Orpheum Production in New Hartford

[SFIV1967]

Maybe it's just me, but the guitar getting the TiteBond treatment appears to be a square-shouldered dread, and the Orpheum dreads are slope-shouldered.

Neal you are right and what others also missed was the body wood used on this Dreadnaught! Who can name a NH Guild Dreadnaught with this body wood? Only logical explanation: It was not a Guild at all that was shown there at that step. (Hint: Fender Acoustic Custom Shop).

Ralf

 

[txbumper57]

Neal you are right and what others also missed was the body wood used on this Dreadnaught! Who can name a NH Guild Dreadnaught with this body wood? Only logical explanation: It was not a Guild at all that was shown there at that step. (Hint: Fender Acoustic Custom Shop).

Ralf

That looks like one of the Kingman Custom Shop Fender guitars that ultimately wound up in the "Antigua Burst" finish.

 

[ladytexan]

This thread is a good read. Sure brings to light so many facts about the Orpheums. I don't really know if 'custom' is the right term to use or not, but I will say the Orpheums are VERY special guitars. Kinda like the 60th Anniversary Koa F30, right, frono? :wink:

 

[Bill Ashton]

I think the Titebond referal may come from the fact we saw it in use at every work station...

"Big" question might be, was it Titebond or Titebond II...? I cannot remember nor was I smart enough to look more closely.

 

[chazmo]

Orpheums really are cool. I hope I get to play more of them as time goes on, but who knows. The concept that Ren was working under -- to make Guilds like they would've been made if Guild had existed in the 30s/40s -- may have nothing to do with CMG's plans for the brand. I am only guessing, but but things like hide glue construction may not be a high priority for the folks in Oxnard. That said, it'd be great to see more.

I also really enjoyed hearing about the resonators and other "custom shop" related activity from New Hartford. Miss those guys!

 

[Neal]

All I know is this:

In a houseful of guitars, the Orpheum slope-shouldered 12-fetter is getting more playing time than any other acoustic.

It does everything well, from hard picking to softer fingerstyle pieces. It has that "grand piano" kind of tone that I am drawn to.

 

[ladytexan]

Miss those guys!

I miss them, too, Charlie! I'm still sad Guilds aren't being made in the NE. Miss the Fall LMG get-togethers in beautiful Connecticut. Ah, the good ole days, huh? :sorrow:

 

[twocorgis]

Orpheums really are cool. I hope I get to play more of them as time goes on, but who knows. The concept that Ren was working under -- to make Guilds like they would've been made if Guild had existed in the 30s/40s -- may have nothing to do with CMG's plans for the brand. I am only guessing, but but things like hide glue construction may not be a high priority for the folks in Oxnard. That said, it'd be great to see more.

I also really enjoyed hearing about the resonators and other "custom shop" related activity from New Hartford. Miss those guys!

I love my Orpheum Jumbo so much, and it just gets better as it ages Chaz. The real surprise is the resonator though. I don't play it as often as I should, but Cousin Woody, who plays a National resonator every day, proclaimed it the best he's ever played, and asks me about it every time I see it. Should I croak, it's already in my will that it go to him!

It's also interesting that Jason McIntyre has told me more than once that he enjoyed building the resonators more than any of the others he made at New Hartford. That's why mine isn't going anywhere, and neither is the Orpheum, for that matter.

 

[txbumper57]

I love my Orpheum Jumbo so much, and it just gets better as it ages Chaz. The real surprise is the resonator though. I don't play it as often as I should, but Cousin Woody, who plays a National resonator every day, proclaimed it the best he's ever played, and asks me about it every time I see it. Should I croak, it's already in my will that it go to him!

It's also interesting that Jason McIntyre has told me more than once that he enjoyed building the resonators more than any of the others he made at New Hartford. That's why mine isn't going anywhere, and neither is the Orpheum, for that matter.

I second both the Resonator and The Orpheum Jumbo! They are both very special instruments that are likely never to see their equal again in quality of Craftsmanship, Quality of materials, and Overall performance. I have often thought of selling my Resonator (same model as Sandy's) as I don't think I play it near enough to justify having it, then I pick it up and play it and the thought of selling it immediately disappears as I am amazed at the tone that comes from it. I know no matter I hard I look or how much money I spend I will never find it's equal. Needless to say she has hung around this long so I'm pretty sure she is not going anywhere while I am still breathing!

TX

 

[Aristera]

I received the Fender Custom Shop Master Designed Dreadnaught 12-string on Saturday. Although it isn't a Guild it was Ren Ferguson designed in New Hartford and as TXbumper suggested it also has Jason MacIntyre's signature under the top just as his D55RS and Orpheums. I missed out the an Orpheum in lieu of the Doyle Dykes DDMCE-12 but in a way I'm glad I got this because of its ties to that special place in time. I'll be posting some pics in the non-guild section later.

 

[SFIV1967]

I received the Fender Custom Shop Master Designed Dreadnaught 12-string on Saturday.

Congratulations! I have something for you here in that case, you need to spare a good hour to watch it!



Even if that thread started in February already there was discussion about the use of Titebond vs hideglue in the Guild video and in this Fender video you will see why. Because the Fender guitars used Titebond as can be seen for instance when they glue the neck at roughly minute 54:55.
The guitar Jason signed in the Guild video will also show up in the Fender video, it was Fender, not a Guild.
Both the Guild and the Fender Custom shop videos were produced at the same visit and Premier Guitar created the two different videos out of the material they filmed that day in the New Hartford factory.

Ralf