Foo - Need help with this guitar....

I picked up this really nice guitar that the owner said was a "Southern". The headstock says BSC in some old english script, same thing on the label inside.

Anybody heard of this brand? Thanks.
And I did google it and came up empty.

Steven

Acoustic or electric? Woody Guthrie played a Gibson Southern guitar and they have reissued those. If it is one of those, it's a nice piece of work. Not sure about the headstock. Got a picture?

Duh,,,, Acoustic and I don't have a photo, I still get lost trying to post photos here.

It is a really nice guitar, has the tree of life up the neck along with abolone inlay around the hole, not that that makes it sound good. I'll try to post a picture if only to show it off.

I put new strings on the guitar and it sustained better than any guitar I have owned and the sound was nice and bright with the Phospher Bronze strings. next step is to get some brass endpins and improve the sustain and drive up some more clarity.

Steven

Yes, pics can't hurt. Never heard of it - was this an expensive guitar?

Duh,,,, Acoustic and I don't have a photo, I still get lost trying to post photos here.

It is a really nice guitar, has the tree of life up the neck along with abolone inlay around the hole, not that that makes it sound good. I'll try to post a picture if only to show it off.

I put new strings on the guitar and it sustained better than any guitar I have owned and the sound was nice and bright with the Phospher Bronze strings. next step is to get some brass endpins and improve the sustain and drive up some more clarity.

Steven

Those are my favorite strings hands down. Never heard of the guitar though.

I'm thinking if it was a major purchase and has solid tonewoods it might be a custom or small builder?

I had to take last night off of foo. :)

I got together with the man that owned it last night and he corrected me as to the make, it is a Southern Guitar Co. guitar with SGC inlayed into the headstock. I got the guitar for $140.00 and was told it was a $350.00 guitar. Not expensive but solid wood with great sound. I still haven't found it online anywhere. I have a problem posting photos, I have "out in the woods, old lines dial up" :). I've tried sending photos before and I usually have to go to the library and that is just a pain.

I'm thinking of getting a professional setup done on the action, I'd like it a bit lower so it can have that "smooth as butter" action.

Steven

It might not be solid woods at that price (or maybe it is, but probably not prime tone woods like spruce - there are lots of good alternatives today, and need to be, with spruce and other woods in short supply and super expensive as a result).

Anyway, bottom line is, if you are happy with the sound, that's all that matters.

With an acoustic I'd ask around and use the best luthier you can afford to do the work. You don't want someone hacking up the bridge and nut or doing a poor neck adjustment. You can also try lighter strings if the action feels too stiff. Or keep the heavy strings, but tune down a half step.

The low action will facilitate fast playing but you'll lose some tone and sustain.

Santa Cruz Guitar company.. If it is one, they make some of the best acoustics in the world.. here is my Tony Rice..

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/4607/picture431ps3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I was just gonna add - MiI is prolly the guy to ask about acoustics on BF.

Is there a sticker visible inside the soundhole? Maybe that'd give more info on the Southern gtr. (date, materials, country of origin, etc.)

MiI - He said SGC not SCG - I always wanted either a Santa Cruz, a Gallagher or a Mossman, but I just cannot play a Dreadnaught...the body just feels too huge and bulky to me. If I ever bought an acoustic I'd go with a Martin OM. Unfortunately I suck without an amp, so it's just as well I can't afford one:o

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/2974/scvsheadstockfrontip4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I need to stop smoking so much weed... My bad. Now go out and buy a Santa Cruz. lol

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/4607/picture431ps3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

That's some freakin neck.:innocent: Ebony board?

I was just gonna add - MiI is prolly the guy to ask about acoustics on BF.

Is there a sticker visible inside the soundhole? Maybe that'd give more info on the Southern gtr. (date, materials, country of origin, etc.)

MiI - He said SGC not SCG - I always wanted either a Santa Cruz, a Gallagher or a Mossman, but I just cannot play a Dreadnaught...the body just feels too huge and bulky to me. If I ever bought an acoustic I'd go with a Martin OM. Unfortunately I suck without an amp, so it's just as well I can't afford one:o

Actually he said BSC. Even worse. Oh well we tried to help..

Yes Ebony . Adirondack top . Banjo Killing Monster..

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/2974/scvsheadstockfrontip4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm also a sucker for that offset headstock scroll - beautiful. I love the understated SC look, lone inlay at 12th fret, etc. In martins, I'd always pick a D-18 over a D-28 pr D-45 (I prefer Mahogany anyway).

My favorite guitar in the world, by David John Morse, had that same headstock sweep. That's gotta be my holy grail of guitars....he only makes violins now.....I'd have to raise some serious cash for one of those....:(

Actually he said BSC. Even worse. Oh well we tried to help..

Oh, right - first post; he corrected later.

Yes Ebony . Adirondack top . Banjo Killing Monster..

I'll bet!

You can see the ebony in that close up. I'm thinking the peghead is solid rosewood, not a veneer?

Are those Waverly pegs, or do SC use inhouse tuners?

I too love Mahogany of all variates.
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5672/picture390du2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6552/picture394gc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/7804/picture421sp5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

He, (being me) looked at the label and there is no name (no name brand) and it is made in Korea so It is a Asian produced guitar. Depending on the year it could be a treasure or a loser. I've played for many years and the tone on this is well above average. It has a sound that I like and that is the main thing. Wish I could post a pic, it does look nice, but the new is wearing off and I can now see a couple of flaws in finish, so minor as to be considered not there.

As a woodworker I can examine the finish and see small things.

I have gone through so many guitars ( ruined a Gibson Archtop in the seventies) that I can safely say that this is a good guitar.

My top pick would be a Larravee acoustic, they rock and in my opinion they beat Martin or crap company Gibson. (opinion here). I have never played a Larravee that sounded bad and they all have sounded exceptional.

My next acoustic/electric will be a Seagull, good sound and great action out of the box for the money. And they feel good.

I'm longwinded tonight, I suppose talking about guitars does that to me. Let's not start on Mandolins, expecially the Rigel G-110. ....................................................

Bye
Steven

He, (being me) looked at the label and there is no name (no name brand) and it is made in Korea so It is a Asian produced guitar. Depending on the year it could be a treasure or a loser. I've played for many years and the tone on this is well above average. It has a sound that I like and that is the main thing. Wish I could post a pic, it does look nice, but the new is wearing off and I can now see a couple of flaws in finish, so minor as to be considered not there.

As a woodworker I can examine the finish and see small things.

I have gone through so many guitars ( ruined a Gibson Archtop in the seventies) that I can safely say that this is a good guitar.

My top pick would be a Larravee acoustic, they rock and in my opinion they beat Martin or crap company Gibson. (opinion here). I have never played a Larravee that sounded bad and they all have sounded exceptional.

My next acoustic/electric will be a Seagull, good sound and great action out of the box for the money. And they feel good.

I'm longwinded tonight, I suppose talking about guitars does that to me. Let's not start on Mandolins, expecially the Rigel G-110. ....................................................

Bye
Steven

Larravee or Larrivee? Or are they the same? Ive only ever seen Larrivee

Mr. L makes great guitars. Gibson hasn't made Superior acoustics since the 60's. I don't know what Martins you have played but anything above entry level guitars they send out of their factory are consistent. They are bassy for some folks taste.. There are way too many builders to choose one. Laskin, Goodall, Mcpherson, Santa Cruz, Martin, Lowden etc etc... In my opinion, Collings makes the best guitars. Acoustic , archtop, electric... Mr. Bill does it all and does it well.

I have never owned and Asian acoustic and pretty sure I never will..

I too love Mahogany of all variates.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6552/picture394gc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Oh, oh, oh, that there is some BEAUTIFUL flaming. WOW.

*drools*

Yeah - I like mahogany for its sound, but obviously it can be beautiful to look at as well.

Larrivee must be right, made in Canada, same country as Seagull.

These days are the best ever to buy acoustic instruments, with the advent of CAD and Computer made parts the consistancy has shot way up. They get better when the factory uses a master luthier to do the final tuneup, but there are a lot of mass produced guitars that sound great.

The difference between a $200 guitar and a $500 guitar is pretty big. The difference between a $500 guitar and a $1000 guitar is also significant. The diffenece between a $1000 guitar and a $5000 guitar is much less, you need to really know what you are listening to and for in order to tell the difference. Anything above $5,000 is all about looks because the sound is already there.

ymmv but not much. :)

Steven

you're right unless the $5000 is something handmade and maybe has certain features you can't find in a factory guitar. Though these days you're maybe topping $5k for that (Haven't priced anything like in that in at least 5 years myself).

A friend of mine picked up one of the $300ish Martins with the shallow body and bolt on necks a few years back - it obviously didn't sound like a D-28 or anything but it had a terrific sound, especially for the money. I've played several Takamine acoustics over the years - $200-400 plywood instruments - that sounded great.

I once owned a Fender Jazz guitar designed by D'Acquisto (it was the cheaper maple ply model, not the carved top one he did at the same time) - it sounded a little tinny acoustically, but the sound through the amp was probably as good as most good jazz guitars, with less feedback due to the dead top. It was hands down the best player ever - perfect neck the only time I had a factory fret job that was flawless....I scored it for well under list. But took a beating on the sell (wanted to buy new gf a nice Xmas gift:rolleyes:)

I wouldn't spend the money myself, but there is a big difference between say an Olson or Ryan and a 5k guitar...

I live just down the road a piece from Moonstone and I have heard only good about them, but I sure don't want one. I don't think I can justify the expense. :)

I've seen matching back pieces go for $5,000, let alone the guitar itself. My comment about price and sound was only meant to be generally accurate, I am sure there are exceptions.

Pet peeve, I don't care for the sunburst stainjob on some guitars just to cover up a blemesh of the wood. I'd rather see the wood, be-it pretty or not. I do like the orange glow of some guitars, just not the "cover all you can see, looks like paint crap" LOL

I still think Gibson is a crap company that happens to make good guitars. :(

Steven