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Dating a Silver Hawaiian? + why does it sound much different

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 5:23 pm
by 3001
Hey all!

Picked up a second Silver Hawaiian, serial # D1272. it's got the two knobs on the right hand side. How can I tell what year it might of been made?

The thing sounds really great. I have another silver serial # D667 ...it sounds good, but not as good as this one I just got...maybe it's just different strings? Or the tone adjustment? hmm. It does have replaced tuners on it.

Re: Dating a Silver Hawaiian? + why does it sound much diffe

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:11 am
by admin
3001 wrote:Hey all!

Picked up a second Silver Hawaiian, serial # D1272. it's got the two knobs on the right hand side. How can I tell what year it might of been made?

The thing sounds really great. I have another silver serial # D667 ...it sounds good, but not as good as this one I just got...maybe it's just different strings? Or the tone adjustment? hmm. It does have replaced tuners on it.
Please submit a photo and measure the pickup in inches.

Re: Dating a Silver Hawaiian? + why does it sound much diffe

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 12:46 pm
by 3001
BD4653F4-2E9B-435E-90A7-314143F7FB6D_1_105_c.jpeg
Here ya go, 37 on the left, and the new one on the right. (I was told 37 by seller at least...)

Re: Dating a Silver Hawaiian? + why does it sound much diffe

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 12:47 pm
by 3001
I'm in the middle of a move so no tape measurer atm unfortunately

Re: Dating a Silver Hawaiian? + why does it sound much diffe

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:57 pm
by teb
I dated a silver Hawaiian once. She was nice, but I eventually decided she was too old for me..........
ba-da-bump

Re: Dating a Silver Hawaiian? + why does it sound much diffe

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:02 pm
by cjj
Could be a number of reasons for differences in sound, strings being one. There may be changes in the level of magnetism in the pickup magnets too, some older types could lose strength with age. The pickups may have been wound differently. The capacitors in the tone circuit can also change with age as well...

Re: Dating a Silver Hawaiian? + why does it sound much diffe

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:55 am
by admin
cjj wrote:Could be a number of reasons for differences in sound, strings being one. There may be changes in the level of magnetism in the pickup magnets too, some older types could lose strength with age. The pickups may have been wound differently. The capacitors in the tone circuit can also change with age as well...
Yes and the tone knob on one and not the other. :)

Re: Dating a Silver Hawaiian? + why does it sound much diffe

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:00 am
by admin
teb wrote:I dated a silver Hawaiian once. She was nice, but I eventually decided she was too old for me..........
ba-da-bump
No pun intended, of course, Teb. :lol: