Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Rand's "Windy" Dada

Helen - We'll send your Reunion documentation package soon. As you can see, we're awful busy! Mandie


This is a 1962 Harmony studio-grade guitar sold for $24.95 at Sears and Roebuck and rescued at a garage sale for $1

13 comments:

Diane Smith said...

Very cool!

Until that final shot I thought for sure it was going to be the latest fretkillr video....

Unknown said...

Wow! Bob is looking for a steel guitar, find him one for ohhhh, maybe $50.00
Our computer is leaving us for a while, John G. is going to fix it for us, we have a virus.
Mandy, I get one in the mail for you.....

Rik Elswit said...

Cool old box. Can I assume the action is a bit high, or are you using a nut-lift?

Rand Launer said...

Oh that Mandie.
She's put up not exactly my
best work but, what the hay.
I do consider myself one of the most proficient lousy guitar players around.

That little Harmony with a solid spruce top split in 3 places and a small hunk of the back broken away has amazing resonance.
Lovely strumming it does not do.
But with a slide, it really goes.
Ri53k's called it right.
High, I mean HIGH action from the factory, probably strung with Black Diamond heavy gauge fence wire. Some poor kid's musical career was cut short the first day with pain and frustration.

I've got a old lap steel.
This isn't an offer or anything, but just exactly what is BOB looking for?

Gary and Susan Mullen said...

Too cool Rand.
Hammered Dada spoon guitar!
I like it.....

Unknown said...

I'm looking for a double neck pedaless steel guitar, 8 to 10 strings on each neck, so I can tune them to G-6, and C-6 tunnings or what ever. I have a 12 string, 3 pedals, four knee lever monster guitar from HELL! I'm giving up on it.

Rand Launer said...

....a 12 string, 3 pedals, four knee lever monster...

I'm pretty sure most of those parts are interchangable with the Ford Tractor.
And unlike the Guitar,
the tractor can be
tuned and is less dangerous.

For $50, that's quite an order but I'm watchin for one. I just saw an big old Harmony Soverign go for $56.
Could have been worth $300 or so.
I'm watching out for one.
How about Chris?
He sees deals.

Diane Smith said...

Gary, too!

Gary and Susan Mullen said...

Uncle Bob...I just combed eBay for current and sold double necks.They start at about $300 and go up (some way up). You might want to try locking down your pedals and levers and remove 2 strings on each neck.Not sure if that woulde work but thought I'd mention it.
I did see some plans for building one if you feel ambitious enough. There is a double neck Oahu that needs work and the current bid is only a penny with 6 days to go http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390078825514&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT .
Might turn into can of worms project. I'll keep my eye's open for any other deals.

Chris said...

Rand, That is a cool sounding guitar. Some of the best stuff is done on cheap old instruments. I was at a friends shop in San Fran recently and saw Tom Waits' guitar a real stunner of a piece of shit, but it works for what he does and it has that sound that works with the tunes he does. On the subject of finding a double neck lap steel for 50 bucks, I will keep my eye out for one. I was just at the vintage show up here in Marin about two weeks ago and saw a number of lap steels, but they were too pricey. I made a cool video of Ralph, Jimmie, Jim, Bruce, and Steve doing "Buy for me the Rain". Since I do not wish to put it on youtube, I am wondering how to get a copy imbeded to this website. I am good with guitars, but lousy with computers...help!

Unknown said...

Hi, not really serious about the only $50.00, what he would like to do is trade the pedal steel guitar from hell for a just simple steel guitar, reason is arthritis in the fingers, man can't live without pickin' and grinnin'. He still can play the 6 string, but getting very frustrating for him.

Gary and Susan Mullen said...

I think you would do best selling the Pedal Steel outright (locally if possible cause shipping them is a bitch). Then shop for an 8 or 10 string lap steel.Ebay always has something up for grabs.
Single necks are a lot more reasonable if you can live with one tuning.

Gary and Susan Mullen said...

John McEuen decided he was going to play peddle steel at one time. I think we got him a basic 3 pedal/2 lever sho-bud and he took it home and tried to learn.
When I set it up on stage the first time I mounted a pair of bicycle training wheels on it. Looked really cool! I don't think John appreciated the joke.
In any case the wheels didn't help and he wound up going back to the lap steel in short order.