Post by Martin on Jun 15, 2019 11:13:00 GMT
Or trading a (relatively) new, minty guitar for an old, crusty antique....is this ever a good idea?
Well, I did it yesterday.
Apologies before I begin are due to Keith....I humbly beg your pardon Don Chesterton, but I no longer have my lovely Larrivee SD-60
It was the sacrificial lamb (should that be lamp?) in my recent exchange.
I replied to an advert I saw for a vintage 1972 Martin-18. The seller wanted a significant amount fo cash(of which I have none) or a suitable swap/part-ex.
I have had a notion for years to get a 'birth year' guitar. I have no idea why this is important, but it seems I'm not alone in this strange compulsion - forums (not this one) are filled with posts about the same sort of quest. And not only was it built in the correct year, it also features my name (sort of). No not, Darren 18, but Martin. It was a near perfect fit.
The only thing was.....the condition and playability.
I've read loads of internet gurus talking about the dark days of guitar building in the 1970s (was anything about the 70s cool?), and Martin's own peculiar issue with bridge placement during this period.
What with nut, saddle and fret wear and the obvious need for the notorious 'neck reset', there is enough to contend with alone for a vintage instrument. What the hell is intonation anyway?
Cosmetic issues are not even a consideration, unless it is the product of an unholy union betwixt Jimi's burnt offering and Willie's Trigger.
The seller described the guitar as in 'excellent condition', with a low action and perfect intonation (whatever that is), and that it is the best sounding guitar you'll ever play! An interesting claim
In fact, being the same age as me, the guitar is in considerably better condition
Being in possession of zero funds and personifying a cashless society, I offered him a choice of a couple guitars I've been considering off-loading. After about a week where I thought the deal was dead, he came back to me and suggested he'd like the Larrivee SD-60.
So, I went to meet him in Edinburgh yesterday (might have been Thursday ) and did the swap.
The guitar is wonderful. A cool vintage vibe, with just enough bashes, bumps, scrapes and finish checking to be considered authentic, but not too many as would make it firewood.
The playability is perfect, with a lovely, smooth straight neck with a nice bit of heft in the hand, and the action is incredible - this thing has obvioiusly had a neck reset, but it's a good one.
The bridge is slightly lower than standard, but whether this was how it was built or a modification, I have no idea - whatever it is, it doesn't apprear to affect the tone (more later).
If the bridge has been moved to improve intonation, then it has worked beautofully - the guitar is perfectly in tune (ok not perfect, but as close as a guitar can get) wherever I played (1st to 3rd, obvs )
The case is ugly, but in a really cool way and has turned a fab army-green colour (not really blue anymore) with some seriously fantastic stickers
The sound is.....just to my taste. I've been loving Gibson guitars recently, particularly the dry, thumpy sound they produce when strummed with fingers. THis has that quality. Dry as a bone, with enough bass thump and rumble to satisfy the deafest bluegrasser. It's loud too, and it's very capable in the fingerpickin' category.
I've played it for hours already and the tone is still changing - I can only guess it's been left unplayed for quite a while.
So, enough babble - here are some picces. Please let me know what you think about this and the swap idea - for the record I have no regrets. I love this old lamp, and gave it a little rub this morning