ArchTops  

AG - 000193 1922 Gibson Style 0 Guitar     EXC -   Gibson's flagship archtop right up until this year when under the auspices of Lloyd Loar, the L- 5 was introduced. This Loar period example was among the early recipients of the truss rod whose cover resides just below the lovely abalone fleur de lys on the headstock. Also it is rare to find a completely original 'un-messed with" Style 0 of any vintage that is crack free on the top and back and sides. Every one of these I've run across has a heel crack but this one has the most inconsequential hairline one I've seen. Original engraved tuning pegs, tailpiece, and adjustable bridge and label on which unfortunately the serial number has faded to oblivion. But there is a FON # 11638 on the end block and thanks to Joe Spann's new book "Guide to Gibson" we can now identify this as a 1922. (I've had it for over a dozen years and always thought it was a 1923). Pickguard is long gone but the original hard shell case is pretty dang nice and has had the ribbon hinges expertly restored so the lid stands proud. Complete your Loar period collection with this nice old specimen.
Price:   $8400.00    ON HOLD

AG - 80192 1924 Gibson L-5 signed by Lloyd Loar     EXC Restored   Good deep sounding example that has been re-necked using the original headstock overlay. It has also been completely refinished (except for the peghead) and re-bound with 5 play binding. All highly professional work, perhaps by Gibson. Beautiful sunburst spruce top is crack free save for what looks like a hairline finish crack on the treble side of the fingerboard. The maple back and sides also appear crack free. The tuning pegs, tailpiece and pickguard also appear to be original but the attachment tang of the pickguard bracket looks to be a replacement. It has a Master Model Label with Serial # 80192 and a Signature Label signed by Lloyd Loar March 1, 1924. The case could well be original and sports some old decals and stenciling.
Price - Consigned at:   $24,500.00

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 - 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 - Consigned at:   $3250.00    ON HOLD

AG - 00105 ca. 1939 Vega Electric Archtop     EXC-   This "Electrovox" is the same model that guitarist Steve Kimock has had in his guitar arsenal for years and just loves playing. It has the honkin' big pickup in the lead position. White plastic radio knobs with one for Volume and the other one controlling the "Dual Tone Circuit" with three positions for Bass - Normal and Treble. Beautiful blonde quilted maple top. The back is also gorgeous quilted maple and the sides are flame maple with a patch of worn finish at the bottom . This guitar was designed to be played electric and the back, sides and soundposts all help to eleminate dreaded feedback. But amazingly enough it sounds pretty darned good acoustically as well and it plays like a dream. Original open back tuning pegs. Vega script and a star inlaid in the headstock. A couple of capo dings on the back of the C profile mahogany neck. The label is in nice shape and the serial number on the top of the peghead is 56218. Gig Bag.
Price:   1095.00

AG - 00107 ca. 1939 Le Domino "Big Boy" by Regal     VG +   This Big Boy has a 15 1/4" lower bout and a scale length of 25 1/2 " with a nut width of 1 7/8" and it is a great fingerpicking guitar. Sorta like an archtop, sorta like a flat top. The top appears to be solid spruce and the back looks like birch. It is all original from the tuning pegs to the tailpiece, bridge and pickguard. The script on the headstock is in unusually good shape as is the Regal label. There is a bit of wear to the dominos on the fingerboard but the dominoes just above the tailpiece are in pristine condition. Fancy soundhole rosette. It looks like a 2 piece heel construction or a very perfectly horizontal hairline crack repair. Hard to tell. It sounds really good and plays nicely with a comfortable action. Ratty old oversize chipboard case.
Price:   $1750.00

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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