JohnMac
Senior Stratmaster
I just picked up this old Oahu parlor and I can't stop playing it. When I checked it out it sounded and played pretty good and the price was right so I bought it.
The strings were old and corroded so I replaced them with some Martin silk and steels. The action was too low so for now I shimmed the nut and saddle. The rather crude bone nut has very deep slots. Someone whittled the saddle out of a piece if soft wood. I have a feeling that this guitar was originally meant to be used as a Hawaiian lap steel, although this one has a deep V neck profile, unlike most of the Oahus, which came with a square neck in the '30s-early '40s. It looks like the tuners have been replaced but the plates have some patina so maybe they just replace the pegs. They work well so I'll leave them be. The bridge may have been replaced too.
I ordered a new nut. I tried to find a drop in replacement for the saddle. The fretboard is completely flat with no radius. All of the flat classical guitar saddles seem to be too wide so I ordered a bone blank and will shape it myself. This thing sounds and plays so well that I'm a little hesitant to replace those parts, lest I may ruin the "mojo".
At 80 years old I have to wonder who played it and what songs were played on it over the years. I wonder if anyone ever made any money with it or if it was always used for one's own pleasure???
The strings were old and corroded so I replaced them with some Martin silk and steels. The action was too low so for now I shimmed the nut and saddle. The rather crude bone nut has very deep slots. Someone whittled the saddle out of a piece if soft wood. I have a feeling that this guitar was originally meant to be used as a Hawaiian lap steel, although this one has a deep V neck profile, unlike most of the Oahus, which came with a square neck in the '30s-early '40s. It looks like the tuners have been replaced but the plates have some patina so maybe they just replace the pegs. They work well so I'll leave them be. The bridge may have been replaced too.
I ordered a new nut. I tried to find a drop in replacement for the saddle. The fretboard is completely flat with no radius. All of the flat classical guitar saddles seem to be too wide so I ordered a bone blank and will shape it myself. This thing sounds and plays so well that I'm a little hesitant to replace those parts, lest I may ruin the "mojo".
At 80 years old I have to wonder who played it and what songs were played on it over the years. I wonder if anyone ever made any money with it or if it was always used for one's own pleasure???
