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Topic: Oahus |
Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2005 11:03 pm |
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| Sweet indeed Rick! |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 11 Oct 2005 11:13 pm
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12th fret -
Try singing: "O-A-HU" to the notation (E-B-G)
If you do it right, it sounds magically mystical . .
here's the 24th fret -
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2005 11:24 pm
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| What a coincidence too. I've been playin my 40's Oahu Tonemaster all evening. Mine has the sunburst finish with the rope binding all around the edge and the black pickup cover and guard with a very sweet tone. [This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 12 October 2005 at 12:26 AM.] |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 11 Oct 2005 11:32 pm
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Nice. What's the scale on the Tonemaster, about 25"?
(these are 23")
Oh yeah, and do you have a pic?[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 12 October 2005 at 12:33 AM.] |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2005 12:46 am
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| I believe it's a 25" scale Rick I'm lookin for a pic of it too. |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Oct 2005 12:48 pm
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Victor Denance
From:
Rennes, France
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Posted 12 Oct 2005 1:15 pm
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Hey Rick, you're insane! You've got way too much of these ole crappy Valcos.
BTW I'm looking for one, so please shoot me an email if you wish to let a nice one go.
(;o°) |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Oct 2005 2:46 pm
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Victor, you're definitely on the right track if you acquire one of these guitars. I'm not planning on selling any of the ones I have, but there are usually a few on eBay. That's where I found mine.
They often go for under $200. |
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Skip Keane
From:
Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2005 2:51 pm
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Hello,
I agree, those oahu's are the best. I have a black with yellow letters down the neck, "the killer bee," and wouldn't trade it for anything else. It's excellent!! best sound ever, in my opinion. I know it has a lot to do with the string through pickup that makes the difference. It screams!!!
Skip Keane |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Oct 2005 2:53 pm
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| Skip, can you post a pic of your guitar? |
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Victor Denance
From:
Rennes, France
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Posted 12 Oct 2005 2:57 pm
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BTW Rick, are these easy to play? ie I suppose it is impossible to palm mute the strings due to the string thru pickup design. Is it a problem, can you live with it?
That's the only thing I might dislike about these.
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Oct 2005 5:50 pm
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Palm muting at the bridge is 'doable'. Not very comfortable but definitely not impossible,- you get used to it.
Steinar
------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Oct 2005 7:21 pm
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| Exactly. And that's the only slight drawback these guitars have - a small price to pay for the tone you get. I never really even think about it when I'm playing . . |
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Jim Peter
From:
Mendon,Mich USA
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Posted 13 Oct 2005 9:32 am
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Rick,
Those are some great looking guitars you have there. The first steel I bought was an Oahu similar to the ones you have pictured (mine has black knobs and a black plastic pickup cover). Like you say it is a fun little guitar to play. I have never been able to find any information about these guitars and I have always been curious about its history. I was wondering if you could tell me about what year it was manufactured, how much it would have cost back then and any other related tidbits. Also I was wondering if it is possible to take this pickup out and send it to Rick Aiello for a tune-up.
I agree that palm blocking is not easy with these things. It kind of forces you to pick block if you can.
Jim
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Oct 2005 11:02 am
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Jim, these guitars can be dated by their serial numbers - here is the page.
They were student models and the cost was around $39 in the 40s & 50s (Brad would know exactly). Pros tended to play New Yorkers or Rickys etc. because of the cleaner, more "professional" sound. Who knew back then that these inexpensive student guitars would turn out to be blues & rock monsters . .
All you need to send to Rick Aiello are the 2 magnets. Just loosen the 4 pickup screws on the pickup plate and the magnets pop right out. They tend to degausse after 50 or 60 years and need to be remag-ed. Just email Rick first and make your arrangements. He also makes NIB replacements that kick butt.
If the volume of individual strings is inconsistent, you can adjust the pole pieces under each string. They are very sensitive, a slight turn makes a big difference. Before you turn them you might want to spray some contact cleaner or WD40 and wait a few minutes in case the little set screws are seized up. Go easy, don't force them - you don't want to break them . .
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Tom Baylis
From:
Portland, Oregon
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Posted 13 Oct 2005 3:48 pm
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Rick's right on the money here, but one or two words of caution: those plate screws are 'old' and sometimes break off, so proceed with caution when taking that cover plate off to get at the mags. For the pickup plate, the top two are shorter machine screws that just go into the bottom plate, but the two on the bridge side are longer wood screws that descend into the body.
And yes - often those pickup pole screws are frozen in place and without some free-up in advance a turn will bust 'em (been there, done that!). If they're free turning, crank 'em up so they just clear the string while playing, and adjust them to balance the output that sounds best. I just love these pickups, like everyone who tries 'em.
And to make them even better, he's also right about Rick Aiello's NIB replacement mags for these - they kick major butt! I was fortunate to get a set (thanks again Rick) for one of my Supros, and they are incredible - not just stronger output, but I now seem to get a wider frequency response and richer overtones. I also sent a pair to Steve Kimock a while back, and just heard back during a tour break - he absolutely loves 'em!
Tom |
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Stephan Miller
From:
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Posted 13 Oct 2005 4:35 pm
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| Here's another vote for the Aiello NIB's-- they worked an amazing transformation on my '60 Supro, which still looks mint, but now sounds better than mint...--Steve |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Oct 2005 11:22 am
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a closer look under the hood . .
remag-ed magnets
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Victor Denance
From:
Rennes, France
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Posted 15 Oct 2005 12:21 pm
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Thanks for the close up pics Rick.
I finally understand how are these pups constructed. |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Oct 2005 3:36 am
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just won this Bronson on eBay today for $80 . .
This same guitar sure wore a lot of different labels. But they were all made in the same factory . . |
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