Brazilian Rosewood

Martin Style A Mandolin Natural, 1936

On January 9, 2020 /

The Martin Style A Mandolin had a long production run – from 1914 to 1995, and bridged the European and American approaches to mandolins at a time when mandolins were extraordinarily popular. Most European mandolin designs used a traditional bowl back with a folded or ‘bent’ top. In America, however, Orville Gibson merged arched top and back violin design principles with the mandolin layout for a dramatically different instrument. The new Gibson models delivered significantly higher volume and, not having round backs, were easier to hold and play.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

William Laskin Steel String Guitar Brazilian, 2005

On January 6, 2020 /

This William Laskin Steel String was built at Laskin’s shop in Toronto, Ontario during 2005, and features a Red Cedar top and quite a dark set of Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides. The body blocks and neck are Mahogany, with Ebony used for the head plate, fingerboard bridge and binding. The rosette has a ring of Abalone, but otherwise this guitar is quite simply but elegantly adorned; a line of purfling follows the complete top including around the arm-rest and around the fingerboard tag.

Used

This instrument has sold

Gibson Les Paul Gold Top, 1953

On December 9, 2019 /

The Gibson Les Paul Gold Top appeared in 1952 and rapidly began evolving and improving until reaching a fairly stable form in 1954. Initially, the Les Paul was equipped with a Les Paul-designed bridge-trapeze tailpiece combination, but also a very low neck angle. By early 1953, the trapeze was replaced with a stop-bar bridge. Soon after, the new ABR-1 bridge, known as the Tune-O-Matic, was added paired with a stop tailpiece.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

Fender Jazz Bass Olympic White, 1965

On December 4, 2019 /

The Fender Jazz Bass was launched in 1960 as part of an effort to capture the interest of serious jazz bass players still using upright acoustic instruments. The Jazz Bass was built until 1981, and has since been offered in a wide range of models based on the original concept. Here we’re treated to a Fender Jazz Bass in Olympic White finish, dating to 7 May 1965 and built at the Fender plant in Fullerton, California just after the company’s purchase by CBS.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

Gibson Les Paul GoldTop Refinish, 1952

On December 4, 2019 /

Introduced in 1952, the Gibson Les Paul GoldTop was Gibson’s first foray into the brand new solidbody electric guitar market. With the now standard carved Maple cap on a Mahogany slab body, a metal-flake Gold finish was applied to the top to increase its ‘upmarket’ appeal. The carved top was certainly a nod towards the archtops that Gibson was already well established in making, but importantly, Gibson had the equipment to do this, and Fender did not.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

Gibson Les Paul Junior Cherry, 1962

On December 3, 2019 /

Gibson first introduced the Les Paul Junior with their 1954 model lineup as their lowest price student model, with one pickup and no frills. It kept that position until 1959, when it was bumped by the Melody Maker. From 1954, the Les Paul Junior had a profile very much like the Les Paul itself – it looked like the Les Paul’s Mahogany back, just without the carved Maple cap. For 1958, Gibson was shifting to double cutaway bodies, reflected in the brand new ES-335, and the Junior also got a double cutaway treatment.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

Brazilian Rosewood

Martin Style A Mandolin Natural, 1936

William Laskin Steel String Guitar Brazilian, 2005

Gibson Les Paul Gold Top, 1953

Fender Jazz Bass Olympic White, 1965

Gibson Les Paul GoldTop Refinish, 1952

Gibson Les Paul Junior Cherry, 1962

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