Here’s something we see fewer of – a Fender Pre-CBS Stratocaster in Sunburst, with a body date of 9/63 and neck date of March 1964. This type of ‘date mismatch’ has been common in some periods of Fender production. The factory would build and finish a larger number of bodies and store them, with the necks built closer to the sale and delivery date. The potentiometers date to 1963.
Kluson Deluxe
Here we have a Gibson J185 Original Jumbo bodied steel string in Antique Natural finish, built during 2005 at the Gibson Acoustic plant in Bozeman, Montana. The J-185 is a very good but likely under-appreciated guitar, being overshadowed by the better known and slightly larger J-200. The Gibson J185 and J200 have many similarities and the key differences are not always seen at first glance. Both feature the Jumbo body shape, Sitka Spruce top with Figured Maple for the sides and back, and Rosewood for the fingerboard and bridge.
Here’s a beautiful piece of functional art – from 1960, a Guild X-500 Archtop electric in original condition and very playable! The Guild Guitar company was formed in New York 1951 by jazz guitarist and musical retailer Alfred Dronge and George Mann, ex-Epiphone executive. Most of the staff were also ex-Epiphone employees who did not follow the company from New York to Philadelphia, a move sparked by a four-month strike.