Gibson has reissued the Les Paul Standard Sunburst in its 1958 form several times, and here’s a nice one that dates to 1988 and carries Tom Holmes pickups.
Here we have a nearly new Furch Rainbow Grand Concert with Alpine Spruce top and Indian Rosewood for the back and sides, built during 2018 in Velké Němčice, south of Brno in the Czech Republic. The Furch Rainbow Grand Concert is a product of the Rainbow series, which allows customers to specify many elements of a guitar by stepping through a ‘guitar configurator’ applet.
Based on the classic square shoulder dreadnoughts that have been dominant since their introduction in the 1930’s, the Collings D2H GVN starts with the standard D2H. This example adds a German spruce top, a “Vintage Now” neck profile and “No Tongue Brace”. The sides, back and headplate are Indian Rosewood, with Mahogany for the body blocks and neck and Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge. Because it’s an D2H, it has Herringbone top purfling and a ‘zipper’ back strip. Tuners are Waverly open-gear models.
The G W Barry Mod C CW is a variation on G.W. Barry’s Concert Model. It has the same body depth and outline but with a quarter inch removed from the entire perimeter — effectively making it a guitar with a 15 1/2 inch wide lower bout. This creates a very comfortable body size, closer to a traditional OM, with a well balanced tone that retains strong bottom end fundamentals.
Here we have a Harald Petersen Model C classical guitar, dated to 1971 – this was two years after Harald’s death, this guitar was completed by his sons. The label indicates this, not bearing Harald’s signature – it reads “Ta PH Petersen”. Following the Hauser style, it pairs a Spruce top with Indian Rosewood for the back,sides, bridge and body binding, with Mahogany for the neck and Ebony for the fingerboard.
Here we’re looking at an unusual guitar, the Dobro Model 66s, a wood bodied, single cone resophonic guitar with round sound holes and square neck. Its unique feature is the finish. The guitar was first given a standard Sunburst, then many extra coats of a tinted lacquer, and then that was sandblasted into a ‘French Scroll’ design. This Dobro Model 66s example dates to 1975 and was built at Huntington Beach, California.
The Fender Jazzmaster 65 is part of the American Vintage series, and this 2014 model is dressed in a custom Ice Blue Metallic with matching headstock! Introduced in 1958, the Jazzmaster was aimed directly at Gibson’s market – jazz players who wanted the extra warmth of a rosewood fingerboard, and lower output and mellower, or less bright, pickups.
The Turner Renaissance RB4 Standard is one of three trim levels for three RB versions – with 4, 5 or 6 strings, and fretted or unfretted. These are a chambered design, the Standard with Cedar top, and Walnut for the sides and back. The bridge is Rosewood with Bone saddle.
Pedro de Miguel refers to Pedro Perez and Miguel Rodriguez, who apprenticed with Ramirez in Madrid, Spain, becoming master craftsmen under Jose Ramirez III. Here we have a 2002 Pedro de Miguel Flamenco Blanca guitar. It is built in a mostly traditional manner, with the Spanish heel construction where the sides slot into the neck. However, it does not use traditional Flamenco pegs, but standard angled classical tuners, and this is a very practical improvement.
The Gibson Super 400 features a large body – 18 inches wide – with a solid, carved Spruce top, Figured Maple sides, solid, carved Figured Maple back and a Maple neck with, at this point, an multi-bound Ebony fingerboard. In 1949, Rosewood was used for Super 400 fingerboards. The bridge is also Ebony. Here, the top is braced with parallel tone bars, but some years had an X brace system.
Introduced in 1954 and intended as a companion to the then-new Les Paul solidbody, the Gibson J160E was one of the first mass production electrified steel string guitars. This model was discontinued in 1979, and is occasionally re-issued. One of the greatest contributors to the success of this model was a 1962 model’s appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, in the hands of one John Lennon. That was The Beatles first US performance, and made all their gear quite popular.
Here is a fantastic Greenfield GF cutaway steel string guitar, built during May 2015 and signed inside the top by Michael Greenfield at his shop in Montreal, Quebec. The Greenfield GF uses the Florentine cutaway Grand Concert body design of the Greenfield G1, with an X-braced Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood for the back and sides, Mahogany for the body blocks and neck, and Ebony for the headplate, asymmetrical bridge and bound fingerboard.
Built from 1996 to 2009, the PRS Swamp Ash Special features a solid Swamp Ash body with the trademark PRS contouring, a 22-fret bolt on neck and a center single coil pickup. Based on a built up, carved top block of Swamp Ash paired with a bolt on Maple neck, the Special is a straightforward model. A pair of humbuckers bracket a Seymour Duncan Vintage Rail single coil format pickup, with a pickup selector, master volume and push/pull master tone control providing coil tap options.
Built from 1959 to 1972, the Gibson ES330 is essentially the same as the 1961 ES-230 Epiphone Casino, a double cutaway, fully hollow model with a pair of P-90 pickups. From a short distance, the Gibson ES330 looks very much like the ES-335 models, but there is a key construction difference in the lack of the center block. The body is otherwise similar, with Laminate Maple for the top, back and sides, with Mahogany for the neck and a bound Indian Rosewood fingerboard.
This Frank Gay 8-Course Renaissance Style lute was built at the Gay Guitars shop in Edmonton, Alberta during 1971. Frank Gay was a prominent player and teacher in Edmonton, and clearly also a highly skilled luthier. His guitars were used by many top level Country artists, including Johnny Cash, Webb Pierce, Faron Young and Hank Snow.
The new Fender American Ultra Jazz Bass in seen here in the new Aged Natural finish, with new body contours, stock noiseless pickups, new electronics, biflex truss rod, and a compound radius fingerboard!
New Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster Maple Neck in seen here in the new Plasma Red Burst finish, with new body contours, stock noiseless pickups, new electronics, biflex truss rod, and a compound radius fingerboard! This versatile, state-of-the-art instrument will inspire you to push your playing to new heights.
Presenting the seventh of eleven new models we have received from Fender, here is the new Fender American Ultra Telecaster Rosewood Board in seen here in the new Texas Tea finish, with new body contours, stock noiseless pickups, new electronics, biflex truss rod, and a compound radius fingerboard!
Here we have the fifth of eleven new models we have received from Fender, the new Fender American Ultra Telecaster Maple Neck in seen here in UltraBurst finish, with new body contours, stock noiseless pickups, new electronics, biflex truss rod, and a compound radius fingerboard!
This is exciting – the third of eleven new models we have from Fender, which we can now show you – the new Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Maple Neck dressed in the new Aged Natural finish, with new body contours, stock noiseless pickups, biflex truss rod and a compound radius fingerboard! The American Ultra Stratocaster features a new unique “Modern D” neck profile with Ultra rolled fingerboard edges for hours of playing comfort.
Here is the new Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Maple Neck dressed in the stunning new Cobra Blue finish, with new body contours, stock noiseless pickups, biflex truss rod and a compound radius fingerboard!
This is exciting – the second of eleven new models we have from Fender, the new Fender American Ultra Stratocaster HSS Rosewood – dressed in the new UltraBurst finish. This instrument features new body contours, stock noiseless pickups, biflex truss rod and a compound radius fingerboard!
This is exciting – the first of eleven new models we have from Fender – the new Fender American Ultra Stratocaster HSS in a blazing Plasma Red Burst. Featuring new body contours, stock noiseless pickups, biflex truss rod and a compound radius fingerboard!
Here is a Douglas Harrison 17 inch Archtop cutaway guitar, built at Harrison’s shop in Toronto, Ontario during 2000. This model is now referred to as a ‘Classic Jazz’ or CJ. This excellent instrument is built in the traditional archtop model, pairing a hand carved, solid Spruce top with a hand carved Flame Maple back.
Here’s an unusual piece to see available – a Stefan Sobell Parlour Brazilian Rosewood guitar, built at Sobell’s Old School shop in Northumberland, UK during January of 2005. Stefan Sobell has built instruments since 1973, his interest sparked by his wife’s Appalachian Dulcimer; he built an instrument to replace his own Portuguese Guitarra, though when completed it was actually a Cittern. That instrument was used in many folk clubs and resulted in orders for more, and turned into a full time occupation. Sobell now builds to order, about ten instruments per year.
The Ramirez Elite is a rare piece, hand built at the Ramirez shop in Madrid in very limited quantities with the finest materials and top quality craftsmanship. Based on the Centenario model that commemorated the hundredth anniversary of Ramirez family guitar building, the Elite uses the same quality of materials and ornamentation. As with many other models, the Ramirez Elite is offered with either a German Spruce (A) or Red Cedar top paired with Madagascar Rosewood for the sides, back, head plate and bridge.
Built from 1981 to 1985, the Hamer Prototype was unique for its time and introduced a number of concepts that are now commonplace on production guitars, and not just on custom builds. Paul Hamer and Jol Dantzig opened Hamer Guitars in Willamette, Illinois in 1973 and began building custom designs based on Explorer and Flying V body shapes, with wild finishes and unusual hardware combinations.
The C F Martin D 76 Bicentennial Limited Edition guitar was built during 1975 and 1976 to commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. The first 200 D 76 Bicentennial models appeared during 1975, with another 1,976 completing the run during 1976. This model is based on the classic D body design, with an Adirondack Spruce top and sides, head plate and three-piece back of Indian Rosewood; the back sections have Herringbone separators. The neck is Mahogany, with Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge.
The Fender American Standard Precision Bass is the current ‘Standard’ model of the bass whose 1951 introduction changed the way music is presented, performed and recorded.
At the time Leo Fender introduced a bass to match the quickly-accepted Telecaster and Esquire models, bass parts were normally played on acoustic, upright basses. For all of their great points, there are a number of limitations to the upright bass; it’s big, fairly heavy, with a limited amount of volume.
The Eastman ER2 El Rey is designed to produce a full archtop sound from a smaller, much lighter body – it is only 14 inches across, a bit bigger than a Gibson Les Paul. Otherwise it has a relatively typical archtop construction – solid, hand carved spruce top, solid and hand carved flame maple back, solid flame maple sides and neck, and ebony for the fingerboard, bridge base, and tailpiece cover.
The Gretsch G6120DSW TV replicates the 1955 and 1956 6120 models, with a lot of typical Gretsch Western motif trim and Western Orange Stain lacquer finish. The very first Gretsch 6120 models were derived from a special order 1954 Streamliner Special, and presented to Chet Atkins as a potential signature model. This guitar featured a 16 inch single cutaway Maple laminate hollow body, and a second DeArmond DynaSonic bridge pickup as the Streamliner had only one pickup
Here we have a new Ibanez AZ2402 Prestige in Ice Blue Metallic – also available in White and Red! This top quality, straightforward guitar uses the best of the best on a proven design. The IBanez AZ2402 is based on a well proven design concept. An Alder body is attached to a Maple neck – in this case, Roasted Maple – and a non-locking trem bridge is installed. At the head, locking tuners with height adjustable posts – the Goto H A P model – help keep things in tune, aided by an oil-impregnated bone nut.
This 2009 Thomas Ribbecke Halfling archtop guitar was built especially for the 2009 Montreal Guitar Show, as an entry into the Red Collection grouping. It’s built with a carved Spruce top, carved Spalted Flame Maple back and matching sides, and Maple neck with an unbound Ebony fingerboard. The neck is a multi-scale with the center of its length being about 26 inches. There’s a large round soundhole on the top located on the upper bass bout next to the fingerboard and Bartolini pickup. Ebony is used for other components including the bridge, pickguard, tailpiece and truss rod cover. Mother of Pearl is used for the headstock Ribbecke and Halfling logos.
The Gibson ES 335 changed many things when introduced in 1958, combining the feedback resistance and sustain of a solidbody with the ’rounder’ tone of an archtop. This has been one of Gibson’s most successful models, and is still in production. Here we’re looking at a Gibson ES 335 variant – the ES 335 DP, indicating that it has double pickups and a plain top.
Built in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, the Avalon Ard Ri A3 330 shows the influence of the company’s history with George Lowden, but also new in-house designs. Lowden Guitars is still operating and producing high quality instruments under the leadership of George Lowden. The original Lowden company was on the verge of folding in 1988 due to weak demand for acoustic guitars, a situation pressuring many builders at the time.
Built in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, the Avalon Ard Ri L2-310C shows the influence of the company’s history with George Lowden, but also new in-house designs. Lowden Guitars is still operating and producing high quality instruments under the leadership of George Lowden. The original Lowden company was on the verge of folding in 1988 due to weak demand for acoustic guitars, a situation pressuring many builders at the time.
This is very cool – a PRS Custom 24 30th Anniversary Model in Trans Emerald finish and with a Flame Maple ’10 Top’, built during 2014 for PRS’s 2015 Anniversary year. This model is based closely on the original Custom 24 construction with a carved Flame Maple top, Mahogany for the body back and neck, and Ebony fingerboard. This Custom 24 30th Anniversary example dates to 2014 and was built at the PRS shop in Stevensville, Maryland. It’s in very good, clean condition with only the slightest wear and one small dent in the back.
The Waterloo Jumbo King looks back to the larger guitars of the American 1940’s, delivering more volume and power for larger audiences and radio broadcasts. Using an X-braced Sitka Spruce top paired with Indian Rosewood for the sides, back and fingerboard, the Waterloo Jumbo King WL-JK IR has a 15.75 inch body width and 5 inch depth. The neck is Mahogany, the Rosewood fingerboard unbound, and the bridge is Ebony with a drop-in bone saddle.
Harkening back to the 1920s and 1930s, the Waterloo WL14 LTR leads the Waterloo line, available with ladder or X bracing and a very thin nitrocellulose lacquer Boot Burst finish.
Waterloo guitars aim to reproduce the sound of depression-era instruments, but are built to the highest standards by people who really know and care about their craft. The outcome is probably as good as these designs can be, which is saying something.
The Anderson Classic T is one of the best expressions of the seminal Fender model, keeping the best elements and improving on the simple, robust and reliable design. Built pairing an American Swamp Ash body with a Maple neck, this Anderson Classic T dates to the afternoon of October 31 2013, and sports a Translucent White finish, as the originals did. Extremely well built, the Classic T also has a contoured heel for easier access to the upper frets.
This fantastic instrument is pre-sold, but we wanted to share it. It’s a brand new Gibson Clapton Firebird, number 100 of just 100 built to re-create Clapton’s 1964 Firebird I as used in Cream. Gibson introduced the Firebird in 1963, initially using neck-through construction – while the neck section is built of several sections of Mahogany separated by Walnut for stability, it extends the full length of the guitar.
The Eastman PG2 has a stunning new design for a full bodied archtop jazz guitar! The Pagelli Signature Series, designed in Switzerland by Claudio and Claudia Pagelli, is handcrafted in the Eastman workshop of premium AAA spruce & deeply flamed maple. The Eastman PG2 Pagelli features a striking ebony tailpiece, ebony finger rest, unique full contact ebony floating bridge with bone saddle insert, Kent Armstrong HJGS6-BK suspended pickup with adjustable pole pieces and pickguard mounted volume & tone controls.
The Backline 734 line and in this post, the Backline 734 Birch pairs a hand-carved Birch Maple body with Roasted Maple for the neck and fingerboard, which is fitted with Stainless Steel fretwire. For hardware, Grover Roto-Matic tuners are at the head, with a Tone Pros tune-o-matic style bridge and stop tailpiece set at the body. For electronics, a pair of Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P90 style pickups feed through a 3-way toggle switch and master volume and tone.
The Backline 734 line and in this post, the Backline 734 Mahogany pairs a hand-carved Mahogany body with a Roasted Maple neck and Indian Rosewood fingerboard fitted with Stainless Steel fretwire. For hardware, Grover Roto-Matic tuners are at the head, with a Tone Pros tune-o-matic style bridge and stop tailpiece set at the body.
This Backline 734 line and in this post, the Backline 734 Maple pairs a hand-carved Big Leaf Maple body with Roasted Maple for the neck and fingerboard, which is fitted with Stainless Steel fretwire. For hardware, Grover Roto-Matic tuners are at the head, with a Tone Pros tune-o-matic style bridge and stop tailpiece set at the body. For electronics, a pair of Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P90 style pickups feed through a 3-way toggle switch and master volume and tone. The output jack is on the side, mounted on an oval plate.
The National Val Pro 82 was the single-pickup version of the ‘Map Body’ Val Pro line, built during 1962 and 1963 by Valco in Chicago, Illinois. National itself began in 1927 with the invention of the Resophonic guitar, but in 1928 the original builders – the Dopyera brothers – left to form Dobro, and in 1932 the Dopyera’s bought a controlling interest in National and merged the two companies.
Here we’re looking at a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom 1974 Reissue in Black, built during 2012 at the Gibson Custom Shop in Memphis, Tennessee. This guitar is in overall very good clean condition, with only light marking from use. The finish is dulling or oxidizing slightly, an expected reaction of a nitrocellulose lacquer finish over time.
The Gibson RD Standard was built in Kalamazoo, Michigan from 1977 to 1979, though some of the Artist models were made as late as 1982. Using Maple as the primary material for the body and neck, Rosewood was used for the Standard fingerboard and Ebony or Maple for the Artist models. The RD Standard has fairly ordinary electronics – a pair of humbuckers, a three way pickup selector and individual volume and tone controls.
Here’s a new Alastair Miller Spanish T style guitar, built with a reclaimed Spanish Cedar body, African Wenge neck, and sporting a deep forest green finish. While new, this guitar features a ‘reliced’ aesthetic. Miller frequently uses reclaimed woods in his guitars, as seen in his successful ‘Barncaster’ models built using timbers from an old barn at a family property. Here, Spanish Cedar lumber has been reworked into a T-style body.
The Gibson Byrdland Florentine Cutaway model has been in production since 1955 though Gibson also offers the original sharp Venetian cutaway. It is based on a thinline version of the classic L5-CES body, but with a short scale length of 23.5 inches, two inches shorter than the L5. The Byrdland was introduced as a custom model for two top Nashville session players, Billy Byrd and Hank Garland.
The Levin 335 M2 was a very popular guitar in Europe, featuring a carved Spruce top, arched Maple back and a pair of deArmond DynaSonic Pickups – just one on the M1 model. Levin also offered the 335 as a fully acoustic model. Levin Instruments was founded in 1900 by Herman Carlson Levin. Levin was born in Sweden, apprenticed with a furniture maker and moved to the United States in 1887. After some carpentry work, he found a position in a guitar factory in 1888 but after three years started an independent company in New York City.
Here’s a very cool instrument – a Paul Beard Resoluxe solidbody resophonic guitar from 2018, with both Fishman Nashville and a Lollar P-90 pickups! A fairly new model for Paul Beard, the Beard Resoluxe pairs a solid Mahogany body with a Mahogany neck, with Ebony for the fingerboard and head plate. A 9.5 inch hand spun biscuit cone occupies the top, and has the Fishman Nashville element on the biscuit.
The Closet Classic Telecaster Pro follows the original Telecaster specifications, but not slavishly. The body is lightweight Ash, the neck is quartersawn Maple, as in the originals. But there are a number of improvements here, including having the truss rod adjuster at the headstock, a new bridge design with a split center saddle allowing better intonation, a 22 fret neck with large ‘6105’ fret wire and Twisted Tele pickups.
The Kammerer Scorpius was Jon Kammerer’s original guitar design. Here built with a carved Cherry body and Maple neck with Ebony fingerboard, these are well made instruments.
Jon Kammerer has been building for over twenty years although he is not a household name. Aside from his innovative custom guitar work, his shop is also built to manufacture components, such as necks, for other builders.
The Norfolk Jasmine comes to us from a new company operating from the Cambridge, Ontario area. Based on a popular single cutaway thinline body, the Norfolk Jasmine offers top quality woods and materials in a well built package. The Jasmine uses a chambered Mahogany body with bookmatched flame Maple cap.
The G W Barry M Body guitar is a very successful and versatile design based on the classic OM introduced by Martin, with a long scale neck on a 000 sized body. G W Barry has been building for decades starting with years for Jean Larrivee, and his skill at not only building but also voicing is evident in this 23-year old M body cutaway model. This particular guitar was recently rebuilt by Barry, with work including a neck reset with fret dress and a neck-off refinish of the top that included a repair to a top crack.
Here we have a Fender Squier JV 1957 Stratocaster Sunburst reissue, built during 1982 for Fender Japan by Fuji-Gen Gakki. This is an excellent instrument from an interesting point in Fender’s history. By the end of the 1970’s Fender, under CBS management, was struggling. Import copies were getting better all the time, which was made very clear to Fender executives touring Japanese factories with a view to doing some production there. At this time, Fender also hired three executives from Yamaha.
Here we haVe a Fender Squier JV 1957 Stratocaster reissue, built during 1982 for Fender Japan by Fuji-Gen Gakki. By the end of the 1970’s Fender, under CBS management, was struggling. Import copies were getting better all the time, which was made very clear to Fender executives touring Japanese factories with a view to doing some production there. At this time, Fender also hired three executives from Yamaha.
Immediately popular particularly with singer-songwriters and carrying a distinctive hand-painted pickguard, the Hummingbird was used on many popular recordings, sometimes to surprising results. For example, The Rolling Stones’ ‘Street Fighting Man’ features a Hummingbird recorded on an overdriven Philips cassette recorder, with Charlie Watts using a portable practice kit. Other recordings, like ‘Angie’, record the Hummingbird more conventionally.
Here’s a lovely Lowden F25 with Cedar and Indian Rosewood built during 2000 at the current Lowden Guitars work shop in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. The F25 is part of Lowden’s Original Series. Lowden Guitars began in 1974 with George Lowden reaching the decision to build professionally. Opening a shop in Groomsport, County Down, Northern Ireland. Orders grew and in 1980 his Swiss distributors sparked a five-year contract to have Lowden guitars built under license by dedicated workers at S.Yairi in Japan as a way of making these models more available.
Here we are looking at a Hofner Gold Label Violin Bass in the 500/1 style during 2015 at the Hofner plant in Hagenau, about 35 km north of Nuremberg, Germany. The iconic violin body is Maple Laminate for feedback rejection, with a zero-fret equipped Maple neck bearing an Indian Rosewood fingerboard. The bridge is Ebony. This is a ‘1962’ style design but with ‘Rugby’ tuners. For electronics, twin “Staple” 511B pickups are installed and spaced normally, at the bridge and neck positions. Controls are classic Hofner, with teacup knobs.
The Guild X170 Manhattan was built at the Guild plant in Westerly, Rhode Island from 1995 until 2001 when Fender relocated the shop to Tacoma, Washington. Conceived as a jazz box, where function is key but classy looks are important, the X-170 Manhattan met all its targets. This Guild X170 Manhattan is in very nice, clean condition and plays really well. Wear is very minor, and the usual first-worn spots – the bass end of the bridge and treble pickups, where one would rest on or touch the plating – don’t show much evidence of use. Fret wear is very light and mostly limited to the first position.
Appearing in 1960 next to the top of the line J-200, the Gibson Hummingbird was Gibson’s first square-shoulder – Martin style – dreadnought guitar.
Built with a body and neck of Mahogany paired with Indian Rosewood for the fingerboard, bridge and head plate, the Martin 000 15M is a punchy, responsive guitar. The Martin ’15’ series indicates that the trim level is fairly low, in particular there is no body or fingerboard binding, and the finish is satin. Mahogany has long been used as an alternative wood for guitar and ukulele tops, and Martin has used it for nearly a century.
This Beard R Model Squareneck was built during 2013 at the Beard shop in scenic Hagerstown, Maryland, is in very good condition and has the Fishman Nashville ‘Jerry Douglas’ pickup installed. This one is ready to go, onstage or on tour! This model features solid Mahogany for the neck and open-soundwell body, and the binding is Curly Maple. The fingerboard is Ebony, with Mother of Pearl for the position markers; the bridge is Maple with an Ebony cap and that covers the woods used.
Here’s something unusual – a Ramirez Conservatorio Cedar top classical guitar, with ‘Fiddle Edge’ construction, Red Cedar top, Indian Rosewood for the back and sides, and SPR style bracing. The Ramirez Conservatorio Cedar Top Concert Classical guitar represents a major development in classical guitar design from Amalia Ramírez, with unique use of ‘fiddle edge’ construction. The Conservatorio uses the same advanced 8 fan brace pattern as the SPR but a unique system for gluing the top and backs to the rims and no internal linings are used!
Here is a lovely item from the past – a Larrivee OO body steel string guitar from 1976 in Toronto, just as The Twelfth Fret opened, with signatures from both Jean Larrivee (on the label) and Tony Duggan-Smith (discreetly engraved in the headstock inlay). At the time this guitar was built, I was just moving to The Twelfth Fret from the late Darryl Williams’ shop in Schomberg, Ontario, as the first Twelfth Fret employee.
The Gibson Les Paul Junior, introduced in 1954 as a single cutaway, single pickup slab body model was Gibson’s lowest price solidbody until the 1959 Melody Maker. This Gibson Les Paul Junior dates to 1959 at the Gibson plant on Parsons Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is in good playing condition, with no breaks or cracks. The 7th fret dot position marker is missing, but can easily be replaced. The original stop-bridge is in the case, and on the guitar a compensated aftermarket bridge is in place.
During the 1980s popular music made new demands on guitarists, and the ‘SuperStrat’, including the Gibson U2 model, became the go-to design for countless musicians. As the name suggests, the ‘SuperStrat’ concept improves on many aspects of the Stratocaster design – particularly in the range of available vibrato systems and pickup options. Many guitars in this genre use locking vibratos, a mix of high-output single coil and humbucking pickups, and wiring that ranges from very simple to rather complex.
The Gibson L5 S is loosely based on the classic, top of the line Gibson L-5 CES arched top, Cutaway Electric Spanish with a full size acoustic body. That model was played by many serious players, who often are basically forgotten as part of a big band, but have included Wes Montgomery, Scotty Moore, Tuck Andress, Pat Martino, Lee Ritenour, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Keith Richards, and Ron Wood.
The Collings 290 DC Custom is, as the name suggests, a custom version of the Collings DC – conceptually similar to the late 1950s Les Paul Special but with humbucking pickups and comfort contours. We can’t recall seeing a Collings guitar that didn’t impress us. This example is no exception. Collings finishes are among the best nitrocellulose lacquer finishes we see – they have definitely mastered this art.
The Taylor T5Z Custom Koa is a slightly smaller version of the very successful Taylor T5. Featuring a figured Koa top, the T5Z Custom aims to cover both acoustic and electric guitar spaces. From its serial number, this Taylor T5z Custom Koa dates to October 5, 2013 and so is one of the earliest T5Z Custom models. This guitar was originally sold by The Twelfth Fret after receiving it as one of the first of the first edition.
G W Barry has been building fine steel strings for some time, and this M-body cutaway dates to 1995 at his shop in Toronto. Built with a Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back sides and headplate, with mahogany for the neck and ebony for the fingerboard and bridge, maple binding and an abalone rosette, this guitar is in very nice condition.
Built at the Gibson Nashville plant, the new Gibson Firebird closely – but not entirely – follows the original construction concepts of the first Firebirds. Most importantly, this is a neck-through design, with the neck and the body built up of a total of five pieces of Mahogany over their length, and four Walnut strips bracketing the center sections. This multi-piece construction is used to provide extra stability over the long section.
ere we have a C F Martin D28, built in Nazareth, Pennsylvania in 1969. 1969 was officially the last year that Martin used Brazilian Rosewood for their Rosewood models, and in 1970 Indian Rosewood was in use. A few guitars were built with the dwindling stocks of Brazilian, eventually coming down to Brazilian being used for the center panel on the three-piece D-35 back. Brazilian Rosewood is used for the sides, back, and head plate.
Built from 1958 to 1966, the Harmony Meteor H70 thinline archtop electric was mass produced in Chicago, and popular with many amateur and rising musicians – even appearing on Rolling Stones stages in the hands of Keith Richards. The Meteor H70 was also available as the Meteor H71 – the same guitar, but with a Natural finish instead of sunburst. The largest difference between the Meteor H70 and models like the Rocket H54 is the use of Spruce laminate for the top instead of Maple. This choice gives the guitar a more complex, warmer tone than the Maple top models.
Here we’re looking at a Gibson Les Paul Custom Sunburst, dating to March 27 1979 and still built at the historic Kalamazoo plant. It has all the characteristics of the Norlin ownership era, from 1970 to 1983. These include a Maple neck rather than Mahogany, a decreased pitch for the headstock, and a volute behind the truss rod adjuster cavity. These changes were intended to reduce the number of broken headstocks.
Based on a Rosewood-capped Basswood body paired with an asymmetrical, oil-finish birds-eye Maple neck, the Ernie Ball MusicMan Axis SuperSport LTD hard tail delivers straight ahead performance. Here we’re looking at a 2008 model Erie Ball MusicMan Axis Super Sport, built in San Luis Opispo, California. This is an LTD or Limited Edition model featuring an Indian Rosewood cap on a comfort contoured Basswood body, a pair of humbuckers and the optional hard tail bridge
The Rainsong H-DR1000LN2T takes the proven standard Dreadnought design, and builds it in a Left Handed model using Carbon Fibre and glass fibre, adding a Fishman Prefix pickup and wrapping it in a Copper Burst finish. Rainsong guitars are built in the USA. Now based in Woodinville, Washington, the company started in Kihei, Maui, Hawaii and builds designs by company founder John Decker.
The Ted Megas Athena is one of a line of custom archtop guitars built by Ted Megas in Portland, Oregon. Like many other custom builders, Megas was long interested in guitar music, playing in various bands around the United States and working other woodworking jobs as necessary.
The Takamine 45th Anniversary model steel string guitar was built in limited quantities during 2007 celebrating Takamine’s sapphire anniversary. Based on the traditional and most popular Dreadnought body shape, the 45th Anniversary pairs a Bearclaw Spruce top with African Rosewood for the back, sides and headplate. The neck is Mahogany, with an Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Inlays are Mother of Pearl, Abalone, and Pāua shell. Gold coloured Gotoh open back, vintage style tuners provide smooth and accurate tuning.
This William Laskin Classical guitar was built during 1994 at Laskin’s shop in Toronto, with a Cedar top and Indian Rosewood back and sides. William Laskin is one of the top luthiers in not only Canada; his work is highly regarded worldwide. Having worked with Jean Larrivee, as did other prominent Canadian builders including David Wren Linda Manzer and G W Barry, Laskin is known for top quality work and incredible engraved inlays.
Built at the De Jonge shop in Chelsea, Quebec during 2013, this Sergei De Jonge 7-string cutaway fine instrument is in exceptional condition with very little wear. It features a cutaway body with spruce top and Indian Rosewood for the back, sides, bridge and headplate, and an ebony fingerboard on a mahogany neck. The original TKL tweed case is included, and a Small Dog insulated case cover is available for $189. CITIES documentation is included in the case.
Here we’re looking at a Tim Scheerhorn L Body Koa square neck resophonic guitar, signed and dated – in two places! – by Tim Scheerhorn himself. The label, visible through the bass sound hole, lists a build date of 11/22/08, or November 22 2008, and bears Tim Scheerhorn’s signature. Those same pieces of information – the date and the signature – are also hand written on the inside of the back.
Here’s an excellent brand new Douglas Harrison CJ 16 custom archtop guitar, in Spruce and Red Maple with a Lollar Gold Foil pickup! The Harrison CJ 16 is a single-cutaway, 16 inch wide archtop with hand-carved top and back plates, as suggested by the ‘CJ’ for ‘Classic Jazz’ name. Top quality Spruce and Red Maple are used for the body, and a three-piece Maple neck carries a Macassar Ebony fingerboard. The body, neck, headstock and pickguard are bound with Roasted Maple, and the bridge and tailpiece are Macassar Ebony.
Here’s a treat – from Stevensville Maryland in 1990, a PRS Signature Limited Edition, number 593 of 1000 – a spectactular guitar in great shape!
Based on a built up, carved top block of Swamp Ash paired with a bolt on Maple neck, the PRS Swamp Ash Special is a straightforward model. A pair of humbuckers bracket a Seymour Duncan Vintage Rail single coil format pickup, with a pickup selector, master volume and push/pull master tone control providing coil tap options. The PRS vintage trem is installed, and at the head there is a set of PRS locking tuners.
This Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo 4 HH bass is built with a Basswood body and Maple neck with Ebony fingerboard, and small acrylic half-moon position markers – nothing listed on CITES schedules, so no documentation is required. The electronics are active, powered by a pair of standard 9 volt batteries, stored in a pair of conveniently rear-mounted holders. This bass is designed to be played in professional situations, and does very well at it.
Introduced in 2003 and still in production, the Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo 5 HH Bass features active electronics for its pair of humbucking pickups. At its core, the Bongo bass draws from the classic, proven bolt-on designs developed during the early 1950s. However, it is considerably more advanced and available in 4, 5 and 6 string versions, all with 24 frets. These are very versatile, reliable basses with a huge range.
Here we have a Richard Model N55, built during 2008 in eastern Quebec, Canada. Richard is Richard Boucher, a cousin of Robin Boucher of Boucher Guitars, and related to Norman Boucher, who built Norman Guitars. This family has a serious interest in guitar building! The Richard Model N55 is based on the classic Dreadnought design, with an Adirondack Spruce top (native to this area of Quebec) and Mahogany for the back, sides, neck, and body blocks.
Here we’ re treated to a Gaetano Vinaccia guitar, dated to 1829 and listed as number 40, built in the Vinaccia shop in Naples. At the time, Italy was not a unified nation, with various states being under control of other neighboring empires. It was not until 1861 that Italy became a unified state under King Victor Emmanuel II. Vinaccia instruments are rare outside of museums. The 190 year old example here was restored in Holland some time ago, with a number of changes to help modernize the guitar and make it playable.
This National Style 1 Tricone has a 12-fret ‘Spanish’ or round neck and dates to 1929, and was built at the National shop in Los Angeles. All of these guitars had 12-fret necks until 1934, at which point the influence of banjo players migrating to guitar prompted an industry shift to 14-fret necks. This guitar is in good condition and is fully playable – it has just been serviced at The Twelfth Fret Repair Shop, with a neck reset, fret dress, setup, brace repair and new cones.
The Gibson ES 150 was one of the earliest production electric guitars, and perhaps the first successful Electric Spanish – as distinct from Electric Hawaiian – guitars. Built from 1936 to 1956, the Gibson ES 150 is full bodied non-cutaway archtop guitar with a solid Spruce top and Mahogany for the back, sides, neck, body blocks and back bracing; the bridge and bound fingerboard are Rosewood, and for the period, it’s expected that the ‘Brazilian’ is silent. Brazilian Rosewood has become exotic and restricted, but at the time it was very common.
William Laskin is very well known for the creativity and quality of his inlay work. Here, a stag or buck – a male deer with antlers is depicted between frets 11 and 18, in a mixture of engraved woods and, it appears, ivory for the antlers. This guitar is old enough that small amounts of ivory were still used, and here appears in the nut, saddle, sliding nut components, and the inlaid antlers.
The body of the Ibanez AAF207 7-String is Maple laminate, as is the case for many professional grade cutaway archtop electrics. On the top, the laminate has an outward layer of Spruce, while it’s Flamed Maple for the sides and back. The neck is a three piece design, with outside layers of Mahogany on a Maple center section, and an Ebony fingerboard with three-piece Abalone and Mother of Pearl position markers. The traditional wooden bridge is Ebony, for both cap and base.
This instrument is an early Valley Arts Custom Pro, in the 7/8th size and 25.75 inch scale format and with the ultra rare interlocking neck joint, built during 1987 at the expanded Valley Arts shop in North Hollywood, California. As was the case for many other early Valley Arts guitars, this example was originally purchased and used regularly by a top-rank professional guitarist for many studio and performance engagements. All of the wear on this guitar comes from pro use.
This Rickenbacker 4001S Bass Burgundy Glo dates to February of 1973 and was built, like all other Rics, at Rickenbacker’s facility in Santa Ana, California. It has clearly been played and used as intended, and is bright, resonant and crisp.
The Ernie Ball Music Man Reflex HH guitar appeared during late 2009 and was built until 2017, when it underwent a number of electronic improvements and became ‘The Game Changer’. Somewhat similar to the Axis line, the Ernie Ball Music Man Reflex HH uses three woods for the body – a Basswood shell, Mahogany tone block, and a Maple cap. The neck is a traditional Maple, with either an integrated Maple fingerboard or a Rosewood slab board.
The Gibson Kel Kroydon line appeared in late 1929 as Gibson sought to make inroads into lower price brackets, but without reducing the value of the Gibson name. The line was discontinued in late 1932 or early 1933. The initial Gibson Kel Kroydon line consisted of two guitar models, two banjos, and two mandolins – plus a set of wooden toys, such as sailboats. The Kel Kroydon guitars are very similar to the Gibson L-2 models, but with reduced decoration, no truss rod, and lighter builds.
The Fender Meteora HH is a new, very cool design from the Fender ‘Alternate Reality’ series, a “limited-edition run of models where multiple Fender design clues are mixed and matched within a single instrument”. This line follows the 2018 ‘Parallel Universe’ series. It can be hard to find a new design that not only works in terms of usability and playability, but also looks good. Fender is definitely delivering on all those fronts with the Fender Meteora HH.
The Gibson J50 Slope Shouldered jumbo model was introduced in 1947 as an ‘upgrade’ to the successful J-45, with a natural finish showing off the higher quality Spruce top. The J-50 was built until 1982, shifting to a square shoulder body design for 1969, and has been reissued from time to time. This is a relatively early Gibson J50, built during 1953 at the Gibson Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Built almost exactly like the iconic J45, this J50 uses Adirondack Spruce for the top and top bracing, with Mahogany for the back, sides, neck, body blocks, linings and back bracing.
Here is a rarity, built only during 1957 and in a quantity of less than 30. While the base model is common, the two pickup Gibson ES125 D is not. Introduced in 1946 as the effects of WW2 wound down, demand rose and materials became available again, the Gibson ES-125 was intended as a student model but has been used by many professionals over the decades. The ES-125 line was discontinued in 1970, though after 1960 or so most of the related models had the ‘T’ or Thinline body that was introduced in 1956.
he Gibson J45 Slope Shouldered dreadnought, or Jumbo, was introduced in 1942 to replace the J-35, which had been built since 1936. It has remained in production ever since, and its rich warm tones make it a great match with a singer. Intended as a ‘working man’s guitar’, the Gibson J43 Slope Shouldered model was very similar to the J-35, but for the most part has stiffer, stronger and taller bracing shifted slightly back from the soundhole and a rounded neck profile.
Here’s a brand new model, the Gibson ES235 Gloss thinline arch top, flat back, solid center block electric in translucent Cherry! This is new for 2019 model from Gibson, and it has plenty going for it. Designed and originally built at the now-closed Gibson Memphis plant, this single cutaway, smaller body guitar is built in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s available in Ebony black, Cherry and Sunburst versions.
Flamenco has very deep roots in Spanish culture and there have been many influential Spanish builders of both and Flamenco and Classical guitars. There are two basic types of Flamenco models, Blanca and Negra – light and dark. Flamenco Blanca guitars are typically built using Cypress for the back and sides, a light, brilliant wood while Flamenco Negra instruments often use Palisandro, more commonly known as Rosewood.
This F Bass Fretless bass uses three woods – Flamed Maple for the neck, Poplar for the wings, and African Blackwood for the fingerboard. It uses a neck-through construction. For hardware, Schaller tuners are at the head, and a Leo Quan Badass bridge with a riser. Electronics are passive and consist of a Aguilar AG4J-HC pickup in the bridge position, paired with a Hi-A (High-Asymmetry) pickup in the neck position. This bass originally shipped with a Seymour Duncan Jazz pickup in the bridge position.
Though unequivocally drawn from the classic Les Paul design and in particular the most desirable 1959 models, the Eastman SB59V is not a slavish copy. Many visual differences are clear, including the shapes of the headstock and cutaway. The body is constructed of a carved, Flame maple top laminated to a one-piece Mahogany slab body. A Mahogany neck with a bound Ebony fingerboard is attached via a longish tenon joint. The neck has a vintage style ‘V’ profile.
The Rick Turner Renaissance RB4 Standard is one of three trim levels for three RB versions – with 4, 5 or 6 strings, and fretted or unfretted. These are a chambered design, the Standard with Cedar top, and Walnut for the sides and back. The bridge is Rosewood with Bone saddle. The neck is Maple with Indian Rosewood fingerboard and a faux-tortoise head plate and ‘R’ logo. This example dates to approximately 2000.
Here’s a fantastic deal on a Collings SJ Maple in new, old stock, shop worn condition – steeply reduced from its original price and advertised here with permission from Collings! The Collings SJ is built with a Sitka Spruce top paired with Maple for the sides, back, and neck. The bridge, head plate and bound fingerboard are Ebony, with Mother of Pearl used for the position markers, headstock decoration and Collings logo. The top bracing is Sitka Spruce and the body blocks, linings and back bracing are Mahogany. The nut and saddle are bone.
This Larson Brothers Maurer 551 dates to the late 1920s and uses an Auditorium sized body, 15 inches wide. As was often the case in the period, there is no serial number and records are scarce, so it is difficult to date exactly. The top is Spruce, the back and sides are Brazilian Rosewood, with a number of old repairs to both. The neck is mahogany, with Ebony used for the fingerboard and bridge. The scale length is a modern 25.6 inches, and the nut width a fairly wide 1.9 inches. The finish base is original but there are a number of touchups and some overspray.
Here we have a Jean Larrivee classical guitar with Cedar top and Indian Rosewood back and sides, built during 1975 at the Toronto shop. At this time, Larrivee and others were working with the late Edgar Monch, who was still in Toronto and the influences are visible on this Hauser style guitar. Jean Larrivee has been one of the more influential Canadian guitar builders. Building his first instruments in his home in Toronto during the late 1960’s, Larrivee worked with and learned from Monch. As his interest, skill and collection of tools and wood increased, he moved to ever-larger quarters and attracted his own trainees.
This Jose Romero Flamenco Blanca guitar was built during 1995 at Romero’s shop in Madrid in the pattern of traditional Flamenco instruments. Jose Romero was born in Baeza (Jaén) during 1954 but his family soon moved to Madrid, and aside from his compulsory military service, has lived and worked there since. In 1968 Romero enrolled as an apprentice with José Ramírez.
Here is a rarity – a Gibson Flying V2, one of 157 shipped during 1979, its first and close to last year of production – it was discontinued in 1982!
The Beltona T105 Tricone was one of the early products of Beltona, founded in the UK by Steve Evans and Bill Johnson in 1990. Respectively a luthier and engineer, Evans and Johnson first sought to build instruments for themselves that were, at the time, not readily available in the UK. In 1998, Beltona moved to New Zealand,
This Standel DB Original square neck dates to perhaps 1963. As discussed below, production of the DB Original guitars began in 1959, but the Standel company didn’t get involved till 1962. The Standel decal could not have gone on this guitar before 1962, and this arrangement lasted for at most three years. While it’s possible that this guitar was built before the Standel deal took effect, we’re placing it around 1963. Construction is typical Dopyera – the bodies are laminate, because the resonator cone is the sound source.
This Guild D40SB was built during 1975 while the company was in Westerly, Rhode Island. It has definitely been used as its maker intended, and has the wear and repairs to show for it! The Guild D40SB is a dreadnought guitar (hence the D) with 40 level materials and appointments and a Sunburst finish top (the SB in the model number). Similar in concept to the Martin D-18, the Guild D40 pairs a Sitka Spruce top with tropical Mahogany for the sides, back, body blocks, back bracing and neck, with Rosewood for the bridge and un-bound fingerboard.
Here is a brand new Douglas Harrison GB Custom with bookmatched, flame Maple top and sunburst finish! Douglas Harrison builds the GB Custom, named after the initial model built for the late Gary Benson, at his shop in Toronto. The GB Custom is a very popular model and shows off Harrison’s skill.
This rare Zemaitis Heart 12 String Superior Plus steel string acoustic guitar is built of Mahogany, with Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge and Rosewood for the headplate. It was built during 1986 at the Zemaitis shop in Chatham, Kent, England. During the 1970s, Tony Zemaitis became one of the most sought after luthiers as English musical royalty discovered his new metal-topped electric guitars. Ron Wood, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and George Harrison all played Zemaitis models at various times.
This Ernie Ball Axis SuperSport dates to October 26 2001 at the MusicMan plant in San Luis Obispo, California and carries a lovely translucent Teal Maple top and matching headstock; as is usually the case for these models, the Basswood back of the body has a gloss Black finish while the neck is treated with a combination of oil and wax. It is in very good clean condition with very light wear.
The Epiphone Zephyr Regent is a full body, 17.375 inches wide, built using Maple laminates for the top, back and sides for feedback resistance. The neck is Mahogany with Rosewood for the wooden bridge and bound fingerboard. The position markers are slotted Mother of Pearl blocks, perhaps looking forward to the markers found on the later Epiphone Howard Roberts model.
Here we’re treated to a Bourgeois Vintage D, dating to May 19 2015 and featuring an Adirondack Spruce top paired with Indian Rosewood for the sides and back. The neck is Mahogany, with a Ziricote head plate, and Ebony is used for the bridge and bound fingerboard. Mother of Pearl is used for the Bourgeois headstock inlay and the snowflake position marker sets. The top is enclosed in an old-style Herringbone inlay, and the back has a ‘Zipper’ center strip. Open gear, nickel plated Waverly tuners – made in Bozeman, Montana, not far from the Gibson Acoustic shop – are at the head.
The Martin D18 Dreadnought appeared in 1931 as banjo players increasingly converted to guitar, and required ever increasing volume levels. For the first three years, the D-18 was built with a 12-fret neck, but the banjo influence quickly added two more frets clear of the body. As a 14-fret dreadnought, the D18 and its sibling the D-28 rapidly became the guitar of choice for country, bluegrass and folk players.
This new HCT-500/1 Violin Bass is made in China, but utilizes the original German made Höfner HS11B ‘Staple-Top’ pick-ups with a control panel that includes 2 volume controls, 2 circuit breakers and Rhythm/Solo switches for volume Boost … like the original issues!
The Twelfth Fret is very pleased to carry a wide range of quality instruments from Alhambra in Spain, ranging from beginner to professional concert grade. At the beginner level is the Z-Nature. The Alhambra Z-Nature guitar is an instrument for beginners, very good quality and very affordable. In this model, the steps of the manufacturing process have been reduced, as well as its overall cost of production while keeping the recognized quality of Alhambra guitars. In addition, it is important to note that the Alhambra Z-Nature, like the rest of the range of Alhambra instruments, is completely made in Spain.
Here we’re looking at something relatively rare – a Harmony guitar and amp set purchased together around 1960, and from their condition, it looks like they were quickly put away. These two pieces, especially the Harmony H54 guitar, are among the cleanest we’ve seen from that period. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish on Harmony guitars from the 1950s and 1960s was thin, and easily damaged with normal use.
The Gretsch Country Club appeared in 1954 as one of Gretsch’s early electric guitars and targeted at the higher end jazz player needing a full size, 17 inch body and solid Spruce top. This model was in production until Gretsch folded in 1981, reappeared between 1995 and 1999 as a US built reissue, and again since 2001 as a pro-line model, Made in Japan by Terada.
From Toronto Luthier Scott Milligan, is a lovely L-00 steel string built with Engelmann spruce and Indian Rosewood, with a very light satin finish. Scott has been studying under various luthiers in Ontario, including sessions at the Canadian School of Lutherie under Jeremy Nicks, and with Josh House near Goderich. This Scott Milligan L-00 was built recently at the Milligan Guitars shop in Toronto. It features an Engelmann spruce top, Indian Rosewood back, sides and rosette, with Mahogany for the neck and Ebony for the fingerboard, headplate, and bridge.
Based on early 1950’s models, the Gretsch G6120 DSW Chet Atkins model is probably the iconic Gretsch with its G brand in the top and ‘Western’ motif inlays. A fully hollow guitar with tone bars and a soundpost for support, the DSW designation indicates that Dyna Sonic pickups are installed, and the Western decorations are used. The Gretsch 6120 was very popular and influential after its prototypes were presented in 1954 to Chet Atkins, then a rising and very respected guitarist, session player and producer.
The Jon Perry CS is a single cutaway, thinline guitar built in Toronto using a Maple top and back set on a Mahogany core. Jon Perry builds in the south western part of downtown Toronto, and builds three basic styles – the CS series, a chambered solidbody creating the impression of a traditional thinline; the AT series, a small bodied archtop guitar; and the S Series of solidbody guitars, often in a ‘T style’ design. He has run his shop since 2014.
This Fender JV series Squier Stratocaster with Rosewood fingerboard and Sunburst finish – the 1962 Reissue model, built by FujiGen-Gakki at Nagano is an Export model in early to mid 1982. This very nice guitar has had its original pickups – which are included and appear to be US made – replaced with a set of EMGs.
This Furlanetto F Bass 6 String dating to 1989 and built using an Ash body is paired with a one-piece Maple neck and Macassar Ebony fingerboard. The bass is wrapped in a very nicely executed Nitrocellulose Lacquer sunburst finish. Hardware is straightforward for a six string bass – there are six Gotoh tuners with mini bodies at the head and a massive, fully adjustable six saddle bridge.
Here we have a Gibson Les Paul Standard Left Handed model, in gloss black! Dating to 1986, this example is in overall good condition with a few bumps. Production of left handed Gibson Les Paul models has never been extensive, but does date back to the late 1950’s. There are at least three known, surviving left handed Les Paul Standards built between 1958 and 1960, which indicates how few were really made.
Exquisitely proportioned and delivering on the promises of its appearance, the Gibson L7 Archtop was the instrument used by many professional players for several decades.Introduced in 1932 as a mid-level but professional quality, the Gibson L7 was a full size 17 inch archtop guitar and was immediately popular. The last non-cutaway model, like this, was made in 1955. In its cutaway form the L7C, it was built until 1972.
The Taylor 812ce 12 Fret Cutaway Steel String is a very good sounding guitar and demonstrates the added projection and sustain from the new V-Class bracing pattern. Starting from the Grand Concert design, a soft Venetian cutaway is added, and the body is built using a Sitka Spruce top paired with traditional Indian Rosewood for the back and sides. The 12-fret neck is Mahogany, with Ebony used for the headplate, bridge, and bound fingerboard.
The C F Martin D-28 has for many decades been one of the benchmarks for acoustic guitars, and the brand-new Martin D-28 Modern Deluxe brings new features to this venerable design. Originally introduced around 1911 as a large model for the Ditson company, the D-28 reappeared in the 1930s and has been in production ever since. There have been a number of changes over the years – notably, Brazilian Rosewood has not been used since the early 1970’s – but the core design is unchanged.
The very first C. F. Martin 000-18 steel string guitar appeared in 1904 with a Maple body, and was built using Mahogany for the body in small numbers until 1926, when 224 were sold. Annual production stayed in the mid-hundreds until 1972, when 650 were built.The C. F. Martin 000-18 string guitar is closely related to the OM or Orchestra Model. They key difference is scale length; the 000 has a 24.9 inch scale length, and the OM a 25.4 inch scale.
Ramirez 1a flamenco guitars are built in the traditional Spanish style at the ‘home’ workshop. The guitar centers on a ‘slipper foot’ neck to body joint, with the sides fitting into slots cut into the heel block. The body pairs a Spruce top with Cypress back and sides – a very light wood in terms of weight and colouring, also providing a lot of brightness to the tone.
Here’s something new from National Resophonic – the T14 N, 14 fret cutaway Tricone with Bright Nickel Finish has arrived!
The Gibson Les Paul Studio line delivers all the core features of a Les Paul at a lower price, and this is largely achieved by reducing decoration. The body and neck are not bound, and the Maple top is a ‘B’ grade, which is a visual rating (and it should be noted that many historic ‘Gold Top’ models also used Maple of this grade). However, there’s no skimping on the hardware.
The National Triolian 12 features a steel body with walnut burst finish and a single cone. Also available with a 14 fret neck, these guitars produce a full, rich and lush vintage tone.The National String Instrument Corporation patented and produced the first resonator instruments in 1927, responding to the constant need for more volume. The first instruments used three small cones – the classic Tricone design.
This Kolya Panhuyzen Professional Classical Guitar built during 1980 at the Panhuyzen shop in Toronto, Canada. Constructed in the traditional Spanish manner with a true ‘slipper’ heel tying the sides into the block, this guitar features a Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany for the neck, Ebony for the fingerboard, and Indian Rosewood for the sides, back, headplate and bridge. The nut and saddle are bone, and the nickel-plated tuning machines are by Reischel, made in Munich, Germany.
Built in 1980 at his Toronto shop, this William Laskin 7-string classical is in excellent condition, and plays well. Showing a clear influence of his work with Jean Larrivee – Laskin was Larrivee’s first apprentice in 1970 – this guitar features a sharp Florentine cutaway body built with German Spruce and Indian Rosewood, with Mahogany for the neck and Ebony for the bridge and fingerboard. The headplate is also Indian Rosewood.
Built in San Luis Obispo California, the National ResoLectric blends the resophonic and solidbody electric guitar concepts,to great success.Very similar in design to the ResoLectric Revolver, the National Resolectric uses the familiar pairing of a flame Maple top on a Mahogany body that’s routed for the resonator and electric pickups, and a bolt-on flame Maple neck with Rosewood fingerboard. The headplate is a faux pearl covering.
Built in San Luis Obispo California, the National Revolver Resolectric blends the resophonic and solidbody electric guitar concepts,to great success.Very similar in design to the ResoLectric, the National Revolver uses a solid Mahogany body that’s routed for the resonator and electric pickups, and a bolt-on Mahogany neck with Rosewood fingerboard. The headplate is a faux pearl covering.
We’ve received a brand new Beard Deco Phonic Model 27 round neck single cone spider guitar, and here it is, straight from the shipping carton! Deco Phonic is a new series from Beard, aiming to re-create the aesthetics of the 1920’s when resophonic guitars were invented.The Beard Deco Phonic Model 27 is the entry point for the Deco Phonic line, and like the other models is available in both round and square neck versions. Construction reflects Beard’s consistently high quality, and the materials are selected to be fully CITES compliant.
For as long as musicians have been travelling, portability has been an issue. Journey Overhead travel guitars combine a number of unique features, some patented, to deliver a professional quality guitar in an easily transported package. It comes with its own carry-on luggage! At The Twelfth Fret we’ve carried Journey Overhead guitars for several years and they have consistently impressed us. Built using carbon fiber, the guitar is delivered with an airline carry-on size bag, is ready to play in under a minute, and can be packed away again in seconds. Most importantly, tone and playability are not sacrificed to gain this capability.
This Unger archtop – an American Dream model, was built with solid hand-carved German Spruce top, hand carved European Flame Maple back, and Flame Maple for the sides and neck. The body is unbound. The neck carries an unbound Ebony fingerboard, and Ebony is also used for the bridge, tailpiece, and pickguard. Schaller tuners are mounted on the head and a Kent Armstrong pickup is mounted to the top in the neck position, and volume and tone controls are mounted beside the lower part of the the treble F-hole.
The wood body National Reso-Phonic M-1 Cutaway Tricone blends the sound of a tricone with the warmth of wood, and has a lighter weight as a bonus.Outfitted with National’s new-alloy cones and aluminum T-bridge, the National M-1 Cutaway uses a mahogany laminate for the body, with solid mahogany for the neck and ebony for the bound fingerboard. The cover-plate is steel, and is hand-painted to match the colour tone of the top woods.
The National Reso Rocket Steel is one of National’s newly designed single cone guitars, incorporating a redesigned cover plate pattern to complement the distinctive Tricone-style grille work. The Bendaway body has the upper bout cut away for easier access to the higher frets.The Reso Rocket Steel is built with a thin, rubbed steel Bendaway body, paired with a neck made of either Maple or Mahogany and a bound Ebony fingerboard, with Mother of Pearl position markers.
The wood body National M-1 Tricone, like its close relative the M-1 Cutaway, blends the unmistakable sound of a tricone with the warmth of wood, and has a lighter weight as a bonus.Outfitted with National’s new-alloy cones and aluminum T-bridge, the National M-1 uses a mahogany laminate for the body, with solid mahogany for the neck and ebony for the bound fingerboard. The cover-plate is steel, and is hand-painted to match the colour tone of the top woods.
The National Reso-Phonic Reso Rocket Wood Body is a newly designed single resonator cutaway guitar incorporating a redesigned coverplate pattern to complement the distinctive Tricone-style grille work. The upper bout of the wood body has been modified with a deep cutaway for easier access to the higher frets.The very first versions of this innovative guitar were named the ‘Wocket’ and ultimately became the Reso Rocket WB.
National NRP B Series guitars replicate the classic 1930’s single cone, metal bodied resophonic models, especially the Duolian, and often carry painted finishes on the steel bodies.Steel body National Guitars are the loudest of the National Resophonic family of guitars. Brash, bright and clanky they are the epitome of the classic Delta Blues guitar.
The Alhambra 10 Premier classical has a bracing design that maximizes its volume and projection.Balanced bass, medium and treble sounds and an incredible sound projection, in modern guitar. A sound with a perfect string height, high enough to contribute to the sound, but at the same time with just the right height to be extremely comfortable, which describes a guitar with incredible sound projection and well-balanced bass, medium and treble.
The Rickenbacker Electro D12 is a rare model. Many of Rickenbacker’s multineck steels were 8-strings per neck, and the D12 has six; the doubleneck with a total of 12 strings gives it its name. Its better known sibling is the D16, with two necks of eight strings each. From their first production in 1940, the Electro D and T models used a combination of a cast metal body and a Bakelite neck, with Lucite fingerboards.
This C.F. Martin D28 built during 1969 at the Martin facility in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In keeping with the time it was built, the Rosewood used for the sides, back and head plate was sourced in Brazil. The top is Sitka Spruce, the neck and body blocks Mahogany, and the fingerboard and bridge are Ebony. Grover Roto-Matic tuners are installed and a new bone saddle and bridge pins have been added. The headstock is the late 1960’s rounded shape, with a relatively slim profile neck. It’s very comfortable to play.
Here we have a wonderful recent Ethan Deutsch Flamenco Blanca guitar, built during 2018 in Seattle, Washington. This outstanding instrument features traditional Flamenco construction, with the goal of being very light and extremely responsive. The top is Engelmann Spruce paired with Cypress for the back and sides. The neck and body blocks are Spanish Cedar (Cedrela Odorata). The fingerboard is Ebony, and the headplate and bridge are Bolivian Rosewood. Bindings are Rosewood.
Alhambra Guitars, in a collaboration with Carlos Piñana, a fabulous young player from Murcia, Spain, have focused on making dramatic improvements to the Flamenco Negra Guitar. The Alhambra 5FP Carlos Piñana Flamenco Guitar and the Alhambra 10FP Carlos Piñana flamenco guitar offers players a fuller, rounder bass response.
The Gibson L-5CES is a big guitar, built for use on the largest bandstands. The 17 inch wide body features a carved Spruce top and a carved Flame Maple back. The sides are matching Flame Maple, and the neck is a five-piece design using three Flame Maple sections with a pair of Walnut strips between the joins. The bridge and bound fingerboard are Ebony.
The Ramirez SP, now the Semi-Professional model, bridges the ‘Estudio’ and ‘Handcraft’ classical guitars and is intended for the accomplished student player about to move to professional status. Like other ‘Estudio’ models, the Semi-Professional is partly built in the city of Madrid at the Ramirez shop – it’s worth noting that Madrid prohibits spray finishing and so that type of finishing is done at shops outside the city limits.
The Ken Roberts model not only has a pickup, the neck is also ‘extended’ to meet the body at the 17th fret, and it has a vibrato tailpiece designed by Doc Kaufman. This exceptionally rare example is in good playing condition. Most people associate the first electric guitars with Leo Fender or the Gibson Les Paul, but the Rickenbacker ‘Frying Pan’ lap steel guitar predated those by almost two decades, appearing in 1931.
The Ramirez Estudio 3 / Studio 3 guitar is the third model and top of the line in the Studio Line from Jose Ramirez guitars. Built with a solid cedar top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides and ebony fretboard. The Estudio 3 / Studio 3 products great volume, body, interplay of tones, balance, roundness and warmth.
The Alhambra Crossover classical CS-LR CW with laminated Rosewood back and sides and a Fishman Prefix pickup option is a lower cost option than the CS-3 CW for the steel string player needing the responsiveness of nylon, with the practicalities of amplification. The Alhambra Crossover CS-LR is an excellent solution to those who are willing to express modern music with a classy touch. With a neck of 48 mm and its fine quality of Cedar top, this instrument has the versatility of giving you a beautiful sound plugged or unplugged.
The Boucher Studio Goose SG-52 uses the traditional square shoulder Dreadnought body design pioneered by Martin in the early 20th century, and which has dominated the acoustic guitar world since the 1950s. The very white, locally harvested AAAA grade Adirondack Red Spruce top, using a hand-scalloped forward shifted X brace system is paired with Indian Rosewood to provide warm, full tone. The neck is South American Mahogany, and Ebony is used for the headplate, fingerboard and bridge. Bindings are Maple with Herringbone purfling.
Sharing many features with the SG-21 and SG-41, the Boucher Studio Goose SG-51 features an Adirondack Spruce top but with Indian Rosewood back and sides. The Studio Goose SG-51 uses the OM Hybrid, or Orchestra Model body shape modified to work better with fingerstyle playing. The very white, locally harvested Adirondack Red Spruce top is paired with Indian Rosewood to provide warm, crisp tone . The neck is South American Mahogany, and Ebony is used for the headplate, fingerboard and bridge. Bindings are Maple with Herringbone purfling.
The Boucher Richard Bennett signature series model is based on the classic Dreadnought body, pairing an Adirondack Spruce top with Brazilian Mahogany for the body and neck. This combination provides a full tone with crisp sparkling highs and fast response. Decoration on the Richard Bennett model is minimal – it focuses on tone and performance.
The Alhambra Z-Nature CW EZ is part of Alhambra’s Student Cutaway line, intended for advancing students who need a cutaway model for modern repertoire, or for players who want the responsiveness of a nylon string guitar with the versatility of a cutaway. The Alhambra 5P is built with quality solid and laminate woods, and here we’re seeing it with a solid Red Cedar top and laminated Mahogany for the sides, back, and solid Rosewood for the headplate and bridge.
The Eastman E10SS evokes the spirit of the classic spruce and mahogany slope shouldered dreadnought guitars popular with countless artists since the late 1930s. This combination of materials and body design delivers a warm, rich tone with plenty of presence and volume. It works very well as an accompaniment to a voice. Starting with the slope-shouldered dreadnought body, the Eastman E10SS pairs an solid Adirondack Spruce top on a solid Mahogany back and side set.
This Gibson Style U Harp Guitar, dating to 1914 and built at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan is not entirely original. The bridge and tailpiece have been replaced though with original style parts. The binding on the fingerboard has been replaced. This fine instrument is fully playable and in overall good condition, with an small amount of finish scuffing considering that it is over a century old. A gig bag is included.
This Alhambra Crossover CS-3 CW E2 is an excellent solution to those who are willing to express modern music with a classy touch. With a neck of 48 mm and its flexibility of fine quality of Cedar top, this instrument has the versatility of giving you a beautiful sound plugged or unplugged. The elegant design of its headstock will allow musicians to display style and project a sound that matches the look of this amazing instrument.
The Ramirez Cut 2 Cut awayguitar offers superior high-quality woods, quite balanced among its tonal range with high stability on its third string. It stands out due to its comfort and how easy it is to change and play with the timbre. Rich in overtones.
The Boucher Studio Goose SG-41 uses the OM Hybrid, or Orchestra Model body shape modified to work better with fingerstyle playing. The very white, locally harvested Adirondack Red Spruce top is paired with Brazilian Mahogany to provide clear, crisp tone and immediate response.
The Boucher Studio Goose SG-21 uses the OM Hybrid, or Orchestra Model body shape modified to work better with fingerstyle playing. The very white, locally harvested Adirondack Red Spruce top is paired with African Bubinga to provide clear, crisp tone and immediate response. The neck is Mahogany, and Ebony is used for the headplate, fingerboard and bridge.
The Boucher Heritage Goose HG-26 is based on the traditional 12 fret, 000 body design, with a slotted peghead to increase string downbearing at the nut without increasing head pitch. This helps add clarity, separation and sustain to open string notes. Here, Boucher has paired the Adirondack Red Spruce with African Bubinga. The neck is Mahogany with Ebony used for the headplate, bridge, and fingerboard.
The new Alhambra Professional Model is easily one of the most well built, beautiful sounding, and affordable hand made classical guitars on the market. Crafted by the same master builders responsible for Alhambra’s “Luthier” models, the Professional is available with a solid Spruce or Cedar top, solid Indian Rosewood back and sides, Ebony fingerboard, and a High C 20th fret.
Gordon O’Brien and Grant MacNeill look at the Alhambra Linea Profesional concert grade classical guitar.
The Ramírez Cut 1 Classical Guitar – cutaway (formerly Ramirez 2N CWE) , is intended for the working guitarist, requiring portability, flexibility and reinforced volume. It is a well balanced guitar, comfortable and with a bright sound, it has quite varied and defined voices. Rich in overtones. It has trebles with a high sustain ideal to create melodies.
This is a new Beard R Model squareneck resophonic custom built for us, an Export model in flame maple and with the Jerry Douglas pickup factory installed. The Beard R Model custom is based on the classic resophonic guitars of the 1930’s. It uses an open soundwell design on a tighter-waisted body (compared to the dreadnought-based Beard E model) and the flame maple version features outstanding wood sets. The R Models feature Paul Beard’s triple spun Legend cone and an Original #14 spider.
Introduced in 2001, the Dean HardTail is one of the less common Dean models. Not as wild as some of Dean Zelinsky’s designs, the HardTail is a straight ahead but classy guitar. Dean Zelinsky founded his company in 1976 in Chicago, Illinois and began producing guitars using inventive and radical shapes. THese often drew on designs such as the Explorer and Flying V, but only as a starting point; they were much more visually arresting in terms of shapes and finishes. Dean guitars quickly became popular with major acts on the world’s largest stages.
The Paquet Esperanto 18 X-braced top is carved Cedar and the guitar is built to allow the top unrestricted vibration. The soft Maple used for the sides, back and neck are from one tree and have been curing since 1998. The sides are double walled, Maple and Pine, with a thickness reaching nearly 1/2 inch, providing stiffness and support for the top and back.
The Ramirez Estudio 1 / Studio 1 classical guitar has a simple construction, which is ideal to those who want to start the adventure of playing the guitar. It has powerful bass tones and is comfortable enough to start learning to play on.
Here’s a cool new bass from Fender’s Player Series – the Fender Player Jaguar Bass. It’s built in Corona, Mexico and is affordably priced new take on a P-J bass with an offset body!
This new design starts with proven principles that deliver reliability and tonal versatility. A one-piece Maple neck is paired with an offset Alder body, and a P-J pickup set – that’s a Precision Bass style pickup, with a Jazz Bass bridge pickup with individual volume and master tone controls- handles the electronics. A fully adjustable Fender bridge and open-gear tuners complete the hardware.
The Alhambra 10fp Flamenco guitar is our top level Alhambra Flamenco Negra instrument. Built with superior grade solid German Spruce top and solid Palisandro or Indian Rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard and bridge, the Alhambra 10fp has a somewhat warmer tone with the low action characteristic of flamenco guitars.
The Artcore Expressionist uses a fully hollow body with arched top and back, with a laminated Spruce top (the ES-175 uses laminate maple here) paired with laminated Flame maple for the back and sides. The neck is a 3-piece Maple and Mahogany design with a bound Ebony fingerboard, and block position markers of Acrylic.
This new bracing style increases dynamic response, sustain and volume and improving harmonic agreement. What ‘Harmonic Agreement’ means is that this bracing helps bring the harmonic overtones produced by various notes into line, causing chords to sound more in tune. Overall the revised Taylor 314ce V-class Grand Auditorium uses the same proven design formula – a solid Sitka Spruce top paired with solid Sapele back and sides, Mahogany for the neck and body blocks, and Ebony for the bridge, headplate, and bound fingerboard.
The Epiphone Granada E444T is much like the Gibson ES-125T, and was built in the Gibson Kalamazoo plant from 1962 to 1970. A non-cutaway thinline archtop, the Granada E444T has a large plastic plate that mounts the controls and a Melody Maker style single coil pickup. The sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer finish has faded nicely, and there is natural checking around the instrument. There are a few small dings and scratches on the back, but otherwise it is in good condition.
Built around 1932, this SS Stewart flat top acoustic guitar was one of thousands made in Chicago as players moved away from banjos and towards guitars. The venerable SS Stewart brand started before the turn of the century as a premiere banjo maker. Following Stewart’s death, the brand changed hands and by the 1930s was built by Chicago Musical Instruments, who also made Harmony and Kay guitars.
The Miller Barncaster is a take on the classic Tele design appearing in a number of variations. This Alastair Miller Barncaster, Rosewood on Barn board model was created in Alastair Miller’s shop using a barnboard core capped with Indian Rosewood and a Cocobolo neck, and custom wound Miller Pig Farmer pickups. The bridge pickup measures 7.4K ohms, the bridge 8.5K ohms. The other components are also top quality CTS pots with vintage era cap, and Switchcraft jack and switch. The pickguard is lacquered Bakelite.
One of the most recognizable and distinctive guitars in the world, the RG is a true Ibanez original. It’s been making its mark on rock n’ roll history for over three decades and continues to evolve and grow as an industry leader. The Ibanez RGA1X6FM — a solid body specifically built to handle the heaviest, most physically demanding music you can conjure up.
Hot-rodded for unparalleled performance, versatile sound and exquisite style, the Charvel San Dimas Pro-Mod Style 1 guitar is packed with classic playability and innovative design elements that have made Charvel a legendary name in high-performance guitars.
The Ramirez 4 NE – Estudio 3 Model Guitarras de Estudio is the top ‘production’ model from Ramírez. Based on the of the 1990s model E series guitars, developed from designs conceived by Jose Ramírez III, Amalia Ramírez created the NE models as an affordably priced, all-solid-wood instrument for the serious student of classical guitar. This instrument features all solid wood construction, an asymmetrical six top-strut fan brace pattern, a unique custom soundhole mosaic rosette and custom Ramírez label. The headstock shape is the standard modern pattern associated with Ramírez guitars.
The Ramirez Estudio 2 / Studio 2 is built with a solid cedar top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides and ebony fretboard. A great guitar for advanced students and professionals looking for the legendary Ramirez sound. The Ramirez Studio 2 Classical guitar is a high-class and well-balanced guitar. It has a good sustain that allows it to sing easily and with a wide variety of overtones.
Built from 1932 to 1971, the Gibson L-50 was a straightforward, non-cutaway archtop guitar with few frills, and until 1935 was most often a round-hole archtop. It is built using a 16 inch wide arched Maple laminate back and arched solid Spruce top, braced with parallel tone bars and bound top and back. The neck is Mahogany with a bound Rosewood fingerboard. The headstock bears a Gibson decal and Kluson Deluxe strip tuners.
The Alhambra 3f Flamenco guitar is the perfect entry level Flamenco instrument. Built with a solid German Spruce top and laminated Sycamore back and sides, mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard and bridge, the Alhambra 3f has the bright tone and low action characteristic of flamenco guitars.
The Gretsch ’59 Silver Jet is a very cool guitar, with all the late-50’s trappings – Bigsby, TV Jones Classic Filter’Tron based pickups, and a standout silver sparkle finish! The Gretsch Jet is an under-rated guitar, but has appeared on many hit recordings. Chet Atkins used one on many classic recordings, and the first few Beatles albums feature George Harrison with his Jet.
The Fender Strat-Tele Hybrid was the first instrument from the new limited edition Parallel Universe collection, melding together the best parts of two or more guitars. This great guitar uses a slightly modified Ash Telecaster body – adding comfort conours – and adds a Strat type Maple neck, and Strat type hardware.
The Alhambra 5P CW ZE5 is part of the Alhambra’s Conservatory line, intended for semi-professional players and advanced students who need a cutaway model. Here, we’re seeing a 5P CW ZE5, the Z meaning Left Handed and with a Fishman Prefix Blend dual source pickup system!
The Alhambra 5P CW ZE2 is part of the Alhambra’s Conservatory line, intended for semi-professional players and advanced students who need a cutaway model. Here, we’re seeing a 5P CW ZE2, the Z meaning Left Handed and with a Fishman Prefix Pro Blend pickup system!
A Conservatory series model, the Alhambra 7FC ZT is a traditionally built Flamenco Blanca model, with German Spruce top paired with Cypress back and sides. As a Z, it’s Left Handed! The Spanish-style neck is Mahogany, with an Ebony stiffener and Ebony fingerboard. The bridge and headplate are Indian Rosewood.
The Alhambra 7P CW is part of the Alhambra’s Conservatory line, intended for semi-professional players and advanced students who need a cutaway model. Here, we’re seeing a 7P CW Z, the Z meaning Left Handed! The Alhambra 7P is built with solid woods, and here we’re seeing it with a German Spruce top and Indian Rosewood – Palisandro in Spanish, hence the 7P designation- uysfor the sides, back, headplate and bridge.
This Roosebeck Renaissance lute is a 6 course model, featuring a bowl constructed of 25 fluted walnut staves, and with a 600mm scale length. The top is Spruce, while the neck, bowl, nut, bridge, and end pin are built of Walnut, The peg box is Walnut and Lacewood. The frets are formed in the traditional manner – tied on – but are nylon line (guitar string) rather than gut.
This Martin D-18 dates to 1965, and based on the serial number ranking, possibly in late May or June. Martin built 7,404 guitars that year, and this was the 3,069th. It is in overall good condition, and has had a number of necessary repairs over the years. It has had its neck reset, as almost any guitar of this age would require, the pickguard has been reglued, and the top has a cleated crack from the bridge to the tailpiece.
The Guitarra del Tiempo was created to commemorate one hundred forty years of peerless Ramirez design and construction. This guitar features a newly-designed enhanced top-brace system that delivers articulate noting and full-bodied tone. The Ramírez Guitarra del Tiempo’s ample volume and reactive dynamics will satisfy the most demanding guitarist.
The National Style O 14-fret model dates back to the early days of Resophonic guitars, as banjo players migrated to guitar and wanted access to more fret. The 14-fret to the body Style O was introduced in 1935 by the National Stringed Instrument Corporation. It came with either the Traditional Sieve pattern cover plate or the newly introduced Chicken Foot cover plate. in 1935 this guitar had a slotted headstock with a decal.
The Taylor 914ce V-Class is a spectacular guitar, delivering top shelf performance in a beautifully crafted package. Pairing Sitka Spruce with Indian Rosewood for the sides and back, and Mahogany with Ebony for the bound fingerboard, headplate and body binding, the Taylor 914ce V-Class also sports the new Ascension inlay pattern, plus soundhole and body outlines, in a Paua and Mother of Pearl. For added comfort, the lower bass bout features a Laskin-style armrest, using Ebony.
Beyond the TrueTone name, this is a Kay K537 model, with an arched top and back body made of laminated Maple, a bolt on Maple neck with bound Rosewood fingerboard and brass frets, floating Rosewood bridge, trapeze tailpiece, and Kluson Deluxe single-line tuners. The original pickguard is intact and included.
Here we have a Gibson L-48 Archtop built during 1952 at the historic Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Its tuners and tailpiece have been replaced, and it has a newer hard shell case, but otherwise it is in original condition with no sign of repairs. The top is solid Spruce, possibly Adirondack, with Mahogany sides and an arched laminate Maple back
The new Gretsch G5622T Electromatic® Center Block Double-Cut with Bigsby® in a Georgia Green metallic finish, sporting Super Hilo’Tron™ pickups features a chambered spruce center block for dynamic resonance, high gain power and lightweight comfort. As part of the Electromatic line, the Gretsch G5622T is built in Korea by Samick, with great results. The build quality, fit and finish and fretwork are all top notch.
The Alhambra Menguel y Margarit Series C Concert Classical Guitar, built by master luthiers Jose Menguel and Javier Margarit, feature lattice braced tops and French Polish finish, with the highest quality materials used throughout. Two versions are offered by The Twelfth Fret, with Red Cedar or European Spruce for the top. The Alhambra site lists only the Cedar version. Lattice bracing is a relatively recent development, allowing greater stiffness from a thinner, highly responsive top.
The new 2019 Gibson Les Paul Standard features the popular asymmetrical Slim Taper neck profile with Ultra-Modern weight relief for increased comfort and playability. Impeccable looks are highlighted by the powerful tonewood combination of mahogany back and carved maple AAA figured top.
The Alhambra 7P CW Cutaway Classical is Alhambra’s 7P advanced Student Model fitted with with a cutaway and Fishman Prefix Premium Blender system. This model’s full name is officially 7 P CW E (x), where the (x) is a number representing exactly which Fishman pickup system is installed. Currently, the numbers for pickup systems have been 2, 3 and 5. This is a level 7 guitar, with Rosewood back and sides – represented by the P for the Spanish word for Rosewood, Palisandro.
Introduced in 1958, the Gibson ES-335 was one of the most significant guitar innovations and examples like this 1961 dot neck model are rare. Aimed at jazz players needing to play on ever-louder stages, the ES-335 had to provide arch-top tonality with feedback resistance. This wonderful example dates to 1961 and was built at the historic Kalamazoo, Michigan Gibson plant. It is a TDC model – Thin body, Dual pickup, Cherry finish.
This Collings OM1 A Julian Lage signature model, using the A for Adirondack Spruce top option, is an exceptional guitar and was the last collaboration by Bill Collings before his death in 2017. Based on Lange’s original 1939 000-18, the Collings OM1-JL uses traditional materials – spruce top, mahogany back, sides and neck, and ebony for the fingerboard, headplate and bridge. The nut and saddle are bone. The tuners are by Waverly, and work very well. On this guitar, the neck is carved to match Lange’s.
This Gretsch G6112TCB-WF Limited Edition Falcon Jr. in Vintage White, is a great little guitar and is a new model. Blending influences from three sources – the classic Gretsch White Falcon, the Jet body design, and the new Gretsch Players models. Aside from being very flashy, this is a great playing and sounding guitar.
Every once in a while, something built as a promotional item for an industry trade show really takes off, gets more intention than expected and is put into production. This was the case with the 1954 Gretsch White Falcon, intended to show off the elegance and quality of the Gretsch electric archtop line at the 1954 NAMM trade show in California.
The Alhambra 5P uses traditional Spanish construction methods, tying the body and neck together. This model features full body and scale size, Cedar or Spruce top, Laminate Rosewood back, sides, solid Rosewood bridge and headplate, an Ebony-reinforced Mahogany neck with Ebony for the fingerboard. The use of laminate Rosewood for the back and sides increases stability for the guitar in the situations a student will encounter, without sacrificing much tone.
The Collings D2H square-shouldered 14-fret dreadnought is the based on most popular steel-string acoustic guitar body shape in the world. The Collings version combines impeccable craftsmanship, great looks and a tone tailor suited for hard strummers and bluegrass flatpickers. Collings build quality is exceptional – it’s hard to imagine how much better built or finished an instrument could be.
This new model Gibson Modern Double Cut Standard, draws from the earlier double cut designs that other brands successfully copied – is built at the Gibson shop in Nashville, Tennessee. The traditional elements are all here – the mahogany body and neck, the body with a carved figured maple cap, the neck with a bound rosewood fingerboard and pearloid trapezoidal markers, ’57 Classic humbucking pickups with tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece, and Grover Roto-Matic tuners.
The Mahogany-bodied National ResoRocket WB combines the lovely sonority of a wooden body in a Bendaway single-cone instrument to create a unique National guitar.
The Schecter PT Apocalypse clearly draws from one of the most modified and modifiable instrument designs, the Fender Telecaster. Thousands of players have modified Teles to suit their own needs, and that sparked an entire industry in after-market parts. David Schecter was part of that original wave of parts suppliers, providing custom necks, bodies, bridges and other parts. This is not just a hot guitar, it’s very well thought out and well built and could well turn out to be as extremely versatile as the originals.
Here, we have a Bourgeois Aged Tone (AT) Mahogany D, built during 2013 at the Lewiston, Maine shop pairing an Adirondack Spruce top with tropical Mahogany for the back, sides and neck, with Ebony for the bridge and unbound fingerboard. The head plate is Indian Rosewood and carries a Bourgeois logo in Mother of Pearl, and the tail wedge is Ziricote. Waverly open gear tuning machines are the only metal parts. Fossilized mammoth ivory is used for the nut and saddle. Hot Hide Glue is used in the construction, which contributes to the ‘Vintage’ tone and also makes certain repairs much easier.
The Alhambra model 7P classical guitar is probably our most popular model for the serious student of the classical idiom. With its all solid wood construction, this instrument will develop and grow with you as your skills, technique and repertoire expand. The solid bookmatched spruce top on this instrument gives excellent note definition and interesting overtone series while the rosewood back and sides impart a warm foundation for the note fundamental and a golden overall tonality.
The Gibson Firebird Studio 2017 T is a new version of the ‘reverse’ body Firebird, using set neck construction and standard humbucking pickups. Available in Pelham Blue and Vintage Burst, this is a great alternative to an SG. The first Firebirds appeared in 1963 in the ‘Reverse’ body shape – referring to the lower, treble cutaway ‘horn’ being longer than the usual bass side, and with neck-through construction.
The Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder with Floyd Rose is a purpose built guitar – shredding! It’s got everything that a shredding guitar basically needs, hot pickups, full access to the frets, and a locking trem system.
The Gibson ES-335TD – Two pickup, Double cutaway – was a hit from its appearance in the late 1950. In one stroke it combined the best of solidbody and archtop guitars in a classy package.
The GS Mini-e Koa is built for tone, playability, portability, and durability. The top is solid Koa, but the sides and back are a 3-layer Koa laminate with a Poplar core, and this will help keep it stable in the varied temperature and humidity conditions guitars of this type are often subjected to. The neck is Sapele, with Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge, and the headstock has an overlay of Copaifera wood.
The Alhambra 7fc Flamenco guitar is our mid-level Alhambra Flamenco instrument. Built in the traditional manner with a solid German Spruce top and solid Cypress back and sides, mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard and bridge, the Alhambra 7fc has the bright tone and low action characteristic of flamenco guitars. Golpeadors, or tap plates, are installed as stock. This is a full scale instrument, with a 650m or 25.6 inch scale length and 52mm or 2.04 inch nut width.
The “Del Tiempo” Guitar celebrates 135 years of the historic “Casa Ramírez” established by José Ramírez I – in 1882; currently enjoying its fifth generation of Ramirez family ownership. Designed by Maestro-Luthier Amalia Ramírez, the Del Tiempo is a continuation of the esteemed 130 Años model. Typical of all Ramirez guitars, the classic “Spanish sound” is immediately apparent; full bass response, plenty of volume and warm, sensitive trebles with good balance through the entire range.
Continuing our Off The MAP sale – a new, old stock Taylor 310ce from 2013, with cutaway Dreadnought body, Spruce top, Sapele back and sides, full warranties and a huge discount.
The Alhambra 10fc Flamenco guitar is our top-level Alhambra Flamenco Blanca instrument. Built in the traditional manner with superior grade solid German Spruce top and solid Cypress back and sides, mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard and bridge, the Alhambra 10fc has the bright tone and low action characteristic of flamenco guitars. Golpeadores, or tap plates, are installed as stock. This is a professional flamenco guitar for those looking for the maximum quality at a reasonable price. Guided by traditional design concepts.
Sale! This Taylor 814ce using Brazilian Rosewood from late 2015, with full warranties and at a significant discount. , Brazilian Rosewood was regarded as the ultimate material for guitar bodies, delivering a warm, richly complex overtone structure with plenty of power. Eventually, overharvesting led to embargoes. It’s now rare to see any new guitars built with Brazilian Rosewood, due to heavy restrictions resulting from necessary conservation efforts. Many alternate materials are now being commonly used.
Off The MAP Taylor Sale! Here is a new, old stock Taylor 816ce from late 2014, with Spruce top, Rosewood back and sides, full warranties and at a significant discount. Slightly bigger than Taylor’s Grand Auditorium body style, the Grand Symphony 816ce yields a powerful and rich sound without sacrificing bell-like articulation. It makes a potent strummer, and dynamic finger stylists will enjoy the thick, full-bodied character of the notes.
Stan Rogers created a legacy of songs that celebrate our country and the spirit of its people. His musical and lyrical craftsmanship made him a songwriter for the ages. His untimely passing in a tragic airline disaster ripped a page out of our young countries cultural fabric far too soon – but, his songs live on and will never be forgotten.
The Ramirez SPR classical guitar is based on the Ramirez SP model designed by Amalia Ramirez in 2002 and fits between the Studio and Professional models. The SPR guitar is partly built at the Ramírez workshop, where, once completed, it is carefully reviewed, adjusted and certified. The Ramirez SPR classical guitar features a lovely new rosette designed by Amalia Ramírez and a ‘historic’ label in the style of the labels seen in pre-1960s era Ramirez guitars.
The Alhambra 10FP Carlos Pinana Flamenco Negra guitar, a recent model from Alhambra guitars in the eastern part of Spain. Many contemporary Flamenco players find they need a guitar that offers a fuller and rounder bass response, as well as the traditional treble-clarity and power one expects in a traditional Flamenco guitar. To this end we have seen an increasing number of Flamenco Guitars built with dark coloured Rosewood back and sides, commonly called Flamenco Negra guitars.
OM’ stands for “Orchestra Model,” but 80 years after this body shape was first designed it has become the most popular 14-fret model with fingerstyle guitar soloists who choose to play on steel strings. Yet flatpickers also find it appealing, and when the graceful cutaway is added these OMs are often used by lead players who routinely explore all 20 frets much as they would on an electric guitar. The compact body shape makes the Collings OM equally easy to handle onstage or when sitting on the couch, and the relatively shallow body (barely over 4 inches deep) results in balanced tone and an immediate response.”
This Collings OM2H-T Traditional Series OM body guitar provides an excellent tonal balance in a reasonably sized body. As with every Collings we’ve ever seen, this is an exceptionally well built and finished guitar, using top quality woods and an obsessive attention to detail. The Collings OM2H-T pairs a Sitka Spruce top with Indian Rosewood back, sides and headplate, Honduran Mahogany neck with Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge.
The Collings D2H is an interpretation of the classic Dreadnought body steel string guitar and effectively illustrates just how good that design can sound. Built in Austin, Texas the D2H features a Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides, Honduran Mahogany neck and Ebony fingerboard and bridge. We’ve received three new Collings guitars, this D2H among them. It is a stunning guitar. Though new and unplayed, it has incredible tonal complexity with excellent balance across the spectrum.
The Martin M-36 uses the fairly new ‘M Body’ design, which using Martin’s ‘O’ sizing is an OOOO, or quadruple O size. Outside of the D Dreadnought and J Jumbo models, this is the largest body Martin uses and it provides a full, even tone with lots of volume.
Fairly new on the scene, Relish Swiss guitars are designed built in Switzerland, a little northwest of Lucerne. They are innovative in both design and choice of non-traditional materials and assembly methods.
The Ibanez AZ2402 Prestige, part of the new AZ line, again demonstrates the progression of Ibanez towards top quality instruments. This professional-grade guitar features a very nicely contoured Alder body, Roasted Maple neck, Stainless Steel frets, with Gotoh and Seymour Duncan hardware. We have been fans of Ibanez guitars for many years, and are very pleased to carry these new models. Seen here in the Tri-Fade Burst Flat finish, the Ibanez AZ2402 Prestige is also available in Ice Blue Metallic. The original molded hard-shell case is included.
SPECIAL Price – – The Ramirez 130 Años classical guitar is based on the 1990s model E series guitars, developed from designs conceived by Jose Ramírez III. Amalia Ramírez created the 130 Años guitar to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Ramírez workshop in Madrid. These instruments feature all solid wood construction, an asymmetrical 6 top-strut fan brace pattern, a unique custom soundhole mosaic rosette and custom Ramírez label. The headstock shape is the standard modern pattern associated with Ramírez guitars.
New from Paul Beard Guitars in Hagerstown Maryland, the Beard Deco Phonic Model 27 square neck evokes the Art Deco stylings of the late 1920s when resophonic guitars were introduced. Using a classic single-resonator design, the Model 27 uses Finnish Birch laminates for the body, solid maple for the neck, and Morado (also called Pau Ferro) for the 25 inch scale fingerboard, and ebony / maple bridge inserts. On the Model 27, the top is bound. These wood choices make the guitar completely CITIES compliant.
Classic timeless styling. The Huss & Dalton TOM-R combines traditional flat-top construction with the red spruce bracing used in all Huss & Daltons. This guitar is especially suited for finger-style players or flatpickers with a lighter touch, yet holds up to vigorous strumming when the performance becomes more intense. The even response and airy, shimmery qualities the OM has always been known for are maintained and expanded on in the Huss & Dalton TOM-R.
Here’s a rare bird – from 1983, a Fender Stratocaster Elite in sunburst. This model was built only in 1983 and 1984, and introduced a number of new features and hardware pieces. Most visible of these are the short-lived FreeFlyte knife-edge trem, and the pushbutton pickup selectors. New pickups were installed, and the output jack went on the side – in this case, a Neutrix locking jack. With the three pickup switches, all pickup combinations are available. Not so immediately apparent is the routing. From the top, this guitar looks very much like a Stratocaster. But if you turn it over, you see that there is no cover, or route, for the trem springs, just a small plate covering access to the output jack wiring.
We’ve just taken delivery of a brand new, new model National Resophonic T-14 Cutaway Tricone in a new finish – Weathered Steel. The official model number is ‘T-14WS’, and it’s a slim, steel bodied, three cone resophonic guitar with a 14-fret neck. And at under eight pounds, it weighs less than many solid body electrics! The T-14 Cutaway Tricone is full-scale guitar, at 25.66 inches. This requires a bit more tension on the strings and the cones, which can result in increased volume.
Built in the Dana Bourgeois shop in Lewiston, Maine, as the first in a limited edition run of fifteen guitars, this Bourgeois Piccolo Parlor Guitar, is a modern example of the style. It uses top quality materials, is built and finished extremely well, as standard for all Bourgeois instruments.
We’ve received a brand-new National Reso-Phonic Pioneer RP1 semi-hollow electric in a fabulous Chipped Ivory finish! These are great guitars with unmistakable tone and the solid build quality expected from a National Reso-Phonic guitar. The neck is maple with ebony fingerboard, and the body is semi-hollow finished steel. The Lollar P-90 in the neck position provides a warm, fat tone and the piezo element in the bridge accurately reproduces the resonator tone. Active circuity rounds it out.
The José Ramírez Auditorio 1a Professional Double-Top Guitar is based on the famous Ramírez 1a Traditional model with one remarkable difference: it is fitted with a Cedar “double-top”. Master-Luthier Amalia Ramírez has been working with double tops for several years. She has been determined to incorporate this 21st century concept into a new model of Ramírez guitar. After a great deal of experimentation she has perfected the design and announced this new model to the public for 2010. Double-top construction is growing in popularity as luthiers around the world adapt this modern technology to their guitars. This unique construction allows the tops to be much thinner than conventional tops.
The Ramírez FL-1 Flamenco model is the top “production” Flamenco model from Ramirez. Based on the professional 1a F656-A model developed by Jose Ramirez III, Amalia Ramirez created the FL-1 model as an affordably priced, all-solid-wood instrument for the Flamenco guitarist. This instrument features all solid wood construction. AAA German Spruce top and Cypress-wood back and sides fitted to a Spanish Cedar neck. The top is fitted with a standard Golpé tap plate to protect the finish.
The Republic Highway 61 has a single cone resonator, 12 inch wide body – around the size of a Les Paul, and has a 25 inch scale length with 1 13/16 inch nut width. The body sports lattice soundholes like those on a Tricone model, so there’s lots of space for air to move. These sound good, and the smaller size makes them a lot of fun, and easy to play.
Here’s a wonderful piece of Canadian music history – a very good condition Greenfield Hawaiian Style 2 lap style guitar, built in Edmonton Alberta and dated to April 1930.
The concert-grade Ramirez Traditional Professional 1a Model is the “benchmark guitar” for tone and quality for Maestros, performers and Master-Luthiers world-wide. Considered by many to be the Ultimate Concert guitar, the traditional is available in Red Cedar top and by special order in German Spruce top. The Ramirez 1a Professional is built with Indian Rosewood back and sides. We also offer it in artist-grade Madagascar Rosewood back and sides. Unique to the Traditional model, the sides are cypress-wood lined in order to make the treble harmonic overtones more warm and lush-sounding. All of our 1a Traditional models are 650 mm scale length.
The Twelfth Fret is very pleased to carry a wide range of quality instruments from Alhambra in Spain, ranging from beginner to professional concert grade. Their entry to the world of Flamenco is the model 2F. The Alhambra Model 2F Flamenco guitar features a Solid Red Cedar top, with Sycamore for the sides and back. The neck is Mahogany with a fingerboard of Indian Rosewood. The body is bound on the top and back, and good quality nickel plated tuning machines are installed. A hard-shell Everest case, made in Canada, is included.
G W Barry, like many other of the current top shelf Canadian luthiers, apprenticed in Jean Larrivee’s shop and this shows in the careful selection of materials and quality of construction.
Ramírez Model 1a C-650 Traditional Spruce Concert Classical Guitar is a magnificent sounding guitar with a German spruce top, Indian rosewood back- More►
Coming to you straight from the 60’s, here’s a vintage 30 inch scale, solid body Vox V232 Violin Bass, made by EKO in Italy during 1966! In reaction to the popularity of the Hofner Beatle Bass but wanting to reduce feedback, Vox had these solid-body basses made and they were produced only during 1966.
The Larrivee D-40 Legacy / OM-40 LEGACY series is a revolutionary new guitar from Larrivee. This new model born from years of research and testing features Jean Larrivee’s first new bracing pattern in over 46 years. The new “Scalloped Parabolic Hybrid” bracing system perfectly merges the strength, tonal balance, and clarity of Larrivee bracing, with the Bass response, depth, and volume you’d expect from a vintage dreadnaught.
The Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic Thinline Archtop Electric is a semi hollow, dual pickup, 22 fret electric thinline guitar, featuring arched top and flat back, bent sides, gold plated hardware and a 648mm (25.5 inch) scale.
With the Starplayer TV Phonic in an all-over bright Venetian White we are continuing our vision of truly independent hardware design. As the first model in our Starplayer TV line it features our new spectacular ‘Phonico’ pickup covers and the 4-way rotary pickup selector placed at the cutaway.
Today we are looking at a wonderful new guitar from the C F Martin Custom Shop – a 1947 D-28 built with Guatemalan rosewood and Sitka spruce top. This guitar was built during 2017 to specifications provided by The Twelfth Fret’s Grant MacNeill during his visit to the Martin facility.
We’ve just received a set of brand-new redesigned ’18’ models with pre-war features included, including this C. F. Martin 000-18. The 000-18 is one of Martin’s most successful models after its Dreadnought line, and delivers a full, evenly balanced tone ideal for fingerstyle players.
This new Gibson Firebird T Vintage Sunburst – The Twelfth Fret is one of the best renditions of the model that I’ve seen, with great build quality and changes to the hardware that improve the instrument as a whole.
The very first versions of the Firebird appeared in 1963 and used a neck-through-body design. In this design, the neck was one piece of wood extending the full length of the instrument.
The Waterloo WL-14 is built by Collings guitars at their shop in Austin, to re-create some of the guitars from the American Depression era of the 1930s.
This C F Martin Custom Shop 00-14F Flame Koa was built using woods and specifications selected by Grant MacNeill during a tour of the Martin plant during May 2017. For this guitar, Grant selected a 00 body design and a flamed Koa back and side Set #6. The torrefied top was specifically chosen from a large pile by Grant, with wide grain to ensure that it was responsive for a light finger picking style.
The first Turner Model 1 guitar was built for Lindsay Buckingham at the height of Fleetwood Mac’s career, and it appeared on massive hits. Using a mahogany body with maple neck and a unique rotatable pickup, this guitar was based on an 1835 Stauffer body shape. Rick Turner has founded a number of companies, including Alembic, worked for companies like Gibson and run his own shop.
The Duesenberg Paloma is an eye-catching, versatile and very capable instrument, and this one comes with a Red-Sparkle finish!
Today we are featuring a recently commissioned piece, a custom maple body 12 string guitar, from the workshop of G.W. Barry
The Godin Acousticaster is the natural progression of an original idea from Chet Atkins, who needed an acoustic guitar that wouldn’t feed back at stage volumes. The first models were the Gibson Chet Atkins Cutaway Electric Classical, which used a heavy, chambered mahogany body with spruce top and a six-element piezo bridge pickup.
The Gibson SJN appeared in 1956 as a natural top version of the Southern Jumbo, with the model name ‘Country Western’. In 1962 square shoulders arrived.
In the fall of 2016, I visited the Alhambra factory in the beautiful Spanish town of Muro del Alcoy in Alicante. The luthiers and staff of this ultra-modern facility made us feel very welcome and we really enjoyed our visit. As you know, 2017 celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Twelfth Fret. So, what a better way to commemorate this milestone, than with the production of a 40th anniversary guitar. I’m very pleased to introduce to you The Twelfth Fret
The Republic Tricone Style 200 is a reproduction of the original 1920s National tricone, built as the guitarist’s entry into the volume wars.
During my recent Martin factory tour I was offered my choice of 14 select pre-built Martin Custom Shop guitars, including this Martin GP14F Ctwy.
Built at the Godin Premiere Atelier in Richmond Quebec, the Godin Passion RG-4 bass is an excellent rendering of the highly practical P-J bass concept.
The Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 is a solidbody, neck through design with ebony compound radius fingerboard ands a pair of splittable humbuckers. The top cap is nicely flamed maple, on swamp ash wings and a maple center neck core. The neck also features large frets, carbon fibre stiffening rods and glow in the dark position markers! The finish is a trans white on the top and peghead front, with the rest a satin black.
Schecter Keith Merrow Guitars are in stock! The Schecter KM-6-MKII is a solidbody, through-neck with ebony fingerboard ands a pair of splittable humbuckers.
The ResoRocket WB is one of National Reso-Phonic’s newly designed single resonator guitars and features distinctive Tricone-style grill work and a cutaway!
The Gretsch Bobtail, the G9230, is part of a recently re-introduced affordable acoustic and resonator guitar line, the Roots Collection. It features all mahogany soundwell-type body and neck with a bound Padauk fingerboard, and a dark cherry sunburst finish.
At any point in time there are several guitars on the floor here at The Twelfth Fret that are just a cut above everything else, not only here in the shop, but anywhere. At the moment, my favorite, by far, is the G.W. Barry Modified Concert Zircote Steel String guitar. Handmade by master luthier G.W. Barry it simply looks gorgeous, plays like butter and sounds spectacular. The first thing of note with this instrument is the fact that it is
The National Pioneer RP1 ensures that association will remain. Old-world craftsmanship meets modern design in our first steel, hollow-body electric. The National Reso-Phonic Pioneer RP1 combines an audiophile-quality bridge pickup with a vintage-style Lollar P-90 neck pickup. An on-board active circuit allows for a wide range of tones. A slim neck profile and narrow string spacing complete this hybrid instrument. With the quality artistry expected in a National, the Pioneer is a unique update to the traditional steel-bodied guitar.
It never ceases to amaze me how good steel string acoustics can sound, and I’m reminded every time a guitar like this Collings OM1 deep body custom arrives.
When I first saw the Kiefte Custom Thinline Archtop Bass Guitar, I thought it looked familiar; it is based on the successful Douglas Harrison GB Model.
One of the true classic guitars that’s appeared on countless stages and recordings, the Gretsch Country Gentleman has been updated in the Player’s Edition.
When I visited the factory last fall I was introduced to the Alhambra Carlos Piñana 2F Flamenco guitar and the sister guitar: the Z-Nature Classical guitar and the new Open-Pore finish technique developed for these guitars. Collaboration between the Alhambra Luthiers and Flamenco performer – teacher Carlos Piñana of Mucia City resulted in this remarkably professional sounding yet low-priced guitar. Flamenco guitars are by design loud and clear with a hint of brashness which makes them ideally suited to the
Recalling the Martin D-42, the Eastman E40D-SB takes the classic lines and appointments of the most successful dreadnought designs.
The Duesenberg Paloma is a solidbody, three pickup guitar, featuring an alder body, short Duesenberg Radiator Tremola and a 22 fret 648mm scale set neck.
