ArchTops  

KK - 00010 ca. 1937 Kay Kraft Venetian Style C     EXC   A rare top of the line model with checkerboard trimmed solid spruce top and likewise trimmed solid rosewood back and sides. Patented Stromberg-Voisinet system to vary the height of the action by an ingenius adjustable neck. Original Grover tuning pegs work fine and this guitar is fun to play and sounds really good. Go have a look at all the detailed pictures of it on its page in the museum. Chipboard case. The price has been reduced and this is a rare piece in fine condition.
Price:   $2995.00

AG - 00103 1940 Gibson ES-300 N     EXC   This is a historically important guitar, the first version of the ES-300 and the first electric to feature a single coil pickup the 6 1/2" long ancestor to the P-90. It was in production for less than a year with only about 60 being made before the switch to the shorter pickup in 1941. This one is unusual with its single blade instead of separate poles. The interior shows no sign that it was ever fitted with anything other than this Charlie Christian style blade setup. The electronics are all in perfect working order with the pickup having been rewound by Lindy Fralin. Pots are replaced and the originals are in the case pocket. Straight neck, good frets, and it plays perfectly with no buzzing or intonation issues. Solid spruce top has two well executed diamond grafts just below the bridge and another on the side bout at the input jack. Aside from this, the top, flame maple back, and sides are crack free. Original tuning pegs, tailpiece, knobs, bridge, pickguard, etc. Gibson script and Crown inlay adorn the headstock. The original hard shell case is the classic "red line" model in fine shape. This guitar plays great with a big fat warm jazzy tone.
Price:   $7500.00
For the Gibson collector: This guitar makes a fine pair with it's 'sister' guitar the 1941 Gibson ES-300. See pictures of the pair in the Museum. Buy the pair for only $11,500.00

AG - 00102 1941 Gibson ES- 300 N     EXC   This gorgeous blonde is Gibsons 2nd version of the ES-300. Gibson records show that this one #97316 was shipped on December 15, 1941 just one week after the attack on Pearl Harbor so it was one of the very last electrics shipped before they had to shut down guitar manufacturing for the war. There were about 135 of this top of the line electric model made with the tortoise bound pre P-90 alnico small slanted pickup. This guitar is one of the earliest models and possibly prototypical to have the laminated spruce top so common in post war electrics. Most pre war electrics have solid tops. The back is flame maple as are the sides. The bound fingerboard sports the double block inlays and the iconic "Crown" peghead motiff. Original tailpiece, bridge, pickguard, knobs, etc. Two of the six original open back Klusen tuning pegs are early pre war replacements. Original pickup was rewound to factory specs (ie., 10,000 windings; 1.8 ohms) by Lindy Fralin. Excellent recent fret job. Pots have been replaced and the originals are in the case pocket. Straight solid three ply maple neck. Original finish with no overspray or touch up. Some wear but a beautiful patina all around. Professional setup with action at 3/32" at the 14th fret and plenty of room on the bridge for adjustment. Nut with = 1 11/16".   Scale length measures 25 5/8".   Lower bout = 17". Label is in fine shape. And it comes in its original hard shell case, with black alligator covering, solid brass hasps and latches, and lovely deep red interior. Like the guitar the case is in excellent condition. This guitar plays easily with wonderful vintage tone and is also a fine collectors piece.
Price:   $6500.00
For the Gibson collector: This guitar makes a fine pair with it's 'sister' guitar the 1940 Gibson ES-300. See pictures of the pair in the Museum. Buy the pair for only $11,500.00

AG - 000101 1957 Gibson ES 140-T Thin Body Archtop 3/4 Size Electric Guitar     EXC ++   A Drop Dead Gorgeous Blonde. So shiny it looks like it might be a refin but I think it is all original with nearly umblemished natural top and back. The original Kluson tuners have been re- installed and the neck has been refinished in nitro to cover the two extra holes left by the tuner restoration and a hole left in the heel from a now removed strap button. Gold Gibson script on the headstock. Great setup with recent refret with original type fretwire and the volume pot was also replace at that time and everything works as it should. Original tailpiece, knobs, bridge, pickguard, and p-90 pickup. And ... really nice original hard shell case with the plush pink interior.
Price:   $2500.00

AG - 00094 1925 Gibson Style 0     EXC -   A wonderful example of the classic Loar period (well he had just left the building) epitome of Gibsons pride and joy. And this one plays very nicely and sounds much better than the other examples I've played. Suburst spruce top and birch back and sides. The face is crack free with an expertly done almost invisible center seam repair. The back and sides are also crack free. There is also an almost invisible heel repair. "The Gibson" inlayed in pearl plus the colorful abalone Fleur de lys and a truss rod cover grace the headstock and the original 3 on a strip tuners have been replaced with single 1930's period tuning pegs. The serial number #81530 places it in mid 1925. It once sported a "Virzi" Tone Producer whose number was #10402 but it has had a 'virzectomy' long ago. Original tailpiece and end pin and replacement adjustable bridge. And, luckily enough, a well worn but quite nice original hard shell case.
Price:   $6850.00

AG - 00075 1930 Gibson L- 12     VG ++   Here's another wonderful Gibson anomaly. Common knowledge is that the L-12 was introduced in 1932 with Gold Hardware and fancy inlay. Here is a very early 1930 labeled L-12 with a 16" body, small f-holes, dot inlay and nickel hardware. Very much like a 20's L-5 and yes, it sounds like one too. Simple peghead ornamentation and open back Grover tuning pegs. Classic early style sunburst top and dark stained maple back and sides. Sixties hard shell case.
Price:   $4750.00

MC - 00014 1938 Epiphone De Luxe Mandocello Conversion     VG   Now here is a unique piece. A standard 1938 Epiphone De Luxe "Masterbilt" guitar serial # 12690 that has been converted to a way cool mandocello. Nut width is 1 1/2 inches and very comfortable. Bridge is adjusted all the way down but the action is fine and the thing is great fun to play. Scale length is 25 5/8 inches and it's got the big 17 1/4" lower bout for the big sound. Solid spruce sunburst top with the classy bound f- holes and "honest play wear" especially where the pickguard once resided but no cracks. Looks like it probably had a pickup glued on to it for awhile below the end of the pearl cloud inlayed fingerboard. Nice flamey maple sunburst back and five piece laminated flame maple neck the heel of which has been painted black after a repair which has left a tell tale line running through the screw hole left from a previous strap button. And there's the plugged 1/4" jack hole in the usual location on the lower side. Gorgeous inlaid asymetrical peghead and new 4 in a line gold tuning pegs. The conversion retained the original Frequensator tailpiece and uses ingenious little holders which make it relatively easy to re-string. And it still resides in its original Lifton (Built like a Fortress) pink plush lined hard shell case with the classic embossed "E" on the inner side of the lid. I suppose it's possible that there might have been a special order or two in 1938 for Epiphone De Luxe mandocellos but I sure haven't seen one. So I think this is the only game in town folks.
Price:   $3250.00 $3250.00

AG - 00099 1951 National Model 1140 Archtop Guitar   VG ++   Very attractive archtop in great condition with a good strong sound with warmth to it. Crack free. Spruce sunburst top and sunburst maple back with great tiger stripe maple sides. Original tailpiece, adjustable bridge and pickguard. Straight mahogany C profile neck with good frets and the patented flat removeable heel makes for easy neck sets but it is set up great right now. Tuning pegs are good quality Kluson type and the original National metal plaque graces the headstock. Hard shell case is in good shape.
Price:   $1140.00

AG - 00085 1941 National New Yorker Spanish     EXC   Memphis Minnie fans alert ! This is the same model Memphis Minnie played but in a rare original blonde finish and it is a beauty and crack free. Triple bound spruce top with no f-holes. Original honking, humbucking (that's right there is no hum or buzz at all) 6 pole (two rows of three each) pickup sounds fantastic. The guitar practically plays itself .... like butter, yep. Gorgeous flame maple single bound back and maple sides.   15 1/2" Lower Bout;   25 1/4" Scale Length;   1 3/4" Nut Width.   All original including adjustable bridge, tailpiece, laminated pickguard,old style connector (adapters available at most electronics stores), National Shield on the headstock and the deco 'long cover' tuning pegs. Alas, no case.
Price:   $2995.00

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