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I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:01 pm
by Tehz_
What's the general consensus on these Res-O-Glass beasts? Are they good players?

I have no experience with these at all, I just think they look unbelievable and I've seen some around for pretty cheap, at least as far as vintage instruments go. Any opinions for the sharing?

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Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:14 pm
by Stereordinary
Ooh ooh!  Me first!  :D

I am the very proud owner of a 1964 Supro White Holiday, not entirely unlike the Belmont that you posted above.  First, some pr0n:

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I also started a facebook page dedicated to them, but I don't know how to post a direct link.  ???  I have lots of pictures in it though.

These guitars play and sound great!  At least mine does.  I've heard of some not being so nice, but I dreamed about getting a Supro for like three years, finally got one and I am not disappointed one bit.  Great neck, great action, solidly built, and TONE!

I'm gonna post you up some more pr0n, just you wait...  8)

Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:18 pm
by Tehz_
The anticipation is killing me  :D

Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:22 pm
by Stereordinary
Start you off with some Supro Belmonts.

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Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:25 pm
by OffYourFace
man, i had a chance to buy a blue Belmont 4 years ago for $499...    oh well.

Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:26 pm
by Stereordinary
And now one of my personal favorites... The Supro Sahara 70!

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Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:28 pm
by Stereordinary
I don't know the official name of this Airline Res-O-Glas guitar, but this is the first one that caught my eye.

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Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:32 pm
by Stereordinary
I'm kind of obsessed with the body style of the ones posted already.  ::)  So much so that I based one of my original guitar designs on it.  Here's my Oceana:

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Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:37 pm
by Stereordinary
But of course, the world of Res-O-Glas is a big one!  :D  And I would have to say that my next favorite style is the National Newports.

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Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:56 am
by parry
stereordinary wrote: Image









:wtf:



Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...





myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy......









:?








I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...  :-*

Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 6:30 am
by Stereordinary
Yeah, that one is quite the eye-catcher.  ::)

Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 9:56 am
by artie
i'm sure most people know, but eastwood makes wood versions of these guitars
http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/

most seem pricey to me for chinese made guitars.. but whatever.. i'm not buying 'em!

Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 10:57 am
by Stereordinary
Those Eastwoods really missed the boat as far as I'm concerned.  I was really excited when I found out that a modern company got the rights to the names and was going to be making repros, but they tweaked the designs a bunch and just sucked all the character out of them.  And yeah, pricey for Chinese/Korean-made guitars.  I've played a few and was really disappointed with the quality.

Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 12:11 pm
by Tehz_
It seems like you can usually get the old originals for less than the new ones. A vintage, American made guitar with the correct single-coil pickups and tons of mojo, or an Asian made repro with humbuckers and no mojo whatsoever? I don't even think it's worth considering.

Re: I've become very interested in old Supro/Valco/Airline guitars...

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 12:28 pm
by Stereordinary
Totally.  Some of the originals sell for more than the Eastwoods (mine cost me $950), but many of them can be had for about the same price.