Here’s a wonderful rarity and a natural blonde, a Guild GSR x180 archtop electric with a Spruce laminate top, dating to 2013. GSR stands for Guild Special Run, and this example is number 11 of 20 built. Originally, acoustic archtop guitars used solid, carved Spruce tops paired with solid, Maple for the sides and hand carved back. However, once pickups and amplifiers became more available and standard equipment, it was discovered that the tonal subtleties of the solid Spruce top could be overwhelmed by feedback.
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This Martin D18 Custom Shop is closely based on a classic, and has been one of the most popular guitar designs since its mass market introduction in the early 1930’s. The basic Dreadnought design itself dates from mid 1910’s models built for the Oliver Ditson company. Like many guitar companies, the Martin Custom Shop allows customers to specify particular features, tailoring the instrument to their own needs. Here, this Martin D18 Custom Shop guitar was ordered with just a few modifications – a slightly narrower nut and some D28 appointments, particularly the rosette.
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MORE →The Guild X170, also called the ‘Mini Manhattan’ was built from 1985 until 2002 as a fully hollow electric archtop with laminated Maple body, Maple neck and Rosewood fingerboard. Here we’re looking at a Guild X170 dating to late 1988 and built in Westerly, Rhode Island. It’s in very good clean condition with very little wear of any kind. The clear, natural finish is in great shape and nicely shows off the light figuring of the Maple top, back and sides. The neck uses a five-piece construction with three Maple sections separated by two thin Walnut layers.
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MORE →The Martin D-28 is the Dreadnought by which all others are judged. Constructed of solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, Sitka spruce top and mahogany neck, this instrument has been a favorite of artists from Hank Williams Sr. to Jimmy Page.
Here we have another Martin D-28 Brazilian Rosewood Dreadnought steel string guitar dating to 1969. This was officially the last year that the Martin guitar company used Brazilian Rosewood, though it was found in smaller portions until about 1973 when their last supplies were exhausted. The Dreadnought steel string, as found on guitars like the C F Martin D-28 Brazilian and the rest of their ‘D’ line, has been one of the most successful guitar designs. Used by countless guitarists and on many recordings, the Dreadnought brought banjo-matching volume.
This instrument has sold
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