Topic: Vintage Guitar advice needed ~

[Uncle Ernie]

I just piddle on an old box I got horse trading...
Got a chance to pick up a couple of guitars and I have no idea what they're worth or what to offer.  Seems like I remember a few guys are into that stuff here, so-
1890 George Washburn
1954 Martin model 5-18
Both in decent shape.  Any ideas?

[fuzzybutt]

mmmmmmmmmmmm what is the asking price on that martin? i'd love to have one of those myself

[Rocking-M]

Ernie, the Martin brings big bucks and has a big sound

here is a link to some Martins like you've found, mostly all sold.
Either it's an 0=18 or a D-18

http://www.gryphonstrings.com/cool_stuff/Vintage_Gallery/Flattop_Acoustic/index.html

[dustyc]

Without really knowing the condition it's hard to say(a thorough check inside and out by a pro).  It's a pretty safe bet you're talking thousands, but your idea of decent shape and mine might be different. 

[Rocking-M]

48-3891 C F Martin (used, early 1960) model 5-18 acoustic guitar, #171991,
in excellent condition with original chipboard case. This guitar shows light normal signs of use only, a small incipient pickguard crack in the wood at the lower bass edge of the pickguard; it is missing a black bridge pin and it needs (and by now hopefully will have received) a neck reset, a refret and a bridge reglue. The guitar has its original (somewhat oxidized) Grover brand open-back tuners, a rosewood fingerboard inlaid with 3 pearl dots, a rosewood bridge with a “through” saddle, a tortoise-colored teardrop pickguard, white-black-white top purfling and tortoise celluloid binding top and back. These little “three-quarter” sized Martin Minnys will fool ya – they look petite, but they roar like a mountain lion that has managed to fall headfirst into a Postal Service mailbox. $1850 or, at our cash discount price, $1795.

[333]

You don't want either one.  Nasty guitars.  Let me know where they are available.  I'll take them and dispose of them.  No one should have to deal with that mess.

[Rocking-M]

You don't want either one.  Nasty guitars.  Let me know where they are available.  I'll take them and dispose of them.  No one should have to deal with that mess.

I was going to tell E that but I decided to be polite. 

[333]

So, by now you should know what you have a chance at getting.  If not, let me give you another example.  A local franchise of Woodcraft( a high-end woodworking shop) is offering(well, 3 or so years ago) a class where you built one of 3 models of Martin Guitars (authorized by Martin) for about $800.00.  So you end up with a Martin for about half the price of retail, that you built yourself. Cool!!!

[Uncle Ernie]

Yeah- but it won't have aged.
Yanno- back around '78 ( ? ) somebody offered me $500 for my current guitar.  it sho am ugly, but the sound is like angels on high.  I can put my ear on the body and listen to one clear note and it brings a tear to my eye.   OK- so I'm a sap.  Sue me.
Haven't begun negotiations yet.  Just wanted to get an idea.  A friend has one of those little Martins. He calls it the "travel size".  He makes everything sound good, though.  Man he can PICK.
He keeps asking me to play with him and some guys, but I'm self-taught and I can't figure out what they're doing.  It's like I came up with my own system.  Funny because his jawed dropped the first time he saw what I was doing. 

I don't want to cheat anyone, and I don't have money from here to there, either.  We'll see... It's kind of like getting close to a cool old bike and wondering "if", "maybe" kind of stuff.  Sort of like the kid who offered me $1500 for my Indian one day.  Since it was all the money he had, I have to say it was the biggest offer I got.

[fuzzybutt]

martin backpacker! i have one too, great little guitar it is. i want to start collecting old "cheap" electric guitars. the old sears silvertone, danelectro, stuff like that.

[Uncle Ernie]

That's right- 'Backpacker"!
After mashing on steel strings so long, I just don't get electric strings.  I don't seem able to go from one to the other.

AS long as we're on guitars, I've been wondering lately why you don't see those big mexian-style bass guitars used in bluegrass instead of a stand-up bass.

[gerhed]

Ernie,

Like to hear some of your picking.

gerhed

[tramp]

pick up a copy of vintage guitar
there should be dealers there that can help you

[333]

That's right- 'Backpacker"!
After mashing on steel strings so long, I just don't get electric strings.  I don't seem able to go from one to the other.

AS long as we're on guitars, I've been wondering lately why you don't see those big mexian-style bass guitars used in bluegrass instead of a stand-up bass.

A standard string bass is a step up from what they used when bluegrass was first around.  Remember the washtub, single string bass?

[Uncle Ernie]

I knew a guy in San Francisco who could play one of those -made with a plastic bucket and some kind of string.  he made it sound like Yo-Yo Ma was in the house.  Gee he was good.

Gerhed, I'll act like a putz at most parties, but I'm relived to say that I have no way of recording myself play.  Even if I did, I'd have to figure out another excuse.

Well- THE BIG NEWS is that someone was playing with my head.  I just found out that these guitars are coming up at Bagwell auctions in about an hour.  Egg on my face.  Doody-icky. This place does a decent job of advertising, too.

Pretty good joke, actually.  Plotting the proper evenge will take some time.  When I worked with this guy, I taped a banana peel on the back of his desk and listened to him #$%* about the damn flies all summer.  Hard to work when you're laughing all the time.

Here's a couple more;  Switch just two keys on someones keyboard.  They pop right off.  Or take the ball out of a mouse and put a grape in there.  They'll go nuts for a while.




9 PM; Kathleen went to the auction and the guitars went for $950 each.  She said just about everything at that auction will be taken by dealers down to Atlanta where they will double their money.

Over and OUT

[azuredesign]

48-3891 C F Martin (used, early 1960) model 5-18 acoustic guitar, #171991,
in excellent condition with original chipboard case. This guitar shows light normal signs of use only, a small incipient pickguard crack in the wood at the lower bass edge of the pickguard; it is missing a black bridge pin and it needs (and by now hopefully will have received) a neck reset, a refret and a bridge reglue. The guitar has its original (somewhat oxidized) Grover brand open-back tuners, a rosewood fingerboard inlaid with 3 pearl dots, a rosewood bridge with a “through” saddle, a tortoise-colored teardrop pickguard, white-black-white top purfling and tortoise celluloid binding top and back. These little “three-quarter” sized Martin Minnys will fool ya – they look petite, but they roar like a mountain lion that has managed to fall headfirst into a Postal Service mailbox. $1850 or, at our cash discount price, $1795.

Are those photos from the Skinner auction?  The text sounds like Stan Jay wrote it. Do you work/own a vintage shop?

[azuredesign]

Yeah- but it won't have aged.
Yanno- back around '78 ( ? ) somebody offered me $500 for my current guitar.  it sho am ugly, but the sound is like angels on high.  I can put my ear on the body and listen to one clear note and it brings a tear to my eye.   OK- so I'm a sap.  Sue me.
Haven't begun negotiations yet.  Just wanted to get an idea.  A friend has one of those little Martins. He calls it the "travel size".  He makes everything sound good, though.  Man he can PICK.
He keeps asking me to play with him and some guys, but I'm self-taught and I can't figure out what they're doing.  It's like I came up with my own system.  Funny because his jawed dropped the first time he saw what I was doing. 

I don't want to cheat anyone, and I don't have money from here to there, either.  We'll see... It's kind of like getting close to a cool old bike and wondering "if", "maybe" kind of stuff.  Sort of like the kid who offered me $1500 for my Indian one day.  Since it was all the money he had, I have to say it was the biggest offer I got.

Hey Uncle,

I've loved playing guitars for a long time as well. I started buying and selling in the 60's, and ran a vintage shop back in the 70's that also a dealer for Martin and a whole bunch of the small marques of the day.  If you don't mind me asking, what is your current guit?
Keep on playing!
Ben

[Uncle Ernie]

I'll post a picture of it tomorrow.  I think it's japanese, but the label was taken out.  It looks like a pool cue went through it, but it doesn't seem to have affected the sound.  maybe it even helped? 

[Brantley]

I believe Rocking-M's post is a Mandolin Bros ad (so, yeah, azuredesign, it's Stan Jay). Ernie, call information, Mandolin Bros., Staten Island, New York. (Sorry, I don't have the number anymore). It's been a few years since I've called, but you used to could tell their operator you want to find the value of a guitar and you'd be connected to some cat who'd ask a few questions and tell you what he thought is was worth. My experience has always been really friendly even though you're not buying from them. Worth a shot.

[azuredesign]

I'll post a picture of it tomorrow.  I think it's japanese, but the label was taken out.  It looks like a pool cue went through it, but it doesn't seem to have affected the sound.  maybe it even helped? 

I had a cat like that once. I really loved that cat!

[azuredesign]

I believe Rocking-M's post is a Mandolin Bros ad (so, yeah, azuredesign, it's Stan Jay). Ernie, call information, Mandolin Bros., Staten Island, New York. (Sorry, I don't have the number anymore). It's been a few years since I've called, but you used to could tell their operator you want to find the value of a guitar and you'd be connected to some cat who'd ask a few questions and tell you what he thought is was worth. My experience has always been really friendly even though you're not buying from them. Worth a shot.

I'd be honored to share room here with Stan. He's one of the early guys to appreciate and vend old acoustic stringed stuff, he's put out great circulars for forever, and I learned more about D'Angelico guitars during my one visit to Mandolin Brothers in the early 90's, than I had gained in the previous 20 years, as there were half a dozen to try when I visited. No hard sell, everyone there was helpful. My only impediment to visiting more frequently is the remote location from points north, although the free ferry ride is really worth the price!

[MRieck]

I believe Rocking-M's post is a Mandolin Bros ad (so, yeah, azuredesign, it's Stan Jay). Ernie, call information, Mandolin Bros., Staten Island, New York. (Sorry, I don't have the number anymore). It's been a few years since I've called, but you used to could tell their operator you want to find the value of a guitar and you'd be connected to some cat who'd ask a few questions and tell you what he thought is was worth. My experience has always been really friendly even though you're not buying from them. Worth a shot.

I'd be honored to share room here with Stan. He's one of the early guys to appreciate and vend old acoustic stringed stuff, he's put out great circulars for forever, and I learned more about D'Angelico guitars during my one visit to Mandolin Brothers in the early 90's, than I had gained in the previous 20 years, as there were half a dozen to try when I visited. No hard sell, everyone there was helpful. My only impediment to visiting more frequently is the remote location from points north, although the free ferry ride is really worth the price!

I've never known distance to dissuade you Ben. Just seems to increase your motivation to get there.

[azuredesign]

I've never known distance to dissuade you Ben. Just seems to increase your motivation to get there.

So... mid ohio Vintage races.. July....

[Uncle Ernie]

This has been an interesting thread for me.  I realize that I've had this and my journal longer than anything else.  I don't play much anymore, but noddling around today has got me going.  It's a great sound; full and resonant, and it holds a note all the way to over there. 

Maybe one of you expert types can look at what's left of the label and recognize anything?

[333]

I'll post a picture of it tomorrow.  I think it's japanese, but the label was taken out.  It looks like a pool cue went through it, but it doesn't seem to have affected the sound.  maybe it even helped? 

I had a cat like that once. I really loved that cat!

You had a cat that "I think it's japanese, but the label was taken out. It looks like a pool cue went through it, but it doesn't seem to have affected the sound."?  Cats have labels?