ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN
Richard Moffett
OLYMPIA CLASSICAL GUITAR
Tacoma guitars, pre-Fender buyout, Imported Classical Series
Cut-away, under bridge electric pickup withRosewood back and sides, solid spruce top, Aquila strings.
Blog
2013 The Acoustic Year… Eastman 515 F-style Mandolin
Richard Moffett
I’m hoping that this year will be my year of the acoustic instrument. I purchased a concertina earlier in the year and am currently shopping for OM style acoustic guitars and a newer pedal steel (often played with acoustic instruments). I ran across this fabulous F-style Eastman Mandolin! I’ve had many cheaper quality mandolins throughout the years. This individually hand-crafted all solid wood mando is light and loud and years ahead of my abilities. If the phrase “the right tool for the right job” is correct, I ought to be pretty proficient by years end.
FIRST RE-ISSUE FENDER TELECASTER ANTIGUA
Richard Moffett
To my knowledge, this is from the first 400 Limited Edtion of the “love ’em or leave ’em” Antigua Tele’s from Fender Japan since the early 1970’s. Last year Fender Mexico re-issued an FSR batch with a distinctly different “hue”. This “Antigua” color that Fender created in the very early 70’s was brief and without a doubt the most unusual factory choices ever! Includes Fender “Noiseless” pickups.
Graffiti Yellow Fender Strat Plus
Richard Moffett
This Graffiti yellow Strat Plus is one of the LOUDEST, most responsive, most dynamic guitars I own. I got a hot tip from my “Ace” guitar playing nephew (thanks Seth) that this long sought after guitar was available and in our area. Within 24 hours of that call, the deal was done! It’s condition was 9 out 10 and a screamer right out of the case. I used it at an open mic jam shortly after I set it up and I knew it was the one!
The yellow color was modeled after the 1949 Ford in the movie “American Graffiti” (hence, the name), and designed to hopefully to catch Jeff Beck’s eye in developing his new signature model. It worked! I am told that no signature Jeff Beck Models actually came in this color, but the idea must have clicked. He played various Strat Plus style guitars with a slightly different pickup combination (2 single and 1 double coil) for many years. This is one of the most rare and vibrant colors that Fender made. I’ll still search for the Daphne Blue and Razzberry models, but I am nearing the end of my wish list in this guitar.
INCA SILVER FENDER STRAT PLUS
Richard Moffett
“Compare and contrast”… that’s what I always say. Inca Silver vs. Pewter, who can decide? Both guitars are near perfect condition ( even though I love my weathered models too ). They ring like only a Strat Plus can. Rosewood fingerboards on both guitars, though I have NO preference.
1987 PEWTER STRAT PLUS, Drop Dead Mint!
Richard Moffett
Yes, I have a lot of these particular guitars. Yes, they must be my favorite. Most of all… Yes, there are more to come!
MUSICMAN 210 65 (1st year)
Richard Moffett
I’m guessing 1974/1975 Near Mint MUSIC MAN 210/ 65 watt amp with 12ax7 tube phase inverter. Weight= 1 ton (kidding of course, but extremely heavy). Clean tone and loud as hell!
CUSTOM FESSENDEN 12 STRING PEDAL STEEL GUITAR
Richard Moffett
A tip about an auction led to my purchase of this very cool, very “in need of repair” pedal steel. It has a solid curly maple body, single neck E9th extended tuning, 8 pedals and 5 knee levers! Yes it’s way more steel than I need, but it was so much fun searching for parts (it was missing 4 pedals and rods plus all of their parts) and a case to fit it perfectly (Thank you Jerry Fessenden). The cleaning and polishing alone took over a month, then the tweaks and adjustments another 5 weeks or so and… what you see here is one of the prettiest, best playing, steels I’ve owned.
2005 GIBSON ES-333
Richard Moffett
What a great find! I purchased this guitar a few years ago with a few small seperations on it’s back.
Ace repairman/luthier/banjo superstar Chris Warner went at it and made the seperations virtually invisible.
Then, since Chris had refinished the entire backside of the guitar with a warm glossy nitro, I rubbed out the Satin finish on the top and everywhere else. I called up old friend and former Gibson rep, Hank Ettel and he sent over cream pickup surrounds and matching knobs and toggle switch. The pickups had already been swapped out with new Gibson PAF’s and a nicer bridge piece (ABR1) and… I have one of the nicest sounding and playing Gibsons in my collection!
1985 Robin Medley Custom
Richard Moffett
From Texas? From Japan? Heck, we didn’t know! Robin was and maybe still is a great Texas guitar company. In 1985, however, no one was really sure where they were being manufactured when ROBIN GUITARS first showed up at the NAMM trade show.
This ROBIN Medley Custom in Sparkle Magenta is certainly one of their first. My sources tell me that Billy Gibbons got number one at NAMM and mine was a left over from the show!
Where the serial numbers should be is a metal badge that says “Limited Edtion”.
I purchased it in 1985, when I was in the dance rock band RECKLESS, from Campbell’s Music in beautiful downtown Spry, PA also the home of my teaching studio for 37 years.
It was a “shredder” to beat all “shredders”! Locking Kahler tremolo, neck thru-body construction, ebony fingerboard and killer tone. Updated recently with IBZ dimarzios, thanks again Seth.
I honestly don’t know why I’ve kept it all these years. I guess that band and those times were just such a wonderful stage in my life!
Who knows, maybe purpley shredder guitars will stage a comeback!
1938 Martin D-28 Herringbone from Danny Weiss
Richard Moffett
I’ve always wanted to feature guitars from friends and family so here is a great example to start with! Very soon to be Brother-in-Law and guitarist extraordinaire Danny Weiss has traveled around the world with this great 1938 Martin D-28. As the guitarist and vocalist of Tony Trischka and Skyline, Silk City and Reckon So he has played this guitar as his main instrument for decades. Recently set up by luthier and well known banjoist Chris Warner at Campbell’s Music in York, PA, I got the great oppurtunity to play and photograph this fine guitar!
1953 GIBSON EB BASS
Richard Moffett
As a young boy raised in Strinestown PA there were not a lot of quality guitars available to see and touch and dream about playing or even owning someday.
One family in the neighborhood made all of this possible. Kenny Krouse and his Dad had drums, amps, a Les Paul and this beautiful Gibson EB bass.
My memories were that these were the two heaviest guitars on the planet earth and quite possibly the two coolest! Our somber realities were the Teisco guitars at JM Fields or the Harmony and Silvertones in the Sears catalogs.
But at Kenny’s, thanks to his late father, we could see and touch and play the “real” thing. Now, almost 50 years later, one of these great guitars is sitting in my home office.
Thanks Kenny and family!
Two Great Old “RICKENBACHER ELECTRO” (pre-Rickenbacker) Lap Steel Guitars
Richard Moffett
Made in sunny California, these “Rick” Lap Steels are from two different yet early eras.
Standing is a “tin” post war steel stuffed with paper from that era to reduce feedback. Purchased from friend and former student Tom Warman.
Sitting in the case is an earlier “bakelite” model with it’s porcelan plates replaced with wooden inserts. This one was aquired from old friend and mentor Bob Campbell Sr.
Both guitars are in perfectly loud and sustaining working order.
My 2002 GIBSON “FLYING V” in Olympic White
Richard Moffett
Who would have known that this design would still look so cool and futuristic over 40 years after it's introduction!
1982/62 Sienna Burst Fender Stratocaster – One that got away!
Richard Moffett
In the mid 1980’s, between the end of a great band called WHEELS and the start of a bigger group RECKLESS, I decided to part with two vintage HIWATT 4/12 cabinets and this very heavy, but sweet sounding, Fender Stratocaster. I know it was a bad move now but good friend and long time student Jeff Keller has taken great care of everything and I can visit them whenever I want. Thanks Jeff!
Fall Harvest Time Part One… The Resonators
Raymond Eicher
1990’s TTT Tut Taylor Tennessean (mahogany top) with 1930’s Regal (black) both courtesy of friend and student Lou Sachs.
My 1990’s TTV Tut Taylor Virginian (maple top) and my re-chromed 1930’s National.
Fall Harvest Time features: 2001 Rick 360/6: 1998 Rick 360/12
Raymond Eicher
Certain guitars help me ease into the new season a bit easier!
1987 Fender Strat Plus… What Color Is It?
Raymond Eicher
I have owned Fender Strat Plus’ for over 20 years and I have never seen another one of this color. In person it is most definetely Orange. What do you think?
