The Twelfth Fret ~ Since 1977 ~

Chicago

❌SOLD❌ Kay Old Kraftsman Red Devil K592 Thinline Electric Red, 1962

❌SOLD❌  Kay Old Kraftsman Red Devil K592 Thinline Electric Red, 1962

Here is a very cool piece from 1962 – a Kay Old Kraftsman Red Devil model K592, the top of the Speed Demon line, built for the Spiegel catalog and direct mail company. This model was built between 1962 and 1965. Kay began in 1931 as the successor to the Stromberg-Voisinet, which was itself the 1921 successor to the Groeschel company, founded in 1890. Based in Chicago, Illinois, for a time Kay was one of the largest instrument builders in the USA, and supplied many catalog companies and department stores.

Vintage
Price: $850.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

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❌SOLD❌ National Val Pro 82 Vermillion Red, 1962

❌SOLD❌ National Val Pro 82 Vermillion Red, 1962

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.

Vintage
Price: $1,750.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

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❌SOLD❌ National Dynamic Lap Steel Red and White, 1962

❌SOLD❌ National Dynamic Lap Steel Red and White, 1962

The National Dynamic Lap Steel was built from 1961 to 1968 for National String Instrument Corporation by Valco in Chicago, Illinois. National at this point had fallen far from its heyday after inventing the Resophonic guitar (plus mandolin and ukulele) to provide more volume to working guitarists. It was founded by guitarist George Beauchamp and luthier John Dopyera in 1927. Dopyera left National to form, with his brothers, the DoBro company in 1928 and produced single cone resonator models. Dopyera purchased a controlling share of National in 1932 and merged National and DoBro production. Many instruments like the National Dynamic lap steel were produced, along with matching amplifiers.   

Vintage
Price: $750.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

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❌SOLD❌ Harmony Meteor H70 Thinline Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1958

❌SOLD❌ Harmony Meteor H70 Thinline Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1958

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.

Vintage
Price: $1,399.99 CAD

This instrument has sold

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❌SOLD❌Harmony H54 Guitar and H305A Amp Set, 1960

❌SOLD❌Harmony H54 Guitar and H305A Amp Set, 1960

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.

Vintage
Price: $1,750.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

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❌SOLD❌ Espanada H63 Archtop Electric by Harmony, Black, 1960

❌SOLD❌  Espanada H63 Archtop Electric by Harmony, Black, 1960

The Espanada H63, a full size hollowbody archtop electric, was built by Harmony from 1955 until 1964 and during the 1950s carried distinctive ‘Harmometal’ aluminum binding.At its peak, Harmony – based in Chicago, Illinois – was the largest musical instrument builder in the USA, which by default made them the largest in the world.

Vintage
Price: $999.99 CAD

This instrument has sold

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THE TWELFTH FRET

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