Guyatone shortscale guitars - LG-60 et al

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:46 pm

Last Saturday I was walking to the local hardware shoppe for some sandpaper and usually take a peek in the guitar and mobile phone shop on the same road: Yes he sells guitar stuff and mobile phone stuff in the same shop. It's not quite a pawn shop. Mostly Shine cheapos but has some cool bits every now and then - got a 90s Dano U2 there years ago. Anyway in the window is this little guitar that catches my eye and long story short I tried it out and had to have it.

Shop keeper said the nearest match he could find on a vintage guitar site means it could be around '59ish model and it looks like the LG60. Most LG60 on the net have 3-a-side tuners but mine is 6-line. Anyhoo...some pics to follow and a few interesting pics from my researches. A demo will happen this mweekend as long as I get the pickup working again after pulling it apart...

► Show Spoiler

This page has a a picture of the catalogue:

GUYATONE CATALOGUE

Also as I spent just over a hundred english pounds on it this picture I just found is of great interest:

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:00 pm

interesting... it looks like a copy of a Supro model I've seen before. or extremely similar.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:02 pm

yeah, the supro dual tone

link wray played one

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:05 pm

mage wrote:interesting... it looks like a copy of a Supro model I've seen before. or extremely similar.

Yep the supro duo that Link Wray used back in the day I'm guessing.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:05 pm

HAhahahahah snap!

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:07 pm

lol

so how does it sound? how is that pickup working that's missing the cover?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:12 pm

mage wrote:lol

so how does it sound? how is that pickup working that's missing the cover?

Here's the thing...One pickup was ballsy and loud, the bridge, and the other was REALLY quiet. Now after I opened it all up the loud one has stopped working. There was some funky wiring going on so I think i grounded an exposed bit putting it back together. Both pups have been raised but obviously the bridge is butchered to get it nearer the strings. I really liked it so hopefully I'll just need to go in and fiddle some wires again.

I think its about 22-23 inch scale and I tried putting 12s on it - did not work at all. Oddly it killed all the sustain and made it sound like a dog. The G especially went 'thunk' I'm guessing 9's are on it at the moment and they sound great. I'll try tens next however as they are a little flimsy. These seems to be contrary to usual wisdom on guage and short scale length and I don't get it. If little wray guitar doesn't like 12s it just doesn't like 12s I guess.

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:23 pm

Ry Cooder has one of these and likes it a lot. He likes a lot of the Guyatone instruments as a matter of fact.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:13 pm

i've seen a picture (just today, in fact) of hank marvin playing a very similar model, obviously before he got a strat. i'll scan it in the morning if i remember.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:44 pm

jcyphe wrote:Ry Cooder has one of these and likes it a lot. He likes a lot of the Guyatone instruments as a matter of fact.

These are his

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 12:24 am

westtexasred wrote:
jcyphe wrote:Ry Cooder has one of these and likes it a lot. He likes a lot of the Guyatone instruments as a matter of fact.
These are his

Yeah he has some others too I've seen.

And now that I think of it Stewart is right, Hank Marvin also had an early Guyatone with the big round pickup covers.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:37 am

jcyphe wrote:
westtexasred wrote:
jcyphe wrote:Ry Cooder has one of these and likes it a lot. He likes a lot of the Guyatone instruments as a matter of fact.
These are his

Yeah he has some others too I've seen.

And now that I think of it Stewart is right, Hank Marvin also had an early Guyatone with the big round pickup covers.

This one?

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:41 am

Is this a Guyatone?

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:47 am

HOLY MISSING TOOTH!

astro · Post by **astro** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:13 am

It has a truss rod cover but no truss rod? Weird.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:13 am

astro wrote:It has a truss rod cover but no truss rod? Weird.

yeah it's a reinforced trussless neck. It's just right after 50 years so should stay kosher.

The neck is really cool is size and shape for little hands. Is a really deep pronounced V shape but with a board width that stays slim up the neck. About 41mm at nut (so bigger than my A width mustang) and around 48 at the 12th (mustang is around 52). It's not going to appeal to big hands for sure but felt great to me hence buying it.

That hank picture is amazing. LolCliffRichard creepy pose.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:43 am

yeah, that's the picture i was thinking of.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:29 am

Don't scold me for digging up an old thread but just look at what got listed on ebay. 1956 Guyatone EG-60. $1350 buy it now.Think Ry Cooder is listening?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:03 pm

Nice find! Can't afford at that cost though.

Funnily enough I have the right case for that guitar. I got it in the hopes it would fit mine but my LG60 is too long so will need to sell on or find a guyatone to fit!. the imprint of the guitar in it is more THAT kind of shape.

I LOVE that guyatone headstock. Literally fucking LOVE IT

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 6:43 pm

That looks fucking awesome!