Vintage

Gretsch Committee G7628 Maple Walnut Solidbody Guitar, 1978

On July 30, 2019 /

The Gretsch Committee G7628 came into being during the era of Baldwin ownership – summer 1967 to early 1985 – and was built from 1977 to 1980. This is a solidly Baldwin era Gretsch Committee G7628, a solid-body, through-neck double cutaway design built of Maple and Black Walnut. With a bound Indian Rosewood fingerboard, it carries a pair of humbucking pickups under a ‘bat-wing’ type pickguard. The pickguard was either opaque or transparent. The pickups feed through a mini-toggle selector switch and individual volume and tone controls. A hardtail bridge strung through the body and enclosed tuners complete the hardware.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

Vega Deluxe Electric Tenor Banjo Sunburst Restored, 1937

On July 29, 2019 /

Here we have a real rarity from around 1937 – a restored, refinished and replated Vega Deluxe Electric Tenor Banjo, and they meant ‘Electric’ – this has a pickup! The Vega company was one of the older banjo builders in the USA, having started during 1881 in Boston, Massachusetts and acquiring the A C Fairbanks company assets in 1904 following a devastating fire at the Fairbanks plant. By the 1040s Vega was fading, and in the 1970s C F Martin purchased the company and held it until 1989 when Greg Deering bought it and re-created the Vega line.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

Fender Jazz Bass 1975 Reissue Natural, 2001

On July 26, 2019 /

The Fender Jazz Bass used the same proven Fender construction, with an Alder or Ash body and bolt on Maple neck. At 1960, Fender was learning how to add Rosewood fingerboards to their necks, and this was partly to win Gibson players over. The Jazz Bass had the new ‘offset’ body style, and a pair of single coil pickups. The earliest models used two concentric pots, each controlling volume and tone for one pickup. This soon gave way to the modern layout, of two volumes and one master tone control.

Used

This instrument has sold

Gibson J50 Slope Shoulder Jumbo Guitar Natural, 1953

On July 25, 2019 /

The Gibson J50 Slope Shouldered jumbo model was introduced in 1947 as an ‘upgrade’ to the successful J-45, with a natural finish showing off the higher quality Spruce top. The J-50 was built until 1982, shifting to a square shoulder body design for 1969, and has been reissued from time to time. This is a relatively early Gibson J50, built during 1953 at the Gibson Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Built almost exactly like the iconic J45, this J50 uses Adirondack Spruce for the top and top bracing, with Mahogany for the back, sides, neck, body blocks, linings and back bracing.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

Gibson ES125 D Sunburst, 1957

On July 25, 2019 /

Here is a rarity, built only during 1957 and in a quantity of less than 30. While the base model is common, the two pickup Gibson ES125 D is not. Introduced in 1946 as the effects of WW2 wound down, demand rose and materials became available again, the Gibson ES-125 was intended as a student model but has been used by many professionals over the decades. The ES-125 line was discontinued in 1970, though after 1960 or so most of the related models had the ‘T’ or Thinline body that was introduced in 1956.

Vintage

This instrument has sold

Gretsch G6199 Billy Bo Jupiter Thunderbird Red, 2006

On July 24, 2019 /

Here’s a rare beast – a Gretsch G6199 Billy Bo Jupiter Thunderbird in Firebird Red, based on Bo Diddley’s custom built 1959 Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird! This model, which is produced in small quantities, has an interesting history. By 1959, Bo Diddley was a major star, with an energetic stage show. Bo was so energetic that he found regular guitars, like his L5, restricted his motion. So, he built his own guitars with trapezoidal or rectangular shapes, and these have a strong visual association with Bo Diddley.

Used

This instrument has sold

Vintage

Gretsch Committee G7628 Maple Walnut Solidbody Guitar, 1978

Vega Deluxe Electric Tenor Banjo Sunburst Restored, 1937

Fender Jazz Bass 1975 Reissue Natural, 2001

Gibson J50 Slope Shoulder Jumbo Guitar Natural, 1953

Gibson ES125 D Sunburst, 1957

Gretsch G6199 Billy Bo Jupiter Thunderbird Red, 2006

THE TWELFTH FRET

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