Nuuska
Enlightened Member
Hello
i984 I came to idea, that a solid body 12-string with 24frets free of body, one pickup and whammy bar would be cool. And it should fit in Gibson Protector II case. So first I made a cardboard, that would fill the case lines. Designed headstock with 12 Schaller mini tuners - set the place of the nut - scale - bridge. Then started to play with different body shapes, until I had what I thought would be nice. Cut the outline and brought the cardboard model to my friend Matti Nevalainen, who later became known as "Flying Finn Guitars" maker.
- http://www.flyingfinnguitars.fi/e_front.html
So he said he will make me one - a few months later I had it. Last I´ve seen of that one is, that I sold it to Pete Wagner at LaVonne Music in MN. I might have a picture of it somewhere.
Meanwhile the cardboard model remained hanging on his workshop wall. Some guitar players saw it and asked, if he would make a 6-string version with two humbuckers for them.
I found one of those 6-strings about 15 years ago in local music store with a sticker "Not for sale" - he would not even discuss it. Few weeks ago i visited his new location just to see him. Sure enough that guitar was hanging there. I told him that it is my design - and he got quite exited about it - took some photos of me playing it.
Yesterday noonish I went to see him - we talked of how we both are not getting younger anymore and neither of us have anybody to carry our business after we´re gone - so we both better get rid of the stuff, while we still can. For him it is the music store - for me it is the pa-systems and stocks of swiss tape recorders and loudspeaker elements.
I asked if I could borrow the guitar for afternoon - I had left my Guild D-125 in his shop in hopes, that he might do some trading. I called Matti Nevalainen - he lives nearby - went to show him the guitar - and first then it dawned on me, that there were not that many around.
Final score is, that he made another 12-string for a finnish artist Yari plus 3 6-strings. He reshaped the headstock to his then standard. On the other 12-string he added a cavity + f-hole.
So back to this 6-string - I went back to store in the afternoon with the guitar and a contract paper, that I had written. Idea is, that if he finally agrees me to have it, I will give him life-long right to buy it back for 100€ - if I ever decide to sell it. Also if I sell it to anybody else without offering it to him first, then I shall pay him 3000€ compensation. Naturally this guitar is not worth more than 1500€ or less, so I should be able to convince him, that I want it because I designed it, and want to keep it.
So now the guitar is here - needs good cleaning, new strings, fret end smoothing + little loving care. It plays well and the sound is fine for me.
Finally few pictures of it - the glue on headstock is where the "Not for sale" sticker was . . .
So while the hopes of ever getting a fancy Guild Nightbird or Bluesbird are thin - please hold your thumbs up for me, that I could get this.
i984 I came to idea, that a solid body 12-string with 24frets free of body, one pickup and whammy bar would be cool. And it should fit in Gibson Protector II case. So first I made a cardboard, that would fill the case lines. Designed headstock with 12 Schaller mini tuners - set the place of the nut - scale - bridge. Then started to play with different body shapes, until I had what I thought would be nice. Cut the outline and brought the cardboard model to my friend Matti Nevalainen, who later became known as "Flying Finn Guitars" maker.
- http://www.flyingfinnguitars.fi/e_front.html
So he said he will make me one - a few months later I had it. Last I´ve seen of that one is, that I sold it to Pete Wagner at LaVonne Music in MN. I might have a picture of it somewhere.
Meanwhile the cardboard model remained hanging on his workshop wall. Some guitar players saw it and asked, if he would make a 6-string version with two humbuckers for them.
I found one of those 6-strings about 15 years ago in local music store with a sticker "Not for sale" - he would not even discuss it. Few weeks ago i visited his new location just to see him. Sure enough that guitar was hanging there. I told him that it is my design - and he got quite exited about it - took some photos of me playing it.
Yesterday noonish I went to see him - we talked of how we both are not getting younger anymore and neither of us have anybody to carry our business after we´re gone - so we both better get rid of the stuff, while we still can. For him it is the music store - for me it is the pa-systems and stocks of swiss tape recorders and loudspeaker elements.
I asked if I could borrow the guitar for afternoon - I had left my Guild D-125 in his shop in hopes, that he might do some trading. I called Matti Nevalainen - he lives nearby - went to show him the guitar - and first then it dawned on me, that there were not that many around.
Final score is, that he made another 12-string for a finnish artist Yari plus 3 6-strings. He reshaped the headstock to his then standard. On the other 12-string he added a cavity + f-hole.
So back to this 6-string - I went back to store in the afternoon with the guitar and a contract paper, that I had written. Idea is, that if he finally agrees me to have it, I will give him life-long right to buy it back for 100€ - if I ever decide to sell it. Also if I sell it to anybody else without offering it to him first, then I shall pay him 3000€ compensation. Naturally this guitar is not worth more than 1500€ or less, so I should be able to convince him, that I want it because I designed it, and want to keep it.
So now the guitar is here - needs good cleaning, new strings, fret end smoothing + little loving care. It plays well and the sound is fine for me.
Finally few pictures of it - the glue on headstock is where the "Not for sale" sticker was . . .
So while the hopes of ever getting a fancy Guild Nightbird or Bluesbird are thin - please hold your thumbs up for me, that I could get this.