Dreadnought

Bourgeois Slope D Adirondack Sunburst 2009

On June 14, 2018 /

The Bourgeois Slope D is based on the large dreadnought body size, but with rounded or ‘Sloped’ upper bouts. The shape is similar to the original “Extra Large” dreadnought guitars made by C F Martin for the Ditson company from 1916 to 1930. Gibson also used the slope-shoulder form on many of their instruments, including the iconic J-45. However, during the 1960’s many of those models shifted to square shoulders to reflect market demand.

Used

This instrument has sold

❌❌ Gibson Country Western Model SJ Natural, 1956

On May 8, 2018 /

This Gibson Country Western was built during the model’s first year, and is in good playing order. It has had some repairs – it is 62 years old, after all – including some cleated top cracks and over-sprayed finish. The tuners have been replaced with new vintage-style models, and work well. As is typical, the pickguard is lifting a bit. Under the bridge, a sub-plate has been added to the bridge plate due to normal wear. The top is spruce, the back, sides and neck are mahogany, and the fingerboard and bridge are rosewood. The fingerboard is bound and has dual-parallellogram position markers, as an ‘upgrade’ from more basic models like th J-45.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

C. F. Martin D12-18 Twelve String Guitar, 1977

On May 4, 2018 /

This fine example of the Martin D12-18 was built during 1977, possibly around May. It’s in overall good condition and most importantly, its has just had a neck reset and full setup at The Twelfth Fret Repair Shop. Consequently, it plays very well and should be ready for years of use. The finish is in good shape with just a few small dings and dents, some of which show up in an exaggerated way in the photos due to lighting effects. The Grover strip tuners are an unusual model, and work well.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

C. F. Martin D-21 Steel String Guitar, 1967

On May 1, 2018 /

The C. F. Martin D-21 Steel String Guitar is less common than its classic D-18 and D-26 brethren. Drawing on the same Dreadnought body design, the D-21 combines D-18 level decoration with the D-28 wood choice of Rosewood for the back, sides and headplate. In 1967, the word ‘Rosewood’ almost always meant Brazilian Rosewood, and this D-21 uses avery nicely figured set. By 1969, Martin had stopped offering Brazilian as an option. This C. F. Martin D-21 is fresh from being maintained and set up in our repair shop and it plays very well.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

❌Sold❌ Bourgeois Slope D Steel String Guitar Sunburst, 2003

On February 8, 2018 /

Bourgeois guitars also tend to have relatively high neck angles, so there is more saddles exposed. In the short term, this means a bit more volume from the steeper angle of the string back to the pin. In the long term, it means that the guitar isn’t likely to need a neck reset for quite some time. Most steel string guitars will over time require a reset, and this can be an expensive proposition. Bourgeois seems to be taking a longer view with the higher angle.

Used

This instrument has sold

Gibson J-45 True Vintage Steel String Guitar, 2014

On January 26, 2018 /

Once in a long while, we see early J-45’s come through, and they are special. The Gibson J-45 True Vintage, labelled ‘J-45 TV’, is a good reproduction – with a few modern improvements – of those rare guitars. The J-45 appeared in 1942 as a replacement for the 1930’s J-35 model, and came only in sunburst to hide ‘defects’, which might now be called ‘figure’ in the Adirondack Spruce used for the tops. Almost immediately, the US joined WW2 and the J-45 was affected, notably with the loss of the truss rod. Still, those guitars are regarded by many as some of the finest built.

Used

This instrument has sold

Dreadnought

Bourgeois Slope D Adirondack Sunburst 2009

❌❌ Gibson Country Western Model SJ Natural, 1956

C. F. Martin D12-18 Twelve String Guitar, 1977

C. F. Martin D-21 Steel String Guitar, 1967

❌Sold❌ Bourgeois Slope D Steel String Guitar Sunburst, 2003

Gibson J-45 True Vintage Steel String Guitar, 2014

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