How many people here use their OFC I or II guitars on a regular basis?
I've got OFC I #3. I've loved it and I've hated it (swear it's been haunted). I've come very close to selling it, but I've never been able to bring myself to do it. I use it and it has road scars. The strap mounting ring has failed twice, once I caught the guitar and the second time it fell (the edge of the fretboard between the nut and first fret is roughed up). The gold mounting ring where my right arm rests and discolored as the gold has worn off. And the electronics have been a pain in the *** since I got it in 2007. I've finally got them working well by foregoing the stereo and using a mono pickup (never used the stereo anyway).
And yet it's a great guitar and I plan on using it even more with the electronics working. It's not a museum or collectors piece for me. And it's not that I don't have other guitars to use (1537, 87C, 30th CL).
Anybody else use theirs on a regular basis and put some scars on it?
Posted 2015-08-26 5:36 PM (#514766 - in reply to #514761) Subject: Re: OFC guitars
Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho
I play mine as regularly as I play anything, which isn't much lately. For some reason the D'Addario strings I had on it were coming loose. The beads at the bridge end were coming loose. The first couple times I found the beads and put them back on, but finally replaced the set and they've been fine. That's the only time that has happened on any of my guitars. It's been stellar and is my wife's favorite, so I'll keep playing it.
I took it to the last NW Gathering to compare to the other Mark's original Slothead. They compare well, but the original definitely has that mellowed with age thing going for it. Guitars that get used just sound better.
Posted 2015-08-27 8:13 AM (#514785 - in reply to #514761) Subject: Re: OFC guitars
Joined: January 2006 Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains
I have No. 5 of both the OFC I and OFC II and both rarely get played. Both are hanging up in the band room which gets used a lot, so they've been vibrating like crazy for years and sound very nice. I just prefer my SSBs. Moody, my custom 1187 SSB is a little battered, too, but the electronics have never been an issue and it is my primary acoustic gigger.
Posted 2015-08-27 9:47 AM (#514792 - in reply to #514761) Subject: Re: OFC guitars
Joined: December 2005 Posts: 1234
Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia
I use #9 on as regular a basis as I guess I play...it's either her or my Gretsch 6120 for the rockabilly stuff. No road scars yet, but the shiney case is showing its use. My neck ring failed about a year after I got it and the low E tuner stripped out last year. JohnB sent me another and life is good :-)
Posted 2015-10-01 1:39 PM (#515730 - in reply to #514761) Subject: Re: OFC guitars
Joined: August 2009 Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh)
I was lucky enough to get the chance to buy Karl's OFC-1 #10. Karl played it rarely and I too. So I've no issues with it yet. Only the knobs are cracking from long hanging on the wall....
Posted 2015-10-01 5:36 PM (#515738 - in reply to #514761) Subject: Re: OFC guitars
Joined: July 2005 Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado
Curious: When I had OSH #43 at the mothership years ago for the slothead reunion (Hey Bill and Al, when is the next one?), Darren Wallace noticed I had a standard strap knob where the old loop one was...he said for the reissues he was having to make new loops - and he asked if I wanted one for mine...I declined...because the old loop one failed all the time...seems that happened on the reissues and OFCs too...all are great guitars..not sure of the origins of the idea of the old loop ones.
Posted 2015-10-01 8:27 PM (#515743 - in reply to #515738) Subject: Re: OFC guitars
Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15651
Location: SoCal
elginacres - 2015-10-01 3:36 PM
Curious: When I had OSH #43 at the mothership years ago for the slothead reunion (Hey Bill and Al, when is the next one?), Darren Wallace noticed I had a standard strap knob where the old loop one was...he said for the reissues he was having to make new loops - and he asked if I wanted one for mine...I declined...because the old loop one failed all the time...seems that happened on the reissues and OFCs too...all are great guitars..not sure of the origins of the idea of the old loop ones.
Mark, when I put in a regular strap button, it was because I made the decision to hold on and use the guitar. Glad I made that decision....
Posted 2015-10-02 10:40 AM (#515751 - in reply to #514761) Subject: Re: OFC guitars
Joined: January 2002 Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch
I've been playing the OFC 2 #8 a bunch recently. Used in on a recording for the Ovation Documentary that is being shot. Just some background filler. The tune is called 29th St. that was the main guitar, the long neck Ad12 for the rhythm diamonds, and Std Bd #148 for the leads. Matt used my Warwick bass.
I don't have an OFC 1, never saw the need, great guitar though.
Posted 2015-10-02 10:47 AM (#515752 - in reply to #514761) Subject: Re: OFC guitars
Joined: December 2001 Posts: 10581
Location: NJ
I sold my ofc 1/10 in a fit of desperation
it sat in the case and was not getting played.
I do have the prototype of ofc II and am thinking about putting that back into circulation.
I use my 08 collectors a ton but have recently got attached to my new hartford built guild d 55
Posted 2015-10-02 6:07 PM (#515763 - in reply to #514761) Subject: Re: OFC guitars
Joined: January 2002 Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch
I was using my 08 cause it sounded better than the OFC 2. Then I played them again and the two sounded better. Matt used the 08 at the wedding. They are both great guitars.
OFC guitars
