NGD: Orpheum rosewood slope-shoulder prototype
- Thread starter jeffcoop
- Start date
Westerly Wood
Venerated Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Messages
- 13,440
- Reaction score
- 6,675
- Guild Total
- 2
beautiful and unique
Bigdog409
Member
I really like that rosette! Look forward to seeing more pics.
Welcome to the club, Jeff!
AcornHouse
Venerated Member
Show us more, show us more!
Westerly Wood
Venerated Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Messages
- 13,440
- Reaction score
- 6,675
- Guild Total
- 2
Welcome to the club, Jeff!
what a top. how wide the lines are!
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,872
- Reaction score
- 773
No time for proper pictures today, and very little time to play. The guitar is in beautiful condition. It doesn't seem brand new--no surprise for a three-year-old instrument that, among other things, presumably was passed around a fair bit at a trade show. But there are no distinguishable dings or scratches. It plays nicely. I'm reserving judgment on the tone until I can get some new strings on it--the current strings are old and tired, and the guitar suffers for it. There's definitely potential, though. Appearance-wise, it's nice to have an Orpheum that doesn't look like it belongs in a Star Trek episode.
Neal
Senior Member
Congratulations. She is quite a looker.
I have Elixer Nanoweb PB Mediums on my 12-fretter, after trying a lot of different types and gauges. That Adi top needs big strings, IMO.
I have Elixer Nanoweb PB Mediums on my 12-fretter, after trying a lot of different types and gauges. That Adi top needs big strings, IMO.
txbumper57
Enlightened Member
She sure is Pretty! Congratulations!
davismanLV
Venerated Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2011
- Messages
- 19,392
- Reaction score
- 12,241
- Location
- U.S.A. : Nevada : Las Vegas
- Guild Total
- 2
That's funny, Jeff!! And I agree!! Sure is a beautiful guitar! Congrats!! :encouragement:
Max5
Junior Member
Very nice. How does it compare to your OM Orph? Are they both prototypes?
I have a '13 proto OM rosewood that I got from twocorgis last year, great guitars with a solid deep percussive tone (somewhat like a good Gibson has). I am using EXP's PB, light gauge right now, going to try Martin Retro's next.
I have a '13 proto OM rosewood that I got from twocorgis last year, great guitars with a solid deep percussive tone (somewhat like a good Gibson has). I am using EXP's PB, light gauge right now, going to try Martin Retro's next.
Looking forward to your report with new strings, Jeff!
bbmclean1st
Junior Member
Not to say it's out of the realm of possibility, but at a glance it appears the label includes a serial number. That would be an indication that this particular instrument is not a prototype but was intended for the retail market.
From what I understand about NH models, some prototypes intended to be on display in the factory itself would be given labels, but not generally serial nos. Others made strictly for experimentation/builder's reference might not have bothered with adding a label.
From what I understand about NH models, some prototypes intended to be on display in the factory itself would be given labels, but not generally serial nos. Others made strictly for experimentation/builder's reference might not have bothered with adding a label.
Neal
Senior Member
First thing I had to appreciate, with respect to tone, is this: An Orpheum slope-shouldered dread doesn't sound like a traditional Guild dread. It sounds like a traditional '30's-era Gibson. Huge difference.
txbumper57
Enlightened Member
If you look closely at the label under description it states that it is a prototype. You can make out the last part of the word "Prototype" in the photo that is posted. Probably the reason Guitar Center listed it as a prototype as well is that it is on the label. All of the Orpheum Prototypes had the Blue Marquetry for the soundhole rosette and all of the ones I have seen have a serial number on the label as well. Production Orpheums had the red/brown marquetry rosette around the soundhole. This was the way to distinguish between the Prototypes and the production runs. There is no doubt that this is a prototype Orpheum.
TX
It's definitely one of the early prototypes with the blue rosette, guys. They showed several of these at various trade shows before the line was actually introduced, but the blue rosette did not make it into production.
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,872
- Reaction score
- 773
Yes, this one is unusual (no for Orpheums, I think, but for prototypes in general) in that it has a regular serial number (third guitar finished on January 15, 2013--cutting it a bit close for NAMM!) and yet is clearly designated "prototype" on the label.
Max5
Junior Member
Did you take any pics of the back?
how does it sound next to the OM Orph?
how does it sound next to the OM Orph?
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,872
- Reaction score
- 773
More pics are coming. I haven't had a chance to get new strings on it yet. I did a quick side-by-side with the OM this morning. The OM, with fresher but not brand new strings, sounds livelier, with better treble; that's what you'd expect under the circumstances, I think. Strings will have to wait for the weekend in all likelihood.