100 Year Old Guitar - Bought for $300
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- Опубликовано: 15 мар 2024
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---- Otis Tour Dates ------
04/16/24 -Key West, Florida -The Studios Of Key West
04/17/24. -Key West, Florida -The Studios Of Key West
04/27/24 -Seymour, Indiana -Crossroads Acoustic Festival
05/29/24 -London, England. -Leytonstone Social Club
05/31/24. -Smethwick, England. -The Thimblemill Library
06/01/24. -Broseley, England. -The Birchmeadow
06/02/24. -Nottingham, England -The Chapel at the Angel
06/04/24 -Newport, Wales -Le Pub
06/05/24. -Sheffield, England. -The Greystones
06/07/24 -Newcastle, England. -The Cluny 2
06/09/24. -Glasgow, Scotland. -The Glad Café
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in a thrift store down the street I know there has been for over 10 years a National Guitar in a 0 or large parlor style from 1930's single mini pickguard n okay condition needing a bit of bridge work on plastic part if it can be fixed a new nut and new tuners. Also have a Guild from late 1940's --early/mid 950's only Guild is in very poor condition. I just wish on Guild did not have a major Neck issue as it is in better shape besides the major neck issue. Guild is one of the duel pickguard models with fancy scroll work, making me think Country/Western up to about mid 1960 or Rockabilly or Country/Hillbilly Rock of the 1950's given design. If National is not from 1930's it might be a clone copy guitar from Japan in early 1970's made for National but I know 2 major types of plastic were in use in 1930's, a Bakelite brittle crap and a Micarta, what the white thin bridge and black pick guard seems to use as nut is a cheap bone or good stronger wood and tuners pegs are wood. I have taken the National down before but never Guild as Guild is beyond saving.
Next album “The Parlor Sessions.” Everything written and recorded in that room.
Yes please!
You know Otis, a real person. Genuine, not afraid to admit he doesn't know every thing. He shares a lot. Otis is not just a cool cat, your our idiosyncratic favorite uncle. Otis is a friggin' community. Heck, I submit...A National Treasure...There I said it...Peace and thank you.
I think your man has made a new fingerboard for it. B & J sold guitars and mandolins made by just about every maker- including Gibson and Martin mandolins at one time- Roy Bookbinder played the Gibson made model which was retailed under the S S Stewart brand. I see a very similar guitar with its original old board is on the web - "Reverb 1925 Victoria Oscar Schmidt Concert". I think the seller is very optimistic with the price! I have a number of B & J retailed "Serenader" mandolins- they were sold with a sappy guy on the label singing to his lady love- like a minstrel. I hope he did better than me! There was an old video of Bud Jacobson, I think it was, aged about 98 talking about what a nightmare it was to run the catalogue business as you had to keep track of a zillion different items! Anyway, it sounds great- and you love it- what could be better than that?
That is a beautiful guitar Otis. I'm one of those guys that just love old things. Old cars, old guitars, old motorcycles, old farmhouses. Who knows whose hands actually built that guitar. It might have been built by a master luthier when he was apprenticing. I would love to hear the stories it could tell. I really like these shows where you talk about old instruments or that trip to Levon Helm's childhood home. Keep making them Brother
I enjoyed this story as much as I enjoy all your stories Otis. I love your voice, your calm demeanour, and of course, the subject matters, I always relate to them because it seems like you and I have a similar taste, in music, history and people.
In 1980 (or thereabouts) I won one free round trip ticket to anywhere in the U.S. from a scratch-off promotion from one of the airlines. I sold the ticket and bought an Alvarez Yairi that I always kept out and easy to grab & play. While the guitar sustained more scratches and dings, it also opened up and was something my kids would grab & play. To this day, they love playing and now the grandkids are taking an interest in playing guitar.
Love a Yairi! Those are great guitars
Indeed Yairi are amazing.@@daviswall3319
I love my old parlors. I have one in almost every room (single old lady), and when I cough or sneeze or make any sort of noise, they ring out, and I love that. They talk back to me!
I have three old cheap Art & Lutherie parlors, handmade of solid woods in Canada, near Montreal. They are not antiques, like your one, but they are old enough to show the wear from playing at home or gigs, and they all possess a lot of mojo. Two are cedar tops, which are lovely and warm sounding. One is a spruce top, a little crisper but still rich and friendly.
I like little old guitars with big voices and sweet natures. Instead of turning into a crazy old cat lady, I've become a crazy old guitar lady. My newest baby is an Eastman copy of a Gibson L-00 (E1 OO SS), and it is wayyyyy better than it has any right to be. Slightly larger than a parlor, it has a 14-fret neck and a big sound.
There is a great video on YT of SRV in an interview, and he's holding a very old Martin 12-fret. The interviewer asks him to "play something," and he tears it up with a smoking 12-bar blues in A, if memory serves, rarely repeating a chord shape or phrasing, and all up and down the neck. Highly recommended.
I've gone on far too long, but I tend to do that when talking about guitars.
You didn’t go on too long. “Big voices and sweet natures” I like it 😁
I have two newer parlours. Not solid but I like them
You can't go wrong with those Godin Canada-made guitars, especially their parlors. I have a nylon string cedar top size 0 which is a keeper, got it for less than a hundred bucks. But I've had their Art & Lutherie, Seagull, and Simon & Patrick parlors, every one of them was great, sold 'em to students. Lately I just got a 1910 Washburn, very similar to what Otis just got, and am really loving it too. Can't have too many guitars, and can't talk too much about 'em, excepting to play 'em! ;)
Old guitars are an endless source of joy and inspiration. The music, the stories, the history. Thanks for sharing!
What a beautiful little guitar Otis. I know what you mean about the sensitivity of that top. I own a Lowden, it's hand made in Northern Ireland, it has a spruce top. It sounds beautiful when played with fingertips and awful when played with a pick. Some guitars are like that. I would never sell it. I also own a Gibson J200, which was my dream guitar, played by my idol Pete Townshend, and when I made enough money, I bought one. I keep them on the wall in my studio, ready to play; they bring me so much joy.
Man, I love this story. I love the whole idea of finding that guitar is some shop or market or whatever and giving it life again. Great story!
I have a 100-year-old parlor guitar. It's ladder-braced, made of oak and spruce and mahogany. I bought it at a flea market in Berkeley in 1977. it had just three strings on it, and a piece of fret wire for a saddle. It's branded "The Cleveland Guitar, New York" on the label. It was probably made in Chicago by Lyon and Healy, though, I think. The neck is a hard "V" shape. The peghead had been previously broken and glued back together, and a new piece of veneer was put on it's face. I had a new bridge made for it ten years later for better intonation, and it has very reasonable action for it's age. I've seen two other "Cleveland" guitars in Berkeley of very similar nature, and I suspect that a local music store, back in the 1920's was selling them regularly. I bought it at the flea market for five bucks, but of course I've probably put more than five hundred dollars into it over the years to make and keep it nice and playable. It's my favorite.
Talk about a barn find! Love the slotted headstock. What a beautiful looking and sounding instrument. I can see and hear the inspiration just dripping like honey on a warm spring day. 👏👍
Some brand new, big-ass frets on this old beauty. The previous owner did good!
She sits perfectly in your parlor. Seems to be intonated beautifully! 300 bucks was a steal!!
Great story! Guy who brought it back to life, brilliant! I love it. My go to parlor is a little younger, lol! Hav a Martin 0017L whiskey sunset. Spruce/Mahogany, picked it up slightly used a couple years ago and it keeps on sounding better
I had one very similar to that one in my repair shop about 20 years ago. Figured quarter sawn oak, made in Chicago in 1910-1915...found a picture of it in a Sears-Roebuck catalog, for $9....I was impressed at how LOUD and sweet it was!
----- Otis Tour Dates -------
04/16/24 -Key West, Florida -The Studios Of Key West
04/17/24. -Key West, Florida -The Studios Of Key West
04/27/24 -Seymour, Indiana -Crossroads Acoustic Festival
05/29/24 -London, England. -Leytonstone Social Club
05/31/24. -Smethwick, England. -The Thimblemill Library
06/01/24. -Broseley, England. -The Birchmeadow
06/02/24. -Nottingham, England -The Chapel at the Angel
06/04/24 -Newport, Wales -Le Pub
06/05/24. -Sheffield, England. -The Greystones
06/07/24 -Newcastle, England. -The Cluny 2
06/09/24. -Glasgow, Scotland. -The Glad Café
------ Details at otisgibbs.com ----------
See you in Newport- can't wait 🤗
Just WOW !!!!!!!! Can't think of anyone more deserving to own this guitar !!!!
What a beautiful instrument. That oak back is amazing. It sounds organic and alive that guitar. And you are its' custodian for many years ahead.
It looks like it's all solid construction. Great find!
Cool old guitar...and $300 was a steal! I never understood why quartersawn oak wasn't used more for guitar back and sides. It is relatively cheap and plentiful compared to the exotic woods used. I also love the grain pattern showing the medullary rays...always reminds me of American made Arts and Crafts furniture by Stickley. I like the tone on that guitar...it doesn't sound "boxy" like a lot of small bodied guitars...has a nice mellow roundness and warmth. I think it found the right owner...it will get played and loved as it should. Thanks, Otis...glad you are feeling better.
Sounds wonderful in your hands
That is a beautiful guitar. And what a deal! Considerably less than what I just spent on my new Fender Jaguar. My couch guitar is a 12-string Martin. I also keep my Telecaster on a stand next to me in my home office while I work, since an unplugged electric is quiet. My Rickenbacker currently lives in her case, but I’m feeling guilty about it. She deserves more attention.
Sounds lovely, nice story. I inherited a very similar guitar from my wife's grandmother. It's a Sovereign and was also made by Oscar Schmidt (probably in the 1920's).
Some people love this video for the guitar, I love how you set focus on the sunflower seeds and let the squirrels walk into focus. That being said, cool guitar.
I bought a 1920's (or early 30's) National Resonator so old it had no serial number. PLYWOOD sides but despite that it (top may be spruce or maple?) sounds like a real low fi blues beast. Even with the cheap sides it has a real cutting sound. Nothing smooth and mellow about this one. Paid 600 bucks 10 years ago and it's really not worth more than now. But the historical aspect is very cool.
I have a small Slingerland arch top… yes the drum company made guitars from 1929 to 1938 in Chicago, part of the company efforts to compete with Ludwig at that time. Someone had electrified it at one point (holes where the pickup screwed into the top and the Jack plug were have been refilled). All the finish stripped, it has a beautiful old pine top. My friend got it cheap as part of an on line auction lot (I don’t think he even knew it at the time). We drove down to small town Newton IL- the home of Burl Ives- and picked up the entire lot of 16 guitars he purchased from a collector estate that had hundreds and hundreds of instruments….. I bought it from him for a few hundred, had the nut replaced and gave it some TLC. It is a great instrument particularly to play old jug band tunes on…. It has a similar sensitivity and loud midrange to yours. I love thinking about the people who played on it, as well as the music and joy it must have been integral in creating! Thanks for another great piece Otis! Much love!
Lovely find, Otis. Like yourself, I dig parlor guitars. There's something about the focused midrange bark and ease of play, as you eluded to. I was lucky enough to pick up a Martin 0-18 two years ago, which tends to pull couch duty over my Woody Guthrie Southern Jumbo these days. Always enjoy these chats over coffee. Have a great weekend.
Howdy, Love that guitar! Worked in a mill for 12 years, and watched some beautiful wood roll by, some of it came home with me for future projects. Always a sucker for quarter sawn oak, and old well-made things. Finally got my Father in laws 100 year old toilet with an oak copper lined tank working again on Friday. It's been there as long as they have had the cabin, which is over 50 years, and it makes me feel good that I could rebuild it, and it doesn't go to the dump, or get made into a planter! I have about a 20 year old Epiphone parlor guitar that sounds nice. Enjoy your weekend!
What a beautiful instrument for an equally beautiful human! Enjoy! Thanks for sharing, Otis.
HI Otis, cool guitar. This is early 20th century for sure. Likely a shellac finish. Often they were made for gut strings. To determine what string tension this guitar can handle, I would get an inspection mirror or remove the strings and see how many braces are on the top behind the bridge. If there are no braces past the bridge, I would use a silk and steel or d'Addario Folk (slightly more string tension). If there is one brace, you could try .011/.049" or thereabouts. You also might want to see what shape the bridge pad/plate is...often on these old ones they are made of soft spruce and crack up pretty good. Maybe take it to some one to discuss string tension...how much it can handle.
I think acoustic guitars have a life and story to tell. I love it when a story comes with a guitar. Guitars talk and we should listen out of respect. I sometimes wonder who played it and the songs that it sang. They are organic and originally started naturally growing somewhere and then are fashion into another organic form. So I enjoyed this story of yours and the music you playing on it. You are now a part of its history. That's pretty cool. A suggestion when or if you sell it place the story and yours on a small piece of light paper inside it for someone else to discover. Thanks!
No susbstitute for old wood. Those old ones are quirky. I noticed the spacing of the very last fret is a little closer than the rest 😉. The midrange you mention is probably due in part to the ladder bracing it most likely has; like the old Stellas the old bluesmen played. I have a couple of ‘30’s Nationals, not quite 100 years old but getting there. Good thing this one fell into very deserving hands; it sounds great. Enjoy it.
Beautiful guitar, make sure to humidify the room, don’t ever hang on an outside wall. The difference between the temperature of a cooler outside wall & the inside of the room will crack the top & twist the neck. When I was in my early 20’s I hung two classical guitars in the living room wall between the bedroom. For 20 years the guitars were fine.
I moved to an old house hung the guitars on an outside wall, winter came, I played my newer guitar always in a case. Four months later I pick up the classical hanging on the wall the bridge was lifted in the back the neck lifted near the heal, both guitars were damaged
Otis, that guitar would make a great tee shirt graphic!! Please give it some thought, what a way to honor its history and promote the old things that have so much meaning and value. It's a beautiful piece of art. ❤
I really enjoy your work Mr. G.
During the depth of the pandemic I picked up a 1920 Regal parlor guitar made of birch. The gentleman who put it back together found it in a barn in Vermont in pieces. He thinks it had lain there separating at every seam for over 50 years. He lovingly re-flatened the top, and slowly put it back together. I'm a working guitarist with some really nice instruments acquired in my 55 years of working. I expected to like this guitar but I misjudged how much. I am utterly and completely smitten with it. It is my first 12 fret (parlor) guitar and as a life long pacifist, if you tried to take this thing from me it would come to blows...
Cleaning the kitchen again, Otis! Thanks for the company!
She's Beautiful!❤
Boy-gull-eye-sun and Yakobsun is the German pronunciation Otis.
I had an aunt, the rebel of her family, who, not long before she passed (in her 70s), gave me her guitar, a 1964 Guild M-20. Affordable folkie guitars from back in the day when it seemed like half the population owned a guitar. She'd played the dickens out of that thing; when she gave it to me it was all but unplayable after decades in a little house a few miles from the Mississippi river in Iowa, what with humid summers and cold, dry winters. There are deep grooves on the fingerboard around the cowboy chords, untold thousands of hours of her playing. I took it to a luthier here in Indianapolis, and it took him a few months to rebuild it... it was falling apart. But now? The thing is solid as a church, and all that mahogany--sides, back, and top-- just resonates and rings. And much like you've observed with your Victoria, it's gloriously punchy. There's a voice and a soul in old wood that we feel honored to pass through our own bodies as we play these instruments. I'm not one to anthromorphosize habitually, but damn.... playing a restored old instrument is a spooky-great feeling.
Keep that baby around, Otis. (As well as humidifier... 😊)
Great share; thanks for the work you do.
Hi Otis. I have a 1932 Gibson HG20 Parlor guitar. It has an inner baffle and 4 f-holes. Talk about booming. It’s designed to project sound like a resonator, but it’s all wood. It was my grandfather’s. He has made it into a lap guitar at one point. I found it in the attic well after he passed and my grandmother away, but I have a photo of my grandmother playing it. Cheers.
I have a circa 1933 Gibson L-50 that I bought in two pieces for a hundred dollars back in the eighties.
I put the neck back on during the 2008 downturn, and loved the funky old tone. but I didn't get the neck angle right.
I then watched a bunch of utuble videos and reset the neck a few years later, and it now plays and sounds so good.
It's a cheap student guitar, flat back, carved top with f holes. but it has a real character about it. Also, I can put it down
for a month or more, pick it back up and it's still in tune! The only guitar I own that does that!
Love your channel Otis.... it relaxes me.
I love your spirit Otis....I feel a resonate vibe with mine....been following you for a few years and still love your content. Kindness, sharing, peace, and love--isn't that the meaning of life?
Very beautiful guitar. I have a Japanese classical nylon string maybe from the 60’s I got a a flea market. The lady said make an offer as it was a passed on relative’s maybe an uncle’s guitar. It had a hole in the side and she said it was broke because a string was gone. I only had 25 dollars which she took. I bought it home and put stickers on the sides (one over the hole in the side) and hand painted it. The new strings I put on made it sound beautiful. I loaned it to my nephew for a bit too. It’s my most enjoyable guitar. Lots of dings and love in the finish. I looked up the value and it was worth 300, well, maybe if it was in better shape. I had got my haircut that month I got it from a barber who was ill. After my haircut he played his guitar for me and told me how he made his living busking on ships. As a left he told me one day he would sell me his guitar. Was it his same guitar I found? I like to think so.
I had told him I was an artist and painted old flea market guitars I got with a 50 dollar or less budget.
Thank You for this video today. Very comforting on a day my wife and I are grieving the loss of our dog of 14 years. God Bless You Otis. Love to You and Amy
HOW COULD I LOVE THIS MORE? I am fixing up my old early 50s Gibson LG that I bought in Arizona back in 1976 from another air force guy I was 19 years old and I learned how to play a bunch of John Prine songs on it and wrote a bunch of bad songs trying to emulate my heroes. It needed some serious brace and crack repair but it long ago forgot it was part of a tree and it has been holding steady for years as far as needing adjustment. I just had a K&K pure mini put in and plan to take it along to some gigs. My main squeeze is a Collings 02H parlor size which makes it hard to not always choose that one BUT the LG has a vibe to it for sure and I think I might possibly leave the Collings at home for awhile. GOOD FIND!
Great episode Otis. I rescued a Slingerland parlor slot-head I’m guessing from the 20’s or 30’s. I play it all the time. Joyful.
I have a haggard 1964 Martin 00-18 that is my favorite purchase to date (from Carter’s in Nashville). I also have an American Conservatory tenor banjo circa 1910 that belonged to my grandfather’s uncle. He apparently would play it at work in a boiler room in Houston. I’m happy to have them both.
Not a guitar, but I have my grandmother’s Gibson mandolin. It’s a prized possession! She was born around 1885, and I love to picture her as a young wife playing in their parlor. Thanks for the story! You have a beauty!
Great post. I have a 1967 Stella parlor my brother gave me. I made some repairs on it. It gets enjoyed on my back porch. I only play the songs I heard my four older brothers played when I was little on it. It's a favorite.
Hey Otis! I play and collect Appalachian Mountain dulcimers, and, like you, I love to learn the history of my instruments. That parlor guitar is a beautiful instrument! As soon as you turned it over, I was sure that was quarter sawn oak. You don't find that in many places these days. I don't think I have ever seen it in a guitar before. You got lucky, my friend. Hope you get a lot of great music from that guitar! ❤❤❤
Wow, what a beautiful old instrument! You make it sound great as well. My "quick grab" is a cheap squier acoustic my wife picked up for me one fathers day years back. It's one of those cheap ones we run into from time to time that was obviously built on a Wednesday, when they were paying attention to what they were doing, it plays and sound really good for a $100 guitar. Cheers and thanks for sharing Otis.
That sweet old parlour found a good home. It sounds great!
A great guitar and great story. It doesn't get any better than that! Thanks Otis .. .. Kyle from Arizona🌵
Ottis you sound great on that old guitar. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻
Such a great old find.
Cool guitar. Nice picking there Otis.
Way to cool Love it wish I was jamming that Blues tune with ya.Still going strong.More Kenny Vaughn man y'all hooked me up with Don't F with the Lewis's 🙏 keep on strumming & picking -& your interviews are the Best.Thanks
I hear you, my house is 124 years old and I have a guitar in every room. If I hear something on the radio and want to play along I just grab a guitar and play.........So, congrats on your find!!!
Great story. Thank you.
cool find Otis!!! Be aware that a acoustic guitar like that one on a stand will dry out in winter and crack up, keep the humidity up!
Love to you and Amy, see you around!
I stumbled onto old parlor guitars one fine day in the late 80s when I stopped in to visit with an old disabled/retired gentleman who mostly traded old fiddles. He had an ornate old Sovereign by Oscar Schmidt looking out of place hanging on the wall in the midst of a dozen or so fiddles. I couldn't take my eyes off that thing and had to at least get my hands on it. Long story short; I asked how much, and he he said "Gimme 50 bucks and get outta here..." Needless to say, I nearly broke my arm trying to get my wallet out before he changed his mind. Still have it.😎
Love the rain drops on the hat
Beautiful old guitar. I own a Regal parlor from around the 1920s and I love it. It has what I believe is a Birch back and sides stained to look like Mahogany. I think that a lot of first time parlor players are surprised by their resonance and subsequent volume. I know I was. Little but loud!
Always entertaining, man. Good video to start the day 😊
I'm sure it needs refreting but, at this point you have a treasure. It is a piece of history. If you go mucking around with it, you could negate it's value. You'll have to decide which is most important to you, playability or museum quality. If I know you, that Old Lady is fixin' to get a make over. LOL
Such a cool story. I believe the pronunciation is Bugel lease n.
I know the wonder of an unknown history shown through the scars of a junk guitar. Thanks
Gorgeous looking guitar. Great find Otis. I have a parlor that I love. They are very cool.
Loved the story and the outlook. As a 'mature' bachelor I do have a guitar in every room and just grab and go depending on the mood so I relate. That is a sweet deal for 300!!! Some of those old oddballs can be gems
Thank you for sharing your joy and deep pleasure you got from buying and noe owning this guitar. Really heartwarming to hear.
Thanks Otis. First I really look forward to our morning cup. What a Great find. All guitars, cheap or expensive are unique. They have their own sound and life. The fact that that guitar is built so well is the reason it remains around for us to enjoy. What a story! One of your best. Thanks again, Glenn
Beautiful guitar and awesome story, I love that old wood.
Thanks for this video Mr. Gibbs. I loved it. I was recently gifted a 1932 Gibson L-00 Tuxedo that belonged to my father-in-law. That gesture from my wife's family was pretty moving for me. The first song I played on it was "You are my sunshine". His favorite. I keep it by the bed and I play just about everyday.
Wow Otis that’s a keeper sounds like an old Dylan Guitar
Thanks JP
I love my parlor Maton mini, what you have is a treasure there Otis.
Well done! Great post, great story and fascinating guitar. I’m in England, 73, and share your passion to a tee.
(An aside Otis……..I’d like to have seen all around the guitar in better light, filming against a window in the background, always makes near subjects darker!)
In 2001 I purchased a parlor guitar (PBR-40) made by the now defunct Tacoma®️ Guitar Company. It was made of Brazilian rosewood and had an amazing sound. But it had a finish issue in which the guitar’s polyester finish started to delaminate on the bent sides like a cancer that would gradually spread. I sent the instrument back to the Tacoma®️ factory in Washington and they refinished it for me free of charge, but a year and a half later the same thing happened. This time I took it to a friend who was a professional luthier, and he stripped the wretched polyester finish off the guitar and covered it with nitrocellulose lacquer. Before he did that, I had him do a sunburst design on the top. But while he was sanding he sanded right through the abalone rosette, which was apparently paper-thin. So I asked him if he had any extra herringbone lying around, which he did. Anyway, after it all was said and done, I had a Brazilian rosewood guitar with a gorgeous Engelmann-spruce sunburst top and herringbone rosette. (In a way, it was like having my own custom-made instrument.) Over twenty years later I still have it and it sounds better than ever❗️
Glad you found a new hundred year old friend…
Enjoy it… 🌜🌞🌛
Thank you for sharing both the guitar’s story and yours.
I bought a parlor guitar of similar age to yours at that big flea Market near Springfield, OH. I paid 10 bucks. It had a bunch of cracks in the top. Deep V neck. At one time it had a bridge on it like yours, but it must’ve come off at some point. And the bridge plate is super worn, so would need replaced. It had a tailpiece that was presumably not original stuck to it and no strings when I bought it. Bound body and sound hole. I had those maple strips that come around a bottle of Basil Haydens, and I used that little strip of maple and some earth magnets and some wood glue to stabilize all the cracks from underneath. It needed a neck reset, still does. But it also needed a strap button so I used big long screw to hold the button and do my hillbilly neck reset 😂. I wasn’t even sure it was gonna sound good so I just started there. I made a bridge to go under the strings. It had the original tuners, but they were not very functional so I replaced those . And that guitar just sings it; sounds so good. Probably has some intonation issues, but I don’t really care. At some point I might fix it properly but for now it plays just fine. Loved to hearing your story about your parlor guitar.
Thanks for playing it.
I’d love to play that one! I fell in love with parlor guitars ten or fifteen years ago and as far as acoustics go, that’s all I play. I’ve had one sort of expensive one that I didn’t keep very long . The action was not great and the tone was bland. My go to is the Roadhouse series from Art & Lutherie that are made in Canada. The one I play most really projects and the action is just right. The under saddle pickup is great but it really sounds great with a mic. Glad to see you feeling better!
I’ve never heard of them. Could you please tell me which province they are in? Thank you.
@@CaperhereIt is part of the Godin group; awesome instruments. They have a few brands, Godin, Seagull, Art and Lutherie and La Patrie amongst others.
@@vayabroder729Thanks. I’ve had 3 Seagulls over the years. Down to one now, a little folk one. I’ve heard their lower priced Seagull folk guitars have gone down in workmanship, but I’ve had mine for over 20 years, and it still plays fine.( not by me; I couldn’t learn to play, lol.)
Have you played any of Robin Boucher’s instruments?
@@Caperhere I do have a 6 and 12 string Seagulls. Really like their quality materials, hardware and innovative designs. Same goes for all of the Godin lines. I haven’t tried that brand you mentioned.
I bought a similar guitar from my cousin who found it up in the attic of his old family farmhouse in Missouri. I asked him how much he wanted and he said a box of chocolates. It was a sweet find. It was literally a wall hanger in its previous life. It had 4 screw holes in the back where someone screwed it to a wall as decoration. As best I can tell, mine is a Washburn c.1905-1915. They sound similar and speak to you when you play them. Just somethin' different about old wood brought back to life. I feel these instruments know you when you spend the time to bring them back for one more go around.
Nice having morning coffee with you. My "couch" guitar is a 1930 Martin Tenor (5-17T).
It is beautiful - Great find, great story!
I keep my guitar in it's case, but it's right where I can reach for it anytime I get a notion, which happens pretty much every day.
I have and old "Lakeside" 0ak back and sides parlor made in Chicago. It was in pieces so I X braced the top, ( yours has ladder bracing most likely) man it sounds great. So does yours!
Fantastic. Great play ware. Cool wood. Everything about it is cool.
Great story today !!! Really enjoyed this !!! Thanks !
Outstanding! Thank you Otis.
I love it, Otis I have one much like it this kinda old. In fact, the nut is bone and needs work but I never knew what to call this type of guitar till now( parlor guitar). I’m gonna find a Luther and get this fixed and yes, all my guitars are out on stands So you should be reminded to play them.
Great find 😎
Otis, I know it's not as cool as a real antique parlor guitar, but about 20 years ago I bought an all-mahogany Baby Taylor to carry with me traveling in my van. Since then, I've always felt it sort of serves the parlor guitar vibe for me. It's small (3/4 size), It didn't cost too much, and it sounds really sweet when finger picked. And, now that I think about it, I've probably written MORE songs on it than I have on my full-size Martin!
I m a drummer with more guitars than sense. My favorites are a $150 gretsch Jim dandy parlor guitar and 1965 student silver tone .reset and fretted by Mike Palmisano in my. $12 in 65. came with a string strap and song book.
So very nice . Thanks Otis
Just found your channel. Love it! Thanks for the stories
Thanks Otis. Great story and a wonderful guitar. When I’m in the mood for couch playing I use my Martin 000 jr. it’s Mexican made but was affordable and sounds good. Also agree with keeping guitars out and easily accessible. Thanks again.😊
I was thinking of all the good times & bad your guitar has been through; the depression, two world wars, the Cold War turning of a century. I'm sure its provided joy and brought forth allot of music. What a beautiful old soldier. Thanks brother, you're appreciated.
So wonderful to find that guitar. And this video. Just so interesting and well spoken too.
That's a beautiful little guitar it's like it was meant to be that you wound up with it. Congratulations!
I like to have my musical instruments out and ready to go -- mostly on quality hangers.
Also easier to humidify the whole room and instruments than individually. Kind of dry where we live. That's a sweetheart of a parlor guitar and good story.
I bought an old 1930s Supertone parlor guitar a few years ago. It had a neck reset, I made a new bridge, saddle, nut, and bought new tuners. It's solid birch all the way around with a V neck, palm trees on the top. The tone rings out of it for no bigger than it is. Super cool.
What a great find it really sounds wonderful!