1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
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DarrelT
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1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by DarrelT » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:07 pm


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Re: 1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by zhivago » Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:25 am

interesting looking...is it really worth $5.5k?

Im not familiar with these guitars.....
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Re: 1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by mjet » Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:55 am

I think that those were made in Maryland, right?

Here's a website with some more photos:

http://microfrets.homestead.com/guitars.html

I've seen Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) with a few, although not that one.

EDIT: Here's Martin Gore playing one. Note the cool Starcaster-like headstock.

Image
Last edited by Anonymous on Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by zhivago » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:01 am

mjet260 wrote:
Image

ahhh...cool, yeah, I've seen that one before....
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Re: 1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by mjet » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:04 am

Seems they're making some again - in the US$ 1600 range.

http://www.microfrets.com/index.asp
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Re: 1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by Superfuzz » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:22 am

that was the company I didn't recall when we came out with the starcaster thread, I like some of their designs, the tremolo system and the headstock/nut are masterpieces of the '60s engeeniering..
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Re: 1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by Jay » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:12 am

If the story is true and there were that few made, I can see how the guitar could be worth a lot of cash.  So what's the little plastic pickguard at the top above the "f hole" for?  Kinda odd...

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Re: 1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by IPLAYLOUD » Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:13 am

From what I was told, they aren't making them.

They had everything ready to go and then had severe money problems.
The machines were moved OUTSIDE of where the factory was to be and were ruined.
Competition Stripes make them play FASTER.

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Re: 1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by dain » Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:18 am

there was a whole range of orbiters with fm wireless transmitters in them.  they had a little box that you set on your amp.
very ahead of their time.  the tiny pickguard could possibly be a result of that.

but most of the wireless orbiters i've seen actually have a jetsons like antennea that sticks out of the top horn.  this
one doesn't seem to have that.

d.

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Re: 1960's Microfrets Orbiter

Post by dain » Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:21 am

also great pic of martin by the way.  i love how his choice of guitars seems to be driven by whatever matches his
outfit.  i wish more bands would take this approach!  ::)

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