tdrommond Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 I am not, not in anyway, trying to offend you or anyone who has said a jazz archtop bigger than 16" is hard (some act like impossible) to play. BUT what I don't get is that most of use started playing guitar on an acoustic, usually a dreadnought acoustic. I really hear people say they just can't play a Martin D-28. I am a big guy at 6'5" so maybe it is just me, but 10 mins with guitar (big body, small body, contour, non-contour body) and I am comfortable. So I am not trying to rip you, but more to understand where this "I can't play a jazz archtop" reaction comes from. I hope you take this in the spirit it was intended. Thanks!!!! Too think skulled and skinned to take offense. I can tell it was meant in kindness. I've played my old Alvarez Regent faithfully for the last 30 years. It's a mid-sized deadnaught and it's an old friend that I'm used to the feel of. I've also been playing a Fender Stratocaster for the last 6 months, my first electric guitar. It is the polar opposite of the Alvarez. I like the feel of it. It's soft and smooth in all the right places. I've spent another couple of hours with the Super Eagle. I want so badly to like this guitar. I also spent a couple more hours yesterday watching Tal Farlow and Duke Robillard lessons on YouTube. Even a few Brian Setzer lessons. Where this guitar is getting to me is in the size and width of the bottom half of the body. I can't seem to find a place for my right elbow that lets me relax my pick hand. At 5'10" my wingspan isn't nearly as big as yours, so getting arond the guitar is a reach for me. The bridge is in the way, too. The neck is nearly as thick as my Alvarez. One of the reasons I got the Fender was for a slimmer neck. At 47, I have a touch of inherited arthritis and I've broken and jammed index and pinkys too many times to count. It was limiting my play on the Alvarez, too. Plus, small hands. I just can't seem to get settled behind her. I've perservered and will continue to try and find my place with this guitar. It is frustrating that it's being such a wicked thing to get along with. However, none of that changes how stinking hard it was to restring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfiddler Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Have ya'll ever heard of George Gobel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdrommond Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 Have ya'll ever heard of George Gobel? What does Lonesome George have to do wiht it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfiddler Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 What does Lonesome George have to do wiht it? Nothing much really...but he was known for playing a HUGE Gibson archtop, even though he was small in stature. Granted, he had one customized to a 'thin-line' body so he could play it more comfortably. Big archtops can be a (pardon the pun) handful. I'm a tall lanky dude but my right shoulder starts to ache after about 30 minutes with my beloved Golden Eagle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HANGAR18 Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Have you considered checking into the witness protection program and moving to another state? That is a spectacular guitar. Friends come and go. Sound advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdrommond Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 Nothing much really...but he was known for playing a HUGE Gibson archtop, even though he was small in stature. Granted, he had one customized to a 'thin-line' body so he could play it more comfortably. Big archtops can be a (pardon the pun) handful. I'm a tall lanky dude but my right shoulder starts to ache after about 30 minutes with my beloved Golden Eagle. I only remembered him from old tv and comedy, like Leave it to Beaver and Laugh In. I do think I saw him play once on the Porter Wagoner Show or Hee Haw, now that I think about it. Damn, I'm showing my age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdrommond Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 I just added a bunch of photos that I took. Here's a link to the album and a preview http://photobucket.com/supereagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eljay Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 well, since ye know 'bouts Heritage, now, mebbe ye'd like to consider sumpfin bit more prosaic, like a 150 or a 137. welcome to the HOC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdrommond Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Wow, now we're cooking with gas..I need to go get a wound G string. The plain G is overpowering the D and B. I had the same problem with the vintage stagger pups on my Strat. NW018 smoothed it all out. Still needs a loosening of the truss rod. The 5th and 6th are still fuzzing into buzz at anything more than a light strum. I'll give it until the morning now that tensions are normal and see if the strings bow it overnight. elijay - I'm not big on the prosac but I am dang sure a fan of Ron Kirn. Nice music store you got there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Ron Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Nice guitar! Never seen two thumbscrews under a floating bridge post, but shouldn't create any issues so long as you loosen/tighten in the logical order... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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