Pre--Electric Favorites

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 10 Oct 2010 2:20 pm

As there seems to be some members with a taste for the old stuff, how about posting some of them here? Here's David and Queenie Kaili with a very funky Song of the Islands and he rips it right out of the box! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1BxiIHZ ... re=related

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 10 Oct 2010 4:48 pm

I've always been partial to Kalama's Quartet. Something about their singing really makes me happy. I could only find one of their songs on YouTube.

Wahine Nui

Big fan of Sol Ho`opi`i as well.

Kolopa

Sol K. Bright, too.

La Rosita

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 11 Oct 2010 9:30 am

Thanks! I'm always up for some old 78s.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Oct 2010 11:03 am

I've always preferred the tone of the acoustic Hawaiian guitar over the sound of the Tricone. I always wanted one of those Martin Hawaiian guitars.

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 11 Oct 2010 4:05 pm

Was it Alice of Wonderland fame who asked "What is a book without pictures?" Here is Queenie and David in their hayday. Those Vaudeville house backdrops were an art all in themselves. John, I am extremely partial to Kalama's Quartette too. Their recordings are some of the most important from the pre-electric hawaiian era. We a fortunate to have them on CD. I hope a similar Kaili collection may one day appear even though I don't think the Kaili recordings are quite as "Hawaiian" as Kalamas. But I'm not overly selective; I like the entire panorama of Hawaiian music not including Jawaiian. Mike, I can identify the tricone twang pretty quick. I don't know if I could do the same with the Martin from a recording. One interesting development is appearance of deep body Weissenborns. I'd like to try one.

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 26 Oct 2010 2:22 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuESUGd01lk

Ron Simpson · Post by **Ron Simpson** » 26 Oct 2010 4:06 pm

Mike Neer wrote:I've always preferred the tone of the acoustic Hawaiian guitar over the sound of the Tricone. I always wanted one of those Martin Hawaiian guitars.

I've really enjoyed all the early songs posted thus far. I recall reading in Bob Brozman's excellent book on Nationals that the early guitars used a wooden platform on which the cones rested, before using a metal platform in later years. My only experience is with a first year issue Tricone and have always wondered if this was the case. Sorry if I'm getting a little off topic.

Tom Karsiotis · Post by **Tom Karsiotis** » 26 Oct 2010 10:41 pm

Dick McIntire and His Harmony Hawaiians were the backup band for Bing Crosby's Hawaiian album. It was that album (an actual album of 78 RPM records) that peaked my interest in the Hawaiian guitar. I later found some Jerry Byrd 78's in a Salvation Army in Detroit and I was hooked. I believe it was Dick McIntire that played on some of Jimmie Rogers records.

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 27 Oct 2010 3:40 am

Thanks for posting this thread. I love the old acoustic sound. The sound is so basic, it compares to lying on a nude beach, there's nothing to hide. What you hear is what you get. No overdubs, no effects pedals, just a bar on strings with skillful fingers. My first year lessons in 1948 were on a Stella acoustic guitar. I have an identical guitar hung in my music room as fond memories.

The picture of Kanui reminds me of the attached picture entitled "How to hold the Hawaiian guitar" in a 1928 Paramount Improved Method for Hawaiian Guitar.

Was it not Lani McIntire who played on Jimmy Rogers' records??

George

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 27 Oct 2010 7:03 am

I had Adams Guitars build me a straight acoustic guitar a while back.

Tom Karsiotis · Post by **Tom Karsiotis** » 27 Oct 2010 2:07 pm

Was it not Lani McIntire who played on Jimmy Rogers' records??

George

That's what I thought at first but someone told me it was Dick McIntire.

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 27 Oct 2010 2:21 pm

Foregive me for once thinking the SGF was an "Electric" oriented forum only. How wrong I was. Thanks for all the interesting replies. While we are on the subject of Sol and Lani, here they are in the pre- tricone days. The picture is a crop from "His Jazz Bride" and comes courtesy of Les Cook at Grassskirt Records. Glenwood Leslie on the left appears to have used a entire jar of Brylcreem on his hair. Leis, sashes, and bow ties. The zenith of stage elegance!

James Kerr · Post by **James Kerr** » 27 Oct 2010 2:33 pm

I have a collection of 78s and sheet music to go, from The New York Academy of Music from the 1920s The player is Robert Yap.

James.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 27 Oct 2010 2:44 pm

I haven't seen that pic of Sol before. Very cool. I think he's playing an Oahu guitar (which I find fascinating) and it has a metal nut raiser on it:

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 27 Oct 2010 3:14 pm

I really must get off my butt this Winter, get a 78 cartridge for my turntable, and some noise reduction software. I have a few hundred 78s that I really should get in to the digital domain! I used to haunt the antique stores hunting for piano Boogie Woogie, Blues, and Hawaiian 78s. I've got boxes and boxes of them!

Darrell Urbien · Post by **Darrell Urbien** » 27 Oct 2010 6:27 pm

Mike Neer wrote:I think he's playing an Oahu guitar (which I find fascinating) and it has a metal nut raiser on it

Just curious - what makes you think it is an Oahu?

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 27 Oct 2010 6:36 pm

Firstly to Erv. Nice looking axe Erv. How big is it? It's difficult to tell in the picture as there is no reference item. What I mean, is it a parlour size or a concert size. Wondering if it has mellow or brash tone?

And now to Tom, if it wasn't for the Summer issue of the HSGA Quarterly in which they mention Lani McIntire played with Jimmy Rogers and they have Jimmy's picture there, I wouldn't win first prize to the question.

I had a few Hawaiian 78's, not sure if I still have them, but also some Hawaiian 8-tracks (only because there is Hawaiian music on them I don't have). With so much old stuff being reissued on CD, I think there's enough for me not to even worry about putting the 8 tracks on digital. I even have an 8-track machine in like-new condition particularly for that purpose.

I have over 10,000 Lp's, early country, steel guitar, Hawaiian et al. It was so easy to collect, all it took was a lot of time and a little money to satisy my obsessive/compulsiveness!!!

Geo

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 27 Oct 2010 6:59 pm

Darrell Urbien wrote:
Mike Neer wrote:I think he's playing an Oahu guitar (which I find fascinating) and it has a metal nut raiser on it
Just curious - what makes you think it is an Oahu?

I don't know for sure, but I don't recall ever seeing that kind of binding on a Martin, do you? I'm probably wrong, somebody please set me straight.

Tom Karsiotis · Post by **Tom Karsiotis** » 27 Oct 2010 8:07 pm

George Rout wrote:
And now to Tom, if it wasn't for the Summer issue of the HSGA Quarterly in which they mention Lani McIntire played with Jimmy Rogers and they have Jimmy's picture there, I wouldn't win first prize to the question.

Geo

If anyone would know it would be the HGSA. Thanks George!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 28 Oct 2010 7:33 am

George,
What Jim Adams does is take a guitar that he uses to make a resonator model and just puts an ordinary sound hole in it. The the guitar is the same size as a regular resonator guitar.
My guitar has a very mellow sound to it. He lets you pick out the kind of wood you want and the finish you want on it. My guitar has a natural top and dark red sides and back. I even had him jazz up the fret markers a little.
This is his website if you want to take a look see:
www.adamsresonator.com

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 5 Nov 2010 7:05 pm

And the hits just keep on happening!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XI_BEfD ... re=related