The Heritage H-575, built at the historic Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan takes visual cues from the classic Gibson ES-175, but there are major differences in construction and materials. When Gibson introduced the ‘ES’ or ‘Electric Spanish’ designation, archtops were the most commonly used models on bandstands because of their superior volume and projection.
Electric
The Fender Precision Bass Fretless (Acoustic / Electric) is an interesting and somewhat rare custom order model, using a semi-hollow, Spruce top Mahogany F-hole body with Rosewood bridge. This lightweight, resonant body shows influences from the Telecaster Thinline. For electronics, this distinctive bass has both a Piezo bridge pickup and a Lace Sensor split pickup selected by a pan pot, with volume and TBX tone controls.
The Fender Telecaster Bass launched in the surprisingly late year of 1968, though its appearance is very much like the original, revolutionary 1951 Precision Bass. From a modern perspective, there isn’t a lot to the Fender Telecaster Bass. It is basically an ash or alder slab body with a one-piece maple neck bolted to it, a bridge, and from 1968 to 1972 a single coil pickup with volume and tone controls.
The Gibson Super 400 strode above most others when giant archtops roamed the earth, and is still one of the largest production guitars made. Making its introduction in 1934 as the ‘Super L-5 Deluxe’, the non-cutaway model was quickly joined by a cutaway model, initially named the Super 400 P for ‘Premiere’. The ‘400’ designation was originally a reference to the price.
Here is a beautiful rarity, a real treat – a Gibson Les Paul GoldTop from 1954, and not just with a gold top but fully gold finished! This was known as the ‘Double Gold’ finish. This beautiful piece has clearly been used as intended over nearly seven decades, and the gold finish has worn where the player’s hands and clothing contacted it.
This Fender Stratocaster Natural, has an Ash body with Maple neck and was built during 1977 in Fullerton California and with a few period modifications – a brass nut and saddles, and EMG pickups. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, many players sought new ways to customize their instruments for new sounds and capabilities, and this led to the proliferation of third-party parts and pickup suppliers.
In 2008, the PRS Santana MD was released – the MD standing for ‘multi dimensional’. The key difference is in the wiring – there’s an extra switch that enables the ‘Multidimensional Voice Control’ circuit, allowing a range of new tones. In the ‘off’ position, the controls work as standard master volume and tone controls. The PRS MD circuit is powered by a pair of standard 9v batteries, but if the batteries are not used or lose enough charge, the switch will silence the guitar, rather like a standby or kill-switch.
Here’s a very nice Thinline, Double Pickup, Cherry finish Gibson ES-335TDC, Union Made during 1966 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Thinline concept was introduced in 1955 to produce a more compact hollowbody archtop electric instrument less prone to feedback. For the 1958 model year, this was combined with a solid, very feedback resistant center block to create the revolutionary semi-hollow ES-335 – which also carried Gibson’s new humbucking pickups.
Coming from the now shuttered Memphis plant in 2014, the Gibson ES Les Paul combined classic Les Paul aesthetics with the immensely successful thinline ES concept. Along with the plant, this model has, as such, been discontinued by Gibson’s new management. The new ES-235 is perhaps its replacement in this class. Here we’re looking at a very, clean Gibson ES Les Paul sporting a Light Burst finish. There is very little wear of any type, to the frets, fingerboard, finish or plating.
Many folks associate the name with high quality steel string guitars, but the Larrivee RS-04 was for a time the top end of Larrivee’s electric line. During the 1980’s, the company focused heavily on electrics, and still offer a few models. This Larrivee RS-04 Mahogany sports a GoldTop finish and dates to October 29, 2009 and is in overall very good condition with only very light wear.
This is a very nice condition early Gibson ES-137 Classic model dating to March 22, 2022 at Memphis Tennessee; this model was built from 2002 to 2015. The Gibson ES-137 was launched in 2002 and combines the looks of the ES-175 and the performance practicalities of the ES-335 lineup.
The Gibson Les Paul Special first appeared in 1955, as the fourth version of the now-classic model. The first was the 1952 Gold-Top Les Paul, which was revised in 1953 and 1954 to allow for a steeper neck angle and the introduction of first a stop-bar bridge and then the Tune-O-Matic and stop tailpiece combination.
The Eastman AR910CE LH – Left Handed – is pretty much the top of the Eastman line of archtop electrics, with solid wood throughout and carved top and back. It’s fairly unusual to see an available high quality left-handed archtop. The top and its bracing are solid Spruce, paired with nicely flamed and matched Flame Maple for the sides and back.
This Gibson Les Paul Custom 20th Anniversary edition in White was built in 1974 to commemorate the 1954 launch of the ‘upmarket’ Les Paul Custom. Following the 1952 introduction of the original gold-top Les Paul model, Gibson added two new versions for 1954 – the top-end Custom and entry-level Junior – with the Special appearing in 1955.
Designed by Duke Kramer and Chet Atkins in 1976 and launched in 1977, the Gretsch Atkins Super Axe model 7680 was built under Baldwin ownership in DeQueen Arkansas, and available with and without built-in effects. These models went out of production in 1980.
The Fender 72 Telecaster Custom is one of the lesser known models, though it was the company’s first to carry a humbucking pickup as stock – designed by Seth Lover, who also created Gibson’s humbucker in 1955. It was followed by the Telecaster Deluxe and re-worked Thinline versions with two humbucking pickups each.
Here we’re looking at a very good condition, early-example Fender 60th Anniversary Commemorative Stratocaster Sunburst, built during January 2014. Built to mark the 1954 introduction of the Stratocaster, this model is based on the American Standard platform but with a number of upgrades and a limited production run of 1,954 guitars.
While the source of the name given to this Collings 290 may seem obvious as it’s got two P90 pickups, it’s really a reference to the road outside the Collings shop. Drawing from a few traditional solidbody models, the 290 was launched in 2006 at the NAMM show, and has been in production since. Built during 2018 in Austin Texas, this Pelham Blue Collings 290 has some differences from current production.
This Fender Telecaster, built in 1974 sports a relatively unusual Natural finish and is in very nice, all original condition. Built with a one-piece Maple neck – and its Walnut ‘Skunk’ stripe covering the channel for the rear-mounted truss rod and a three-piece Ash body, this example is typical of the Telecaster design and the aesthetics of this period.
Built during 1968, we’ve nicknamed this beautiful aged-blonde Fender Telecaster ‘Don’ in reference to the letters once affixed to the top. Over time, the blonde finish darkened to a lovely butterscotch tone and when the letters were removed, the lighter finish remained. The Fender Telecaster has proven to be an excellent illustration of design fitting its purpose, and for nearly 75 years this model has been built and sold with really only minor variations.
Here’s another rarity – the Gibson ES-150D, a double cutaway, full depth hollow body electric archtop built as late as 1974 at the unionized Kalamazoo plant during the Norlin years. Drawing inspiration from the venerable ES-150 model – introduced in 1936 with the ‘Charlie Christian’ pickup and built until 1956 – the Gibson ES-150D is unusual.
The Collings CL Jazz is a rare thing of beauty, functional art manifesting as a thinline hollowbody carved top jazz guitar. The late Bill Collings’ work is some of the best. His work was very well thought out and executed in every way. Build quality, materials selection, fit, finish, sound and playability are top notch.
Over the years, the Gibson Les Paul Standard has gained and iconic position in the guitar pantheon, though it has been in and out of favour as time passed. Built during 1976, about halfway through Norlin’s ownership, this Gibson Les Paul Standard sports a classic tobacco sunburst finish.
Here we’re looking at a Guild Capri CE-100D from 1965 in overall good condition, looking like it has been used as intended over the years. Built from 1956 until 1982, the Guild Capri CE-100D was a fully hollow body archtop electric with a Florentine cutaway and a pair of pickups. The CE-100D was the Double pickup version of the single-pickup CE-100; at first, Franz pickups were used, then DeArmond, and in 1963 Guild’s new Anti-Hum pickups were fitted.
Here we have a Gadow Custom DC Set Neck model with a carved Maple top on Mahogany wearing a Sunburst finish, built during 2007 in Durham, North Carolina. This guitar uses familiar and proven formulas, combining a Mahogany back and neck with a carved Maple top. The Double-Cut body shape was originally used by Gibson for Les Paul Junior models in 1958 and the Les Paul Special for 1959, updating the previous single-cutaway, slab-bodied and poorly-selling models.
Here is a Fender ‘Blackie’ Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster which was built during 2008 and is in great original condition. This model, introduced in 2004 and built by a team (as distinct from one master builder) features an Alder body and soft-V 22-fret, 9.5 inch radius Maple neck, with a Custom Shop logo and Clapton signature above ‘Blackie’ on the back of the head.
Here we have a very cool Fender Classic Player Jaguar Special HH in Olympic White, built during 2018, now discontinued and in very good clean condition. This model makes a few important changes to the original Jaguar layout, substituting a pair of humbucking pickups for the original single coils, and pairs a standard ‘tune a matic’ style bridge with the original style locking trem unit.
Here we’re looking at an Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray Classic 4 bass with a figured Maple neck and likely an Ash body, covered with a black poly finish. This example dates to December 22nd, 2014 and was built at St. Luis Opisbo, CA. It is in overall good condition.
Always tasteful and visually restrained, the Gretsch G6129 Silver Sparkle Jet first appeared in 1954 as an answer to the Les Paul model. While there are some immediately apparent visual similarities – the single cutaway body of Mahogany with a Maple cap – underneath there were significant differences. From 1954, the original Gretsch Jet models started with a Maple body, routed to provide a number of chambers for resonance and weight relief.
This Overwater Scott Devine Model 4 J Series Bass dates to 21 August 2017, and features a Swamp Ash body paired with a 33 inch scale Birdseye Maple neck. It also includes Overwater’s own active electronics, powered by a single 9v battery.
This early Fender Highway One HH Stratocaster in Crimson Red Transparent finish is a conversion from its original SSS configuration to HH, a popular and practical mod. The Highway One series was built from 2002 to 2010 as Made In USA model, but at a lower price than the American Deluxe series models.
This beautiful Collings CL Custom, a City Limits model, was built during 2017 and sports an aged Brock Burst finish and a pair of ThroBak ERMXV pickups. The Collings CL Custom is based on the classic single-cut, Mahogany and Maple solidbody design that’s proven itself since 1952.
The Rickenbacker Roger McGuinn Limited Edition 370/12 is based on the classic model used on a number of influential recordings.
The Gibson Les Paul Junior DC – Double Cutaway – appeared in 1958 as a modification of the 1954 single-cutaway version. The next modification came partway through 1961 with a complete redesign of the body as Gibson shifted to what’s now known as the SG.
The Airline H78 Thinline was built for the Montgomery-Ward company by Harmony from 1965 to 1972, as a re-branded version of the Harmony H78. Indeed, it seems that the only difference is the head plate and logo!
Harmony, purchased by Sears-Roebuck in 1916 and owned by them until 1940, was at one point by volume the largest guitar maker in the USA, which also meant in the world.
The Fender American Standard Stratocaster debuted in late 1986 and was discontinued in 2016, replaced by the American Elite series. These were the heir to the venerable, original Stratocaster model introduced in 1954.
The Gretsch White Penguin 58 Reissue, officially model G6134, re-creates the 1958 Bigsby-equipped version of the Jet-based Penguin. The White Penguin was created in response to the Gretsch White Falcon, itself created as a showpiece for the 1954 NAMM show and not intended for production.
Here we have a very nice Tuttle Custom Carved Top with bolt-on Maple neck and a trans-blue finish, built during 2011 near Redmond, Oregon. Michael Tuttle has been operating Tuttle Guitars since 2003. He began building professionally in 1993 and spent some years with Valley Arts and Don Grosh before establishing his own shop.
With its roots dating back to 1922, this custom ordered 1964 Gibson L-5 Stereo is formally known as the L-5 CES (Cutaway Electric Spanish), though the label identifies it only as an L-5. This model was aimed at professional, working guitarists, and until 1934 was built with a 16 inch wide body. In 1934, the body grew to a 17 inch width and gained X braces.
Here we have a Neal Moser V Custom Neck Thru model, sporting an Ivory finish with a black bevelled top edge. This is a very distinctive guitar! This Moser V Custom guitar has a neck-through design with Maple neck and center section, Alder ‘Wings’ and Indian Rosewood, 24-fret fingerboard with side markers.
The Gadow Nashville draws from the well-proven T-style guitar, using many basic design elements but with a distinctive new form. The Nashville has a compact, two-pickup layout with a tapered 3-per-side headstock providing gentle angles from the nut to tuners. Built during 2007 in Durham, NC, this Gadow Nashville features an Ash body with contrasting fill and a very nice Butterscotch Blonde finish.
One of the iconic rock basses, the Rickenbacker 4001 bass was built as a two-pickup version of the 4000 bass, adding a neck pickup to the distinctive Cresting Wave body design by German luthier and designer Roger Rossmeisl. Built from 1961 to somewhere between 1983 and 1985 when it was replaced by the 4003 bass, the Rickenbacker 4001 bass features a Maple body and through-body Maple neck, with a bound and finished Indian Rosewood fingerboard.
Here we have a spectacular Suhr Custom Modern Plus with a Burled Maple cap finished in Bengal Burst on an African Black Limba body and Roasted Maple neck. This beautiful, very well built Suhr Custom Modern Plus is in nearly new condition with only the slightest wear. The stainless steel frets show no signs of wear, and the finish is near pristine.
Built in Los Angeles during 1982, this refinished B.C. Rich Eagle features Mahogany, Maple and Koa neck-through construction. The center neck-through section is Koa, with Maple strips separating it from the Mahogany wings. The 24-fret fingerboard is Indian Rosewood, with diamond inlays and the upper register access is nearly unrestricted.
Here we have a beautiful Ron Kirn Signature Jag style custom thinline from 2016, featuring a quilted Maple cap on a Eucalyptus back. In 1958, the ‘Offset’ body debuted with the Fender Jazzmaster, which also featured Fender’s first Rosewood fingerboard.
This Gibson ES-335 TD dates to 1966, and was originally purchased at Manny’s Music in New York City, and the Bigsby B7 added in 1969. From 1974 it was used by the Canadian Creative Music Collective and is a part of Canadian music history. When introduced in the spring of 1958, the Gibson ES-335 TD was revolutionary.
The Rickenbacker 360 is an iconic instrument originally designed by Roger Rossmeisl in 1958 as a flat-topped, thin hollow body model with top and back binding. Halfway through 1964, the Rickenbacker 360 gained a New Style body to further differentiate the 360 from the 330. The New Style body is Maple, but has a chambered top with very rounded edges and integrated sides.
This is a Framus Diablo Supreme in Satin natural finish, built during 2010 in the Warwick shops at Markneukirchen Bavaria. Though the designation didn’t exist when this example was built, Framus soon after identified these guitars as Masterbuilt. This guitar is in very good, clean condition and features an AAA-grade book matched Maple cap on a Mahogany body and a Mahogany neck with Indian Rosewood fingerboard.
Built during 1979 in Fullerton, California, this Fender Cherryburst Stratocaster is in good clean and original condition, with light finish checking. In constant production since its 1954 introduction, the Fender Stratocaster quickly established itself as one of the most versatile and reliable instruments, suitable for every genre that accepts the electric guitar.
For 2014, the Gibson Les Paul Standard Premium Quilt Top carried hand-selected, AAA-grade and bookmatched quilted Maple tops. These spectacular guitars, being part of the 120th Anniversary lines, also carry the engraved Mother of Pearl 12th fret inlay. Woods used are the classic Les Paul combination – the bookmatched AAA Maple top, Mahogany for the back and long-tenon neck, and Indian Rosewood for the compound radius fingerboard.
Built from 1995 to 2016, the Fender Jazz V American Deluxe bass had a significant hardware change in 2004, with new pickups and active electronics. Drawing from the classic Jazz Bass introduced in 1960, the 2004 Fender Jazz V American Deluxe uses an Alder body with a five-bolt neck plate connecting a wider, 12 inch radius Maple neck. Position marker dots are Mother of Pearl, and the truss rod adjuster is at the body end.
Influenced heavily by the Sheraton used by Noel Gallagher in Oasis, the Epiphone Supernova was built from 1997 to 2005, with a signature pickguard and features making it the Noel Gallagher Supernova. It was available in a variety of finishes including the Manchester Blue seen here, and a custom Union Jack graphic.
The LTD EC1000 in Black Natural Burst is designed by ESP in Japan and built in Indonesia. This is a well designed and built modern take on the single-cutaway carved top solidbody guitar concept. This model uses Mahogany body with a burled Poplar top, and a ‘Set-Through’ neck joint for the 3-piece Mahogany neck.
The Gibson Chet Atkins Celebrity SST was built from 1991 to 1993 as a version of the CEC – the Chet Atkins Classical, solidbody nylon string guitar.
Here we’re looking at a BC Rich Mockingbird Bass from 1980, in largely original and complete condition and with active electronics. Introduced in 1976 and built until 2009 through a number of company ownership changes, the BC Rich Mockingbird Bass featured neck-through construction, dramatic body styling, a Badass bridge made by Leo Quan, two sets of DiMarzio model P pickups, and custom active electronics designed in-house by Neal Moser.
The Relish Shady A Mary is an innovative guitar built in Lucerne, Switzerland mostly using non-traditional materials. The body is formed around an aluminum frame that’s also built for a patented pickup swapping system, and the top and back attach to the frame with magnets.
Here is a BC Rich NJ Eagle, a bolt-on design built under Bernardo Rico’s direction in Nagoya, Japan in an effort to bring his designs to a wider market. This example dates to around 1984, and while it’s not quite the same as the hand-built, through-neck US BC Rich models – which is impressive. This is a really good feeling and good playing guitar.
Here’s a very nicely figured and very good condition Gibson Memphis ESDT-335 in gloss natural finish, dated to Jul 11 2012 at the now-closed Gibson Memphis plant. The Gibson Memphis ESDT-335 is a slight variation on the standard ES-335, with the ‘ES’ standing as always for ‘Electric Spanish’. ‘Spanish’ refers to how the guitar is held and played, with one of the few other primary designations being ‘EH’ for ‘Electric Hawaiian’.
These are hard to find – a Wes Lambe 8-String Multiscale Guitar/Bass in Natural satin finish, built during 2008 in Chapel Hill, NC. The Lambe 8-String Multiscale is a very well built instrument. This example is in good clean condition with minor wear, and offers a huge range of musical possibilities.
The Hofner 125 ‘London’ model appeared in 1954 with the newly rising interest in amplified music and Rock & Roll. This example dates to 1957 and is complete and original. All the original parts are here, including the pickguard, original strap attachments, and hard shell case.
The Kay K5920 Speed Demon hollowbody electric bass was one of the Kay company’s many instruments aimed at beginner to semi-pro players. In the late 1950’s when these basses appeared, advertising campaigns were still focused on convincing upright bass players to switch to electric. Kay guitars and basses were frequently found in the hands of Blues artists.
This Ernie Ball Music Man Silhouette Special dates to July of 2001 and sports a distinctive Autumn Red Burst finish on the body and headstock front.
Based on the 1955 advanced (2-pickup) student model, the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute presents a proven design with some updates, particularly Humbucking pickups and a Maple neck. As a Tribute model, this example gets a lighter, satin finish, still using nitrocellulose lacquer. The body is a two-piece Mahogany slab paired with a three-piece Maple neck for stability and strength.
Built from 1975 to 1981, the Gibson L6 Deluxe was a simplified version of the L6-S and featured a Maple body and neck. Originally introduced in 1973 as the L6-S with a stop tailpiece and 6-position rotary switch, in 1975 it was renamed the L6-S Custom. At the same time, the L6 Deluxe launched with a string-through body and with a standard three-way switch.
This is a very nice Godin A6 Ultra in a high-gloss Cognac Burst, built during April 2020 in Quebec and featuring both a humbucker and piezo pickups. The Godin A6 Ultra, like the very versatile and successful Multiac series, draws from the 1981 – 1995 Gibson Chet Atkins CEC (Cutaway Electric Classical) and 1987 – 2006 SST (Solidbody Steel String) designs.
The first limited edition model from the Custom Shop, the Fender HLE Gold 57 Stratocaster re-creates the guitar built in 1957 for Homer Haynes, one of the stars of Country comedy duo Homer and Jethro. This is not entirely a slavish copy of a 1957 model, as the center pickup is RW/RP (reverse wound, reverse polarity) to provide hum-cancelling in positions 2 and 4 of the 5-way switch.
This Fender American Ultra Stratocaster in Cobra Blue just became my new favourite Strat! Extremely well made and carrying a number of very practical professional features, this guitar is a joy to play. The medium-jumbo fretwire is easy to grip and the rolled fingerboard edges and contoured heel add to the guitar’s comfort.
This Fender CS 1956 Stratocaster was built at the Corona California plant and unlike the ‘Relic’ versions is the New Old Stock – NOS – form. Introduced in 1954 as Leo Fender’s third major instrument design after the Telecaster and Precision Bass, the Stratocaster has become one of the most used models.
This great looking Roger Giffin Standard set-neck with carved-top solidbody was built during 2004 and is one of the first of Giffin’s then-new shop near Portland, Oregon. Roger Giffin has built guitars for about 56 years, in London for over a decade from 1966, for Gibson from 1988 to 1994.
The 1970’s Fender Telecaster Custom was a significant departure from the 1960’s Custom, which had basically been a stock model with a bound body. In contrast, the Telecaster Custom introduced in 1972 and built until 1979 introduced the head-end “Bullet” truss rod adjuster, the three-bolt MicroTilt neck angle adjuster, and a huge change for Fender – the Wide-Range Humbucker designed by Seth Lover.
Crafted for Fender Japan, this Fender Antigua Telecaster dates to 2002-2004 and was built by Tokai Gakki in Hammamatsu. Not many of these were built, and some carried a factory Bigsby. The heel carries the serial number and the ‘Crafted in Japan’ logo, and these reveal the builder.
Crafted for Fender Japan, this Fender Antigua Stratocaster dates to 2002-2004 and was built by Tokai Gakki in Hammamatsu. It is one of about 400 built. The heel carries the serial number and the ‘Crafted in Japan’ logo, and these reveal the builder. When CBS sold Fender Management the company, the deal did not include plant or fixtures, leaving Fender with no US production facilities.
Without a doubt the Don Grosh Hollow Carved Top model in Purple AA Quilted Maple and Korina catches the eye! With a pair of Lindy Fralin P-90 pickups, it was built around 1997 in Broomfield, Colorado.
Don Grosh was Shop Foreman for Valley Arts guitars from 1985 to 1993, when he opened his own shop as Grosh Guitars. His instruments are extremely high quality, using top of the line materials and components.
Here is a Hagstrom SuperSwede Reissue in Sunburst, dating to around 2005 as the new owners of the name moved production facilities from Korea to China. The Swede has been available in several versions the ‘Standard’ with a bolt-on neck, the ‘SuperSwede’ with set neck. The SuperSwede LTD is built in Sweden.
Introduced in 1954 and intended as a companion to the then-new Les Paul solidbody, the Gibson J-160E 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.
This Gibson Honeyburst Les Paul Standard was built during 2005 and is in very good, clean original condition with only light wear. At the time that this example was built, pickguards were not installed on models with figured tops, and the two mounting holes were not drilled. The original pickguard is not included and seems to be long gone.
The term ‘Closet Classic’ could be applied to this striking Aztec Gold Fender Special Edition Stratocaster, Made in Mexico during 2003. This guitar appears to have been never played and there is no play wear at all. The original protective plastic film is still on PG and backplate! Some of the red-gold colouring on the metal components has light tarnish and that’s it. Aside from that, this guitar is as-new.
The Fender Thinline Telecaster was introduced in 1969 as a design by Roger Rossmeisl, who had done major work for Rickenbacker. There have been a few versions of this model, and this particular 1998 example seems to me one of the best ever.
The Gibson Les Paul Classic first appeared in 1990 and with a number of variations and finishes has been a part of the lineup ever since. The GoldTop finish has been around since 1952 as the first and only finish offered on the Les Paul model; this was the case until 1954 with the appearance of the Les Paul Custom in gloss black. Sunburst finishes were not offered on Les Pauls until 1957, paired with Gibson’s new Humbucking pickups.
Since its introduction as the Broadcaster in 1950 as the world’s first two-pickup, solidbody electric guitar, the Fender Telecaster has gone from strength to strength. It has been used in virtually every musical context that accepts electric instruments, and many musicians have built careers on its use. It’s truly an inspired design. Here we’re looking at a Fender Telecaster Maple Neck in Sunburst finish and largely original condition, built during 1978 in Fullerton, California during the CBS era.
The Godin Summit Classic HB is derived from a classic design, and offers a chambered Spanish Cedar body with a carved Maple cap. This example was built during 2016 at the Godin plants in La Patrie and Richmond, Quebec. It’s in great condition with very little wear.
The Fender Jazzmaster appeared halfway through 1958, targeted at jazz artists, the group Fender hadn’t fully won over. One of the key features of the Fender Jazzmaster was the introduction of a Rosewood fingerboard on the Maple neck. To this point in time, Fender necks had been a single piece of Maple with a rear Walnut ‘Skunk Stripe’ covering the truss rod channel.
The Fender Kurt Cobain Jag-Stang is merging of two guitars used extensively by the artist. It’s a professional grade, 24 inch scale solidbody featuring an Alder body, Maple neck and Indian Rosewood fingerboard. For hardware, the Mustang tuner, bridge and vibrato bridge setup was chose, but the pickups include a humbucker in the bridge position and Mustang wiring
Here we have a very nice Harrison GB Custom with Sapele Pomelle top, built at Douglas Harrison’s shop in Toronto Canada during 2013. Originally the outgrowth of a guitar custom built for the late Gary Benson, a well known Toronto jazz guitarist and educator, the Harrison GB has proven itself popular with an increasing number of players – including Harrison himself at his own gigs!
The Harmony Comet Semi-Hollowbody in Trans Red represents the very first semi-hollow electric guitar in our lineup of cherished musical instruments, inspired by the original Harmony H72 of the ’60s. This double cutaway guitar has an immaculately carved genuine mahogany top and back for warm, well-rounded and acoustic-like tone. The addition of a center block minimizes feedback, and the long-tenon set neck construction increases sustain.
This Harmony Jupiter in a cool Champagne nitrocellulose lacquer finish is a retro solidbody guitar built in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Jupiter marks the return of what was at one time of the world’s largest instrument manufacturers. The Harmony Jupiter’s classic looks and well-rounded tonality make it a perfect match for any style or genre.
A wonderful rarity – a Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass in natural finish! Introduced in 1971, the Triumph bass followed closely the Les Paul Bass, introduced in 1969. The construction of the Gibson Les Paul Triumph bass is perhaps closest to the original Les Paul Custom, in that aside from the fingerboard, it’s entirely Mahogany including the carved top. No Maple cap! However, that’s where the similarities end, as the Les Paul and Triumph basses have low-impedance pickups and extra controls.
The Eastman T59 V is a take on one of the most successful and influential of Ted McCarty’s innovations, the thinline, semi-hollow archtop electric guitar. Around 1957, Gibson was looking to update its product line to address a number of issues, one of which was the rise in amplified stage volumes causing feedback. While the engineering team is credited with most of the design, it was apparently president Ted McCarty’s idea to put a solid Maple block through the center of the guitar.
Here’ s a new, old stock 2015 Hofner Gold Label Club Bass in solid red! The Club Bass is also known as the 500/2 – the 500/1 is the iconic violin shaped ‘Beatle Bass’. This is a ‘Gold Label’ model, one of a limited edition in custom colour. These models are built at the primary Hofner plant in Hagenau, Bavaria and are not always easy to find available for sale.
The Gibson ES-350T (or ES-350TD to the early 1960s) is a thin-bodied, single cutaway fully hollow archtop electric built from 1955 to 1963 with a 23.5 inch scale length, and from 1977 to 1993 with a 25.5 inch scale. It started as the full-bodied, single-cutaway, 25.5 inch scale length single P-90 ES-350 Premiere in 1947. The ES-350 models were used by a number of top artists in the 1950s, most notably Chuck Berry. At introduction in 1955, the Gibson ES-350T shared several things with the also-new Byrdland, particularly the 23.5 inch scale length.
Here is a ESP LTD EC-1000 Duncan, and it’s an impressive instrument, well designed, built and equipped. Drawing from the traditional single-cutaway, arched top solidbody concept, the EC-1000 moves beyond it with comfortable contours and shaped heel for easy access to all 24 stainless steel frets. The ESP LTD EC-1000 Duncan uses Mahogany for the body and neck, with Macassar Ebony for the fingerboard. The name ‘Duncan’ refers to the classic pairing of a Seymour Duncan ’59 model in the neck position and a JB in the bridge.
Here’s a Gibson Les Paul Standard Cherry Sunburst dating to October 17, 1980, sporting a Cherry Sunburst finish and a non-weight relieved, non-pancake body! The Les Paul model was introduced in 1952 as Gibson’s entry into the then-new soldibody ‘Spanish’ electric guitar field, where ‘Spanish’ refers to the way the guitar is held. Solidbody Hawaiian models had been available for some time, and Gibson had been producing electrified archtop guitars since the 1936 ES-150.
The Godin Multiac Nylon Duet Ambience offers a fuller body depth and simpler electronics than the synthesizer-ready models. Like other Multiac models, the Nylon Duet Ambience uses a Cedar top on a chambered Mahogany body, Mahogany neck and Richlite for the fingerboard and Rosewood for the bridge.
The new Charvel SoCal Style 2 has arrived, featuring an Ash T-style body with a licensed reverse-Tele headstock, a pair of Fishman humbuckers, and a 2-point trem! The Charvel SoCal Style 2 Ash body also features a scalloped lower back bout and shredder’s cut heel for easier upper fret access and hours of grin-inducing playing-feel and performance.
Built in San Luis Obispo California, the National Resolectric Revolver blends the resophonic and solidbody electric guitar concepts, to great success. Very similar in design to the ResoLectric, the National Resolectric 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.
Built in San Luis Obispo California, the National Resolectric solidbody guitar Sunburst 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.
The Schecter C6 Plus is a straight ahead, no-nonsense model providing great looks, playability and tone at a reasonable price. Combining the proven ingredients of a Maple neck with 24-fret Indian Rosewood fingerboard and a Basswood body, the Schecter C6 Plus also sports a top ‘image’ layer of Quilted Maple, finished with a very nice Charcoal Burst finish.
The Fender American Professional II Telecaster with Rosewood fingerboard and Dark Night finish features rolled edges on a deep C profile neck, narrow-tall frets, heel contour, V-Mod II single-coil Telecaster pickups, and a stock treble bleed circuit to preserve highs when the volume control is turned down. A new bridge design with three compensated brass saddles can be strung either from the top, or the traditional rear-load.
The Brand new Fender Ultra Luxe Stratocaster has arrived! This is one of the first Fender production models to bear Stainless Steel frets. It also has other helpful features like locking tuners, a push-in trem arm and noiseless pickups with the S-1 switch, giving access to all pickup combinations.
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!
The Rickenbacher Electro Model B ES was not the first electric guitar, as it’s based on a Hawaiian version, but it is one of the very first Electric Spanish guitars produced for retail sale. Introduced in 1935, the Model B Electic Spanish is based on the Model B Lap or Hawaiian model introduced in 1931. At the time the Rickenbacher Electro Model B was launched, the only other Electric Spanish model in production was also a Rickenbacker product – the 1935 Ken Roberts model.
The Eastman Romeo SC is a new limited edition thinline and largely hollow archtop electric design by Otto D’Ambrosio at the Eastman Custom Shop in California. Intended as an imagining of what ‘The Telecaster of the Archtop World’ would be, the Romeo started with defining its balance and player’s hand positions. The body is fairly small at 14.75 inches across, and the ‘Single Cut’ design gives plenty of access to the fretboard.
Here is an Eastman SB55DC /V Solidbody in Vintage Varnish! This definitely evokes the mid 1950’s slab bodied models, and with top quality hardware. Introduced in mid 2020 and now making its way to us, the Eastman SB55DC /V features a slab body and neck of lightweight Okoume Mahogany, sourced from Gabon, Central Africa. The fingerboard, head plate and truss rod cover are Ebony, and that’s it for woods used.
Charvel guitars have a long standing reputation as the guitar for choice for modern players looking for a fast playing feature laden instrument. The new Charvel ProMod DK 24HH 2PT CM model from the Pro-Mod series boasts a feature set and playability that will rival instruments double the price. The first thing you may notice is the lovely roasted maple neck. In addition to the rich visual aesthetic the process of roasting the maple and taking out moisture makes for a more stable neck that won’t shift as much during seasonal and humidity changes. If you do need to adjust the neck there is a heel mounted truss rod adjustment wheel which makes small changes a breeze.
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.
Here is a very cool guitar, the Fender Vintera 60s Jaguar in a classic Sunburst finish, part of a line created for players who want the look and sound of Fenders golden era. The Fender Vintera 60s Jaguar features an alder body with a maple 60’s C shape neck profile with rolled edges for a classic playing feel. The bridge, tremolo and tuners are all vintage style and add to the classic visuals.
The Fender Vintera 60’s Jazz bass is loaded with features from Fenders Golden era at a more affordable price point. This bass features a mid 60’s C shaped neck carve and a 7.25” radius. The maple neck has a Pau Ferro fretboard and vintage sized frets. The re-voiced 60’s single coil pickups have more of that authentic grit and growl that made the Jazz bass a legend. The open gear tuners, vintage saddles and three tone sunburst finish top really round out the classic aesthetic on this bass.
The Gibson SG Tribute is part of the Gibson Modern line and is an excellent workhorse guitar with simple and classic aesthetics. This guitar features the classic sg rounded and thin double cutaway body shape made of mahogany. This particular version of the Gibson SG Tribute comes in a satin walnut stain for a very earthy and natural look. The neck is maple with rosewood fretboard and fuller rounded profile and a 12” radius. The satin finish on the back of the neck and the 22 medium jumbo frets provide a smooth and easy playing feel. The double cutaway body design provides easy access all the way up to the last fret.
The Eastman SB59 V reflects the classic late 1950s design for a single cutaway, Flamed Maple on Mahogany solidbody with humbucking pickups. While it follows the formula, it’s not a precise copy and Eastman uses their own designs. As a ‘Vintage’ style model, this guitar has undergone an treatment process to simulate the wear of decades of use – except for fretwear.
The Fender American Ultra Precision Bass is the most advanced offering in their line catering to discerning players that want the most precision, high quality performance and tone. The Fender Precision bass is one of the most heard and recorded bass guitars in history and this version adds some modern features to this legendary tone machine. The alder body and maple neck combination delivers a familiar thump and fat note fundamental. New features include the new ultra-noiseless pickups in a PJ configuration. This gives you a standard precision pickup and a jazz pickup in the bridge position.
Here we have the Fender Player Precision Bass – a straight ahead continuation of the classic, ultra versatile, durable and reliable solidbody bass that started it all. The Fender Precision bass, introduced in 1951, has become the most recorded bass and has been used on countless shows, sessions, and recordings in virtually all genres. Built at Fender’s plant in Ensenada, Mexico and following the original materials choice with an Alder body and Maple neck with rear-mounted truss rod and Walnut ‘Skunk Stripe’, the Fender Player Precision Bass offers a great quality bass at an affordable price.
The Gold Tone EBM-5 is a unique F-style 5-string electric banjo that looks as good as it sounds. The EBM-5, like a normal banjo, has an extremely fast response allowing hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides to be accomplished with incredible ease. Even unplugged, this electric banjo has an excellent banjo tone due to the hollow sound chamber within the body.
The Ibanez AZ220A shares many features from the rest of the AZ line, but with two main differences. Most of the AZ line features an alder body but the AZ2202A has an ash body. Ash is a slightly heavier weight wood with a great balance of brightness and warmth and was used on many of the revered Fender guitars from the 1950’s to today. The other main difference on the Ibanez AZ2202A model is that the roasted maple neck has 22 frets rather then 24.
The Charvel ProMod DK24 HSS 2PT CM Ash from the DK24 platform adds an ash body and satin red finish to provide elegant looks and crushing tone! Smooth playability is a key element on these super strat style guitars and the rolled fingerboard edges, sculpted shredders heel cut and satin hand rubbed urethane finish will have you flying up and down the neck.
The Airline Folkstar, improved and re-issued by the Eastwood guitar company, brings back the 1950s Valco Folkstar resophonic aesthetic, but with a pair of pickups and a reasonable price. Airline guitars were built by Valco, one of the largest instrument manufacturers in the world, from 1958 to 1868 when the company folded. The original Airline Folkstar used Valco’s Res-O-Glas body construction – fiberglass resin on wood – with a single resonator cone. It was entirely acoustic, and never had pickups
The Reaper-6 by Schecter is a workhorse of a performance guitar with sleek lines and custom shop level looks that are certain to stand out!
The first thing you notice on the Schecter R Reaper-6 is the satin charcoal burst on the poplar burl wood top. The unique wood grains provide a slightly different look on each guitar. The super comfortable arm bevel reveals the natural swamp ash body which has a great balance of warmth and treble snap.
The Schecter C-1 Apocalypse model is a fast playing workhorse of a guitar. It features a double cutaway super strat style body with an arched top and a super comfortable set neck with ultra access to the upper frets. The combination of the slim c neck profile, the compound radius of 12” to 16” and stainless steel x- jumbo frets makes big string bends and wide vibrato a breeze. The swamp ash body is light and balances well and looks great with the rust grey finish.
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!
The Alhambra Z-Nature CW E2 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.
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 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.
The Danelectro Convertable: one of the most popular retro guitars, great unique look!
A lot of players were scrambling to find ResoLectric Jr. models when National discontinued this guitar a couple of years ago. Well, they are back now by popular demand and feature the new National Hot Plate with Jason Lollar pickup & coverplate-mounted volume & tone controls.