Selling my Franklin

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 2 Apr 2009 12:08 pm

Ben, dont sell it, you will never get another one. Just use the sea-sick neck as an armrest.

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 2 Apr 2009 12:08 pm

Ben, dont sell it, you will never get another one. Just use the sea-sick neck as an armrest.

Ben Hoare · Post by **Ben Hoare** » 2 Apr 2009 2:15 pm

Gosh thanks everyone I spent so long trying to convince myself to sell it.I am starting to be very torn.Much to think about.I wouldnt sell it in Australia and the only reason Ive been tempted to sell it in US as the dollar conversion which makes it so valuable as I can get it taken over as luggage rather than shipping it. All that said Im starting to wonder how much Ill regret it if I do considering alls advice.hmmm

Austin Tripp · Post by **Austin Tripp** » 2 Apr 2009 6:35 pm

Ben please dont sell it. Like Ivan said, just use it as an armrest. I put a towel over my "sea-sick" neck and use it to lay my head down when I get tired, works pretty good, except the strings kinda leaves 10 lines going across your head, havent figured out how to stop that, but I will.

Jeff Hyman · Post by **Jeff Hyman** » 2 Apr 2009 7:53 pm

I'm with Brint. I could never get a grip on the C6... as its not a simple as my good friend Gary Gimble makes it look. I was stuck playing a double neck and carrying all that extra weight. Ended up with a padded C6 neck (SHO~BUD LDG). I can now play the heck on the Air C6 neck. :-) As far as the Franklin goes, it seems from all the comments here, to keep it, as its a legendary piece of history. Having never seen this model, what does make it so special? Just curious.

Tomi Graso · Post by **Tomi Graso** » 2 Apr 2009 8:26 pm

Hey Ben, I might be interested as well, also I did some adjustments on it too so i know all about it...
Really enjoyed playing it at my place and have been thinking about it ever since !

Please give me a buzz when you can Ben, Cheers

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 2 Apr 2009 8:50 pm

In a way its only a tool you need to do a particular job. If by selling it you are able to make your musical life better its no big deal. I don't get emotional about guitars any more. I sold both my Franklins. I was playing other steels and I'm not a collector. I also sold my 66 bolt on Emmons. It was an amazing guitar but I'm not rich enough to keep instruments around that are not paying there own way through college. If you can afford to keep your Franklin and still do what you want to do then by all means keep it. They are very special guitars that are not replaceable. If you need to sell it go ahead. Its not even close to the end of the world.

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 2 Apr 2009 10:52 pm

I agree with the vast majority,Ben. Keep it, Because once you sell it, you'll hate yourself and regret you sold it. I thought time and time again about selling guitar. But I realize that I have something that is really hard to come by.I have a '77 Emmons P/P, those guitar are real hard to come by. Even though I play at my house, and not in a band at this time.
Tommy Shown

Ben Hoare · Post by **Ben Hoare** » 3 Apr 2009 4:05 am

Thanks Bob good food for thought from an unemotional perspective,sorry I haven't been in touch I will be...
Thanks Tomi Ill be in touch to catch up soon.
Ben

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 3 Apr 2009 4:51 am

Emmons, while nice steels, are not that hard to come by. I ended up with a real nice 71 S10 fatback in April of last year in a trade. Thought I might like a D-10 and picked up a 71 fatback in July. I too can live without these if I sell them. If you keep it great if you sell it that's fine too.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 3 Apr 2009 5:32 am

I have sold every guitar I've ever owned... except my Franklin. It is the one constant. All my Emmons' and Sho-Bud's are (hopefully) being enjoyed by others. Those are the only brands I ever owned, until I got the Zum Stage One a while back. I don't know why, but I just can't part with my old nilknarF... (pet name).

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 3 Apr 2009 8:05 am

It's 26 years since I sold my Mosrite Combo XII when desparate for cash. Should have sold any other guitar than that; no other 12-string comes close to the playability. There were only 118 Combo XII models made. I know, because mine arrived along with the notice that Mosrite was no more. Serial # 118, special order in blue. I miss that guitar more than any other. Even more than any former girlfriend (she was easier to keep in tune.)

There are more than 118 Franklins, but I urge you to try to arrange a trade for a Franklin single neck. There has to be someone who wants to go double.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 3 Apr 2009 9:32 am

i'm w: Bob Hoffnar on this one Ben
i could say the same about women too.....(lol)
i sold many geetars, amps & steels that i regret today.
Nevertheless, my abilities & knowledge progressed through the years & i'm quite happy & proud of that
soooooo, if you feel you gotta move on to something else, do so Ben
if i was in your shoes, i'd keep the Franklin & move on anyway
C6 however,is a great neck & it's a shame that you have'nt really sat down to it
you're missin' out on some hip stuff

Ned McIntosh · Post by **Ned McIntosh** » 5 Apr 2009 2:58 am

Ben,

Keep it mate, or at least give some Aussie steeler a chance to acquire a great instrument without the risks and expense of shipping from the US etc.

Dean Gray is gonna be one heck of a pedal-steeler if his Dobro-pickin' (on my LKS reso, mind you!!) is anything to go by, and the tone Dean could get might be awesome. Why not talk to Dean about it? Just a suggestion, though, it is your steel to do with as you please.

The other thing is there may come a time when you can get to grips (excuse the pun) with C6th after all, and it may be wiser to keep the Franklin against that possibility.

Bill Lowe · Post by **Bill Lowe** » 5 Apr 2009 4:43 am

Hi Ben, i already have one but if you are set on selling I would be up for another one. Please put me in line. You should really rethink selling it, As you know they don't come up for sale to often. I think I have only seen 3 in the last 2 years.

Bill

Ben Hoare · Post by **Ben Hoare** » 22 Oct 2009 1:26 am

Hello all just an update I received so many emails and private messages it was unbelievable when I posted this thread but due to financial circumstances etc I did decide to sell fortunately to another Australian forum member if he chooses to make himself known up to him.Thanks to all those who gave advice etc.At the end of the day the financial security of my family prevailed.
Thanks again
Ben

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 22 Oct 2009 6:24 am

Well, obviously the financial decision far outweighed any other, and was the smartest one given the situation (assumed by (Ben's statements).

But as far as a C6 neck goes, I think "learning" it depends on what you want out of it. IMO it is FAR more intuitive than E9 (those big sweeping chords just prove the point); learning complicated stuff on it is no different than on any other instrument - it takes work. Some get it after a while, some never will.

Just like some will get E9 after a while, and some never will. I have an opposite situation - A ZB D10 with an E9 neck - the back I converted to the B6 I use on all my other guitars Now I'm trying to figure out whether to keep it or change the E9 neck into something I'll actually use (eery time I play it I cringe ay the high, whining sound, especially the 3rd string). And with chromatics and the "oops" 9th string I find it the least intuitive copedent I've tried - unfortunately it's pretty much the standard, but if you don't play standard steel its usefulness is diminished.

I think telling someone to hang in there in an encouraging way...and also stress the unique qualities or value of an instrument,,,are fine, but Bob Hoffnar had, to me, the best perspective: it's a tool. If a tool doesn't do the job you get rid of it. If it's an expensive tool and doesn't do the job for you then you kill two birds with one stone.

Ben, it seems, made a smart decision for his family by selling something he couldn't use (why lug around a second neck that won't get played?). The Franklin is reportedly a fine tool - but not the only one, nor is he limited to D10 Franklins - so why not do as he did and sell it, improve his finances, and stick with an S10 E9?

Just as I need to talk the drummer/leader, who bought the ZB I've been dealing with, that it just is impractical playing half a guitar (I can't play it with my left leg between the left knee levers, so they are just in the way.). He wanted a steel at the studio so I didn't have to lug one back and forth - nice idea, poor execution (not listening to my description of what I DO play)

With D10, you don't HAVE to play C6 either, as was noted. There are all sorts of ways to go (including mine, which is very intuitive and leaves the full E9 intact) - but if one doesn't want to play anything other than E9, ALL the reasons Ben gave make perfect sense - couple that with Bob's on=the-mark "tool" comment and it's an easy decision.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 22 Oct 2009 10:26 am

darn...i was going to buy it and hacksaw the back neck off and paint it day-glo..!