Long Long Ago

[thecarters28]

where did you get that guitaro!! awesome! -Robert

[dholeton]

@thecarters28

Thanks Robert. I obtained the Guitaro from a small local music store here in Tennessee about 12 years ago. The top warped shortly after I got it and it laid unplayed for several years. I finally got around to sanding it down (removing the original orange finish) and putting a new top on it. When I learned the Carters used to play one, I went back to the store to see if the store owner had any history on my Guitaro, but no other information was available.

Dave

[jesseplymale]

This is great!

[dholeton]

@jesseplymale

Thanks Jesse This is one of those songs that just sticks with me and I can play it over and over.

Dave

[Bidyyy]

* * * VERY NICE !! * * *

[dholeton]

@Bidyyy

Thank You Ernest and Sarah

Greetings from Tennessee USA

Dave

[buycardshere]

Dave,

Did you refinish the top of your Guitaro? Did you remove the bridge cover for a particular reason? I just got one, but it looks like you have much more experience with yours. Any tips?

[buycardshere]

@buycardshere ... sorry Dave, I just read through the comments and saw that you put a spruce top on. Mine has some warp near the bridge, but nothing that affects play. Did you find a big difference in sound? And what did you use to replace the strings? Thanks..

[dholeton]

@buycardshere

Yes, I think the spruce made it less harsh. I have a second guitaro and it is original and it seems harsh compared to the spruce top. The top is warped again, but it is warping toward the back under the chord bars where the original top warp up into the strings. If I replace the top again I'll see what can be done for additional bracing. Tom Fladmark makes string sets for Guitaros. He has a web page and also makes custom autoharps.

Thanks

Dave

[dholeton]

@buycardshere

I left the bridge cover off because I didn't want to put holes in the top for it, the cover is just plastic, and I liked the look of the new pins. I also didn't put the pick guard on the new top but probably should have since I have gained a few scratches. I rearranged the chord bars to put the bars for the keys of F and C near each other. You can find my email in the song description or on my main page if we need to discuss more than the comment section here allows.

Dave

[effekt59]

absolutely beautiful rendition of this song! very inspiring! i enjoy playing along on my harp :)

[dholeton]

@effekt59

Thanks Effekt

It's one of those good old songs that reaches out to us.

Dave

[dholeton]

@effekt59

I still play it a lot too!

[effekt59]

@dholeton I've been learning the harp for about 2 months now and playing along with your song is wonderful practice. Again, thank you very much for sharing this :)

[dholeton]

@effekt59

That's how I learned a few songs (Rights of Man, Little Moses, and some others). It is a wonderful tool we have for learning songs. I 'm glad this one was useful.

Good Luck and keep on a playin' . It's worth it!!

Dave

[kdheithaus]

beautiful, thankyou

[dholeton]

@kdheithaus Thanks Kim...The older I get the more long long ago's I have to sing about. I learned this song on dulcimer somewhere between 1978 and 1980. I still enjoy playing and singing it today even though the meaning has probably evolved a little.

Take Care

Dave

[datfri13]

I just saw some old clips on youtube with Maybelle and Sara Carter. Maybelle is playing guitar while Sara is playing a guitaro with a pick guard.

[dholeton]

@datfri13

Sorry, it appears I never responded from your comment 6 months ago. I have tried to find all of the old Sara and Maybelle videos on Youtube and I have learned how to play some songs from some of them. Some of the videos that used to be on Youtube seem to not exist anymore (like Little Moses). Drat!

Dave

[datfri13]

The guitaro was produced by the Oscar Schmidt Co. for people who wanted an instrument that was easy to play (like the Autoharp) and had a range similar to the guitar. My (now deceased) first wife had rheumatoid arthritis and accompanied her singing with an Autoharp and a Guitaro in the '60's and '70's.

[dholeton]

Thank You Datfri

The Guitaro is easy to learn to play for simple accompaniment, which is all I do with it.

Dave

[datfri13]

Yes, even with her crippled fingers, Linda could play it.

[guitmartiman]

This is beautiful! I never heard of a guitaro! I must see if I can find one!

[dholeton]

Thanks Jack...Every now and then I search the net on "Guitaro Autoharp" just to see if any new articles are posted or if any are listed for sale. I find some for sale now and then. I had to restore the one I'm playing in the video because the top warped. I replaced the top with spruce, which makes a much different sound than the original top. I don't play any complicated on it, I just strum the chords and have fun.

Dave

[qchordbill]

Dave I would like to know more about the guitaro I have found a chromalin at the Vintage fret shop but the buttons are in the middle. I have never heard such a rich full sound as the guitaro.

[cannonballsax]

I adore this rendition! How in the world did you get different shots of the people playing without leaving any excerpts of the song?

[dholeton]

Thanks Caitlin....Long Long Ago is an old sentimental song and I'm feelin' older and more sentimental every minute. I probably need more letters for explaining the technique for creating the video than what is allowed in this small reply space, so I'll try to explain with a YouTube SEND Message.

Thanks

Dave

[DiegoElArbol]

I love this song. Thank you buddy. Greetings form Buenos Aires, Argentina

[dholeton]

Thank You Diego...It may be a lot of work but I have a lot of fun creating videos.

Greetings from Clinton, Tennessee.

Dave

[vunduraja]

AMAZING !!!

[dholeton]

Thank you Vunduraja

[mrprefect42]

Could it be that one of you instruments is plaued by June Carter in Walk the line?

[dholeton]

Thanks Mrprefect...The Guitaro is a version of the autoharp that evolved in the 1960's. I haven't seen June Carter playing one but it is possible she has played one. I have seen Sara Carter playing one and the videos are available on YouTube. She and Maybelle sing Little Moses, Cannonball Blues, While the Band Plays Dixie, Sweet Fern, and maybe others I haven't seen yet on YouTube. The Guitaro has 24 strings where an Autoharp usually has 36. I use it mostly for strumming accompaniment.

Dave

[mrprefect42]

You're great

[tuckytunes]

Dave: this is a wonderful rendition of a wonderful tune on wonderful instruments. A pleasure all around. And a pleasing voice to boot. What a treat. Keep it up.

[dholeton]

Thanks Tucky...Long Long Ago is one of the first songs I learned on dulcimer many years ago. It's a song that comes back for me time and time again.

Dave

[dholeton]

Thanks Brian...Being somewhat of a closet player, I play all of the instruments and provide all of the voices on all of the songs I have posted on YouTube so far. I record a track, then play that track back while recording the next track. Some day maybe I'll record something with some other players/vocalists and catch everything in one take.

Dave

[str8fellow]

Dave; You're a one man band. Another wonderful song, skillfully done. Are the vocals on this, over dubbed, cause I hear a little echo. Either way, it's great. Keep up the good work. Brian

[Pigglies]

I love it! Absolutely beautiful. And I enjoyed the video editing as well so that we could see you playing more than one of the instruments. I need to learn how to do that.

[dholeton]

Thanks Valerie....I'm having a lot of fun creating videos and learning more with each one.

Dave

[rrdoran]

Thank-you Dave. I've seen that Chromalin too.

[dholeton]

Ryan....If you decide to buy an instrument via an Internet seller, I suggest asking the seller to loosen the strings before the instrument is shipped. Mail trucks are not air conditioned and the extreme temperatures of summer or winter can cause damage during shipping. The Guitaro I purchased via the Internet wasn't in tune when it was shipped but it wasn't real loose. The top pulled away near the hitch pins. I was able to fix it without too much trouble but it could have been worse.

Dave

[rrdoran]

Where did you get your guitaro?

I've been looking for one forever.

[dholeton]

Ryan....I obtained the Guitaro I am playing in the video from a local music shop in Clinton, Tennessee, about 8 years ago. I restored it when the top warped, but otherwise it is close to original. I also obtained a Guitaro on an Ebay sale about 3 years ago. I search on the internet every now and then and will find a Guitaro for sale. Currently, the only thing I see is a Chromalin, which is a Guitaro-like instrument, at The Vintage Fret Shop in Ashland, New Hampshire. Good Luck

Dave

[Boondockflyfish]

outstanding!!! you did a great job with this!

[dholeton]

Thanks Boondock....Long Long Ago is one of my favorites.

Dave