It’s About Time

I’m glad to have learned the guitar albeit not an expert but sufficient to enjoy the sound and able to sing along with the songs while playing it.  One of my blog entry ‘chronicled’ my acquisition journey in greater detail.  I’m listing the guitars for my own recollection of the guitars I’ve owned over the years. . . .

Congress -steel strings. (My sis Kathy bought as a reward for passing PSLE That got me started).
Congress – dreadnought (Bought with own savings during sec 3). Sold to my cousin who brought it home to JB.
Yamaha CG – classical guitar but can’t recall model [paid over $300 in '80]. Nice rosewood color. More importantly it was loud and solid sounding.  Really enjoy it but it was damaged by fellow youth in ‘81 during Sr Teens Camp on St John’s Island. Thankfully it didn’t affect sound  but aesthetic.  The fellow was my childhood friend; he didn’t offer to pay for it and I didn’t pursue either.
Yamaha FG512-II - 12 strings dreadnought. A gift from a friend in ‘81; Sold it on Jan 24 ‘09. Enjoyed playing on in recent years. Left it with Teck Leong for about 10 years because of studies in US.
Ibanez – handcrafted classical guitar [no idea about model no.]. Mom paid for it as a gift of sort.   Finishing rather bare but lovely sound. Traveled farthest with me across the continents and States. Used it extensively in IA.  Didn’t know anything about humidity’s effect on guitar.  The top had one hairline cracked due to extreme dryness in Wisconsin winter in ‘96.  Brought it to WY for church planting trip.  In the US, it has gone to IA, WI, WY, MN and finally TX. It was sold by proxy to Dallas seminary student with Amy Lau’s help while stuck back in Singapore and unable to return to DTS.
Ovation AE128 – shortest ownership of 2 weeks. First online purchase. Didn’t like it; did a trade-in at shop in Minnetonka, MN.
Hofner H-12 (that’s the trade-in). Top with USD$100. Nice German made classical guitar. Satin finish; mahogany side and back with solid spruce top. Brought it home to Singapore along with rest of shipment in 2001. Left it with my brother Fred. Might take it back sometime later.
Ovation Legend 1117. Bought it over EBay. First nice Ovation ever had. Brought it back to Singapore in 2001. Sold it in Aug 9 2008.
Ovation 1124-4. Bought via craiglist. Nice looking though felt thin sounding when strum. Nylon strings but has 14 frets instead of regular 12. Sold it in 2008 about 3 months later. Got good price for it.
Ovation Concert Classic 1116. Also via Craiglist. Deep bowl, nylon strings and richer sounding than previous model. Previous owner is a vet and apparently owns tv show related to veterinary. Still owning it. Listed it yesterday on AdPost. Not really serious in selling it but might consider it if somebody willing to pay listed price.
Ovation 1997 Collectors Edition. Parlor sized acoustic-electric guitar. Actually made mistake. Didn’t know it was acoustic but thought it was nylon string because headstock with slotted. Blur!  Bought it off Craiglist again from student from Purdue Univ. Nice sound but neck tad too narrow for my liking. Didn’t have the boom sound I need for playing in Sun school singing or Children Day’s Camp. Sold it off Dec ‘08.
Yamaha LJ-16. First all solid guitar. Medium jumbo. Bought it Dec 20 ‘08. Enjoying the sound. Was deliberating between an LL-16 and this LJ-16. I like the headstock design and body-shape. It began to sound delightful as time goes on.

I’ll probably get one more dreadnought to put in Church for regular use. Didn’t want to lug the Yamaha LJ-16 along every Sunday. It gets tiring after awhile.

UPDATE (March 27 2009).  Since then, I went ahead to get the Yamaha LL-16 from Yamaha Tampines. The manager was nice to give me a good price I must say.  Suffice to say, I left it in the church for regular use.

Last week, I collected a used but excellent condition Larrivee D-03R. It was upgraded with bone saddle plus nice Gotoh tuners.

UPDATE (July 1st 2009).  Sold the Ovation ‘97 Collectors’ Edition & Concert Classic 1116 to an Australian working locally in May.  Few days ago, bought a Larrivee L-10 from EBay and a Goodall Rosewood Standard from a deadbeat in AGF. The Goodall hadn’t arrived yet.

UPDATE (August 17 2009).  Sold my Yamaha LJ-16 and Takamine EN-15 about 2 weeks ago.  Now I’m down to Hofner, H-12; Yamaha LL-16; Larrivee D03-R; Larrivee L-10; Goodall Standard.

UPDATE (End August ‘09). Sold my Larrivee L-10 through Malcolm’s recommendation.  Don’t know why, but as with the Yamaha LJ-16, this L-10 was parted with tinge of sadness. I suppose I really do like the shape a lot….

UPDATE (Sept 13 ‘09). Won an EBay bid for Taylor GSMC.  It’s on the way even as I typed this update.  Same body shape as the LJ-16 & L-10.  Since I’ve not had a mahogany back and sides guitar before, thought I should give it a try. Besides I finally joined the Taylor community. Don’t know if I’ll also leave it as I did the Ovation……

UPDATE (Oct 2 ‘09). The Avalon S200 arrived at the doorstep today.