My first guitar was a Stella. I got rid of it when I bought my first "nice" acoustic...and almost instantly regretted it. I bought a blond Stella at Goodwill a year later and have kept it ever since. I've never recorded with it but at least half of the songs I've written were written on that Stella.
I get it, Dan. You'll enjoy my video about "who plays a Harmony and why?" ruclips.net/video/ZXOO_FYB4jA/видео.html Artists like Jimmy Page and Elvis Costello (and me) believe that certain guitars have songs "in them," and we songwriters just have to set 'em free!
I fell out of love with my 400$ solid-top Epiphone EJ-200 for many years. Now I love it, I really really love it. It has a very comfortable neck. The body shape is extremely comfortable since the right arm has a lot of space to rest upon, as if the guitar us hugging you. Swapping nut , saddle and bridge pins to high quality bone, regluing the bridge with hide glue, swapping heavy Grovers for shortest peg open Gotohs and refretting with bronze improved its sound tremendously, and it sounds GOOD, even though not great by any stretch. Finally, it's just a gorgeous instrument. It draws me in like a beautiful girl, it's just fantastic. Over the years I came to appreciate beauty of some of budget-friendly abd inexpensive guitars. Some of them are really much more beautiful than expensive ones, and that's worth something. A 300$ guitar might have a better burst finish than a 4000$ guitar, I've seen it plenty times. Though it's not going to sound as good and be as light, that's for sure.
I’m happy you’re giving that EJ-200 so much love. In many ways, guitars give back more when you give them love and attention. (It’s proven that guitars become louder and more resonant the more they’re played.) A few years ago, I made some small changes to my J-50 and they took a guitar that was sounding tired and woke it right up. Here’s a video about it: ruclips.net/video/h2yi9tWMwzA/видео.html
I just picked up a 1970 J50. I know that the Seventies Gibson acoustic guitars are considered inferior instruments, but in 1970, they were actually adding some nice things that would disappear by 1972. For instance, mine doesn’t use a horizontal center seam brace on the back, just a few vertical back braces (the one on the lower bout is a bit massive). So the back is solid, but I think that helps reinforce the sound. Also, mine has cream-black-cream binding, which would become black binding. My saddle is rosewood, not plastic as 1972’s would be. It’s not a round shoulder, it’s a square shoulder, but to me that makes it look almost identical to a Martin D-18. The spruce top is that beautiful burnished color like your 1964. And for some reason, the Gibson logo on the headstock is mother of pearl. Mine was replaced with another mother of pearl when the “son” fell off and the “Gib” original is in the orange lined case. Finally, the pickguard is the teardrop shape which they briefly went back to in 1970. So I paid 5x your definition of a “cheap” guitar, but to me it’s a fantastic guitar and sounds just like JT is in the house!
Hey Fred. Your J-50 sounds like a very cool guitar. The square-shouldered model is a lot less common, and with a teardrop pickguard? Probably looks beautiful. BTW, I never subscribe to the adages that certain years are “bad” and other years are “good,” because each instrument is unique. I’ve played many gems supposedly built in bad years, and plenty of duds from good years…
I love it ! So glad I hit the alarm and get a notification Thank you. P.S. I love your vintage guitar and harmony vids and this is the first time I have heard you sing.. Love your voice and the guitar in this track WOW
Thanks so much, Linda! If you're interested, I've released quite a few videos about singing...a whole series called Voice Training for Guitarists, and a fun 3-part series about how to build massive harmonies with multi-tracking. Here's part 1: ruclips.net/video/tYMBgQvUPdg/видео.html
@@RobertCassard Thank you so much Robert. I was just telling a friend 1/2 an hour ago I sure would like to know how to sing better and maybe take lessons. Going there now :-) enjoy the weekend
Right on! I hope the Voice Training series gives you some solid tips and that you start singing your heart out. Here's Part 1: ruclips.net/video/BrBzawM9EqM/видео.html
Very cool Robert. A Stella Harmony was my very first guitar when I was 11 years old. I bought it at a yard sale for $3 when I was in Texas with my grandmother visiting relatives. I was trying to play it on the way home in the back seat when suddenly she reached back and grabbed the guitar and flung it out the window. 'Had just about enough of that', she said.
Oh wow, Terence Lee! Haven't heard of that ever happening - right out the window of a moving vehicle. Sounds like she had some Hendrix-style smash-the-guitars rebellion in her! I just got a "new" early 60s Silvertone version of the same parlor guitar. My plan is to leave the Silvertone "as is," and to take the 58 Stella and install a rubber bridge to get the old pizzicato sound. Videos to come, I'm sure...
Thanks, Anthony. I love the 3 Harmony-built guitars I own. I did a whole series about Harmony a couple years ago. Here’s the first one: ruclips.net/video/TpZjOqSRBR8/видео.html
I love making the most of things others often overlook too, I’m still buzzing from finding an old Hofner President, which when I looked up the serial number turns out to be from 1967( my birth year guitar!) so even though it wasn’t cheap @£499, it’s all original, working order and plays really well ( admittedly less silky smooth compared to my modern Fs &Gs, and how much is a 1967 Fender or Gibson? That’s not happening for me...)so I bought it. It fills the gaps in my small collection of both hollow electric and vintage, and tonally it gives me new options too, can’t wait to hear what you do with a cheap electric 👍🎸🇬🇧😀
Ah, John… You’re bringing up a whole other category: vintage guitar “deals”! Sounds like your President is one of ‘em (and being from your birth year seems kind of cosmic). I’ve been fortunate to snag a few underpriced beauties along the way. Happy to hear you say that it’s opening up new options for you, because that’s the best reason to fill in the holes in a collection. And if you can do it at a bargain price, that’s magic!
The guitar looks awesome and artistic with all those notes.. It has a very good resonance but a lot less chime and brightness then the Gibson.. More than likely due to the woods used.. Birch is more or less like wild cherry. It has very good sustain.. Why not use it for its strengths and character in certain recordings..
I bought a Stella today she has a slight crack on the top. I will want to clean the tuners. Maybe I will try putting a spong in her overnight and hope the crack seals.
Worth a try. I now have two of these old Stellas. I keep one with the original bridge, and the other with a rubber bridge I made. They’re very fun guitars! ruclips.net/video/EMnHyfQv26o/видео.htmlsi=MvXq6Ua0nSYjSZI4
Definr cheap. Those guitars were mostly from the fifties and sixties. And to Harmonys credit they biilt and sold every level of guitar, snd sold more of them than all the other makers. Those Harmonys were being sold in a time when hourly wages were under a dollar an hour.
I agree P M. One thing I didn’t mention is the importance of having a professional-level setup, even on a cheap guitar. It’s amazing how much better most cheap axes will play after a luthier tweaks them.
@@RobertCassard not all the cheap ones but some of them sounds more roots. I turn to one tone down in D to have more bass... I think young player can't dig it 😂
Lucky! My daughter recently bought be a second one, so I could keep one with its original wooden bridge and the other with a rubber bridge. Perfect condition: $150. So you did VERY well on that buy!
My first guitar was a Stella. I got rid of it when I bought my first "nice" acoustic...and almost instantly regretted it. I bought a blond Stella at Goodwill a year later and have kept it ever since. I've never recorded with it but at least half of the songs I've written were written on that Stella.
I get it, Dan. You'll enjoy my video about "who plays a Harmony and why?" ruclips.net/video/ZXOO_FYB4jA/видео.html Artists like Jimmy Page and Elvis Costello (and me) believe that certain guitars have songs "in them," and we songwriters just have to set 'em free!
Fun to watch. I like your renditions.
Glad you like them, Karen!
I fell out of love with my 400$ solid-top Epiphone EJ-200 for many years.
Now I love it, I really really love it. It has a very comfortable neck. The body shape is extremely comfortable since the right arm has a lot of space to rest upon, as if the guitar us hugging you. Swapping nut , saddle and bridge pins to high quality bone, regluing the bridge with hide glue, swapping heavy Grovers for shortest peg open Gotohs and refretting with bronze improved its sound tremendously, and it sounds GOOD, even though not great by any stretch.
Finally, it's just a gorgeous instrument. It draws me in like a beautiful girl, it's just fantastic.
Over the years I came to appreciate beauty of some of budget-friendly abd inexpensive guitars.
Some of them are really much more beautiful than expensive ones, and that's worth something. A 300$ guitar might have a better burst finish than a 4000$ guitar, I've seen it plenty times.
Though it's not going to sound as good and be as light, that's for sure.
I’m happy you’re giving that EJ-200 so much love. In many ways, guitars give back more when you give them love and attention. (It’s proven that guitars become louder and more resonant the more they’re played.) A few years ago, I made some small changes to my J-50 and they took a guitar that was sounding tired and woke it right up. Here’s a video about it: ruclips.net/video/h2yi9tWMwzA/видео.html
I just picked up a 1970 J50. I know that the Seventies Gibson acoustic guitars are considered inferior instruments, but in 1970, they were actually adding some nice things that would disappear by 1972.
For instance, mine doesn’t use a horizontal center seam brace on the back, just a few vertical back braces (the one on the lower bout is a bit massive). So the back is solid, but I think that helps reinforce the sound.
Also, mine has cream-black-cream binding, which would become black binding.
My saddle is rosewood, not plastic as 1972’s would be.
It’s not a round shoulder, it’s a square shoulder, but to me that makes it look almost identical to a Martin D-18.
The spruce top is that beautiful burnished color like your 1964.
And for some reason, the Gibson logo on the headstock is mother of pearl. Mine was replaced with another mother of pearl when the “son” fell off and the “Gib” original is in the orange lined case.
Finally, the pickguard is the teardrop shape which they briefly went back to in 1970.
So I paid 5x your definition of a “cheap” guitar, but to me it’s a fantastic guitar and sounds just like JT is in the house!
Hey Fred. Your J-50 sounds like a very cool guitar. The square-shouldered model is a lot less common, and with a teardrop pickguard? Probably looks beautiful. BTW, I never subscribe to the adages that certain years are “bad” and other years are “good,” because each instrument is unique. I’ve played many gems supposedly built in bad years, and plenty of duds from good years…
I love it ! So glad I hit the alarm and get a notification Thank you. P.S. I love your vintage guitar and harmony vids and this is the first time I have heard you sing.. Love your voice and the guitar in this track WOW
Thanks so much, Linda! If you're interested, I've released quite a few videos about singing...a whole series called Voice Training for Guitarists, and a fun 3-part series about how to build massive harmonies with multi-tracking. Here's part 1: ruclips.net/video/tYMBgQvUPdg/видео.html
@@RobertCassard Thank you so much Robert. I was just telling a friend 1/2 an hour ago I sure would like to know how to sing better and maybe take lessons. Going there now :-) enjoy the weekend
Right on! I hope the Voice Training series gives you some solid tips and that you start singing your heart out. Here's Part 1: ruclips.net/video/BrBzawM9EqM/видео.html
Very cool Robert. A Stella Harmony was my very first guitar when I was 11 years old. I bought it at a yard sale for $3 when I was in Texas with my grandmother visiting relatives. I was trying to play it on the way home in the back seat when suddenly she reached back and grabbed the guitar and flung it out the window. 'Had just about enough of that', she said.
Oh wow, Terence Lee! Haven't heard of that ever happening - right out the window of a moving vehicle. Sounds like she had some Hendrix-style smash-the-guitars rebellion in her! I just got a "new" early 60s Silvertone version of the same parlor guitar. My plan is to leave the Silvertone "as is," and to take the 58 Stella and install a rubber bridge to get the old pizzicato sound. Videos to come, I'm sure...
I have 2 Harmonys. Late 50s electric & mid 60s acoustic jazz. Good video.
Thanks, Anthony. I love the 3 Harmony-built guitars I own. I did a whole series about Harmony a couple years ago. Here’s the first one: ruclips.net/video/TpZjOqSRBR8/видео.html
I love making the most of things others often overlook too, I’m still buzzing from finding an old Hofner President, which when I looked up the serial number turns out to be from 1967( my birth year guitar!) so even though it wasn’t cheap @£499, it’s all original, working order and plays really well ( admittedly less silky smooth compared to my modern Fs &Gs, and how much is a 1967 Fender or Gibson? That’s not happening for me...)so I bought it. It fills the gaps in my small collection of both hollow electric and vintage, and tonally it gives me new options too, can’t wait to hear what you do with a cheap electric 👍🎸🇬🇧😀
Ah, John… You’re bringing up a whole other category: vintage guitar “deals”! Sounds like your President is one of ‘em (and being from your birth year seems kind of cosmic). I’ve been fortunate to snag a few underpriced beauties along the way. Happy to hear you say that it’s opening up new options for you, because that’s the best reason to fill in the holes in a collection. And if you can do it at a bargain price, that’s magic!
The guitar looks awesome and artistic with all those notes.. It has a very good resonance but a lot less chime and brightness then the Gibson.. More than likely due to the woods used.. Birch is more or less like wild cherry. It has very good sustain.. Why not use it for its strengths and character in certain recordings..
That’s how I feel, too, Bertrand. Each guitar and type of wood can serve their own musical and sonic purpose.
I bought a Stella today she has a slight crack on the top. I will want to clean the tuners. Maybe I will try putting a spong in her overnight and hope the crack seals.
Worth a try. I now have two of these old Stellas. I keep one with the original bridge, and the other with a rubber bridge I made. They’re very fun guitars! ruclips.net/video/EMnHyfQv26o/видео.htmlsi=MvXq6Ua0nSYjSZI4
Definr cheap. Those guitars were mostly from the fifties and sixties. And to Harmonys credit they biilt and sold every level of guitar, snd sold more of them than all the other makers. Those Harmonys were being sold in a time when hourly wages were under a dollar an hour.
I did the calculation awhile ago. The $23 this cost new in 1958 is equivalent to about $250 today.
A cheap guitar is gift for old player 👍
I agree P M. One thing I didn’t mention is the importance of having a professional-level setup, even on a cheap guitar. It’s amazing how much better most cheap axes will play after a luthier tweaks them.
@@RobertCassard not all the cheap ones but some of them sounds more roots. I turn to one tone down in D to have more bass... I think young player can't dig it 😂
@@pm8278 Yes...cheap guitars often sound more "roots," as you put it.
mine was $25 :(
😂
Lucky! My daughter recently bought be a second one, so I could keep one with its original wooden bridge and the other with a rubber bridge. Perfect condition: $150. So you did VERY well on that buy!