Viewing a thread - Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Posted 2009-02-26 10:13 AM (#426116)
Subject: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

I don't know anything about these, except a girl in High School was taking lessons on one, and I asked her if it was a "toy" cuz it was made of Plastic. Otherwise all I know is what has been written here, which ain't that much.

But, this is my Sudden Impulse Buy of the Day!

I saw it, and I emailed a question, then I said screwwit and bought it before it disappeared!

Since I still haven't heard from the seller I didn't get to ask any questions... I'm not even sure, but that don't look like an aluminum fingerboard and frets...

So, did the hippie do good? :D

Paul Templeman

Posted 2009-02-26 10:21 AM (#426117 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750

Location: Scotland

First of all, it's not a classical guitar as described by the seller, it's a 12-fret, slot-head steel string. And apart from the rosewood 'board over an Ali/foam neck, it's basically a Folklore with a plastic top. They sound way better than they have a right too.

Posted 2009-02-26 10:23 AM (#426118 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750

Location: Boise, Idaho

Wow, Arthur. That may be the best of your many great deals. I don't think that one has the aluminum fretboard. Looks Rosewood to me.

Posted 2009-02-26 10:25 AM (#426119 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

Thanks PT, I kinda figure that...[everything you said]
It has a 1 3/4" nut, which is just a tad bigger than the normal 1 11/16".

I saw that and I figured that I better get it before y'all got to work and on the company computer. :p

I figure I can take it out in the rain.

Posted 2009-02-26 10:28 AM (#426120 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984

Location: Upper Left USA

OMA,

Good Grab!
That one is a Mahogany neck and is a twin to mine.

Only difference is that mine can be seen in an Exploded View

If USPS pays the damage claim (looks promising) only then will I be getting a better deal than you did.

Enjoy the heck out of it!

Posted 2009-02-26 10:30 AM (#426121 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

Damn Woody... I didn't need to be reminded of that! :mad:

Posted 2009-02-26 10:34 AM (#426122 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984

Location: Upper Left USA

Shipping happens...

gh1

Posted 2009-02-26 10:35 AM (#426123 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 972

Location: PDX

Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
I saw that and I figured that I better get it before y'all got to work and on the company computer. :p

I figure I can take it out in the rain.

Or snow, as would be the case this morning.

_____
gh1

Captain Lovehandles

Posted 2009-02-26 10:50 AM (#426124 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3408

Location: GA USA

Wow! I think you're today's winner!

G8r

Posted 2009-02-26 10:57 AM (#426125 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969

Way cool, OMA! Congrats.

Gallerinski

Posted 2009-02-26 10:58 AM (#426126 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996

Location: Phoenix AZ

There's two kinds of saddles, I can't tell from the photo which yours has. One is height adjustable with two screws. Was advertised as "easily convertable from steel to nylon strings". Woody's is/was like this. Mine has a more traditional fixed saddle. Best hundred bucks you'll ever spend.

Captain Lovehandles

Posted 2009-02-26 11:01 AM (#426127 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3408

Location: GA USA

BTW, "exploded view" is a good one.

fillhixx

Posted 2009-02-26 11:35 AM (#426128 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4817

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia

Wow! The CASE is worth about what you paid.
Great get.

Posted 2009-02-26 11:34 PM (#426129 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984

Location: Upper Left USA

I came home tonight and after last night's gluing did some assembly and stringing up on the KA17.

Oooooooooh yah! What a vibe!

Some reassembly and shimming is in order but I can see (hear/feel) what you're talking about.

seesquare

Posted 2009-02-27 12:07 AM (#426130 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3603

Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire

Yessir, Arthur, you have snagged the-best-grab-in-recent-memory. There oughta be some registry for that accolade, y'know?
Anyrate, my Academy is the same as Woody's, with the adjustable saddle. OMA's looks like it has a wide saddle on it. Possible electronics?
Was playing mine tonight. Still amazes me. Plastic top. Go figure. What's really cool- how much you can fine-tune the action on these critters. Neck-set, alignment, and saddle height. Incredible. And, the braces will never come loose! Check the water in that Beetle, willya?

Posted 2009-02-27 9:03 AM (#426131 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984

Location: Upper Left USA

I'm still jealous of the case...

Posted 2009-03-05 5:44 PM (#426132 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

It has arrived. I survived UPS. I think it is a 1973 model (017616). It is an FRG.
It has some ugly cracks in the binding that someone repaired at home...

It also has some cracks in the "A" tuner pin/roller...

Are these things that I should be overly concerned about? BFLG help!

Otherwise it sounds alright. It sounds different, I think that I wanna change the strings. But I'm impressed with what it is, for what it is... If you know what I mean. :p

More photos here..... Advice always appreciated!

Posted 2009-03-05 5:57 PM (#426133 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750

Location: Boise, Idaho

Those should be huge concerns, Arthur. Sell it to me for the $95 you spent on it. I'll even reimburse your shipping and come over and pick it up.

Posted 2009-03-05 7:55 PM (#426134 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

Okay... Now I am in trouble!

I just decided that I like the Wide Neck! :eek:

Capo Guy

Posted 2009-03-05 8:13 PM (#426135 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394

Location: East Tennessee

OMA,

You got a great guitar for the money. You will like the "Manly" neck.

Posted 2009-03-05 10:11 PM (#426136 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750

Location: Boise, Idaho

and he bought that Trekker yesterday that was gone by the time I finished looking at the new listings on ebay.

Posted 2009-03-05 10:52 PM (#426137 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

Whoa... MIB? How did you know that was me? Have y'all computer-literate types figured-out how to get past the evilBay anonymity thingie? :eek:

(I miss being able to keep track of which jerks were buying the bargains and re-listing them!)

Posted 2009-03-05 11:56 PM (#426138 - in reply to #426116)
Subject: Re: Tell me about the Academy KA17 please

Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984

Location: Upper Left USA

"Have y'all computer-literate types figured-out how to get past the evilBay anonymity thingie"

Location, location, location!

Then gander at their Feedback items...