The new Model 1 with its languorous steel body, rubbed nickel finish, single cone spider-based sound, is absolutely tremendous. One can sense the wonderment when people first heard that haunting, vocal sound emanating from the Model 1. These instruments are loud, with a clear, warm tone.
I thought I heard somebody ask "What do we know?" Okay - here's what we know: We know that this has a peghead style peghead, a beautifully crafted old fashiooned shield is its bold headstock logo; the tuners are, in our favorite Jeffie D. fashion, positioned three-on-a-plate, and, not entirely coincidentally, the nut material she is bone; the fretboard mateial is Rosewood, the fret position markers are mother of pearl. The hand-spun resonator measures 10 1/2"; the soundwall - just like participating Dunkin Donuts stores after 10 PM - is open; the bridge material is maple, and so is the neck. The string height at the nut is .5"; the string height at the 12th fret is .625"; the neck width at the nut is 1.95", the neck width at the 12th is 2.425". The body, like that of famous emigrant from Krypton, is steel; the upper bout width is 10.75"; the lower bout width is 14.375"; the overall length is 38.75", the depth of the body is 3.125" with a 3.5" taper; the scale length is 25"; the weight ("Pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin' about half past dead, etc.") is 7 lbs., 11 oz. and a hard shell case is not only included, it is required that you take the guitar home in it.
The Smith & Young List Price with the case as of Feb. 2012 is $2600