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Location: SoCal | I should add that the ONLY REASON the OFC guitar was made was due to Al's (LostArtVintage) efforts over several years of hard work to get approval, his long time reputation at the factory, and heavy pushing to ensure the specs were correct. I am sure that the archives still have the number of postings concerning. |
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Posts: 7231
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I had an OFC-I and one factor that's not talked about is the "opening up" affect. It seems a bit more dramatic with the Carbon Fiber tops to my ears. Hands down the best sounding and loudest Slothead I have heard in Cliff's. Nothing else comes near it. He's played it nearly every day it seems for many years. While short-term opening up of a guitar may be subjective... the top vibrating for all these years has to loosen it up. I heard the same or similar tone in my OFC-I, but not the kick. The volume just wan't there, and as it wasn't really my style nor would was I ever likely to play it enough to open-up, it moved on and its place is an OFC-II. I love the sound, and I think the OFC-II is the cream-of-the-crop as it were. The best of everything, except maybe for not being a slotted headstock which I believe... just like the string angle over the bridge affects feel and tone, over the nut does as well.
The 47RI and the OFC-I and the slotheads I have heard sound very similar to me with one exception. The Original slotheads that I have heard, were played a lot over the years. Cliff's is the loudest and the others a pretty loud too. Tone wise, they are all in the same ball-park.
I guess what I'm saying is that I do believe there is a peak as to how far a guitar will open up. At a certain point the stress points are no longer at stress and it's as loud as it's going to get. In that light, the conversation of OSH, 47RI and OFC-I won't really be valid for another 20-30 years. Will one of the OFC's or the RI47's open up as much as Cliff's if it's played for another 20 years? We'll just have to wait and see... or er hear as the case may be. |
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Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | Since it's a discussion of prices right now - what do you think should one get for a #47RI in perfect condition? In Europe? Because sometimes I think about selling it, since I have my Custom "47RI"-7 and hardly play the red one. Although it is the better one, but I'm a die hard fan of these beige Adamas guitars.
Thanks,
Kurt |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | When I compared Mark's original slot head No. 43 against my OFC-1, there was a noticeable difference in resonance. No. 43 wasn't particularly louder to my ears, but it just resonated forever. Of course, the OFC guitar was still relatively new at the time. The fact that Mark played No. 43 on the road for many years as a pit musician certainly had something to do with this. I don't play my OFC-1 much, but it has hung on a rack in front of a 15" speaker that is blaring six hours every week, and has done so for the past six years. I wonder if it has now opened up? Maybe it's time for a new comparo. We could also include the OFC-2 which hangs off the ceiling in front the same same PA speaker in the band room. |
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | Hum...I wonder if that might be my old OFC II ? Another one were the steering wheel was just too small....
Sorry to highjack your thread Damon, oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!! |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Still got that wide neck OFC2 waiting for you Tim.
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | I know Stephen, but short of selling off several more guitars, I can't afford it...as much as I really want it.
Selling the 1688 allowed me to payoff all my Snap-On tool debt and the last credit card... |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Tim Luton - 2015-03-16 6:41 AM
I know Stephen, but short of selling off several more guitars, I can't afford it...as much as I really want it.
Selling the 1688 allowed me to payoff all my Snap-On tool debt and the last credit card...
But with all that money you're saving on haircuts and razors? |
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Posts: 51
Location: Halifax, nova scotia | guys, I hope I'm not hijacking the thread. how would the volume and sound on an original Josh White shiny bowl compare to the osh? I find it to be the loudest and most resonant guitar in my stable. I have no experience with anything adamas. |
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Posts: 51
Location: Halifax, nova scotia | guys, I hope I'm not hijacking the thread. how would the volume and sound on an original Josh White shiny bowl compare to the osh? I find it to be the loudest and most resonant guitar in my stable. I have no experience with anything adamas. |
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Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Prof...#43 is ready for another sleepover....perhaps the Tak Opry would like to come up to Broomfield for a week or so .......then 43 would have a hanger to hang on....just let me know...it has been a few years now...curious to hear and read what you may think...I'm guessing 43 has not changed...and the OFC1 might have.
May thru August - #43 is going back to work for a while....Go figure ...I got a gig! |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Not sure about an original but I have played a reissue, as well as my unique braced Artist and shiny bowl Balladeer (just referred to as to age). No comparison as to the Adamas being louder. However, each is a different guitar with a different voice.
I believe we have fallen into the pit of "mine is louder"...it is the magic of the guitar as to purity of sound and the guitar player's experience (as well as an audience) that a guitar should be measured by. Of course, if plugged in, then you can be as loud as your equipment allows. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I've heard some terrible guitars that were very loud.
Yes, the Josh White is a pretty loud guitar, but that's not what makes it special in my opinion. It is an extremely well balanced and open sounding instrument up and down the neck. Some guitars sound great for cowboy chords but then fall apart or turn to mush of you go up the fretboard. No so the Josh White.
Comparing to Adamas is not meaningful. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Hey Mark, let's do a guitar sleepover swap when your gig is over. That'll give me some time to clean up the Opry and change its strings. You want lights or mediums? |
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Location: Colorado | I've never gone after a lot of volume...that's what mics, PAs and pickups are for. Opened up guitars are hard to describe...I think of it by the ease the notes and tone come out of the guitar and sustain the notes...Dave's correct...some guitars are great in first position...others hold their own up and down the neck...some seem to sparkle ...other seem to burst...others seem muted...most are musical...heck...I've found the proper pick and right hand technique sometimes mean more than the guitar...but for that...one has to practice....not purchase |
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Location: Jet City | shameless bump |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | I think the next OSH is going to prised from someone's cold dead hands. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I remember Messina's guitar as having a spruce body. Maybe in the end they swapped it out to the Mahogony.
You really want an original slot head? I'll sell #53, it is a 1187-7 non original case I think, $100,000. No offers or trades considered. Excellent condition.
Is it worth it? Perhaps not, or maybe it is, depends on how bad you want one of only 34 made 39 years ago. |
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Location: Munich, Germany | The -7s are worth it. Definitely! |
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Location: NJ | #54
Original Case.
Signed Letter of Authenticity.
$75K.
Same Terms. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I'd put a signed letter of authenticity but then it would be worth only 50,000. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | All joking aside, I don't think OSH will command the price of a pre-war martin. But certainly the value will continue to rise. Not sure the last one that changed hands. But in my opinion today it would take 15+ to shake one lose. And I'm not even sure I'd sell mine at that price given the fact that it could never be replaced. Sad thing is when I die the wife will probably just put it out in the garage sale with the rest of my crap. You may want to contact her in advance. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Well joking aside I see where prewar herringbones go from 60,000 to 120,000. There were a lot more than 34 of those made. Hell, there were 92 D45s made. So as far as rarity goes it is hard to beat an original slothead. Just how bad does someone want one? Yes I know we're all talking bollix here but... |
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Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | I do want one... but it's not really a historical thing for me or what the value will rise to. After drooling over "Wings" over at Stephen's, I got the bug. The thing was so light, so responsive to the lightest of touches, the attention to detail, the carvings, etc it was awesome in pretty much every way. I just wanna play one... Have it here for me to love on for a bit before I go myself.
If you read through the thread a bit, you'll see I really don't care if it's an original, an OFC I, or even the '08 (maybe). The 47ri has much less of a pull for me as I'd like to have the option of plugging in.
But yeah, no matter how bad I wanted it or for what reasons, a 6 figure price tag would be a bit steep for me. I was basing my request on what I had seen floating around in the archives.
Things change, and when I had originally posted this, pretty much any hope of another one being built were dashed. If the shop does get reopened, I'll just have to commission one I s'pose.
Edited by Damon67 2015-05-14 12:41 PM
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Location: Upper Left USA | The Five Stages of Acquisition:
Infatuation, Justification, Appropriation, Obsession, and Resale |
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I'd like to have an original Adamas slothead...
