Here’s a guitar that needs little introduction – a Fender Stratocaster Candy Apple Red, with components from 1962 and 1964. Here, the Alder body is from 1964, while the Maple and ‘Slab’ style Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, plus the electronics, are from 1962. Aside from the body swap, one of the only things not original is a tone knob. Fret wear is light to moderate, and the wider fret wire indicates a re-fret, likely decades ago.
Canada
Here’s a very nice, well preserved long scale Larrivee Classical Guitar built during 1975 in Toronto, in one of the last locations before the growing company moved to Victoria B.C. This Jean Larrivee classical guitar features a Sitka Spruce top paired with Indian Rosewood for the back, sides, head plate and bridge.
The Larrivee OM-40 Walnut, built on Larrivee’s OM pattern, is part of the Legacy series that reflects traditional design aesthetics. As an OM, it delivers a full well balanced tone with great representation throughout the harmonic range. Walnut delivers brightness with a warm mid-range tone, between Mahogany and Rosewood.
This Martin Custom Shop D-28, built during 2014, is a beautiful instrument with a number of subtle differences from stock models.
With an official launch in October 2020, the Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Black Beauty was based on a classic 1958 Les Paul Custom. In 1957, three of Gibson’s then-new humbucking pickups replaced the P-90 and Alnico V ‘Staple Top’ pickup set of previous Customs. From its introduction in 1954 until the 1961 redesign, the Les Paul Custom had a major difference from the other carved-top Les Pauls hidden under the gloss black finish.
Part of a now-discontinued special series, the Hofner Gold Label Berlin Violin Bass is the top of the line for these iconic instruments. The Hofner Gold Label basses were signed by master builder Thomas Stuhlein at the Hofner shop in Hagenau, Bavaria. The sealed – body construction is Maple laminate for the top, sides and back.