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fyi
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=55531
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Author:  wbergman [ Sun Feb 19, 2023 5:47 pm ]
Post subject:  fyi

https://www.estatesales.net/AZ/Sun-City/85351/3561393

Author:  Chris Pile [ Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fyi

Man, that harp guitar will bring big bucks.

Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fyi

That looks like it's in pretty good shape.

About 7 years ago a guy brought one of those over to me. They found it in a closet of a house they just bought. it was a real mess with multiple side and top/back cracks. I worked on it for about a year, a massive project as it was a real basket case. Back off, etc. Got it all patched up and playable. There was actually a web site that a guy had focused on them and he sold string sets as well.

Here's a shot of the interior.

ImageIMG_4507 by Terence Kennedy, on Flickr

Long story short the guy consigned it at a well known vintage guitar store, Willie's American Guitars in St. Paul MN. It was a real beast and sold rather quickly but they don't bring as much as you might expect.

ImageIMG_1025 by Terence Kennedy, on Flickr

Here's a Facebook promo video they did. It was fun but I'll never do another one :)

https://www.facebook.com/profile/100063 ... p%20guitar

And a YouTube video of my attempt to play it. The harp strings did vibrate sympathetically a bit and filled things out a little.

https://youtu.be/8mlY3z7RQPs

Author:  Clay S. [ Mon Feb 20, 2023 12:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: fyi

Terence Kennedy wrote:
That looks like it's in pretty good shape.

About 7 years ago a guy brought one of those over to me. They found it in a closet of a house they just bought. it was a real mess with multiple side and top/back cracks. I worked on it for about a year, a massive project as it was a real basket case. Back off, etc. Got it all patched up and playable. There was actually a web site that a guy had focused on them and he sold string sets as well.

Here's a shot of the interior.

ImageIMG_4507 by Terence Kennedy, on Flickr

Long story short the guy consigned it at a well known vintage guitar store, Willie's American Guitars in St. Paul MN. It was a real beast and sold rather quickly but they don't bring as much as you might expect.

ImageIMG_1025 by Terence Kennedy, on Flickr

Here's a Facebook promo video they did. It was fun but I'll never do another one :)

https://www.facebook.com/profile/100063 ... p%20guitar

And a YouTube video of my attempt to play it. The harp strings did vibrate sympathetically a bit and filled things out a little.

https://youtu.be/8mlY3z7RQPs


A friend of mine bought one of those a few years back and brought it to me to do a few tweaks to it. It was a heavy beast and a bit awkward to hold. Like the Gibson "O" Artist model the sound was not that impressive, but it did look cool! I think he paid about 3K for it. With the resurgence of interest in harp guitar my guess is it might bring twice that today.

Author:  Chris Pile [ Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: fyi

I'd love to have one on my bench. It would be a thrill.

Author:  Hesh [ Mon Feb 20, 2023 2:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: fyi

It may be a bit of a crispy critter having been in Arizona for however long. I would want to personally inspect it it may be a can of worms with lots of stuff failing because of the low RH.

Arizona is a great place to park your unwanted 757 but it's sucks for parking unused wooden, stringed instruments without RH management.

Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Mon Feb 20, 2023 9:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: fyi

The biggest mistake I made was not making a mold for it before I took the back off. It was challenging getting it back on and I had to add some wood to the edges in some spots of the lower bout.

I think a Fox style open mold would work pretty well.

“I'd love to have one on my bench. It would be a thrill.”

It was fun Chris, especially to see the level of craftsmanship that went in to it’s construction and think about the workers circa 1914 that had those skills with the technology available. Too bad those old instruments can’t talk eh?

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