can anyone help?

Dino_08 · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject: can anyone help?

Hi to all, My name is Dino, new to this site, need help ident. my guitar.
It has a triangle abalone inlay on top of a mother of pear rectangle inlay.
Thanks in advance.
Dino

markm2553 · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:13 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum dino!

You want to know what brand of guitar you have?

Does it not have any kind of a tag in the sound hole?

Dino_08 · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject:

unfortunately the label was torn out. I tried to send a photo of it but the site wont allow it, not yet. thanks for your help. Dino

J Dan Brown · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

Welcome, Dino! We need new blood around here to help us build something to love. Sounds like you may have a handmade guitar. I have never heard of that inlay before on a comercial brand available at mail order catalog places like "Musicians Friend" and "Music 1 2 3". Sometimes people make guitars until they realize how hard it is to compete with the factories and get profit on top of what they have invested in labor and materials. My good friend and fabulous repair guy, MarK Lavelle, made about 6 guiatrs a few years ago. Great guitars and he asked about $2,000, well worth it, but around here in NW Louisiana he only sold a couple. So he went back to repair and guiding trout fishing in northern Arkansas ( and cares for his elderly parents. Now had he been in New York City, Nashville or Muscle Shoals it may have been different. Some of these guitars don't even have serial or model numbers.

What kind of wood is the top, back and sides made from and are there any obvious unique differences in styling, bracing or shape? A future photo would definately help.

I have a friend in PA, a devout Christian, Kevin Gallagher who worked for Martin but started Omega Guitars (he has a website still, I think) He reworked my Guild when I was down and out and although we have never met, have grown close. He builds about 50 guitars a year, selling from $2500 to $5000, maybe more now, as I haven't spoken to him recently. I should tell him about this website and he might join with us. His headstocks have a mother of pearl inlay of the classic Greek Omega letter (as in "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end") and his most expensive guitars have an inlay on the neck of two hands (God's and Man's) touching index fingers and he uses some very exotic woods. He made me as a gift of a MOP inlay of "Rom. 8:28" on a Indian Rosewood pickguard when he redid the frets and made a bone nut and saddle for my Guild G-37.

Looking forward to seeing if we can help!
Blessed, with quivering anticipation, Dan

Dino_08 · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject:

Hi, JDB, Thanks for the info, I am so thankful for finding a Christian Guitar site. As far as the type of wood, I lack the knowledge of the diffrent kinds of wood that is used. I Do know that it has a solid top and back. I do have a few photos on photobucket. I use Dino_08_photos for my account name. I am just getting started on this journy of learning to play the guitar. I have a hunch that the more I stick around here, the more I will learn. Looking forward on getting to know more of you all here on this site. Thanks for everything. Dino

J Dan Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:13 pm Post subject:

Again, welcome to the heart of a great fellowship of lovers of the Lord and guitars. I am anxious to see your photos. I talked to Mark Lavelle (my repair guy) this afternoon and he hadn't heard of that headstock inlay as well. I should be able to identify the wood for you if the pictures are detailed the least bit. You might want to check out a post I placed down in the "member's tutorials" section. A simplified explaination of the relationship of notes, chords and changing keys on the guitar (or anywhere for that matter). You may be beyond that already, but if not it will save you a lot of needlessly wasted (IMO) time learnignthings you don't need at first, and may never need (barring Broadway or Nashville of course Smile

)

Here are a few shots of my two. A Maple Guild G-37 and a wild cherry cutaway Norman with a Fishman dual source.

http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e282/danbrown49/?start=0

Also some of where I live and the ruby-throated hummingbirds in my back yard out in this pasture on webshots.com. I was famous for some of the most viewed (#417 out of 38,000) wildlfe photos several summers ago, with some earlier photos.

http://community.webshots.com/user/danbrown112

Going to look at your guitar, Dino. Pray you will stick around awhile and help CGF grow. God has performed such countless, undeniable miracles with me and a guitar and for me music's sole purpose is either praise, worship, or spreading the Gospel.
Blessed, by even more new friends, and UFGs (unidentified flying guitars), Mr. Dan

J Dan Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject:

Dino, I just came from photobucket and saw your guitar. It's beautiful! The top is definately spruce. With the lighting, it is difficult to identify the sides, but I imagine that it is indian rosewood or ebony. Ebony is almost solid black with almost no grain, while the rosewood is dark but has more grain showing. I would need a well lit (but no glare), straight on, shot of the back and inlays to be sure. May I ask what you paid for this?

How does it compare, color and grianwise to the custom pickguard on the sunburst Guild with Rom. 8:28 inlaid on my photobucket page? It's Indian Rosewood. What materials are used for the inlay around the soundhole and the edge of the top and what is the trim around the top edge of the headstock? So , Book-em, Dino! More close ups maybe?
Blessed, and in His loving grip, Mr. Dan

Dino_08 · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

JDB, I just added more photos on photobucket. and also took a peek at your wonderfull photos, I must say "phenomenal".

I bought this guitar for $150.00 and the store owner put a new bone bridge, new strings, attachments for the strap, threw in a gig bag, electronic tuner and a strap for $50.00 more. I believe the Lord blessed me big time with this set up. Very Happy

The store owner did not know anything about this guitar either. I'm going to check out the"member's tutorials" section. Thanks for being such a blessing.
Dino

J Dan Brown · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:

Dino, for that price I would say you were really blessed. I saw the other photos and it's definately Indian rosewood. An acoustic with the features of this one, like the inlay in the center of the 2-piece back, the elaborate binding on the top, the soundhole inlay and the position marker inlay (my old Guild who's modern quivalent would be more than $1500 has only mother of pearl round dots) A guitar like this espsecially with a bone bridge saddle, a good action and tone would have to sell for $500 plus and most likely much more. I would be saving up for a good hard case, if I were you. I placed a post on another forum I once visited, until I found this one, asking about it and referring them to the photos so we'll hear something from them I am sure. Rejoice, Dino, you got your money's worth!
Blessed, with another new brother, Dan

Dino_08 · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks again brother Dan

J Dan Brown · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

Dino, I got a response from an old friend Jack over at GuitarNotes. He said that the snowflake position marker inlays are representitive of the Martin 40 series, like the D-41 and D-45, the most expensive guiatrs Martin makes. He also said he has never seen those type tuning keys on a Martin. His best guess is that it is a pretty good handmade copy of a Martin D-41 Dreadnought, worth well over $750. He suggested that I contact another inlay artist (I know one at Omega Guitars) who often have secret codes among themselves so they can recognize each other's work. I'll send Kevin Gallagher an email and see what else I can find out.

Regardless, Dino, I would count myself blessed, give it a name like a child (Rachael or Conrad) and be secure that you two were brought together for a purpose by the Lord. I'll let you know if I find out anything else relative.
Blessed, and in His grip, Dan

vulcanbob · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:24 am Post subject:

Nice looking guitar Dino, the snowflake position marker inlays are exactly like the ones on my Fender 12 string.

markm2553 · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:38 am Post subject:

Nice guitar! $150! It would be a good deal at 2X that.
If it sounds anything like it looks, you got a great guitar.

I would guess it is some type of Kit guitar, but whoever put it together know what they where doing. If it is a kit made guitar it is a high end one.

Something about the head stock hits me, seems like the tuning keys start pretty far from the end of the head? Maybe that is a feature someone can ID it with?

Good luck, and good playing!

(Welcome to the board) Cool

Dino_08 · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject:

Thank you all for all of your incredible work helping to find out who made this guitar. I will definitely take your advice on getting a hard case.
There is so much awsome info. here on this site, just wanted to thank every one once again.

With time willing, I hope to meet up with a few brothers at church and sit in on a jam session and pick up some great pointers and techniques.
What a wonderful journey this is, learning how to play.

Thanks again.
Dino

J Dan Brown · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject:

Again, Dino, you are most welcome! I feel blessed that I was able to help, especially since it brought you very good news. If your guitar sounds anything like it looks, you are in for an exciting journey. Go slowly with your learning, and try not to learn too much, too quickly. Make sure you admire someone's type of playing and wish to play like it before you seriously take their advce. Pay attention to timing and tuning and keep your instrument from extremes in heat (out in direct sunlight for long periods, or the trunk of a car). It can only sound better with age, the more the strings vibrate, the more the wood does and loosens it up like a fine old violin or an opera singer warming up their vocal cords. I have found that love improves the sound of an acoustic guiatr as much as anything.

This is a fellowship of folks that share a love of Christ and the guitar and we're here to help and encourage any way we can, and will with honor. I hope you will stay around and grow with us. If I can help you with chords to a song you wish to learn, I am here.
Blessed, that He rolled away the stone that held my heart, uncovering that missing part, Dan