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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I spoke with JB about the early Adamas guitars I own and found out some cool facts:
1. In my post about the '78 1688-8 12 I just bought last week, several folks remarked about how beautiful the fretboard was and how red it is...the original owner told me he was told by the store he bought it from in Davenport, Iowa in late '78 that it had a rosewood fretboard...JB told me that it was actually a wood composite called Pakkawood ( here ) and was very heavy and dense. It was also used to make knife handles. It only came in small sizes so two pieces were joined together to make the complete fretboard. The seam, although nearly invisible, could be seen in the right light and with John on the phone I held #542-92 up into the sunlight and after several minutes of searching, I found it: from the top to the bottom center of the fretboard. JB said it was actual wood that made up the grain and was compressed to make it very dense then colored to resemble Brazilian Rosewood which was not available anymore (hence the report if the original owner)...this was only used in later '78 (possibly some '79) and then the switch to impregnated walnut (which my earlier '78's both have) took over completely.
We talked about the many changes in the line in '78 here is an additional note:
2. My early '78 #119 has an exrteamly glossy and glittered bowl...my former #189 had a lot of sparkle but a dull non gloss finish; my recent #542 has an extremely glittered bowl and an semi gloss finish. John said the very early '78's were were certainly finished differently and had the most glitter and gloss bowls as well as the tops; later '78's still had glittered tops and bowls but were not as flashy as the first few '78's...
here are a few pic's:
The fretboard on #542
The bowls on #119 and #189
Here is the bowl of my #542 1688-8
I think it is so interesting to note the changes (like no nail head markers on #119 (Jan. 78) mono/dot knobs and stereo w/Adamas I markers and numbered knobs on #189 (may '78) and nail heads and dot knobs on mono #542 (late Nov or Dec '78)...I hope Jerome can archive this info as I and John had not seen it anywhere in any literature. Cool Info and makes the guitars even more special...
Merry Christmas! |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | There's also a difference in the bowl construction. The early ones have a center rib or spline extending from the area of the kbar attachment. The slotheads did not have this as they were epoxy dovetail attachments. |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | I understand some of us like sparkles; it must be an acquired taste; and bless you if you like 'em.
BUT Why oh why did they have to put those sparkles on? They remove a whole family of guitars from consideration for me...
sincerely,
Mitzdawg
Anti-sparkle league president |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | If sparkles are the only thing holdin' you back, you could always paint over them. ?? |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Dave, also the '78's truss rods have to be adjusted with a 1/4 inch socket...The truss rod has a threaded end and nut, not like the later elongated Allan screws...with the small access ports on the '78's it makes for an adventure to adjust the neck.... |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I agree with dawg, the whole PJ Sparkles thing is a little gay for me. But if you want an original slot or early production model that's what you're gonna get. It's not enough of a reason NOT to want one of these. An ideal Adamas would have a shiny bowl ... oh wait, I've got one of those.
PSA - Don't play one of these guitars, or one of the reissues wearing a silk-like Hawaiian shirt. The bowl with ruin your shirt as one of our illustrious dicks found out. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I understand some of us like sparkles; it must be an acquired taste; and bless you if you like 'em.
BUT Why oh why did they have to put those sparkles on? They remove a whole family of guitars from consideration for me... These guitars were made for stage and professional use: the glitter (which is actually brass) really lights up under the lights...I love it; part of what makes these old ladies special!! |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
I agree with dawg, the whole PJ Sparkles thing is a little gay for me. Uh... Here are a bunch of guitars with Flowers around the holes and Pastel Blue colors...
The whole 'Looking Gay' thing is already there! :p |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Originally posted by MusicMishka:
These guitars were made for stage and professional use: the glitter (which is actually brass) really lights up under the lights...I love it; part of what makes these old ladies special!! Mike - Thanks for the explanation - it makes sense.
Still don't like 'em, but now understand them.
'dawg |
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May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Just gorgoeus guitars, Mike.
I personally like the sparkles, but I don't understand what the big deal is about disliking them. They are on the back, after all. Merry Christmas, everyone!
;)
Willa |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I love the sparkles--and when my "Gem" is finally produced, she will definitely stand out among the ones that twinkle on stage.
A question for Toby: what do the sparkles do to the silk shirts? (Not that I'm into silk Hawaiian shirts, but...) |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Great history data, Mike!!
Yepper, a shiny bowl Adamas I would be my preference. But since my 1689 has sparkles, I'll learn to live with 'em...  |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | They snag them...silk does not like the rough back of the originals... |
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February 2008
Posts: 747
| Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
... Here are a bunch of guitars with Flowers around the holes and Pastel Blue colors...
Yeah, doesn't go well with my flat soled view of the world..lol |
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Early Adamas Facts