumps when you started that song. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Great segment! Being a luthier myself I love the guitar stories, and this is one of yours! The intonation did sound a bit off, be sure to check it at the 12th fret, I'm guessing the octave will be a little flat on the high strings. Archtops of this era develop their sound at about 3 feet/1.5 meteres away, as you probably discovered in the video, it is much louder than you thought while playing it. Typically these also have very triangulated (and large) necks which are a little weird to play at first but it adds to the inspiration as you go because you are kind of forced into different voicings & technique. Ironic in a way, as you build your collection, I am thinning out mine. I wound up "collecting" a lot of guitars that need to be rebuilt & repaired and actually lost track, but because many are bizzare projects or things I neeeded at the moment (my guitar story I sent) they are pretty much worthless to anyone but an experimenter or session player (I was). It is great to see how much you have grown since I first found your channel and I am SO happy to see your posts since you went daily. As I slowly fade into the sunset (Hopefully slowly at least) artists like you give me hope that all will be well. ROCK ON!
I recently refurbished one of these. For the dust inside take a kilo of rice, cheapest you can buy, pour it inside & then give the guitar a good shake for a couple of minutes, then tip it out. Works a treat to dust out the inside!
That's a really sweet guitar. I have a 40's Gibson acoustic I picked up for $10 at a garage sale. Played perfect. And like yours, it has an uncanny natural reverb effect. TONE IS AWESOME!!! Very cool Mary!
I was a luthier. The finish is likely more durable - as modern synthetic lacquer was invented in the 1950s and usually CRACKS over time. "Epiphone used a nitrocellulose lacquer on all their instruments. Until approximately 1939 a golden sunburst adorned all guitars. After that a natural finish was offered on the Emperor and De Luxe." I don't hear any buzzing so it's likely the neck is decent but like the man said, LOOK down the neck to see the relief. Does it have a very slight curve to it. Is it straight and not warped?
Just a lovely video, i love seeing instruments coming off palliative care and into the hand of someone who loves them for what they are, reguardless of the scuffs and scratches....just beautiful
This is one of the happiest days in that guitars life. From being neglected for years someone opened its prison and light came flowing in. New clothes and ready to sing again. Happy times :)
Hi Mary, it appears I am a year late to the conversation, but wanted to say you were very lucky on this purchase. I don’t know what you’ve had done to it since this video, but let me say that this Epiphone, with your voice behind it, is killer! I think the rawness of the blend is absolutely striking. I love seeing others value these historical music boxes. I have a 1969 Silvertone acoustic that Scott Baxendale rebuilt and it is my go to guitar. I also saved a 1937 Supertone round hole archtop from certain death. There’s just something special about the right touch on these old loves. Hello from east Texas and glad I found your channel. I’ll subscribe as well. My best to you and your family. Thanks, Randy
I got my first archtop guitar quite by accident. A very nice woman was offering her record collection for sale nearby so I went to have a look. Once at her house we got to talking and she told me her father had been a guitarist in a swing orchestra back in the big band period of the '30s and '40s. Before I knew it I was looking at her father's 1940 Gibson L-12 archtop guitar! I about fell over. That Gibson is a true work of art and the sound is unbelievable. Loud! Built like a Cadillac and sounds like an orchestra! She ended up selling me this fine guitar and I feel honored to be its new custodian. I absolutely love your Epiphone! The coloring is quite unique and it sounds every bit as good as it looks. You scored a great piece of guitar history. Cherish it and play your heart out.
@@jerbear7952Believe it or not a Cadillac once was considered the blue ribbon of automobiles. I was making an archaic reference because my Gibson is from that era.
@@StockportJambo It can create certain overtones that you might not necessarily want, especially when recording. The foam enables you to stop the strings ringing when strumming/picking etc.
@10:15 I know what you mean when you say “it’s quite quiet,” but that may be from the players perspective. Archtops were actually designed (I’ve heard) to be loud and cut through in the midrange. I have one (‘03 Hofner Jazzica) but to be honest, I still don’t know, for sure. but it’s a pleasure to chunka-chunka with.
I've played a few old archtop acoustics like that. I find that they have a more percussive tone to them. There's a softer sustain, but a stronger punch to each note. Very cool find.
Intonate the guitar the best you can and you may have to move the bridge a bit here or there. Once it is intonated, mark the bridge with a pencil or some tape. Loosen the strings, and fix the bridge in place by adding some thin double sided tape under the bridge. That way you can play with some aggression without worrying that the bridge will move.
I'm very late to this video, but wanted to complement you on your acquisition of a very beautiful guitar. I love my 1937 Olympic, but sadly it was not in the condition of yours initially. The celluloid had totally deteriorated to chalk and the neck was badly in need of a reset. After some loving conservation by a marvelous luthier it is now the jewel of my collection. As for quiet, it depends on the playing as the archtop guitars were used with the big bands so that the guitar wouldn't be lost under the brass. Hold on to it and good luck with centenary.
A very good friend of mine owns an old parlour guitar. We have no idea how old it is for certain, only that it's well over 100 years. It's been recently repaired by a very well respected luthier, who described is as being extremely well made. That guitar is not easy to play either, but when you play it sympathetically and go by the feel of how it 'likes' to be played, it can sing to you. Instruments develop such a unique character as they age. It's interesting that you described yourself as its 'caretaker', as that is how my freind thinks of himself in relation to his vintage guitar. That was a real pleasure to watch, thank you!
Hello Mary, I am a very new subscriber (3 days ago). I found you through Rick Beato's site. I've read all the comments, all of them. I have some experience on 'restoring' vintage acoustic guitars. Quite a lot of experience actually. With Humility and Grace, I'll give a very brief 'suggestion'. Vintage acoustics. Can be good, great, or a nightmare. You got a good one Mary! My suggestions, echoed by many on this thread: Clean the guitar. Clean it well. Obviously you've replaced the strings. Take it to a pro Luthier or violin expert to have a flexi tube vacuum done on the inside thru the F holes. Get dust and debris out of the inside of the instrument. It is NOT going to hurt it. Clean it as you would a new guitar, polishing sprays, solutions, cloths for the wood, etc. Do NOT use oil on the tuners, especially with old wood. Use a non penetrating grease type lubrication, wax, etc. Do not refinish, replace any part, alter the basic presentation of the guitar. You can make adjustments for a warped wood bridge with slivers of cut sandpaper, etc... but don't physically alter or replace anything. Only continue to use the custom light gauge strings you initially strung it up with. Lighter or heavier will alter the string height. You got that damn thing to sing with no buzz at its highest and lowest settings on all strings. You were correct, you purchased one in a thousand. Finally, Congratulations!
I just watched an interview with Dave Rawlings. He didn’t seek out this model or compare it with lots of alternatives. He stumbled on this model in someone’s basement, covered with dust. He cleaned it up and found it to be the perfect guitar for his work with Gillian Welch.
I am really surprised at the musical charisma in the sound. I'm hearing so much resonance and harmonic overtones. It's like the little thing is singing in response to being played. It just seems like it's alive and touching the simple strings of music in our hearts. I hope you give it a very nice setup and enjoy the soft voice of Silver Bell.
Buy an old arch top guitar. Any old arch top. Why the BEEEEEEP not? You see, even the 1936 ones can be very very cheap. Relatively cheap, that is. All this one needs is cleaning, you really should do that the right way, ask a really good luthier for advise. While cleaning, you in fact do a thorough inspection. Anything that is not in good working order must absolutely be noticed. Example? A crack in the finish can indicate a broken headstock. One does not want to install a new set of strings, before such things have been dealt with. When you got enough experience, you can do repairs yourself, but when in doubt, find yourself a good luthier. Even when you do not repair guitars for a hobby, you can watch and see things that are not okay, in a guitar. That level of knowledge is enough, when you are just a player feeling something is wrong, simply find help. Go to a guitar shop or a luthier. Anybody can buy such a nice old guitar. Why not? Yes, this one sounds great. I love hearing the response, too.
WHAT A FIND! Massive thanks to Zach of Mythos Pedals!
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This guitar was born the year Edward VIII was crowned King of the UK (and the Dominions, Emperor of India as well though debatable, UK was still a gigantic empire on which the sun never set)!... and the year he abdicated as well!... (I love "The Crown" series ;) )... with old detuned strings like these I like to play the acoustic bridge part in The Prodigy's "Breathe" masterpiece...
Can you please do a Red hot chili peppers cover mary? 🤘🏻🎶🎸 "I could've lied" or "my friends" would be my suggestions but any song would be awesome
Mary, that's a very cool find, and beautiful in a careworn way. Looking forward to things you will create with it. Blues will likely come off with a grreat tone with that instrument. Great find!
Berlin Olympics took place in 1936 and even back then the olympics were quite a big thing where manufacturers started to produce new products and / or olympic editions .... without the IOC licence needed nowadays
What a great a acquisition. If I may add my 2 cents, go down to the super market and buy
some lemon oil for furniture and give the fretboard and body a nice coating. Let it soak in
for a bit and then wipe off with some paper towels. The neck will feel wonderful and the body
will shine up nice. And I'm sure the guitar will love you for it.
I’ve played thousands of guitars, and I can tell you that if you picked up a 1936 guitar that plays like that with just strings and a little TLC, you indeed have a find! That guitar has more than vibe, it has a lifetime of its own... its own history. You can only imagine where it’s been, and who might have played it. Elvis was 1 year old when it was new. Congratulations! Enjoy joining into the history of a fine guitar.
Yes indeed, and maybe with not the best string choice either. Also, as someone else noted, these were designed to play loud with a pick, which Mary might want to try.
I love how she doesn’t use like the first 15 minutes of the video to just plug things and describe how they got the thing, unlike many other youtubers, she just gets right to the point
Emerald City guitars likes to hand-job for 20 minutes about how thrilled they are with the guitar you'll be overpaying for.
This must be your first ever video because shes a shameless plug addict.
If you like Mary's approach to her videos you should look up Justin Johnson. He follows a similar style. No plugging for lesson bundles I r whatever. He's a very talented young man and all of his videos have a very good amount of useful tips and strategies for improving your playing abilities.
@@snooze0023 ???, I've never seen her throwing plugs for anything.
@@raysmith1630 i actually watch him already! very good videos
David Rawlings from Gillian Welch fame plays a 1936 Epiphone Olympic. It really is a beautiful instrument and yours doesn't seem to need a neck reset which is amazing. A great find!
Congrats on your first vintage guitar!!
Now. it's the time to test it by Marcin Patrzalek :D (Beethoven's 5th Symphony on One Guitar) or at least his (Paganini's Caprice no. 24 on One Guitar)
recon it won't last to the end haha
That is a floating bridge. It’s supposed to be that way. Epiphone, at that time, was sometimes considered better than Gibson. Measuring to get intonation right will be very satisfying. I have a 1940 of the same guitar. Sounds amazing!
Clean and condition the fingerboard and frets and your good to go.
Isn’t it exciting?!?! It’s like meeting a ghost!
I have a floating bridge on my banjo and my mandolin. Adjusting the bridge intonation seems very similar to adjusting the intonation on a fixed bridge except that you have to kind of come to a compromise between each of the strings with how the bridge is positioned and angled.
Gibson is trying hard to make Epiphone better than Gibson once again!
I wouldn't say better than Gibson - especially in the 1930's, which was Gibson's best era for acoustic guitars - but a pretty equal competitor.
@@taunokekkonen5733 Ya by getting someone OTHER than Gibson to make them :)
@@PixelmechanicYYZ I think he meant Gibson is trying hard to make Epiphone better than Gibson by making Gibson shit.
This guitar needs nothing. It's perfect the way it is. You know who the happiest one is? The guitar. She is being played again and making music instead of hanging on a wall. Best of luck.
Yea buddy!!.. you said it right.
Strange, because I distinctly heard the guitar say it preferred being played by Charlie Christian.
Well said, I feel the same. This old guitar has been brought to life again!
cringe
I learned to play on a guitar exactly like this. My father was in the Navy and bought it from a shipmate who was transferred and needed money. He gave it to my mother, who played it for many years. (My father didn’t play.) I was born in 1953 and first picked it up in 1960 at the age of 7. It started me on a musical journey that has taken me around the world. I’ve played professionally for over 50 years, and it started with this guitar. Yours looks in better shape than the one I learned on. Sadly, it was lost in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many memories here. Thank you for reminding me, and enjoy this beautiful piece of history.
💕
I might have your actual guitar I found a 1934 Epi after Katrina
@@off6848 That might be it. I don’t have the serial number, but it had a partial refret and the first 3 or 4 frets were a different size from the rest. It also had a hole in the side, lower bout I believe. The pick guard also had a half circle cut out of it from where we installed a pickup. I’d love to see it if you have any pictures.
@@off6848
☝Subhuman
Ouch! That’s a sad lost on your guitar.
It is nice that this guitar has finally found someone with the ear and artistry to really appreciate it as an instrument. It has waited long enough!
I recently bought a used Yamaha LL16 ARE as a guilty pleasure to replace the 1977 Yamaha FG150 that I had and traded it for a first-generation 1979 Ovation guitar back in the day. Something I regretted for many years after purchasing. By accident, I found an older model Yamaha LL16 ARE in a guitar room with guitars costing $2500 to $8000 and yet guitars at $500 sounded amazing. I bought it and it is now my songwriting guitar. The woods are amazing, a combination of Rosewood backs and sides, Birch bindings, Mahgony and Rosewood neck, and Spruce top. The guitar looks amazing and sounds like a high-end Martin. Mary, I get it, the joy and potential creative energy of a guitar with history and character. I can see the joy in your eyes and the adventure of a new find, a partner to the adventure. Congrats!
"Everything is falling apart"
"I'm scared of... Everything"
Damn, Mary just channeling the mood of my life rn.
That guitar is saying thank you over and over again and again. Being played by someone who so appreciates the beauty hidden within.
It's a jazz-guitar bridge, the same kind mandolins use until now, these are usually not glued so they move and thats good, you can easily adjust intonation and string height.
Start of video - “why did she go and do that?”
Mary starts playing at end of video - “oh, that’s why.”
This lovely instrument will have gone to sleep, like an old violin. As the months go by and as you play it more and more it will wake up and start to resonate again. I'm a bass player and my brand new bass wasn't sounding very good, but now it's 10 years old and it can really sing. Give your lovely guitar lots of love and lots of cuddles then you have a great partner for the rest of your days. Enjoy. Xx Steve , from Durham UK.
It was such a pleasure to see and hear you getting more comfortable and then falling in love with this guitar. I love the distinctive sound it makes. This was lovely. Thank you.🙂
Watch for movement on the neck daily now that it has tuned tension on it, look for signs of stress where the tailpiece fastens to the body. Detune it if there's neck movement or signs of stress. The necks on these guitars were reinforced, I believe, with a cantilever brace, 80+ years later hopefully it's still doing it's job. Tap around the whole surface area of the top and back of the body to check for rattles/looseness of the internal bracings. If you suspect a loose brace inside, especially on the top, again, detune the guitar when not in use to lower the tension/stress on the body and prevent cracking, warping/bowing. If you suspect multiple bracings have looseness detune it and leave it be until you get it to a luthier. Check the whole guitar for any cracks. Judging from the sound you are getting from it, I would guess that the bracings are good but at the same time that's sort of silly for me to say just hearing it on a youtube vid. Do you see signs that it had a pickguard on it? Just curious. Seems to be in very reasonable condition for it's age, again, just by seeing and hearing on youtube. These were kind of the lower end of the Epiphone line but at the same time, the condition, sound, you have something special there it was still a quality instrument in it's time for the price. A pre-WW II, pre-Gibson take-over Epiphone, treasure it!! It's said Epiphone was outdoing Gibson but when WWII hit Epiphone struggled and never recovered, resulting in Gibson buying them out and basically making sure the quality of the instruments under the Epiphone name didn't surpass Gibson's line. Maybe you've already thought of everything I said here but if not hopefully everything checks out and you're a little more comfortable with your buy and handling the instrument until you can get it to a luthier. Nice buy!!! The case was scary though lol.
Yeah, well... Gibson has been failing at the whole "Epiphone must not be higher quality" thing for a couple decades now. :) I kinda hope the case isn't original, so that she has no particular reason to save it, because it's just nasty. I bet it smells like decaying wood, too, and I wouldn't want that around a wood instrument.
When I heard the first notes, I thought
And then you played... and brought tears to my eyes. That guitar took 85 years to find it's home! I hope to hear a lot more from it and from you.
Thank you.
Exactly right. Tears. Play on, Mary!
Come on chaps! Pull yourselves together
@@lionelmerbles9375 Nah. When something is beautiful, just enjoy it as such. Mary Spender playing a 1936/7 Epiphone is a definition.
There is a similar guitar in the corner of my mother's house that my father use to play. Now I'm curious if it's the same guitar or not. I want to tell you that the emotion coming through your music on this video was indescribable. I feel so many emotions when listening to your music. There were tears just during the few bars you sang. Your voice is mesmerizing. Your talent touches my soul. I had to subscribe. Not to mention the valuable information you freely share about this field of music. I wish you many blessings.
I have an guitar that was given to me at the age of 16 when it was 80 years old. Now it's 138 years and still has the best tone I've ever heard. You have something well worth fixing.
I love the pre-Gibson Epiphones. They are high quality pieces and sound just wonderful.
Gibson Epiphones are also high quality and sound just as wonderful... not saying you, just saying a lot of people seem to think epiphone is the squier of Gibson. It isn’t. It’s more like the mexican strat of fender. High quality instruments, just built in different countries for cost savings purposes. Just a cheap mod away from top of the line quality
@@zimvader25 A few of the modern Epiphones are "high quality" but most aren't. Under the hood they are often quite different, with the outward appearance of looking similar.
They can play great and even be just as nice to actually play as their Gibson counterparts, but it's so much more than just the same guitar made in a different country. If you know anything about guitar lutherie, you know Epiphone and Gibson are worlds apart, even if Gibson are/were notoriously inconsistent. So even with my cheap Gibson Tribute T with it's multi-part maple cap, most people can barely find the centre line, let alone the other two pieces. Even on an entry level Les Paul, the bookmatching on a non-fancy maple cap is top class. Epiphone don't even bookmatch, they make up stock lumber from chunks of wood, carve it, then veneer it to make it look pretty. That's like an solid oak table, or an "oak" table from Ikea.
If you want to see my Tribute, here:
i.imgur.com/xFauVa6.png
At that time, she was on her own, competing,holding her own Gibson didn't make that. When she gets set, it's gonna be outta this world!😑
I think of all the music that a guitar has played and each time you play it, the music memory is added. I wish a guitar could play back what was played on it. Enjoy adding to this old guitar`s life.
Be careful what you wish for!😊
This is the sweetest sounding guitar I have heard in a long time, and the vocals were pretty damned good too. This would make a great recording guitar.
I’m certain someone has mentioned to have the tuning gears checked, oiled and tightened. That will improve tone, intonation and ease of tuning the instrument. Then oil and clean the fretboard and polish the fret wires. Also polish the body with a non oil based cleaner like Smith’s polish. It’s a very organic sounding play. Try NICKEL Martin strings to get a more period correct sound. Love, TJ
Tuning gears can't affect intonation because they are past the nut. Intonation is only affected by fretted notes and bridge placement. Tuning stability is a different thing.
It doesn't need anything but protection. Maybe oil and cleaning
That guitar has its own voice. It's great
Pro tip; the notch in the fhole points to the correct position of the bridge and you can adjust slightly for intonation from there, under tension.
David Rawlings is most notably known for playing a 1930s Olympic with Gillian Welch. Some of the best acoustic music (and vocal harmonies) out today, in my humble opinion.
i have a powerful lust for these guitars because of DR. they sound unbelievable in his hands
Wow, Mary. Your style is perfect for a guitar like that. When you started singing I thought maybe you were somehow meant to find that guitar!
Ask around and find the best electric pickup that can be added to the guitar. Or perhaps work at mic'ing only, could work too.
@@davidcox2197 yes I have a 'Kent Armstrong' floating pick up on mine. Why no check them out?
I was thinking the exact opposite. I think this guitar would like to play some blues.
Anything could be a tool on the right hands and I think it sounds amazing when you are playing it
Find yourself someone that holds you like Mary holds her guitar and you'll have found true love.
Haha
Lol.. that reminds me of last week when in a fit of absolute rage, I picked my genuine 57' Telecaster, up by the end of it's neck and damn near swung it into a wall. Low e dropped about 15 cents but that was all. Tough little diddys!
Very, very true spoken.
A lot of guys whish they would be loved and held like this guitar is.
Especially blokes from '36 I guess ...
@@BrandonWestfall yes 🤤
@@MrRFasters Well, they're the lucky ones - already vaccinated!
The poor thing has probably been laying in its case for years feeling like an orphan that nobody wants. You have given it a home Mary and I can feel its joy and happiness coming to life through its voice that hasn't had a chance to speak for years until now.
Santa found it on the Island of Misfit Guitars. It only plays Nickelback songs haha
@@victorman88 🤣🤣🤣 poor Nickleback man, they get dragged so much. I don't really understand why? I'm sure they're rich enough to not care but then again as artists it must be get to them deep down.
Do you always project human feelings onto inanimate objects?
@@jonathannewby5795 lol, I do that 🙈🤣 I'm well aware that it's bizarre and there's probably some underlying reason why I do it but I do project human feelings onto inanimate objects. Same with food, I hate leaving one chip, or one anything on my plate, I have to either leave two things or eat everything. I wouldn't say I go as far as feeling joy or pain from the objects but I don't like to think I could be potentially causing it pain. I'm a fkn weirdo man 🤣
@@melodyvalentine8779 Well said (don't worry, I understand the logic of what you said, just teasing really, it shows you have imagination). It's a pity these old guitars become more expensive, often impossibly so. A few years ago I foolishly passed up a beautful guitar from 1890. However, there are always overlooked, underestimated bargains to be had, even new or nearly new. I have just bought myself three fab, used (as it turned out unused) guitars online, just important to ask the right questions, though older guitars can sometimes be harder to play unless properly adjusted. Have a nice Christmas🎄.
I can't remember a time I wasn't fascinated by old instruments. Playing one is like stepping back in time.
Just as a general guide on the floating bridge. The 2 "points' on the f-holes actually point to where the bridge should be generally set. So, if it ever does fall off, you can quickly just place it back between the points and you will be 95% of the way there.
I know it’s not how the sound gets transmitted in them now , but that’s why the Eric Johnson semi-hollow Strats kind of bug me.
@@brandonfield6994 YES! They look so wrong.
I was told the same thing about lining up the bridge with the f-hole "points" by a luthier here in Los Angeles that was doing work on my 30s archtop.
Came here to say this. Spot on. :-)
Whack a Floyd Rose and some EMG's on there and you've got yourself a keeper!
@@starbattles1 It's absurdism, not sarcasm.
LOL
No, that's silly but it's a clear candidate for a B-Bender & a Sustainiac.
....and don't forget to build in a Metal Zone....lol!
Don’t forget....if you’re gonna slap a Floyd Rose on it, you gotta some locking tuners too!!
I have recently found the same guitar in a vacant renal unit. It had four nickel wound number 9s on it I only replaced the missing strings on it, tuned it and also was amazed by the rich tone of it. Mine is the same color.I am very happy to find your video on the same instrument .
Remember that in the 30's the guitar was primarily a rhythm instrument in an orchestra or a big band, not usually a solo instrument.Try using a pick and bang out some chords like a guitarist would have done in, say, Artie Shaw's or Benny Goodman's band. That's was most likely the customer to whom your guitar was aimed.
I have heard this type of guitar played that way and it was magic. They open up and SING. Loudly. They are the opera singers of the guitar world.
Yep.
you’re also supposed to use heavier strings and a higher action. these guitars when played correctly(proper Big Band Jazz style) have a nice loud/ warm tone
@@the_based_and_trad_protestant That's not to say playing one the "wrong" way won't yield valid results. The Les Paul was intended for jazz and jazz-based pop, and look what happened. Ms. Spender will undoubtedly coax unexpected sounds from this instrument.
@@Xubuntu47yes but the Les Paul was never ment to be played 100% acoustic like Archtops originally were
I bought a basically perfect condition May Bell parlor from the 1930s recently, too! Paid only $450 for it and it has a beautiful, if quaint sound. Came with its original case.
I love old parlor guitars.
That's a thing of true beauty and so cheap for what it is. Stop complaining about the dust and enjoy. Think about the decades of people who have played it.
@@dumpwoodhere Nowhere in my comment did I complain about the guitar, and I wouldn't have spent $450 on it if I didn't think it was an incredible piece of art.
It was also a single-owner guitar, which probably explains why it's in such great shape.
It's in really good condition, for it's age, almost 100 years old. I think it would be good for the Big Band sound, ie. Stray Cat Strut. A great wall hanger. Wood Sounds better with age. Nice find. AL USA
I love that you describe your role as the “caretaker” of this beautiful instrument.
What absolute treasure to see this venerable instrument in such respectful and appreciative hands, and to witness the luck of it being in such surprisingly good playing condition, and then your beautiful playing and clear joy. What were the chances of it being so good? They say good instruments find their owners, rather than the other way round... And I love that attitude about custodianship. Everything's just perfect here. Thanks so much for sharing.
It sounds beautiful to me
Imagine the number of artist who have lovingly made music with this instrument. When you hold it in your arms, it’s as if you are holding everyone of those people through the ages right back to the very persons who felled the tree that it is made from.
try a small amount of distilled vinegar on a rag that is rung out, leaving the rag damp... place the damp rag inside the sound hole and you may also put one in the case. It will remove the musty smell and restore the wood smell.
You might contact Keith at 5 watt world, he is an historian, player and friend of Rick Beato...... I am sure he could help with the history, and it might even become content for him too! Cool guitar!
would love to see a short history vid of an epi zenith like this, or something of the like! shame epiphone dont make them anymore though
Great idea!
Or Austin from Trogly's Guitar Show, he's a massive Gibson and Epiphone repository of knowledge.
@@andym2612 well, the Norlin to modern era. Austin really doesn't know anything about pre-Norlin Gibson and basically nothing about archtops. I'll give him credit for the Norlin era in particular though. He knows some minutiae about the models from that period.
Good call, both of those guys will help ❤️
It is an amazing guitar... yes, a whole review please. Those new strings simply added life to a formerly neglected instrument. It now oozes with original vibe! Congrats Mary!
When you can get a luthier to examine it, you will probably find it needs a fret job or at least "leveling," which will definitely enhance action. It sounds very much like a 1930s f-hole. The bronze strings are probably a bit too bright for it too. How many 84-year-old guitars are still playable, and even that sonorous? Congratulations.
Sonorous..?
@@travelinman482 you're literally on the internet
@@fluroflash2803
I was merely asking in what context was he using the word. As some words have multiple meanings.
@@travelinman482 That's my new word for the day :)
@@travelinman482 You'll learn, glasshopper.
This out of time guitar deserves a dedicated album.
I wonder what the songs will be about.
She did mention she'd maybe do an EP with it. Such a sweet sound.
That guitar sounds really beautiful! What an amazing find! Nothing like the vibe and sound of a true vintage instrument.
I'm not an expert by any means but I understand this is called a "floating bridge" meaning it isn't (usually) attached to the top. Some have little pins to keep them in place but if yours has no pins, you can move (slightly) the bridge to establish/maintain proper intonation. Again, I'm not an expert but used to have a modern arch top and that's what I was told. Beautiful instrument!
You would never want to pin the bridge on an acoustic arch top. It's fine for stuff like the Gretsch electrics and such, where it really is all about the pickups so they can be built quite heavy, or even laminated; but on an acoustic you are just pushing the limits of the instrument too much if you do that.
I use a couple small strips of painters tape as locators.
@@joeyoungs8426 Bow rosin works splendidly.
"rather chuffed" - LOVE IT. I'm from Canada and really enjoy the expressions from other cultures.
Wonderful! It sounds lovely. Will be quiet played finger-style, but hit it with a contoured 'gypsy' pick (2.5 - 3mm) and it'll ring out loud & clear.
Dave Rawlings sure makes his sound sweet when it’s partnered up with Gillian Welch’s big bodied strummed flat top.
Nice guitar 🎸
Can't argue with that 🙂
Yea, go to 3:00 on this clip and tell me that doesn't sound heavenly.
ruclips.net/video/WR1BUVFToSE/видео.html
Came here to make sure someone mentioned Dave. That a beautiful guitar, Mary.
@0% Liberal 1935 Epiphone Olympic !
Beautiful! I bought pretty much the exact same guitar, only it’s from the 40s for $250. The best part is finding all the songs that live in the guitar. It will never be truly ‘yours’, you have to respect the history and let it talk to you and reveal its secrets. My advice is control the humidity. Do Not let it dry out!
So glad to see how happy you are with your purchase. I got my first vintage guitar a year ago. It's a 1964 Hagstrom 2. My cousin worked at a school as a custodian and they were cleaning out the art department storage room, which used to be the music room back in the day. His co-worker grabbed a guitar case and was about to chuck it into the dumpster when my cousin asked if it felt like there was anything in it. Turns out there was. It was in great condition (other than the first 5 frets being worn down) and in the original case with vintage Gibson flat wounds on it (I know this because the original string packaging was in there as well). I had my Lutheir friends refret it and it is my favorite guitar! I know it is a mental thing, but it just FEELS better and more special than any other guitar I own.
ssshhh!..(don't talk about Hagstroms!) i need to find a 60's "Condor" so don't raise market prices; a school friend had one & it was the easiest playing & insanely good-looking electric guitar of those times. & it'll do Blues Rock just fine!
@@MrZootalores well I only said it "feels" better! You just said it's the easiest playing and best looking electric guitar! Lmao So which one of us is gonna drive up the prices?! Hahahahaha 🤣🤣🤣😉😁
Mary, that has ‘blues’ oozing from every note. Picture some old bloke sitting on a porch, punching out a 12 bar blues as the sun sets.👍🇦🇺
Exactly what I was thinking. It's got a tone that would be right at home on an old delta blues record.
@@wingracer1614 Would also sound and look right at home with Cab Calloway American Jazz!!
Jack ~'()'~
Canada
This is one of my fave episodes you've made. I love your playing, noodling around etc, and the sound of this aged beauty coming back to life.
Wow Mary, what a cool piece to find. It is beautiful and sounds lovely. It is wonderful to see it in the possession of someone who will care for it and enjoy it as much as you will.
Love a quick string change on an old guitar, resurrecting it and bringing life once again to it. As always your beautiful voice and touch makes this video so memorable! Cheers Mary!
I really like the term "caretaker", especially with this guitar. It gives that sense that it's not just a piece of property, but it'll (hopefully ) endure and continue to make music long after we're gone.
Keep it! The value will only go up. I bought a 1919 Gibson L-4 in 2018. Richard Gere had the same one, and it sold for ± twice the price that I paid. The prices have already gone up in the last 4 years.
What's also interesting to know, is that there is NO VAT on instruments that are over 100 years old (at least in Europe, that is)!
Oh, and DON'T get rid of the case, but restore it! On Reverb they ask a couple of hundred bucks for these old cases!
I used some bands of Tolex and textile glue on the edges. And I bought a new leather handle with two buckles for it.
Imagine how much time has passed since this beauty was made. And this sound: like an old man whose voice matured over the years telling you storys of his live.
Such old instruments are something very special. I hope someday I own one of these storytellers too.
The tone sounds great! Can't wait to hear when you mic it up! What a gentle classic sound. It's a keeper!
what a beauty, and what a sweet mellow sound. Archtops May not project the fat bottom of a dreadnought but they punch above their weight in the mids/highs… which I think (don’t quote me!) is why they were invented. greetings from Chicago, Mary, you are wonderful. (and I still love-love your Last Train “saga”).
I am a drummer but I love stuff like this! Thanks for sharing! And you play Beautifully! The Guitar waited it’s entire life for you!!! ❤️🎼
THAT is a beautiful find! And it is what Tim Pierce would call "Player Condition". It's not so perfect you have to tiptoe around it, you can play it and enjoy it without worrying about a scratch or something.
Yeah at this present time I'm trying to stay in 'player condition' 😎
Some Lemon oil on the fingerboard is probably a good idea....and on the saddle as well. Just enough to wet the surface then buff with a towel or microfiber. I have an Epiphone Hummingbird and a Sheraton. The acoustic has excellent playability, excellent build and finish but lacks low end. The Sheraton is absolutely wonderful. Great find on the new/old acoustic.
It's so easy to say that guitar was made to end up in your hands.. Love all your videos but this gave me goosebumps when you started that song. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Same, that song was beautiful
@@jessicacosiguitar I agree. Really cool
I felt the same!
Great segment!
Being a luthier myself I love the guitar stories, and this is one of yours!
The intonation did sound a bit off, be sure to check it at the 12th fret, I'm guessing the octave will be a little flat on the high strings.
Archtops of this era develop their sound at about 3 feet/1.5 meteres away, as you probably discovered in the video, it is much louder than you thought while playing it.
Typically these also have very triangulated (and large) necks which are a little weird to play at first but it adds to the inspiration as you go because you are kind of forced into different voicings & technique.
Ironic in a way, as you build your collection, I am thinning out mine. I wound up "collecting" a lot of guitars that need to be rebuilt & repaired and actually lost track, but because many are bizzare projects or things I neeeded at the moment (my guitar story I sent) they are pretty much worthless to anyone but an experimenter or session player (I was).
It is great to see how much you have grown since I first found your channel and I am SO happy to see your posts since you went daily. As I slowly fade into the sunset (Hopefully slowly at least) artists like you give me hope that all will be well.
ROCK ON!
Beautiful tone! Reminds me of a sound Bruce Cockburn had on Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws. Such a bright, twangy ring but with such woody resonance
I recently refurbished one of these. For the dust inside take a kilo of rice, cheapest you can buy, pour it inside & then give the guitar a good shake for a couple of minutes, then tip it out. Works a treat to dust out the inside!
JustCallBen, sheesh, how did I get that wrong?! I’ve changed it, thanks.
It's got quite a tonal character. Comes out really good in the last 5 minutes when she plays and sings, such a nice feel!
That's a really sweet guitar. I have a 40's Gibson acoustic I picked up for $10 at a garage sale. Played perfect. And like yours, it has an uncanny natural reverb effect. TONE IS AWESOME!!! Very cool Mary!
I think your ability to play the instrument helps significantly. Truly a great find and I hope you do, in fact, record an EP with it.
Helps significantly with what?
I was a luthier. The finish is likely more durable - as modern synthetic lacquer was invented in the 1950s and usually CRACKS over time. "Epiphone used a nitrocellulose lacquer on all their instruments. Until approximately 1939 a golden sunburst adorned all guitars. After that a natural finish was offered on the Emperor and De Luxe."
I don't hear any buzzing so it's likely the neck is decent but like the man said, LOOK down the neck to see the relief. Does it have a very slight curve to it. Is it straight and not warped?
40 seconds into this video,u open the case and I’m already loving that guitar!! Uve got great taste!!!
Your text said 'no processing' and I was like, wait, that's got reverb. Incredible tone!
Sounds incredible! That reverb effect creates a whole new sound.
Just a lovely video, i love seeing instruments coming off palliative care and into the hand of someone who loves them for what they are, reguardless of the scuffs and scratches....just beautiful
This is one of the happiest days in that guitars life. From being neglected for years someone opened its prison and light came flowing in. New clothes and ready to sing again. Happy times :)
Hi Mary, it appears I am a year late to the conversation, but wanted to say you were very lucky on this purchase. I don’t know what you’ve had done to it since this video, but let me say that this Epiphone, with your voice behind it, is killer! I think the rawness of the blend is absolutely striking. I love seeing others value these historical music boxes. I have a 1969 Silvertone acoustic that Scott Baxendale rebuilt and it is my go to guitar. I also saved a 1937 Supertone round hole archtop from certain death. There’s just something special about the right touch on these old loves.
Hello from east Texas and glad I found your channel. I’ll subscribe as well. My best to you and your family.
Thanks,
Randy
I got my first archtop guitar quite by accident. A very nice woman was offering her record collection for sale nearby so I went to have a look. Once at her house we got to talking and she told me her father had been a guitarist in a swing orchestra back in the big band period of the '30s and '40s. Before I knew it I was looking at her father's 1940 Gibson L-12 archtop guitar! I about fell over. That Gibson is a true work of art and the sound is unbelievable. Loud! Built like a Cadillac and sounds like an orchestra! She ended up selling me this fine guitar and I feel honored to be its new custodian. I absolutely love your Epiphone! The coloring is quite unique and it sounds every bit as good as it looks. You scored a great piece of guitar history. Cherish it and play your heart out.
It leaks oil and isn't worth fixing? Why would I want anything built like a Cadillac ;)
@@jerbear7952Believe it or not a Cadillac once was considered the blue ribbon of automobiles. I was making an archaic reference because my Gibson is from that era.
I have one a year older. 1935 Spartan. Great instrument.
The "reverb" is coming from the strings behind the bridge. You can put a piece of black foam behind the bridge if you don't want that sound.
Yes my Selmer guitar has that to
Why would you not want that sound though? Especially if you can just turn it on and off by palm muting.
@@StockportJambo It can create certain overtones that you might not necessarily want, especially when recording. The foam enables you to stop the strings ringing when strumming/picking etc.
I weave a strand of wool through the strings.
I pretty sure she DOES want that sound.
@10:15 I know what you mean when you say “it’s quite quiet,” but that may be from the players perspective. Archtops were actually designed (I’ve heard) to be loud and cut through in the midrange. I have one (‘03 Hofner Jazzica) but to be honest, I still don’t know, for sure. but it’s a pleasure to chunka-chunka with.
I've played a few old archtop acoustics like that. I find that they have a more percussive tone to them. There's a softer sustain, but a stronger punch to each note. Very cool find.
The splendid Mary Spender, just an awesome young woman.
I think we should call her Mary Splender.
@@NotKingDavid that needs to stick great rebrand !!!
Intonate the guitar the best you can and you may have to move the bridge a bit here or there. Once it is intonated, mark the bridge with a pencil or some tape. Loosen the strings, and fix the bridge in place by adding some thin double sided tape under the bridge. That way you can play with some aggression without worrying that the bridge will move.
I'm very late to this video, but wanted to complement you on your acquisition of a very beautiful guitar. I love my 1937 Olympic, but sadly it was not in the condition of yours initially. The celluloid had totally deteriorated to chalk and the neck was badly in need of a reset. After some loving conservation by a marvelous luthier it is now the jewel of my collection. As for quiet, it depends on the playing as the archtop guitars were used with the big bands so that the guitar wouldn't be lost under the brass. Hold on to it and good luck with centenary.
Same as David Rawlings? - it sounds beautiful. It fits your voice.
what a beautify archtop sounds large and clear
That little lady has such rich tone and sustain. It's good to hear her sig again after such a long time silent.
Or collecting dust in a closet. Yea buddy!.
Man that guitar is immortal. Imagine an almost 100 year old guitar that still plays well, not even any buzzing after just a restring.
A very good friend of mine owns an old parlour guitar. We have no idea how old it is for certain, only that it's well over 100 years. It's been recently repaired by a very well respected luthier, who described is as being extremely well made. That guitar is not easy to play either, but when you play it sympathetically and go by the feel of how it 'likes' to be played, it can sing to you.
Instruments develop such a unique character as they age. It's interesting that you described yourself as its 'caretaker', as that is how my freind thinks of himself in relation to his vintage guitar.
That was a real pleasure to watch, thank you!
I was really surprised how amazing that sounded without processing.
Every guitar player's dream is to have a vintage guitar...
Hello Mary, I am a very new subscriber (3 days ago). I found you through Rick Beato's site.
I've read all the comments, all of them. I have some experience on 'restoring' vintage acoustic guitars. Quite a lot of experience actually.
With Humility and Grace, I'll give a very brief 'suggestion'.
Vintage acoustics. Can be good, great, or a nightmare. You got a good one Mary!
My suggestions, echoed by many on this thread:
Clean the guitar. Clean it well. Obviously you've replaced the strings. Take it to a pro Luthier or violin expert to have a flexi tube vacuum done on the inside thru the F holes. Get dust and debris out of the inside of the instrument. It is NOT going to hurt it. Clean it as you would a new guitar, polishing sprays, solutions, cloths for the wood, etc. Do NOT use oil on the tuners, especially with old wood. Use a non penetrating grease type lubrication, wax, etc.
Do not refinish, replace any part, alter the basic presentation of the guitar. You can make adjustments for a warped wood bridge with slivers of cut sandpaper, etc... but don't physically alter or replace anything.
Only continue to use the custom light gauge strings you initially strung it up with. Lighter or heavier will alter the string height. You got that damn thing to sing with no buzz at its highest and lowest settings on all strings. You were correct, you purchased one in a thousand.
Finally, Congratulations!
Sounds surprisingly like a resonator, in a good way.
I agree
Yeah for sure. I got more than a hint of Knopflers Brothers in arms the first note Mary played on it.
Archtops have that bluesy boxy tone....it's an acquired taste
“You can have Chicago”
I need that song!
Please share that!!!
That was lovely.
Agreed, that was lovely
I'm a Brit living in Chicago, and I liked it too !!!
I just watched an interview with Dave Rawlings. He didn’t seek out this model or compare it with lots of alternatives. He stumbled on this model in someone’s basement, covered with dust. He cleaned it up and found it to be the perfect guitar for his work with Gillian Welch.
I am really surprised at the musical charisma in the sound. I'm hearing so much resonance and harmonic overtones. It's like the little thing is singing in response to being played. It just seems like it's alive and touching the simple strings of music in our hearts. I hope you give it a very nice setup and enjoy the soft voice of Silver Bell.
Buy an old arch top guitar. Any old arch top. Why the BEEEEEEP not? You see, even the 1936 ones can be very very cheap. Relatively cheap, that is. All this one needs is cleaning, you really should do that the right way, ask a really good luthier for advise. While cleaning, you in fact do a thorough inspection. Anything that is not in good working order must absolutely be noticed. Example? A crack in the finish can indicate a broken headstock. One does not want to install a new set of strings, before such things have been dealt with. When you got enough experience, you can do repairs yourself, but when in doubt, find yourself a good luthier. Even when you do not repair guitars for a hobby, you can watch and see things that are not okay, in a guitar. That level of knowledge is enough, when you are just a player feeling something is wrong, simply find help. Go to a guitar shop or a luthier. Anybody can buy such a nice old guitar. Why not? Yes, this one sounds great. I love hearing the response, too.
I think this guitar was happy when it finally got new strings; it gained the vocal cords to tell you its story after so many years.
That piece of history has soul! Possibly only one that still exist! Imagine that! :)
David Rawlings plays a 1935 Olympic. Beautiful sounding guitar. There are a few interviews where he talks extensively about those guitars.