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Waiting for my new archtop - the Loar!

- Rated: 20 ↑
Nov 13, 2008 12:51 p.m. Mikey:

Hey folks. I have no one else to share with, so I might as well tell you all! I'm always LOOKING at guitars though my playing time has been slashed by my two wee kids. Anyway I had an afternoon on my own a while back and went to my local shops to see what was around. I played a Loar LH550 at one shop that had been hanging around for some time. I really liked it through a little amp they had plugged in and damn it looked good. For $1200 though I wasn't that excited.

Cut to this week. I'm browsing ebay for nothing in particular when I see the SAME guitar I played as a blem (dust under the finish) for $450!! It was a no-brainer and now I await the USPS.

It's Korean made, solid spruce top, solid maple back and sides. Insane! I can't wait till it gets here....

I found a site where some guy made some lovely pics of the same guitar I bought. I'm trying to attach some....
- Rated: 7 ↑
Nov 13, 2008 1:40 p.m. garageink:

if that fiddle plays half as good as it looks I'd say it's a keeper. wow it is a nice looking guitar.
- Rated: 48 ↑
Nov 13, 2008 2:09 p.m. dmanlow:

I'd say you stole it. Looks awesome!
- Rated: 9 ↑
Nov 13, 2008 3:13 p.m. twangmeisternyc:

Most of the comments on these are very good. Not made to be a future "relic", but fun enough for now, and a great value.
- Rated: 7 ↑
Nov 18, 2008 5:16 p.m. fauves:

Hey Mikey, Thats a great guitar I have played a few of them. A acoustic archtop is a fantastic thing! If you havent had a solid top (no holes for pick up) a good tip is to play around with different types of strings and thickness. Its amazing how much the sound changes with just that swap.
- Rated: 41 ↑
Nov 18, 2008 5:33 p.m. bwallace1:

"good things come to those who wait."

hi Mikey, nice to see ya around again. family life must be keeping you busy.brent
- Rated: 77 ↑
Nov 19, 2008 8:24 a.m. sassy:

Congrats Mikey...Beautiful Guitar
- Rated: 20 ↑
Nov 19, 2008 2:43 p.m. Mikey:

Update: USPS website says the guitar has left New Jersey! I repeat: the guitar has left New Jersey!

Hey Brent! I didn't know folks knew who I was, let alone notice that I haven't been around much. So thanks for that!

Family life does indeed take a huge toll on my guitar playing time. I'm forgetting how to play at an alarming rate! I hope to get a few sessions in with Mr. Pigat when our schedules align, but for now I'm making do with some GREAT instructional DVD's from the Stefan Grossman site. I'm all about the Mississippi John Hurt these days. Anyway, hopefully I get my new toy in the next few weeks and I'll post more.
- Rated: 17 ↑
Nov 19, 2008 2:50 p.m. Sunshine:

Mikey said: Hey Brent! I didn't know folks knew who I was, let alone notice that I haven't been around much. So thanks for that!
We are all watching you...
Anyway, congratulations! That's a sweet little Jazzy thing.
- Rated: 7 ↑
Nov 19, 2008 11:15 p.m. fauves:

Hey Mikey, Sessions with Mr Pigat? I have seen some of his stuff on youtube/ myspace he is a great player. I'd love to have a session with that guy. great sound.
- Rated: 58 ↑
Nov 19, 2008 11:33 p.m. yettoblaster:

Classic lookin' ax.

I want one!
- Rated: 41 ↑
Nov 20, 2008 7:38 a.m. JC:

Congrats Mikey, sweet deal
- Rated: 3 ↑
Nov 20, 2008 12:18 p.m. KuuKOO:

doh I saw that one on ebay a while back and almost grabbed it -- least a fellow canuck snapped it up!
- Rated: 11 ↑
Nov 20, 2008 12:21 p.m. Tux:

Mikey said: Update...the guitar has left New Jersey!

That's no small deal, Mikey. Lotsa stuff (and people) never make it outta NJ.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Nov 20, 2008 4:36 p.m. Mikey:

I know I'm not the only person who checks the tracking number 20 times a day:

Status: Into Foreign Customs. Your item is being processed by customs in CANADA. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.
- Rated: 17 ↑
Nov 21, 2008 11:52 a.m. Sunshine:

Mikey, has it arrived?
- Rated: 20 ↑
Nov 21, 2008 1:15 p.m. Mikey:

No, it's not arrived. I'm thinking it will be another week or so. There's some sort of managerial dispute happening with Canada Post right now. They say it won't affect delivery, but I kinda doubt it. That's okay, I haven't had any time to play lately. I will MAKE time when it gets here though.
- Rated: 11 ↑
Nov 21, 2008 2:21 p.m. Tux:

That's all the Canada Post needs, a labor dispute. They aren't exactly laser-quick when firing on all cylinders. Should've hired 75 pigeons.
- Rated: 17 ↑
Nov 21, 2008 2:25 p.m. Sunshine:

Sorry I have to tell this - but there isn't Santa Claus. I hope anyones world is not shaking right now. ;-/ The ordered Christmas packages are jamming the Post offices and your package might be there jammed for a while.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Nov 26, 2008 12:19 p.m. Mikey:

UPDATE: the Loar has arrived, and much more quickly than I'd anticipated. Sadly we're in the middle of some crazy renovations at our place so I had all of 2 minutes when I got home from work last night to tune it up and strum it before bathtime/bedtime for the kids and sanding/painting of the office took priority. I'll get some snaps and perhaps somehow some clips recorded when I have time later in the week. First impressions: Gorgeous guitar, fast short-scale neck, needs some big flatwound strings. I can't believe what they call a finish flaw. Best $450 I've spent on a guitar, that's for sure.
- Rated: 41 ↑
Nov 26, 2008 8:14 p.m. bwallace1:

good going, Mikey. please keep us updated. nowadays, $450.00 is not a bad price for a nice playing guitar. I bought my old Alverez plus the case for $349.00 back in '74. no telling what it would cost in today's market. hey, here's a thought, I know how you can get time to play it. play a song for your kids before bedtime.brent

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