bettyseldest
Friend of Leo's
Sorry, thinking about it the Double Six is not British, the originals were, but this one from the "Club" series is Chinese. In which case I'll show you my other 12, which is Japanese, the Jackson Surfcaster.
“Collections” of lesser known guitars…
- Thread starter LGOberean
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Sorry, thinking about it the Double Six is not British, the originals were, but this one from the "Club" series is Chinese. In which case I'll show you my other 12, which is Japanese, the Jackson Surfcaster.
LGOberean
Doctor of Teleocity
Continuing with the acoustics in my collection, I have two Breedloves. Now as a guitarist I'd heard of Breedlove guitars before I ever had the chance to see one or play one. But in 9 years of owning and gigging with my Breedloves, only on two occasions has any audience member known what they were, and of course they were both guitarists themselves. And as far as seeing them on a stage besides my own? Just once.
My first was a dreadnought. And Breedlove's dreads are the biggest I've seen; 16" across the lower bout, deep body (4-9/16" at the tail block). They're like the love child of a dreadnought and a jumbo. Mine was from the now defunct Atlas series (crafted in Korea), model # AD25/SM. Originally a $800 guitar, I bought it new but discontinued in August 2008 for $550. Solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back, mahogany sides. Rosewood fretboard and bridge. Speaking of the bridge, that's one of the distinctive features of a Breedlove, their pinless, string-through bridge. Personally, I love it; I actually prefer it now. Fishman electronics. JLD bridge truss system. Another distinctive feature is that asymmetrical headstock. People in general may not know the Breedlove brand, but its distinctive look has prompted a number of people to ask what it was. Another feature that I think gets people to wondering about it is the fact that the name is not on the headstock, just the stylized script letter "B". (In 2013 or '14, they went with spelling out the name on the headstock. Not that the new headstock logo would be a deal breaker for me, but I much prefer to older one.
My second Breedlove was Breedlove Passport Plus C250SBe. Solid Sitka spruce top, Bubinga back & sides, soft cutaway, acoustic/electric, bridge truss system. It also is an older model with the script "B" logo on the headstock.
Here it is next to its bigger brother, the honking big dread. For comparison, Breedlove's Concert size is comparable to Martin's 000/OM.
My first was a dreadnought. And Breedlove's dreads are the biggest I've seen; 16" across the lower bout, deep body (4-9/16" at the tail block). They're like the love child of a dreadnought and a jumbo. Mine was from the now defunct Atlas series (crafted in Korea), model # AD25/SM. Originally a $800 guitar, I bought it new but discontinued in August 2008 for $550. Solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back, mahogany sides. Rosewood fretboard and bridge. Speaking of the bridge, that's one of the distinctive features of a Breedlove, their pinless, string-through bridge. Personally, I love it; I actually prefer it now. Fishman electronics. JLD bridge truss system. Another distinctive feature is that asymmetrical headstock. People in general may not know the Breedlove brand, but its distinctive look has prompted a number of people to ask what it was. Another feature that I think gets people to wondering about it is the fact that the name is not on the headstock, just the stylized script letter "B". (In 2013 or '14, they went with spelling out the name on the headstock. Not that the new headstock logo would be a deal breaker for me, but I much prefer to older one.
My second Breedlove was Breedlove Passport Plus C250SBe. Solid Sitka spruce top, Bubinga back & sides, soft cutaway, acoustic/electric, bridge truss system. It also is an older model with the script "B" logo on the headstock.
Here it is next to its bigger brother, the honking big dread. For comparison, Breedlove's Concert size is comparable to Martin's 000/OM.
John Backlund
Doctor of Teleocity
I have an ever-growing collection of 'lesser known' guitars, it doesn't get much more obscure than these. I think I have twelve of them altogether, with possibly three more to be added in 2018.
Ok, that's not entirely true. I actually collect oddball hardshell guitar cases, but unfortunately, they usually come filled up with weirdo guitars inside them, so there they are. What are ya gonna to do?
Ok, that's not entirely true. I actually collect oddball hardshell guitar cases, but unfortunately, they usually come filled up with weirdo guitars inside them, so there they are. What are ya gonna to do?
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Mike Simpson
Doctor of Teleocity
How many do you need to qualify as a "collection" 2, 3 or more?
Billnchristy
Tele-Afflicted
I just have a dusting
3 basses, 4 electrics, 2 acoustics.
An embarrassment of riches, I reckon.
More than I need, and perhaps deserve.
Lucky me!
An embarrassment of riches, I reckon.
More than I need, and perhaps deserve.
Lucky me!
LGOberean
Doctor of Teleocity
That thought occurred to me as I was composing the OP, but I was hesitant to set a minimum number. So, I said something vague about "a handful of guitars, or dozens." Let me just put it this way and then leave to the individual to interpret as he or she sees fit: If your spouse says it's a collection, it's a "collection."
I also have 9 guitars in my collection, 4 electrics, 5 acoustics. And yes to all of the above: an embarrassment of riches, more than I truly need, more than I deserve. And greedy Gus that I am, I still want more.
BradKM
Tele-Afflicted
I built up a small collection of Framus instruments over several years, then sold all of them except for the Caravelle bass that got me started down that road. Over the past couple of years I've picked up several Harmony Bobkats, a couple of Stratotones, and a couple of Danelectro-made Silvertones. That same period saw a couple of early Teiscos and Kawais come and go. I wish I'd held on to all of them.
Great thread! @blowtorch, @bettyseldest and of course @John Backlund make sure the sci-fi guitars are well represented! Very cool, guys!
Mike Simpson
Doctor of Teleocity
I have a bunch of guitars (35ish) but mostly 2, 3, or 4, of any one kind except Teles and Teles I made.
thxcuz
Tele-Meister
I was just thinking the other day I'd like to start collecting series 10 & bently guitars. My local music store was filled with those brands (2 of which were from SLM). None of these guitars are worth much or above student level, but as a kid I lusted after them
LGOberean
Doctor of Teleocity
Finishing up on the acoustics in my collection, there are three uncommon name brands to list.
Wechter Guitars. Abraham Wechter is a luthier who worked for Gibson and made custom guitars for some famous "Johns" (as in John McLaughlin, John Denver, Johnny Hiland). In the mid to late 1990s, Wechter began designing and building guitars to target the average working guitarist. Around the turn of the 21st century, he began outsourcing the building of his guitars to Asia. By 2013, he left the company that carried his name and opened up a custom shop in Guangzhou, China. But before that, Sweetwater was a dealer for Wechter Guitars (Abe Wechter had moved his shop to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2008). Before the manufactured Wechters ceased, I bought am acoustic Wechter Nashville-tuned guitar. I really liked it, and later, when Sweetwater had an acoustic/electric version on sale (model # NV-5413E), I bought that, too. (I subsequently gave the acoustic one to an old friend.)
This is a parlor sized guitar, with a solid cedar top, rosewood b&s, cream bound body and neck, striped ebony fretboard. No cutaway, but with Fishman Presys + electronics. And it has XLR and 1/4" outputs. I gig with it, but not all the time. The high-string tuning is a novel sound, and not right for every song. So I don't do even a whole set with this Wechter Nashville. But it is an uncommon and now discontinued name brand, not to mention a different tuning, so a quality but quite distinctive and offbeat instrument.
Crafter Guitars. Back in the year 2000, I was looking to do acoustic gigs, and the only guitar I had was the aforementioned Hohner G940 (see post # 20 of this thread). I went to a friend that I've known since high school. He had owned a guitar shop in town, but had recently closed the doors of his shop. He still had some guitars and accessories at his house. I went over to his house, thinking that I'd get his advice and help on how to make my Hohner acoustic/electric, but wound up buying one of his surplus guitars, a Crafter, which is a Korean brand. Mine was an FX570EQ, a now long discontinued model. The “FX” refers to fiberglass; it's a rounded back, slim body profile, with an ABS binding around the top and oval-shaped soundhole. The top was made of Tiger Maple, with a high gloss tobacco sunburst finish. The neck is mahogany, the fretboard is rosewood. The nut is made from cream ABS. The machine heads are gold die cast. The bridge is also of rosewood, designed with no bridge pins for easy through-the-bridge stringing. The electronics for this guitar were proprietary, designated F-510 EQ. The slim profile and lack of wood for the back of the guitar means there is a lack of depth and projection, so unplugged it's not that great of an acoustic, but sounds fine amplified. This was my gigging acoustic/electric for 8 years, until my Breedlove dreadnought (see post # 22 above) replaced it. Even so, I kept it around for another 7 years, when I sold it for like $50 less than I paid for it new, IIRC.
The only other acoustic in my collection is probably the least qualified to be called an offbeat brand: my Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy. It's parlor sized, and has that expected pronounced midrange, the nasal honk, if you will. And that's okay for some of the things I play. I bought it primarily because I wanted a cheap guitar to take to the beach/campfires. Secondarily, I bought it because the look/vibe of the guitar is reminiscent of my Dad's 1961 H929 Stella made by Harmony. The tuners on the Jim Dandy are cheap, so tuning is an issue. But it's fine for what it is.
Wechter Guitars. Abraham Wechter is a luthier who worked for Gibson and made custom guitars for some famous "Johns" (as in John McLaughlin, John Denver, Johnny Hiland). In the mid to late 1990s, Wechter began designing and building guitars to target the average working guitarist. Around the turn of the 21st century, he began outsourcing the building of his guitars to Asia. By 2013, he left the company that carried his name and opened up a custom shop in Guangzhou, China. But before that, Sweetwater was a dealer for Wechter Guitars (Abe Wechter had moved his shop to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2008). Before the manufactured Wechters ceased, I bought am acoustic Wechter Nashville-tuned guitar. I really liked it, and later, when Sweetwater had an acoustic/electric version on sale (model # NV-5413E), I bought that, too. (I subsequently gave the acoustic one to an old friend.)
This is a parlor sized guitar, with a solid cedar top, rosewood b&s, cream bound body and neck, striped ebony fretboard. No cutaway, but with Fishman Presys + electronics. And it has XLR and 1/4" outputs. I gig with it, but not all the time. The high-string tuning is a novel sound, and not right for every song. So I don't do even a whole set with this Wechter Nashville. But it is an uncommon and now discontinued name brand, not to mention a different tuning, so a quality but quite distinctive and offbeat instrument.
Crafter Guitars. Back in the year 2000, I was looking to do acoustic gigs, and the only guitar I had was the aforementioned Hohner G940 (see post # 20 of this thread). I went to a friend that I've known since high school. He had owned a guitar shop in town, but had recently closed the doors of his shop. He still had some guitars and accessories at his house. I went over to his house, thinking that I'd get his advice and help on how to make my Hohner acoustic/electric, but wound up buying one of his surplus guitars, a Crafter, which is a Korean brand. Mine was an FX570EQ, a now long discontinued model. The “FX” refers to fiberglass; it's a rounded back, slim body profile, with an ABS binding around the top and oval-shaped soundhole. The top was made of Tiger Maple, with a high gloss tobacco sunburst finish. The neck is mahogany, the fretboard is rosewood. The nut is made from cream ABS. The machine heads are gold die cast. The bridge is also of rosewood, designed with no bridge pins for easy through-the-bridge stringing. The electronics for this guitar were proprietary, designated F-510 EQ. The slim profile and lack of wood for the back of the guitar means there is a lack of depth and projection, so unplugged it's not that great of an acoustic, but sounds fine amplified. This was my gigging acoustic/electric for 8 years, until my Breedlove dreadnought (see post # 22 above) replaced it. Even so, I kept it around for another 7 years, when I sold it for like $50 less than I paid for it new, IIRC.
The only other acoustic in my collection is probably the least qualified to be called an offbeat brand: my Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy. It's parlor sized, and has that expected pronounced midrange, the nasal honk, if you will. And that's okay for some of the things I play. I bought it primarily because I wanted a cheap guitar to take to the beach/campfires. Secondarily, I bought it because the look/vibe of the guitar is reminiscent of my Dad's 1961 H929 Stella made by Harmony. The tuners on the Jim Dandy are cheap, so tuning is an issue. But it's fine for what it is.
CK Dexter Haven
Friend of Leo's
I have/had a bunch of oddballs, some from major makers but those are "red headed stepchildren" (as I have mentioned before I still regret not picking up a "project" Gibson Sonex for $100 a few years back...) Amps? the same, I like odd/ different things, which is good because they are often less expensive, and traditional jobs & I don't seem to get along.
Mike Simpson
Doctor of Teleocity
Here are my two Zim-Gar guitars.
These are early Zim-Gar guitars and were made by Teisco (patterned after the SS2L and SS4L) and sold in the S.S. Kresge stores in the early 60's. (S.S. Kresge eventually became K-Mart)
I have a 2 pickup model 100 and a 4 pickup model 120. In this pic I was working on the 4 pickup and the strings were off. The 4 pickup has the original hard case (shown). Interesting that all the electronics are mounted to the 2 raised metal pickguards.
These are early Zim-Gar guitars and were made by Teisco (patterned after the SS2L and SS4L) and sold in the S.S. Kresge stores in the early 60's. (S.S. Kresge eventually became K-Mart)
I have a 2 pickup model 100 and a 4 pickup model 120. In this pic I was working on the 4 pickup and the strings were off. The 4 pickup has the original hard case (shown). Interesting that all the electronics are mounted to the 2 raised metal pickguards.
LGOberean
Doctor of Teleocity
^^^ Wow! Never knew about these. All the switches, and the thumbwheels, very unusual. And that's one funky looking headstock. It's like a tele headstock with a goitre!
Wow! Never knew about these. All the switches, and the thumbwheels, very unusual. And that's one funky looking headstock. It's like a tele headstock with a goitre! CK Dexter Haven
Friend of Leo's
I once had a Zim Gar bari uke. It wasn't bad, very light; the bag was another story it had shrunk so much the zipper would no longer function, had to cut it off the uke (which was fine.) Probably donated it to the thrift 'cause they couldn't get it loose..
adamsappel
Tele-Holic
These are a bit lesser-known. I have a Squier S73, which is a rebadged DeArmond, and a Squier M-80, part of the Master Series.
Artslap
Tele-Afflicted
I'm a Yamaha fan.
Great build quality, original (mostly) designs.
Great build quality, original (mostly) designs.
