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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Last week, james37214 had posted a thread pertaining to an Adamas 12 for sale on CL for $1500...I immediately sent the seller an email and waited for the feeding frenzy to begin...most contacted James who volunteered to go and look at the guitar for several later in the week...I thought: OK, I have no chance!
Then' the next day I got an email response from the seller: including pictures and his phone number.
I called him immediately: no one had offered to buy it yet. We talked: he had seen my duo "Silk and Steel" in 1978 at Jumers Castle Lodge in Bettendorf Iowa on one of our gigs there...what a small world! We went over the guitar and I offered to buy it! We agreed, he shipped it on Tuesday, and today the guitar arrived. Now the less than favorable pictures that came from the seller are on the original thread in the for sale section ( CL Adamas 12 )...When I opened the shipping carton and the zippered outer soft case slid out covering the original hard shell case, I got a little faint: it was very nice. Then I opened the case and: lo and behold there lay an all original 1978 (Dec.) 1688-8 Adamas I 12 string #542-92...Dirty, but Incredible...from the original pictures, not what I was expecting to see at all...I took a few before pic's and proceeded to work: I cut the old Martin Marquis string set off that was turning green; took a soft damp cloth and washed the guitar down all over IMMEDIATELY following with a soft dry towel; I took off the dot knobs which the original owner had added (it was a one owner guitar...until now) and took some wet/dry very fine sandpaper and removed the felt marker arrows and lines he had drawn and then used some paste wax (thanks Iffy!!) to restore them to original; I removed the shims from beneath the saddle/pup and restrung with a set of D'Addario EXP 38's and tuned it up (several times to stretch the strings naturally).
Then, I played it: OH MY GOODNESS!!! The Sound!!! The Bass!!! The Volume!!!
I was immediately transported back to the '07 OFC/Factory tour where Woz (Tom) let me play his original Adamas I 12...my first experience playing an Adamas 12 but one that left a lasting impression! Quick note: My '83 1688-7 is a beyond wonderful as well but there is something special about the '78's (as I found out from Woz/Tom). This guitar is Fine, Fine, Fine! One small 1/2 inch scratch on the top lower rt. bout, one small spot near the left epi, a small blister (top clear only) also near the left epi and that is it! 42 years old and in near mint condition! The fingerboard is one of the most colorful and striking I have ever seen. The neck is perfect: not one scratch! And it is a near perfect match for my 1687-8 #119-86 (Jan '78).
Here a a few pic's and the url to the photo album on my Ning site!
Album:
1688-8 #542-92
(Check out the before and after shots of the knobs: I am going to give them a few more coats of paste wax later)...and the neck can use just a touch of adjusting, but later: I'm having too much fun!!!
My thanks to:
james37214 for the heads up
iffy (who was in the hunt as well) for action above and beyond- ;) )
my wife who just simply said: "it had better be nice"!...lol :rolleyes:
my daughter for helping with the clean-up-until she had to go and play with her brother...(10 minutes tops...lol)
and lastly to the seller Chuck who kept it under the bed for over 30 years... :D
Yes, this time around, Craig's List has been "Berry, Berry Good To Me"!
Enjoy! and Merry Christmas!! |
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Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Merry Christmas to you Mike!! Thats a heck of a Christmas gift you have there!!! She's a beauty! |
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Location: NW of Philadelphia | Wow... now thats SWEET! |
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Location: WNC-God's Country | Beautiful Mike....I wanna play it !! |
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Location: Chicago | Wow. I can just imagine how it sounds, how LOUD it must be. Who needs to plug in? A great Nativity acquisition, Mike! |
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Location: Cincinnati | Congrats. Mike. |
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Location: Right now? | Wow, Mikey ... GREAT job on the knobs (I still cannot imagine what the owner was thinking to put FELT pen on them!!). It's amazing what a warm, damp cloth with do, huh? She looks like the sister to my 1978!
Congratulations on a swift, absolutely fantastic grab!! The purfling is gorgeous, ain't it? I know I've said it before, but don't you just love the look of those aged epaulets? Gorgeous git at a steal of a price! Happy Christmas!
;)
Willa |
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Yeah, yeah, yeah... but do ya like it? :rolleyes:
That is just soooo sweet. I'm glad ya took the chance.
Ya know I got first dibs on it. Right? Right??? Mike, put the dang thing down and wipe off that silly grin!  |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Nice Mike. Good luck with it. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Bet that will sound great recorded with a nice ribbon mic ;) . |
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Location: Tennessee | Congrats. Nice grab. Great to see such an original, including the case condom. But unless I made a mistake with my fingers and toes, the guitar is 31 years old. ;) |
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Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Congratulations Mike! What a find.
But as they say, "nothing ventured, nothing gained." |
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Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Bobbo wrote: But unless I made a mistake with my fingers and toes, the guitar is 31 years old. [Wink] Thanks for getting my back Bobbo: I hate math: always have and it shows...with my limited cerebral cells its a wonder I can function at all...lol
Plugged this in today and it works and sounds great! What a guitar...
Stephen: yeppers: I'll give it a try right after the first week of January...
Well, the blizzard has arrived: 18" to 24" is forecast...glad I have something to do...12 strings rule! lol---(ymmv) :rolleyes: |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Maybe your math disability and Bobbo's having 31 fingers and toes have some correlation to the thread on drugs and music?? |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Maybe your math disability and Bobbo's having 31 fingers and toes have some correlation to the thread on drugs and music?? Only an attorney could come up with logic like that.... |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Can we sue the drug companies and the record companies for me ending up the way I did? That way, I can come up with the money to buy a nice guitar like this one Mikey got!!
Is it my eyes, or the pictures, or does the walnut fretboard have a real reddish tint to it? |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Bobbo, it does: it almost looks like Cocobolo...beautiful; if and when we ever get sun again or can dig out of the drifts I'll take some outside pic's to highlight it... |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Here is an enlargement of the lower fretboard for now...
 |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
Can we sue the drug companies and the record companies for me ending up the way I did? That way, I can come up with the money to buy a nice guitar like this one Mikey got!!
Is it my eyes, or the pictures, or does the walnut fretboard have a real reddish tint to it? I don't think either of you could "blame" anyone for how you ended up. Looks to me like you both turned out pretty well.
That "graphite/plastic" guitar sure does have some pretty wood on it. The huge variations in wood might explain why some people can hear so much difference in the same models of wood guitars. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | I'll tell you what I like about older Adamii like this one... the brown mounting ring. Looks very cool. If I could change anything on Big Blue, it would be to change the mounting ring from black to brown (I'd probably put in an OP Pro for the tuner as well)..... |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Mark, no one to blame but me (of course like Beal, I'm not coping to anything...lol)...and I wouldn't change a thing now... |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Blame and credit are variations of the same theme. Most of us are fortunate enough to have to give credit for how we turned out instead of blame.
There's my rare optimistic message. Must be the Christmas spirit. |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Ya know, hopefully we do the best that we can, learn, and move on...
OK, now back to the regularly scheduled programming... :rolleyes: ;) |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Mike, you're one lucky dawg! ... hey ... that discoloration on the inside of the eppi can be fixed pretty easily with an airbrush and someone who knows how to mix the color. (any GOOD artist) |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Vince it;s a finish clear coat bubble; these are very common on early Adamas guitars...I may try to inject some clear finish...it's not really an issue for me... |
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March 2004
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Location: Paris/France | Congratulations Mike !!!
J :) |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Thanks everyone...the 1688 is going to its first OFC Mini Jam Monday in Sevierville TN w/TJ and Capo Guy...I believe in starting them out right! |
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December 2009
Posts: 143
Location: Ontario Canada | Originally posted by MusicMishka:
Plugged this in today and it works and sounds great! What a guitar...
...12 strings rule! lol---(ymmv) :rolleyes:
I am late at getting a reply, congratulations on a nice guitar. I was looking at your guitars, I only have the 1615-4 Natural. I love it: Please tell me the 1615 has the nicest tone amongst all your instruments. I'm sitting on the sidelines for years and am just wondering if I should get in the Adamas game.
New guy Jim. |
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December 2009
Posts: 143
Location: Ontario Canada | Hello Mike,
I was looking at your pictures again just now, I really like the Christmas tree complimenting your latest twelve string. One can see the love in your surroundings. The angel atop the tree shows the handiwork of someone dear to you.
Regards
Jim. |
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Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Thanks everyone...the 1688 is going to its first OFC Mini Jam Monday in Sevierville TN w/TJ and Capo Guy...I believe in starting them out right!
Well, as fortune would have it (whats the saying...the best laid plans of mice and men?)...Several logs in our cogs today are preventing out trip to see TJ and Capo Guy Mike...the snow is still coming down here in possibly the remotest part of SW VA; we have 20 inches and the roads froze in the near 10 degree weather last night and the driving is treacherous; it took the wife nearly and hour to drive home from work this morning in a 15 - 20 minute commute...
But the main problem is my neck which does not like snow shoveling...I got little sleep the past two nights so no go to the 3 hr. drive today...we would have had to come back Tuesday anyway so we plan to stay put...
I spoke to both TJ and Mike and we hope to find time later but it will probably be next year first. I know they are going to have fun so all the best folks!
JimBob, the Pacemakers is one of my all time favorite 12 strings...faithful, good sounding, and stays in tune well....I have great memories of playing them. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by MusicMishka:
the snow is still coming down here in possibly the remotest part of SW VA; we have 20 inches and the roads froze in the near 10 degree weather last night and the driving is treacherous; and yet FedEx makes it through to make 1/2 of a 2 package delivery. I guess the exciting stuff is lost! |
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Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I shudder to think...actually as cold as it is I'm shuddering w/o thinking...lol
I really like the Christmas tree complimenting your latest twelve string. One can see the love in your surroundings. The angel atop the tree shows the handiwork of someone dear to you. Jim thank you for the comment; it was made by my wife from several old ones...
Good news: got the neck adjusted on the 1688-8 today...bought a small set of deep well sockets with an extra extension rod and managed to get my left arm inside the guitar (w/o damage to myself or the guitar) and got the neck adjusted...
Here is some valuable info for your file: it takes a 1/4 inch socket...and a lot of patience...I see why they only had the small inspection cover for two years...what a pain to get inside...but, where there's a will there's a way! Patient is recovered and sounding just fine...plays like a brand new guitar and sings like the vintage lady she is...
I am still pinching myself...what a guitar!!! |
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CL Been Berry Berry Good to Me!