# The Great Ongoing Guitar Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172 "2010-01-31T23:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 191
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3804 "2014-12-18T12:19:37Z")
Since we’ve been discussing Bigsby, here is a Youtube clip from a favorite guitar shop of mine, Retrofret. They get some of the harder restoration projects around - in this case, they restored one of Bigsby’s solid-body electrics. While he is known for the tailpiece design that still carries his name, Bigsby, more than pretty much anybody along with Fender, Les Paul and Rickenbacker, created the first true solidbody Spanish guitars - Les Paul’s log was a solidbody experiment with hollow f-hold “wings” on it to look like a jazz guitar. Bigsby made proto-Fender solidbodies (he and Leo were friends and collaborated on stuff - you can see that Leo clearly lifted Bigsby’s “sideways violin headstock shape” for the Stratocaster…) This example may be the FIRST solidbody with two pickups that enabled the player to switch between the two or have both on - how cool is that?!? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RisWJFmOYrI/maxresdefault.jpg "Retrofret Presents: Restoration of the 1949 Bigsby "Butterball" Paige Solidbody Electric Guitar") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RisWJFmOYrI) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3805 "2014-12-18T12:52:49Z")
Oh, man, I just realized: when the camera is on Deke, pulled back, you see Retrofret’s inventory - drool!! But to the right, just to the right of the weird-looking green acoustic, is a small Martin with no pickguard. I yearn for this guitar tragically. It is a 1930 0-21 and quite easily one of the best guitars I have ever played. Truly one of a small, small handful of transcendentally world-class guitars I have had the privilege to play. So responsive and dynamic. Every time I play it I get a guitar lesson. I have tried to work convoluted, complex, multi-guitar deals to find a way to get that guitar - twice. Couldn’t even get close. I think I will have to sell one of my kids 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3806 "2014-12-18T13:36:11Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Hey, seeing how he’s being mentioned in the thread, I thought I’d serve up this delightful short documentary for anyone here who hasn’t seen it: > > [“Guitar Stories,” featuring Mark Knopfler](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or4tn1CBGE4) > > Apologies if it’s been posted already in this enormous thread; all I had the time to do was make sure it hadn’t been mentioned in the last ten pages or so. Anyway, it’s the story of Mark’s six favorite guitars, or six most formative, as told to longtime friend (and Dire Straits bass player) John Illsley. Watching and hearing him play “Money For Nothing” on a Les Paul through a half-cocked wah pedal into a Fender Vibrolux made me love that song in a way I never did when it was new. I know I’m a couple of months late, but I wanted to say thanks for posting this. I just watched the video and it was nice to find that not only is Mr. Knopfler a world-class guitarist and songwriter, he is also a truly genuine, nice, pleasant dude. I thought that Mr. Illsley, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Pensa and everyone else all seem to be really cool people. The guitars and guitar stories were awesome, too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3807 "2014-12-18T15:36:05Z")
Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris collaborated on an album All the Roadrunning. Then toured together in 2006 and 2007. Interesting collaboration. It pushed both of them out of their normal styles. heres one live song. Knopfler sounds amazing. I want that guitar. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NwHjrD_v8E) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3808 "2014-12-18T15:57:07Z")
[quote=“aceplace57, post:3807, topic:527172”] Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris collaborated on an album All the Roadrunning. Then toured together in 2006 and 2007. Interesting collaboration. It pushed both of them out of their normal styles. heres one live song. Knopfler sounds amazing. I want that guitar. [/QUOTE] I’ve heard that album but haven’t seen that live video. Beautiful! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3809 "2014-12-18T16:54:12Z")
[quote=“aceplace57, post:3807, topic:527172”] Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris collaborated on an album All the Roadrunning. Then toured together in 2006 and 2007. Interesting collaboration. It pushed both of them out of their normal styles. heres one live song. Knopfler sounds amazing. I want that guitar. [/QUOTE] That’s just a Fender Strat, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3810 "2014-12-18T16:57:04Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > That’s just a Fender Strat, isn’t it? Yup. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3811 "2014-12-18T17:09:43Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > That’s just a Fender Strat, isn’t it? I cant look right now. Red Strat w/ Maple fingerboard? Could be his 'late '50’s Fiesta Red Hank Marvin. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3812 "2014-12-18T18:50:25Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Oh, man, I just realized: when the camera is on Deke, pulled back, you see Retrofret’s inventory - drool!! But to the right, just to the right of the weird-looking green acoustic, is a small Martin with no pickguard. > > I yearn for this guitar tragically. > > It is a 1930 0-21 and quite easily one of the best guitars I have ever played. Truly one of a small, small handful of transcendentally world-class guitars I have had the privilege to play. So responsive and dynamic. Every time I play it I get a guitar lesson. > > I have tried to work convoluted, complex, multi-guitar deals to find a way to get that guitar - twice. Couldn’t even get close. I think I will have to sell one of my kids 😉 Hey, they only made so many of those guitars and kids are replaceable (and fun to make…) so I don’t see what the conundrum is…😃 ( Kidding!) As a side note I am looking at possibly installing a Bigsby on my buddy’s ES-335 or his Ibanez. I suspect the Ibanez will get it as the 335 is from the early 60s and I’m reticent to start hacking into it and lowering it’s value, although it was a woodpile reclaim of sorts. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3813 "2014-12-18T21:04:27Z")
Well, I pulled the trigger. [=141704811&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0"]New baby]([Photobucket | Make your memories fun!](http://s42.photobucket.com/user/chefguy1/media/IMG_1848_zpsd7fba5ed.jpg.html?filters) [user). On the [=141704811&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=1"]flip side](http://s42.photobucket.com/user/chefguy1/media/IMG_1849_zps43d99802.jpg.html?filters%5Buser). Feels good, sounds good, looks good. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3814 "2014-12-18T21:07:42Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Well, I pulled the trigger. [=141704811&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0"]New baby]([Photo Storage](http://s42.photobucket.com/user/chefguy1/media/IMG_1848_zpsd7fba5ed.jpg.html?filters)[user). On the [=141704811&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=1"]flip side](http://s42.photobucket.com/user/chefguy1/media/IMG_1849_zps43d99802.jpg.html?filters%5Buser). Feels good, sounds good, looks good. Oh yeah. That’ll do. That’ll do for sure. Love the figuring on the back and sides. Gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3815 "2014-12-18T21:22:22Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Oh yeah. That’ll do. That’ll do for sure. Love the figuring on the back and sides. Gorgeous. The guy bought it new in 2010; not a scratch on it, even on the pick guard. Included the hard case, strap and a capo; think I saw a set of strings in there, too. He sold off all his instruments, including a Fender Strat and a set of drums. I should have asked him if the Fender amp he had in his office was also for sale. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3816 "2014-12-18T21:40:38Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The guy bought it new in 2010; not a scratch on it, even on the pick guard. Included the hard case, strap and a capo; think I saw a set of strings in there, too. He sold off all his instruments, including a Fender Strat and a set of drums. I should have asked him if the Fender amp he had in his office was also for sale. Yay! You done good! Congrats! I love that kind of deal - they drive it off the showroom floor and you get the benefit of that depreciation. **swampy** - yeah, putting a Bigsby on a guitar like that that didn’t already come with one - well, that person must really know that they will use it ALL the time to make it worth it. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3817 "2014-12-18T22:16:00Z")
Yay **Chefguy**! Congrats! I’m sure you’re going to get a lot of quality time in. If you live in a drier area or have forced air heating I would strongly suggest, as does [Bob Taylor](http://www.taylorguitars.com/support/owner-resources), that you keep the guitar in the case and humidified when you aren’t using it. **Wordman** , I forgot to says thanks for the link to the mag, and you are absolutely right on the last point. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3818 "2014-12-18T23:07:04Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Yay **Chefguy**! Congrats! I’m sure you’re going to get a lot of quality time in. If you live in a drier area or have forced air heating I would strongly suggest, as does [Bob Taylor](http://www.taylorguitars.com/support/owner-resources), that you keep the guitar in the case and humidified when you aren’t using it. > > **Wordman** , I forgot to says thanks for the link to the mag, and you are absolutely right on the last point. Thanks for the link; they have some good videos. We do have forced air heating for several months of the year, and AC for part of the summer. I’m a little concerned about some negative Amazon reviews of the Humidipak that talk about them leaking. :eek: Have you used these at all? I think the strings on this guy are the original (and look a bit rusty), so I’m going to replace them. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3819 "2014-12-18T23:27:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Thanks for the link; they have some good videos. We do have forced air heating for several months of the year, and AC for part of the summer. I’m a little concerned about some negative Amazon reviews of the Humidipak that talk about them leaking. :eek: Have you used these at all? I think the strings on this guy are the original (and look a bit rusty), so I’m going to replace them. I agree with **swampspruce** and keep my guitars cased. I got a decent hygrometer for each case - think I spent $20-$30 bucks per - and then got a humidifier. The one I got is a Gore-Tex tube you fill with water and which is suspended in the soundhole, held in place by the strings. less of a drip issue. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3820 "2014-12-18T23:31:28Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I agree with **swampspruce** and keep my guitars cased. I got a decent hygrometer for each case - think I spent $20-$30 bucks per - and then got a humidifier. The one I got is a Gore-Tex tube you fill with water and which is suspended in the soundhole, held in place by the strings. less of a drip issue. What about the strat? I just have it on a stand next to my chair so I can grab it whenever the urge hits me. I would think it would be less of an issue than a hollow body. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3821 "2014-12-18T23:52:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > What about the strat? I just have it on a stand next to my chair so I can grab it whenever the urge hits me. I would think it would be less of an issue than a hollow body. Yeah, solidbody, Fender bolt-on-neck style guitars are typically far more impervious, and you always have to trade off accessibility. Having one of those on a stand throughout the seasons can work, or I got a Taylor GS-Mini, which is cheap and has laminated back and sides, so I don’t have to care if anything happens… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3822 "2014-12-19T00:00:50Z")
I’ve ordered a room humidifier for a couple of reasons: Having to remember to keep moistening a case humidifier probably won’t work well for me; also, if I don’t see the guitar, I’m far less likely to play it, so I’d rather have it out. I’ll see how the humidifier works out. Thanks for the advice. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3823 "2014-12-19T15:20:38Z")
I use two different humidifiers, one is the Kyser that fits over the soundhole, and the other is a Planet waves that fits between the strings. I’ve never used the humidipacks, although I have built my own using a couple of 35 mm film canisters and some of those crystals that retain water and slowly release it. My first “high end” guitar was a Garrison and it ended up cracking, badly, due to my neglecting to pay attention to how how dry the house was and how sensitive this particular guitar was to temp/humidity variations. I’ll echo what **Wordman** said about the solid bodies. It’s generally less of an issue, but doesn’t hurt to keep it in the same room as your acoustics. One day, I am going to spring for a humidity controlled cabinet, but I have a lot of other things to build and pay for at the moment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=190) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=192)