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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
OT: question for guitar head folks
OT: question for guitar head folks
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
675 posts
May 07, 2011
12:06 PM
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Gang,
My best friend recently gave me a very, very, very nice copy of a J-45 Gibson guitar. Now, my old guitar, my old German-made Framus archtop (with F-holes) has passed to my son, who recently decided he wanted to learn to play guitar. He has a lot of musicial talent and will be generation five of Payne family musicians.
The Framus has what I would deem an electric guitar neck. It strikes me as a 1950s style acoustic electric, but there are no pickups. My question is, is this something I should consider electrifying for him? My main concern is devaluing it, I've not been able to ascertain its value yet.
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David
Elk River Harmonicas
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"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard
"Also, drinking homemade beer." - David Payne
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Stevelegh
218 posts
May 07, 2011
12:24 PM
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You could put a piezo pickup in the bridge with minimal doctoring, or a bug in the body and tape the wire back with no mods.
Like harps, unless you're really clued up on doing major mods, I'd take it to an expert. There's plenty to go wrong if you're looking to chop the body around to fit a pickup.
On the flip side, regarding the value, if your kid ends up the next Steve Vai, it's a small price.
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Andy Ley
111 posts
May 09, 2011
4:20 AM
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I have two opinions on this. Part of me thinks you should leave the guitar in original condition. You can pick up a decent electric guitar without spending too much money nowadays.
The other part of me thinks that a musical instrument is meant to played, as times and tastes change the specification of a paticular instrument may become less suitable to modern tastes; so instruments should be updated to keep them relevant.
FWIW, if I in your position I think my preffered option would be to pick up a cheapish electric for your boy to get his teeth into, and if he outgrows that and still wants to electrify the Framus then crack on and do it.
Having seen your customising work I'm sure you will do it with a level of craftmaship and sympathy that won't affect the value too adversely.
Usual disclaimer applies; all the above is opinion and conjecture; feel free to disagree.
Last Edited by on May 09, 2011 4:29 AM
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shanester
367 posts
May 09, 2011
8:59 AM
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What kind of music does he want to play? An electrified archtop acoustic and a solid body electric are two very different worlds.
I love the woody twang of an electric f hole, but if he's into contemporary rock and distortion, a solidbody may be a better choice...
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Shane
1shanester
"Keep it coming now, keep it coming now,
Don't stop it no don't stop it no no don't stop it no don't stop it no no..."
- KC and the Sunshine Band
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Hobostubs Ashlock
1515 posts
May 09, 2011
9:28 AM
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Its really up to you,I had a Marlboro Acoustic for about 10 years now all my other guitars were pawned,and lost over the years,Its supposed to be a type of Martain from the reasearch Ive done on it.And sure to be a collecters item,But I wanted it to play though a amp or PA,So i put a piozo in it and drilled a 1/4 jack hole in it,It wasnt to hard to do,but destroyed the collecters value,but its the only guitar I have and wanted it that way,just this week i wood burned small dots on the top of the neck where the fret markers were(the small dote on top of the neck NOT the main dots on the fretboard) ,But ive long time wore them off.Its not as pretty with the marks but they work allright.If i was just a collecter i would have not done it,But I play it and the stuff i did for it makes it a more personal guitar and meets my needs better.
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Hobostubs
Last Edited by on May 09, 2011 6:48 PM
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Hobostubs Ashlock
1517 posts
May 09, 2011
9:40 AM
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But if it was me,And i could afford it,I would pick up a guitar from Muscians friend you can get them very very cheap now days and they are good guitars,Its weird harps getting higher guitars going down in price.
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Hobostubs
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mercedesrules
97 posts
May 09, 2011
10:06 AM
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.....Has your son weighed in on this dilemma? My knee-jerk answer would be to leave the Framus alone if he likes it as-is and get him some other type if he doesn't. Please get a name brand electric, if possible; even a Fender Squier or Epiphone would be better than a lesser-known brand.
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