Here is an Eastman SB55DC /V Solidbody in Vintage Varnish! This definitely evokes the mid 1950’s slab bodied models, and with top quality hardware. Introduced in mid 2020 and now making its way to us, the Eastman SB55DC /V features a slab body and neck of lightweight Okoume Mahogany, sourced from Gabon, Central Africa. The fingerboard, head plate and truss rod cover are Ebony, and that’s it for woods used.
Instruments
The new Eastman Romeo is a thinline archtop electric designed by Otto D’Ambrosio and features a solid Spruce top on laminated Mahogany sides and back for feedback resistance. Introduced during 2020 but in short supply due to COVID effects, the Eastman Romeo has an almost fully hollow body, but with a Mahogany block from the tail to the bridge. This block provides the necessary support for the bridge and stop tailpiece supports. The top is carved, solid Spruce and the back and sides are formed, layered Mahogany. The neck is Mahogany, with a bound Ebony fingerboard and Mother of Pearl dot position markers.
The Fender American Professional Jazz bass is an update of the Fender Deluxe bass, originally released in 1960 and quickly renamed as the Jazz Bass. Fender believed the narrower neck and single coil pickups would appeal to jazz musicians. This bass became a legend as it caught on to more than just jazz players and it has been heard on countless classic recordings. The Fender American Professional Jazz bass retains much of the character of its ancestor while being updated with modern features to create an amazing contemporary bass.
The Duesenberg Fullerton TV is a very well built compact body, double cutaway thinline archtop with custom pickups and a great vibrato tailpiece. Here we’re looking at a Duesenberg Fullerton TV dated on its label to 25 Mai 2011, and coming from Germany. This example is in good clean condition, with some light tarnish to the nickel plating but very little wear otherwise. Fret and finish wear are very light.
The Taylor Solidbody Standard was built from 2008 until the line was discontinued in 2014, and for two years featured a Sapele body with a lovely Tamo Ash top. Over the course of its production, Taylor offered three models – the Classic, Standard and Custom, in single and double cutaway versions. While called a solidbody, the Taylor Solidbody Standard is actually chambered. For 2008 and 2008, the body is Sapele with a Tamo Ash veneer top, Mahogany for the neck and Ebony for the fingerboard head plate and truss rod cover. For hardware, standard Taylor branded sealed tuners are at the head, a pair of Taylor Style 1 humbucking pickups with a 5-way pickup selector, and Master Volume and Tone controls.
Here is a lovely example of a turn of the century Lyon & Healy 5 String banjo, built circa 1895. Though there is no stamping on the dowel stick or label, it has the signature L&H shaped peghead and the lovely L&H Patent tailpiece which confirms the origin. The Lyon & Healy firm grew out of an effort by Oliver Ditson – beginning in 1864 – to expand his wholesale musical instrument business into the US Midwest, with a facility in Chicago run by George Washburn Lyon and Patrick J. Healy.