The Epiphone Texan FT79N – the N indicating a Natural finish on the top rather than Sunburst – was built as a slope shoulder dreadnought from 1958 to 1970 when Epiphone production ceased in the USA. The Epiphone FT79 was originally built from 1941 to 1958 as a square shoulder dreadnought with Walnut back and sides until 1949, and then with laminated Maple until the company was sold to Gibson in 1958.
Paul McCartney
We are fortunate to have received a very rare Hofner Rooftop Bass, a replica of the bass used by Paul McCartney for the Apple Corps Rooftop concert in January 1969 – which ended with a police raid. Built in Hagenau, Germany by Hofner luthier Thomas Stühlein, this special edition bass reproduces McCartney’s 1963 500/1 left hand Violin Bass, with light aging reflecting the six years of use during Beatles shows and recording sessions.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Here is a limited edition rarity from 1987 – a Rickenbacker 4003 Tuxedo White Star bass, one of approximately 120 built during that year; some reports say 100 were built. The model 4003 bass was introduced in 1979 to improve the model 4001 and in particular to strengthen the dual truss rods for use with round wound strings. The Rickenbacker 4003 Tuxedo or White Star bass is based closely on the 4003 and was built only during 1987.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Only available as a special order during the 1960s and based closely on the base 4001 model, the Rickenbacker 4001FL was offered from 1968 until the 4001 was discontinued in 1989. The key differences between the 4001 and the Rickenbacker 4001FL are in the fingerboard and binding. Naturally, the bound Padouk fingerboard is fretless, but is not a modified fretted board. Some builders will use a fretted board, filling the slots with veneer, giving visible markings an an aid to intonation.
This instrument has sold
MORE →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 1986 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. Rickenbacker’s rosewoods tend to be quite light coloured, almost towards the colour tones of other species such as Pau Ferro.
This instrument has sold
MORE →The Hofner Violin Bass 500/1 Vintage Relic is a limited production bass built to order, reproducing the 1963 instrument built for Paul McCartney.
This instrument has sold
MORE →