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MonkeyZero
03-04-2012, 03:33 AM
This was my wife's grandfather's guitar. It's not playable, more of an art piece at this point.
Anyone know anything about it? I googled and found a little but not much.
http://img.tapatalk.com/4c10af9b-f08d-eb53.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/4c10af9b-f09c-2f2c.jpg

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Help!I'maRock!
03-04-2012, 03:39 AM
Biltmore was made by Harmony. which is why it looks strikingly similar to Elias Graves' Silvertone.
MonkeyZero
03-04-2012, 03:47 AM
Ah! It actually is playable, just not tunable at the moment. I'd be afraid to take it to a luthier unless I knew they were top knotch. I'd love to play it.

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dodgechargerfan
03-04-2012, 11:42 AM
I'd spend money on getting that into shape if it wasn't too far gone.

You should be able to at least get an estimate.
Lerxst
03-04-2012, 12:06 PM
Yeah, like HIAR mentioned it's a Harmony made guitar from the late 30s and looks similar to some of the all mahogany Patrician models.
http://harmony.demont.net/model.php?id=1315

I don't know what the value of the guitar but it's not uncommon for Harmony archtops of this vintage to need neck resets. Obviously the frets need to be cleaned up and the tuners probably need some work or replacement. Take it to a tech and let him give it a once over to see what's going to be involved in getting it up to snuff and if it makes financial sense to you.
reverend1
03-04-2012, 12:31 PM
Hi Sponge Bob! :wave:
Denverdave
03-04-2012, 01:17 PM
A sweet looking old guitar!
Peeker
03-04-2012, 01:45 PM
Hi Sponge Bob! :wave:

:lol:
took me a sec...

that's a cool lookin' guitar there
MonkeyZero
03-04-2012, 04:46 PM
Hi Sponge Bob! :wave:

LOL. I knew someone would call me out.

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MonkeyZero
03-04-2012, 04:50 PM
Yeah, like HIAR mentioned it's a Harmony made guitar from the late 30s and looks similar to some of the all mahogany Patrician models.
http://harmony.demont.net/model.php?id=1315

I don't know what the value of the guitar but it's not uncommon for Harmony archtops of this vintage to need neck resets. Obviously the frets need to be cleaned up and the tuners probably need some work or replacement. Take it to a tech and let him give it a once over to see what's going to be involved in getting it up to snuff and if it makes financial sense to you.

Neck reset for sure. The string height goes from about 1/16th (eyeball judgement) at the first fret to about 3/8ths at the 12th. LOL.
My inlaws didn't store it with the best care. It has a hard case so that helped.
The coating is crackled but zero actual body or neck cracks that I can see. It's good from far but far from good. :cool:

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Mark Wein
03-04-2012, 09:08 PM
sweet! I like it.
Coralkong
03-04-2012, 09:34 PM
That is really cool looking, actually.

What's actually wrong with it?
MonkeyZero
03-05-2012, 09:32 AM
That is really cool looking, actually.

What's actually wrong with it?

Just needs major neck surgery I assume. Just with the crackling of the laquer/coating/clear stuff over the wood, lol, I don't want it to fall apart during said surgery. The action is atrocious.

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MonkeyZero
03-05-2012, 09:33 AM
The tuners may be rusted out too. With as old as the strings are I'm afraid to turn them and catch a high e in the eyeball. :p

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Knox in Box
03-05-2012, 10:45 AM
as far as I've heard you need to lay it face down on a flat floor and put some weights on it and leave it for a while to straighten the neck. I'm sure you can find something online to guide you. At least a couple forumites could probably help you out.

Nice guitar though.
MonkeyZero
03-07-2012, 12:14 PM
as far as I've heard you need to lay it face down on a flat floor and put some weights on it and leave it for a while to straighten the neck. I'm sure you can find something online to guide you. At least a couple forumites could probably help you out.

Nice guitar though.

There's a gap between the neck and body that I'm not sure is supposed to be there. However, the Godin 5th Ave I played recently had something similar so I don't know. If I broke this thing my wife would break me. I'll just save up for the luthier and avoid death. ;)

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PunkKitty
03-07-2012, 12:56 PM
I see you're in Chicago. I highly recommend Chicago Fret Works on Lincoln Avenue. Steve and Dan run a great shop. They've done a lot of work for me.
MonkeyZero
03-07-2012, 03:37 PM
I see you're in Chicago. I highly recommend Chicago Fret Works on Lincoln Avenue. Steve and Dan run a great shop. They've done a lot of work for me.

Sweet! Thanks for the info. I'm actually out in Aurora (Wayne's World!) so I don't get into the city much anymore.
Used to live at Clark and Ridge by the now closed Carson's Ribs.
I'll check them out next time I make a trip though.

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