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Gretsch Double Anniversary model 6117 (1962) $2,000
Posted on July 24th, 2010 No commentsEver wonder how archeologist Howard Carter felt in 1922 when he first thrust his torch into the blackness of King Tut’s tomb? We felt a similar adrenalin rush when we opened the case of this remarkably preserved 1962 Gretsch Double Anniversary. Not only was the guitar a thing of supernal beauty, but the accessory compartment yielded treasure after treasure—remarkable artifacts including original hang tag, quality control checklist card, Gretsch Guitar Guaranty certificate, introduction to hilo tron pickups, and an official Gretsch polishing cloth wrapper. There were also a couple of oddities that made us wonder what the good folks at Gretsch were thinking the day they shipped this instrument; these include a description of the “action flow fret nut” (though the guitar doesn’t have a zero fret), and information on the ill-conceived Tone Twister (though there was no Tone Twister in sight).
The guitar itself is in beautiful condition and has all of the hallmarks of an early-60s Annie: Rosewood fretboard, neo-classic position markers, a stunning sunburst that makes you feel like you could walk right into it, G arrow knobs, a Space Control bridge, and a pair of ultra-versatile hilo tron pickups. Everything is completely original except for the short piece of binding that follows the neck joint from top to back inside the cutout; we replaced the original piece, which had fallen victim to the dreaded Gretsch binding rot. All other binding looks great, and is 100% stable at this time. The instrument has a rock-solid neck joint, a great-feeling neck, and wonderful action.
If you appreciate a stunningly beautiful guitar and love the unique, full-range sound of hilo trons, this your instrument. Seriously.
Comes in original Gretsch hardshell case. $2,000.
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Gretsch model 6120 (1990) $1200
Posted on July 21st, 2010 No commentsWho would guess that a hollowbody guitar could be this versatile? The list of guitar greats who have created signature tones using the Gretsch model 6120 is as staggering as it is varied: Think of Chet Atkins’ articulate finger work, Duane Eddy’s deep twang, Neil Young’s countrified clean or fuzzed-out tones with Buffalo Springfield, Pete Townshend’s crunchy power chords on Who’s Next, and the definitive rockabilly sounds created by the likes of Eddie Cochran and Brian Setzer.
This big, orange tone machine is one of the very early Gretsch reissues—which means that, like a fine wine, it now has twenty years of aging under its belt. And in our experience, the vibe that comes from age and being played can’t be duplicated in any other way.
This instrument’s beautiful block fretboard inlays, gold-plated V-cut Bigsby, and tiger maple headstock overlay provide just the right touch of hillbilly swank to compliment the eye-catching orange finish. Other features include a pinned bridge base with fully-adjustable Gretsch roller-saddle bridge, original factory Filtertrons, and horseshoe headstock inlay.
This instrument has been played, but has never been abused. It’s as solid as a rock, with only some small dings and scratches to provide evidence of two decade spent cranking out big tone in clubs and studios. There is some fret wear, mostly in the cowboy chord positions but nothing that affects playability. One knob and a pot or two have been replaced. The tuners have been upgraded to Setzer-approved Sperzel locking machine heads, and the strap buttons have been swapped out in favor of Schaller strap locks. The truss rod cover has been cracked and glued back together.
Comes in original Gretsch hardshell case. $1200
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Martin D-28 (1969) ($4,500)
Posted on July 10th, 2010 No commentsAmong the last few hundred Brazilian rosewood D-28s produced by Martin during the 1960s, this example is all original except for a slightly oversized pickguard and the addition of an early undersaddle pickup. We bought the guitar from the original owner, a coffeehouse performer who retired it in favor of a new instrument with modern electronics.
At some point in the early 1980s, the guitar developed the typical center-seam top split, which was cleated by a Prescott, Arizona luthier and has remained stable ever since. At the same time, the large pickguard was added to cover wear caused by the prior owner’s aggressive approach to strumming (hey, it was the ‘80s—relicing was not yet fashionable!). Over its lifetime, this guitar has experienced a few dings and scratches that we have attempted to document in the photos, but no abuse or other mishaps.
1-11/16th-inch nut width, solid sitka Spruce top, nicely figured Brazilian rosewood back and sides. A responsive guitar that produces ample volume with a soft attack, while allowing a player to dig in for extra tonal richness and projection. With recent, high-quality hardshell case. $4500.
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Guild D212-BK (1980) $1100
Posted on July 10th, 2010 No commentsFor many of us, classic Guild 12-strings are the gold standard by which all 12-string guitars are measured. Equipped with double truss rods to promote neck stability, these are widely celebrated as well-made, stable, and excellent-sounding instruments.
This 30-year-old beauty sports a very nicely applied mirror-like black finish on its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Mahogany neck and rosewood bridge. 15.75” body width and 25.5” scale.
From churning strum patterns to dynamic contrapuntal fingerstyle arrangements, this guitar projects the signature Guild sheen, neither too bassy nor painfully bright, but with the ideal blend of high and low frequencies. Very good-plus condition. With original hardshell case. $1100.
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Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe (Circa 1947) $3500
Posted on July 10th, 2010 No commentsIf you’re the type to veer a bit off the beaten path in your search for a classic western swing, big band, or uptown blues guitar, this may be the perfect instrument. On clean settings, it delivers balanced, dynamic tones that are ideal for playing chord melody arrangements of your favorite standards. Overdriven a bit, it yields a punchy bite while retaining good detail and note definition. Perfect for muscular B.B. King-style bends and vibrato.
When we first got this guitar, it suffered from severe binding rot. We were able to repair and preserve the back binding and much of the binding on the headstock. However, the top binding has been carefully replaced (see photo). In addition, the elevated pickguard shows some fading and the mounting hardware may be a later addition. However, the guitar is in otherwise remarkable condition, with almost no finish wear. The frets have plenty of life, the electronics function perfectly, and the original cloud fingerboard inlays are still luminous.
Laminated spruce top to reduce feedback. Figured maple back and sides. One cracked pickup mounting ring (see photo) that does not in any way impair the performance of the original New York model pickups. Comes with the still-solid original Lifton “Built Like a Fortress” case, which bears a tag from the Sterchi Music Co., Terre Haute, Indiana. Currently strung with 11-56 nickel-wound strings, though we have experimented with flatwounds as well, with good results. A remarkable guitar in very good-plus condition. $3500
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Martin D-28 (1967) $3500
Posted on June 11th, 2010 No commentsWhat is it about Brazilian rosewood that so captivates us? Is it the fact that due to long-ago overharvesting for implements like toothpicks and hand tools, it is now rare and almost unattainable? Certainly. Or its seductive, cocoa-colored grain? No doubt. Or the fact that many players swear they can hear a discernible tonal difference between Brazilian and East Indian rosewood? That too.
Regardless of the reasons, there is no question that for many players, the combination of Brazilian rosewood back and sides with a spruce top yields unparalleled results. This D-28 has been well-loved, but it still has years of jams, concerts, and recording sessions ahead of it. The tone is robust, with the expected hefty bass, ringing mids and singing highs. Picked hard, with a heavy flatpick, the guitar compresses just so and projects a wide-open bluegrass bite. Picked softly, this instrument is soft, sensuous and seductive.
Ebony fingerboard, 1 11/16ths” nut, nicely figured Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Top has repaired cracks and replaced bridge and bridge plate. At some point in its long and no doubt eventful history, this guitar also suffered a headstock break that was solidly, if inelegantly, repaired. When we acquired the guitar, Steve cleaned up the prior repair, ascertained that it is still structurally solid and also polished the frets and cleaned up the nut slots. He also reglued one loose top brace.
Comes with a new, high-quality TKL hardshell case. $3500.
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Fender MIM ’72 Thinline Tele (2009) $550
Posted on June 11th, 2010 No commentsThis 2009 Mexican-made Tele is nicely finished and outfitted with two Wide Range humbuckers that provide a highly useful combination of blunt Gibson girth and serrated Fender snarl.
And now, because we have space to fill, a brief history: the semi-hollow thinline Tele first appeared in 1968-69, designed by German guitar maker Roger Rossmeisl. The semi-hollow design was an attempt by the company to reduce the ever-increasing weigh of its solidbody Telecasters.
This ash-bodied example is in near-new condition and sounds great. Roll the tone back on the neck pickup and the guitar produces dark, jazzy tones with quickly decaying highs, throaty mids, and long-sustaining low frequencies. Nudge the tone control up and switch to the bridge pickup for a dose of beefy twang—still recognizable as a Tele, but with a bit more compression and somewhat more sustain than the usual Telecaster tone.
An affordable guitar in excellent condition. Includes an upgraded nicely padded gigbag. $550.
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Fender American Standard Stratocaster (1991) $800
Posted on June 10th, 2010 No commentsThis early example of an American Standard Stratocaster is all original except for the application of burger-alarm tape in the cavity to reduce hum and the addition of two mini switches—the first a kill switch for the middle pickup and the second a middle position phase switch to increase the guitar’s tonal flexibility.
Finished in a bright and vibrant lapis blue finish, this guitar has little fretwear and only a few pick swirls on the ‘guard. For an almost 20-year-old instrument, it has an almost unscathed body and neck. It’s also remarkably resonant; tap your knuckle against the upper bout and listen to the guitar ring like a divine doorbell.
Tonally, this Strat delivers the goods, whether you’re spraying flurries of Hendrix-inspired upper-register snarl or strangling the big strings on your favorite surf tune (personally, we like the Dick Dale-Stevie Ray Vaughan version of “Pipeline,” but all votes for the Pyramids’ “Penetration” will also be counted). It would also make a swell country guitar, with sparkle, snarl, and spank a-plenty.
Comes with original plastic Fender logo case (middle latch is broken, but the case is otherwise fully functional and secure). No tremolo arm. $800.
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Harmony student model (circa early ‘70s) $100
Posted on June 10th, 2010 No commentsRaw, unrefined and rebellious, this is the perfect guitar for serrated rock ‘n’ roll. A plywood neck that’s solid as a coffee table, two pickups (both always on—no selector switch) and simple, single volume and tone controls. You don’t get much more elemental than this affordable plank (and we use that term affectionately). Missing tremolo arm. Comes with original chipboard case. $100.
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Electra Thinline (early ‘70s) $350
Posted on June 10th, 2010 No commentsManufactured in the same Japanese factory that also produced Univox and early Aria guitars, this all-stock semi-hollow body is finished in a relatively rare sunburst (red and black were the standard colors). It sports fully functional—and dead quiet — electronics, a more-than-adequate Bigsby-knockoff vibrato tailpiece, and a very cool Gilligan’s Island-style headstock logo that makes us smile each time we look at it — Very 1972, Skipper!
Electra guitar fans (and there are a surprising number of them lurking out there) generally replace the stock, less-than-robust tuners at some point, but the units on this guitar still hold a tuning, even when wrangling the tremolo arm or performing a hard double-stop bend.
We put this guitar through its paces on everything from searing slide to gentle chordal washes. In all positions and settings, it yielded tones as sharp as your mother-in-law’s tongue. Just imagine how good it will sound on your rockin’ medley of the themes from “The Brady Bunch” and “Bonanza.”
Comes with period-correct and presumably original hardshell case. Very good condition with only minor fretwear and a few small blemishes and dings on the body finish. $350.
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