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.
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This Gibson J-45 TV guitar was built during 2014 at the Gibson Acoustic plant in Bozeman, Montana, and is in very nice condition. It’s no secret that I really like the J-45 design, with its warm, rich yet brilliant tone. There’s a substantial but not overwhelming amount of harmonic content, so it does a wonderful job at filling its space in a mix but doesn’t try to take over everything else. Great for recording, or to pair with a voice.
This instrument has sold
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This Gibson LG-2 produced just after World War Two ended. Because there’s no serial number or any production numbers, we’re dating it by features. The LG-2 was introduced in 1942, with a Firestripe pickguard (changed to faux tortoise in 1943) and a Banner logo – the famous “Only a Gibson is Good Enough” banner. This banner was discontinued shortly after at the end of the war, in 1946, but the Script ‘Gibson’ logo was maintained until 1948. So, this example dates to 1946 or possibly 1947.
This instrument has sold
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It’s fairly unusual to see a Mark Kett guitar for sale. His order book currently extends to 2021, so new guitars don’t appear in shops. His custom inlay work is more visible, as it appears on guitars by other builders including Sergei de Jonge, David Wren, Bourgeois Guitars, Linda Manzer, Frank Brothers, Marc Beneteau, and many others. His work was included in the ‘Group of Seven’ guitar set at the McMichael Gallery.
Once in a long while, we see early J-45’s come through, and they are special. The Gibson J-45 True Vintage, labelled ‘J-45 TV’, is a good reproduction – with a few modern improvements – of those rare guitars. The J-45 appeared in 1942 as a replacement for the 1930’s J-35 model, and came only in sunburst to hide ‘defects’, which might now be called ‘figure’ in the Adirondack Spruce used for the tops. Almost immediately, the US joined WW2 and the J-45 was affected, notably with the loss of the truss rod. Still, those guitars are regarded by many as some of the finest built.
This instrument has sold
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The Eastman E20D is the less decorated cousin to the Eastman E40D we posted recently, but even without the decorations it’s an impressive and classy guitar.
This example was built at the Eastman plant in China during 2005 and has been both played in and well looked after. It’s set up for bluegrass use, meaning that the action is a little higher for spirited playing, competing with other percussively loud instruments like banjos and mandolins.
This instrument has sold
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Hello Grant. Just want to let you know that my banjolele arrived on Monday afternoon, so the postal strike didn’t hold it up too long. I’m delighted with the quality craftsmanship of the instrument and I was right that the shorter fingerboard is much easier for my 81 year old hands! So, here’s a shot of me with it in my studio with my dog Dusty laying beside me. Now just to harden up my fingertips and loosen up my finger joints! (Dusty loves it too!)
Thanks for everything.
Best. John.
John McConnell – Deering banjolele
October 2018
(Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)
