Old guitars sound better???

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:02 am

I read an article in the Times on Willie Nelson's guitar that I wish I would have saved. Seems recently they dumped a coat of laquer on it to keep it from disintegrating! Then it went on to say that after x amount of years the finish hardens, another x amount of years the wood dries out completely and another x amount of years the glue breaks down, etc.
Seems he's gotten a lot of mileage from that old Martin without a lot of maintanance.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 11:15 am

I think there's a lot of old, hard lacquer holding Willie together too. Don't know about the dried out part though.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 12:02 pm

was that lacquer or liquor
no offence to anyone

jazzsmith · Post by **jazzsmith** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 1:48 am

Don Butler says that vibration breaks down the molecules of wood causing microscopic pockets which add resonance (did I get that right, Don?). Obviously, this affects acoustic guitars to a greater extent than solid body electrics. With electrics there must be some degradation to the magnet which makes it less harsh sounding and more mellow. IMHO

fireglo · Post by **fireglo** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 1:56 pm

It's the dilithium crystals!

byu · Post by **byu** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 6:47 pm

In heavy Scottish brogue:
Sir! I can't keep her together much longer. She's goin' to blow. The machine heads are rattlin', the e string's broke and the pickup's lost her magnetism. We've got to find a full width crushed pearl inlay or we're doomed. DOOOOMED!!!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:43 pm

I think liquor is pronounced the same as lacquer in Texas. Dave? Gimme a shot of some of that there lacquer.