hilltop87
Wholenote
My Strat is my friend
Posts: 885
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Post by hilltop87 on Dec 17, 2020 17:42:42 GMT -5
Anyone here ever owned or played one? There was a photo Brian Jones playing one in the book I just read recently.
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Post by Jim D. on Dec 17, 2020 17:54:07 GMT -5
That was my first electric guitar. My parents bought me a new one in about 1967. It was black. Looking back it was by no means a great guitar. I should have asked for a Strat which I recall was about the same price. It came with flat wound strings. My amp was a Silvertone 12” combo. Not too cumbersome with a strap standing up, but a slippery devil as a lap guitar.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Dec 17, 2020 18:37:07 GMT -5
I've never owned one, because I wanted one and a pal of mine loaned me one to test drive for a week. I'm glad I did.
It was made in Italy...about the same quality as those no-name department store Japanese guitars from the 1960s. The neck was narrow and flat, the fit and finish was way below other guitars in the same price range, and the sound was lackluster.
Beyond quirk factor, they have no real redeeming qualities as instruments. As with just about any guitar, you could re-work it and turn it into a real player, but then you'd kill its value as a collector piece. Real ones these days ain't cheap.
A good option is to make your own, either from parts or from scratch.
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Post by Jim D. on Dec 17, 2020 18:57:47 GMT -5
Well, Peegoo you elaborated (very well) on my experience with this guitar. Mine was indeed Italian made but it was no work of art or of acceptable craftsmanship. Bad choice and I had an open check book at the time. Not withstanding, I had an unbelievable set of parents and sponsorship regarding my interests. Fortunately my sense of value is now better established
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Dec 17, 2020 20:07:29 GMT -5
I've worked on many of them. Peegoo pretty much nails it. I always hope for them to sound better, but they all end up pretty 'meh'. That said, I have no idea what they're going for, and could be fun to have as a vintage piece. I'd want a guarantee that it is in playable condition first though, I've seen lots of twisted necks on those. Nothing a refret can't fix, but for most of y'all that costs money.
I like the idea of making your own, too. They were bolt on instruments with hardware that wasn't too out of the ordinary, so you could buy a neck and make a body. Besides the tear drop, the top had a bit of a crown to it, but nothing too complicated as I recall. It is definitely thicker than the 1 3/4" stock that you'll find on normal body blanks, so keep that in mind. It'll also be best with a neck angle cut into the pocket. But, we're getting ahead of ourselves!
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Post by Leftee on Dec 17, 2020 20:37:09 GMT -5
There’s room for a Floyd Rose.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Dec 17, 2020 21:09:44 GMT -5
Making a wacky-shaped guitar is pretty easy if you have a router and a template for the neck joint. I've long considered making a Vox Phantom-shaped guitar. I think they're pretty space-agey-looking in a 1950s kind of way. Here's a sort of a Voxy thing that escaped from my lab in 2005.  |
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Bopper
Wholenote
Motor City USA
Posts: 505
Age: 72
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Post by Bopper on Dec 18, 2020 10:56:20 GMT -5
Has anybody tried, or seen one of the current Phantom Guitarworks versions?
A little less than $1,000 with case, dunno where they're made.
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Post by Riff Twang on Dec 18, 2020 11:22:32 GMT -5
Australian manufacturer Maton had a "lute" bass and guitar in the mid to late 60's. A local bass player had the bass and it sounded great. |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Dec 18, 2020 11:40:55 GMT -5
The Phantom Guitarworks modern versions are in a whole different league compared to the originals; they play and sound much better. Quality/fit/finish is also many steps up.
Remember that the weird body shape, just like the Flying V, makes it impossible to park on your leg when sitting and playing. A simple way to solve the problem is to have a strap with adjustable length (a sliding buckle as on an old-school hootenanny strap). Cinch up the strap so the guitar hangs from the shoulder, just above your lap.
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Post by Charente on Dec 18, 2020 12:14:40 GMT -5
I had a sunburst MKVI (with Bigsby alike trem and padded rear 'thing') that I bought second hand for £50. My experience was similar - quirky and great looking but 'meh!'.
I got the £50 back trading it in at a local guitar shop and thought I'd done OK.
Twenty years later and I was back at the same store and the same salesman was showing his colleague photos of HIS sunburst MKVI in a vintage guitar mag which suggested it was now worth £1K plus.
Fair enough if someone is willing to pay. I'd love to have it back just as a wall hanger but not at that price.
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sirWheat
Wholenote
For a better future, play Stevie Wonder for your children.
Posts: 319
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Post by sirWheat on Dec 19, 2020 8:43:45 GMT -5
A friend and former band-mate has one. He loves it. Had to have the pickups re-wound at some point (I don't know who did it) and it sounds good in his hands. I played it; felt like a typical cheapo sixties guitar to me.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Dec 19, 2020 10:54:52 GMT -5
Remember that the weird body shape, just like the Flying V, makes it impossible to park on your leg when sitting and playing. This is always heart breaking. I've played a lot of Flying Vs that sounded amazing, but I'd never own one for that reason. |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Dec 19, 2020 12:53:59 GMT -5
Just like women sacrificing comfort for style when it comes to shoes: some things are worth it. How else are you gonna Stooge Rock?  |
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Dec 20, 2020 10:16:58 GMT -5
I've never been able to pull off "rockin" as a look. Same with "stud". On a good day I can manage "dapper". I comb my hair real nice and know how to tie a bow tie. I know my own lane in life!
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hilltop87
Wholenote
My Strat is my friend
Posts: 885
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Post by hilltop87 on Dec 23, 2020 15:37:28 GMT -5
I like your V Peegoo.
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Post by Joe Potts on Dec 27, 2020 18:26:01 GMT -5
Back in the sixties, a local department store in Pittsburgh carried Vox products. I’d stop in from time to time. They had the Super Beatle amps, and various odd-looking guitars, including the teardrop. I thought the teardrop was so cool, but I never sprang for it. I probably would have bought one if it was going to be my third or fourth guitar, but in those days I was lucky I could afford one guitar.
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