Posts Tagged ‘spruce’

  1. Harmony Parlor Guitar c.1927

    October 22, 2014

    Oakland Vintage Parlor 1927Harmony Parlor Guitar

    Now this girl is a treat! Harmony made only a few of this model. In face, in 1927, this was the top of the line with solid spruce top, solid koa wood back and sides and checkerboard binding makes this guitar a testament to Harmony’s ability to make fine guitars when they put their mind to it. So beautiful

    $1695

    inc case


  2. Brisbane Guitar Restoration, what’s involved?

    June 10, 2014

    Brisbane Guitar Restoration – the full story

    Brisbane Guitar RestorationRestoring vintage and rare instruments is the driving passion behind us here at the Guitar Repairers. Seeing a beautiful old guitar from say the 1890’s restored to a playable condition is what makes all our hard work really pay off.

    Why do we do it?

    Well, from a luthiery point of view we restore old guitars because:

    • Older timber is much more resonant. Over time wood dries out and the dryer it is, the harder it is, causing it to resonate sound rather than absorb it. (even modern kiln dried timber is not completely dried out)
    • The less moisture there is in wood the less it will move over time. Through seasonal changes new wood still warps and moves. An older guitar has done all its moving and warping so we’re left with very sturdy timber.
    • The timbers used in older guitars are of very high quality. Brazilian rosewood- the best quality rosewood- for example was once used almost exclusively in old guitars. Now a protected species, it is no longer allowed to be cut down and sold. Some Honduras Mahogany and types of spruce are becoming sparse and their lower grade equivalents are being used instead.
    • They all have stories. Dings, dents, scratches and marks, these are all tell tale signs that a guitar has led an interesting life. Knowing that an old 1900’s parlour guitar from the US of A was once some young musicians bread and butter makes for a much more interesting history than some man named Django CMCing them from a factory in Moosejaw, Canada.

    (more…)


  3. 1970 Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar

    March 31, 2014

    DSCF5494

    1970 Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar

    This beauty has a big bottom end with loads of top end clarity. Select spruce top with mahogany back and sides. Really purty little finger picker.

    $2750


  4. Gibson A1 Mandolin C. 1916

    September 19, 2013

    DSCF4635

    This little girl is a cannon!!!!!..it’s LOUD! And woody and everything besides, the perfect thing to out do those pesky   banjo players. As you can see, she still has her original case and the original scratch plate albeit slightly shrunk. We are presently making a replica to compliment the overall vibe.

     $2350