Sale Instruments

There is something fascinating, almost hypnotic, about a custom color vintage period Stratocaster.   The color and the metallic nature of that color is nearly indescribable, and so memorable that it draws one in like a whirlpool in the Bermuda Triangle.

This was $20,105.  BUT IT IS NOW ON SALE for:  

In the year 1958 we suppose it’s inarguable that the most important news event of the year was that on December 28th “the Chipmunk Song” reached #1 in the charts.  Oh yes, and also Elvis Presley, that year, joined the Army, Liz Taylor divorced her third husband, Mike Todd, and the former Brooklyn Dodgers officially became the Los Angeles Dodgers.   Meanwhile in Fullerton Leo Fender was doing well with his new guitars, Telecaster and Stratocaster, which models still had maple necks, and the earlier two-tone sunburst color became three-tone (brown to red to yellow).    This WAS $21,645 but is NOW ON SALE:

This Orchestra Model is simple and utilitarian and yet elegant and stately at the same time.   The wood is, in our opinion, of "select" status - that Englemann top is wider at the extremes and extremely close in the middle - with a plethora of cross-silking (medullary rays) to prove it.

WAS $3295 WITH A CASH PRICE OF $3195, BUT NOW ON SALE!

This guitar's  finish might be called violin amber sunburst -- it is distinctive and memorable.   Its features include a floating Bartolini pickup and a single control for volume on the elevated carved ebony pickguard.   NOW ON SALE!  WAS $11,335 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:

The case lid has an old decal on it from the George Hotel in Bermuda (oh, the stories it could tell).  There are few tenor banjos as well regarded or as beautiful in their simplicity as the prewar B&D Silver Bell No. 1.  Silver Bell was the highest numbered series in the B&D banjo line.   This one has the scalloped headstock design, the flowery headplate that is inlaid with many dozens of pieces of mother of pearl forming wreaths and branches and leaves and flourishes with the words “B&D,” and then “Silver” and then “Bell” in large pearl script.    WAS $1335 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:

According to Gibson records the last guitar made with an A-prefix serial number in 1957 was A-26819.  This number is 10 numbers before the last guitar made that year, so one can safely say it is December 1957.   This acoustic archtop is in excellent condition, showing light normal signs of use that 55-year-olds show . . . .  THE PRICE WAS $4381 BUT NOW ON SALE in a major big way.   

We can attest that this piece is quite clean – there is virtually no sign of wear on the gold plating of the “The Flatiron” with floral etching tailpiece cover; the headstock is likewise inlaid “The Flatiron” in mother of pearl and thereunder an approximately 2 ½” long abalone fern inlay.  Metal parts are all gold-plated; the black ebony fingerboard has the usual 13 frets to the body joint, 21 full length frets plus four partial ones in the fretboard peninsula. Fingerboard width at the nut is 1 2/16th"   . . . .   OUR PRICE WAS $5000 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:

This guitar has seen much trial and a modicum of tribulation, nevertheless it is the ultimate statement of the visual essence of the C F Martin guitar in the 20th Century.   We are in awe of its rarity and historic significance.  1926 was technically the 13th year of in which the 000-18 was made, and it was also the largest year of production for the 12-fret version – Martin made 224 that year.  Over the 13 years of production, however, they averaged only 27 guitars per year.  In the year 1926 this model Martin sold for $45.    NOW ON SALE!  THIS WAS $6181.  BEHOLD. . . A MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION 

The Gibson F-7 was a fairly short-lived but extremely well regarded model, made for just six years between 1934 and 1939. What it is, essentially, is a Gibson prewar F-5 mandolin with simpler appointments, and having a neck that joins the body at the 10th fret. In terms of the simpler appointments, this model has single-ply crème celluloid side, neck, headstock and pickguard binding, unbound twin lower case f-shaped soundholes.  NOW ON SALE!  OUR PRICE WAS $12,887 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR: 

James Goodall is one of the earliest makers of the acoustic baritone guitar, an instrument happiest when it is tuned C to C instead of the usual E to E.  

NOW ON SALE - WAS $4895 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:

There is no more desirable A-style oval hole mandolin in the world than the Gibson Snakehead version made between 1923 and 1927. It incorporates design changes co-instituted by Lloyd A. Loar, Gibson’s Chief Acoustic Engineer without whom we might not, today, have the f-hole archtop instrument which led to the electric archtop which led to the solid body guitar which led to The Rolling Stones. Imagine that.   THIS WAS $4,118 but it is NOW ON SALE:  

This example has the fairly standard 11 15/16” diameter head, which has been replaced with a frosted-on-the-face Mylar mama. We don’t see very many resonator-backed Whyte Laydies and we don’t see many full scale ones either.  This is, then a fantastic opportunity for some lucky future owner since it’s both clean, capable and affordable.   NOW ON SALE!  This was priced at $1438 but now on sale for: 

D’Angelico mandolins are uncommon (John made just 47 of them) and, as you would presuppose, they are also incredibly great sounding.  If owning a John D’Angelico hand-made mandolin is included in your vision of “eternal happiness” this is a really nice one and it would, we vouchsafe you, make you genuinely happy. 

NOW ON SALE - WAS $7212 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:   

The F-50 STD is a classic Guild jumbo with refined features that make for a player-centric instrument with premium sound quality. It features a solid Sitka Spruce top with Red Spruce bracing, solid Maple sides, and the unique arched Laminated Maple back that has helped to define the Guild jumbo legacy - for a strong, powerful sound with exceptional volume.