SOLD! Turn of the Century Parlor Guitar Bay State Ditson John Haynes

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Search: Keni Lee

Category:

Music

Tags:

• victorian
• music
• classical
• parlor
• guitar
• 1900
• turn
• of
• the
• century

[mandogrizz2]

I had a friend that had an old Bay State Parlor guitar. He strung the guitar with silk and steel strings since he hated nylon strings. He also had a fancy wooden pickguard with colored inlay installed on the guitar so it destroyed the historicity of the guitar, but I suppose it could be restored. That friend died more than ten years ago and I'm sure his family sold that guitar. It also had a very fancy custom leather case.Northwest Pennsylvania. His name was Dave Robinson.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@mandogrizz2 Thank you for your comment. Originally these guitars used gut strings that are still available today. Considering there is no truss rod, string tension is the real consideration. I believe silk and steel offer less resistance because the wrapped strings are silk over nylon. A full steel set could be used, but the guitar would need to be tuned down a full step or more from standard to reduce the tension. Enjoy.

[demetrymerkuloff]

Great guitars these Bay State parlors are. I have two I'm restoring at the moment.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@demetrymerkuloff Thank you for sharing. Yes, I agree. Considering they date from around the turn of the century and you can still find one for a very reasonable price. Due to the fact you can restore guitars, you have the skills to resurrect some real gems from the dead. I would enjoy seeing and hearing them. Please keep me in the loop. Enjoy

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@5tonyvvvv Okay now I understand. Unfortunately, I play rather slow myself. Ain't no shredding going on here. LOL I would assume, considering classical guitarists have been using gut for centuries, and they play some pretty agressive pieces, they must hold up well. Sinew is strong stuff. Most players today use nylon. I know there are makers of gut strings today, but they are expensive. There must be some craft to making them, considering you have to get the gauges correct for each string. Enjoy.

[5tonyvvvv]

@KeniLeeBurgess yea i know i make animal sinew bowstrings,and on guitars,i meant playin fast with them..they do get streached out..but sound good when hand twisted and made right.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

@5tonyvvvv Thank you for your question. I am not sure what you mean. The strings on this guitar are new nylon classical guitar strings. Originally they would have been made of animal gut. Worn out strings usually sound bad. They get all stretched out and hard to tune. I hope this answers your question. Enjoy.

[5tonyvvvv]

@KeniLeeBurgess can u still play fast with the old strings? i guess so right

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you. I am using nylon classical guitars strings. I have seen these guitars strung with steel strings, but this is not good. Originally these guitars used gut strings because they are not built to support the tension created by using steel strings. Enjoy.

[stuartjmcclure]

Beautiful example, KeniLee. I have one of these, though still undergoing restoration. I've never heard yet what it sounds like, so this demo very welcome! What type strings are you using here?