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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
 Posted - 04/14/2010 : 10:10:49 AM
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A thread that has been started over in the "Performance/Event..." section about the condition of Barry Flanaghan's, Makana's and the mother of all beat up guitars belonging to Willie Nelson has raised the obvious question in my mind. When is too much too much when it comes to holes in the tops of guitars that you see these guys (and others) playing. What's the scoop concerning the pros and cons of "The Holey Guitar"?
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"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2010 : 10:30:54 AM
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The con is that eventually the guitar will die. The pro is that it is a favorite guitar and that is how it got the hole in the first place. It like a favorite pair of old shoes worn until you wear the soles out.
Look at Glen Hansard's Takamine guitar. He's been playing it since he was 14 year old. BTW, you may know him from the the movie Once.
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Andy |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2010 : 10:58:37 AM
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Don't the extra holes affect the sound quality? At what point will they have to "pull the plug" the last time? Will it be because of bad sound or just the physical condition?
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"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2010 : 1:18:52 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Admin
Look at Glen Hansard's Takamine guitar.
I think we should take our cue from him and start saying that instruments in this condition suffer from Hansard's Disease.
(Don't think about it too hard, ok? Just make the connection to Hawaiian history and take it from there...) |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2010 : 1:35:08 PM
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Hansard's Disease.......groan!!!
Excellent Gregg...just excellent! |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2010 : 6:51:03 PM
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Somewhere I have an old picture of Willie Nelson & his favorite old Martin. In the photo, Willie's young, and his guitar has only the hole Martin put in it on purpose. Several years ago a reporter asked when he would replace the guitar, and Willie said "Never. When I go, so will it." Or words to that effect.
Unko Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2010 : 09:11:45 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
A thread that has been started over in the "Performance/Event..." section about the condition of Barry Flanaghan's, Makana's and the mother of all beat up guitars belonging to Willie Nelson has raised the obvious question in my mind. When is too much too much when it comes to holes in the tops of guitars that you see these guys (and others) playing. What's the scoop concerning the pros and cons of "The Holey Guitar"?
I don't know what the prevailing wisdom would be in Hawaiian music, but...
I studied jazz for a while and was playing a beat up old Ibanez. I went to listen to a well respected local jazz guitarist one night and told him I was considering archtops from Heritage and Guild and asked if he would recommend one over the other or something else entirely. He asked me why I felt the need to get another guitar if I already had one, and I responded that mine was old and beat-up - a few random and unintentional holes and almost no finish left. This is what he said to me, and I will never forget it.
He said, "Show up on the gig with the beat-up guitar and people will think you have been around the block. Show up with the shiny, new guitar and the audience will think you are as shiny and new to it as it is to you."
Of course, he was playing a '54 D'Angelico New Yorker, but it, too, was clearly well loved.
When I think of Hawaiian guitarists and their guitars, I think of Sonny Kamahele's old rickety Gibson complete with duct tape holding the front to the back in its - and his - last years.
In the very near future, I hope to have a well loved and well worn '53 Epiphone Triumph on its way to me from Hawai'i - so that I can start working on my best Pauline Kekahuna impersonation. If you have never seen one of these rhythm workhorses, look at the cover of Aunty Genoa's "Party Hulas" album where Aunty Pauline brandishes one and the same with a smile.
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Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
Edited by - hwnmusiclives on 04/15/2010 09:24:48 AM |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2010 : 09:30:00 AM
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Great story Bill.
But seriously, at what point will the physical were and tear start affecting the sound of the instrument. Doesn't there come a time when Willie will just have to put old Trigger out of her misery.
Or am I just beating a dead instrument here? |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
Edited by - markwitz on 04/15/2010 09:33:56 AM |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2010 : 5:38:57 PM
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Willie looks as beat as his guitar. He's been rode hard & put away wet too many times to count. Maybe his guitar should replace it's owner!
If the holes make the guitar's structure unstable, it may not hold tune very well, or the action may become unfriendly. And that will be noticeable real quick. At that point, even Willie would seek help-or a replacement-for it. Until that happens, I say play on. At least until BAS gets you!
Unko Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2010 : 6:03:57 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
But seriously, at what point will the physical were and tear start affecting the sound of the instrument. Doesn't there come a time when Willie will just have to put old Trigger out of her misery.
Sure, at some point the sound may be affected. But who are we to argue that a lucky shirt ain't lucky anymore -or- a favorite pair of holey shoes are not the most comfortable. That is real loyalty! |
Andy |
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RWD
`Olu`olu
USA
850 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 02:43:08 AM
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I saw Hapa in Chicago about a month ago and Flannagans guitar is in rough shape. It is hard to understand sticking with a beat up guitar. The sound has to be sub-par wouldn't you think?
Now that I recall my evening out, the thing that distracted me through the whole performance was that he was constantly tweaking the tuning before, after and in between notes--on every song. He needs a new guitar or better tuning machines.
I also heard him talk about slack key but he really did not play in the style. He was really good though. Good performer. Nathan was great. |
Bob |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 03:30:59 AM
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| Well I think Barry beats the heck out of his guitar when he is playing. He has to be hard on any guitar he plays. Kinda like Richie Havens. That's why pick guards, yeah? |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2174 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 05:44:52 AM
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| What Aunty said. Pick guards can save an instrument. The instrument is meant to be used, but steps can be taken so that it is not used up. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 05:59:31 AM
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| But that lady in the picture needs a brassiere. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 4:12:51 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
But that lady in the picture needs a brassiere.
Give her some slack  auntie - she's a hippy street musician and a Czech, not used to the Oscars. |
keaka |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2010 : 5:59:14 PM
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| Auntie's right, she's got enough slack already. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
Edited by - markwitz on 04/16/2010 5:59:30 PM |
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Holey Guitars.....Batman!
