Sale Instruments

There is something fascinating, almost hypnotic, about a custom color vintage period Stratocaster.   The color and the metallic nature of that color is nearly indescribable, and so memorable that it draws one in like a whirlpool in the Bermuda Triangle.

This was $20,105.  BUT IT IS NOW ON SALE for:  

In the year 1958 we suppose it’s inarguable that the most important news event of the year was that on December 28th “the Chipmunk Song” reached #1 in the charts.  Oh yes, and also Elvis Presley, that year, joined the Army, Liz Taylor divorced her third husband, Mike Todd, and the former Brooklyn Dodgers officially became the Los Angeles Dodgers.   Meanwhile in Fullerton Leo Fender was doing well with his new guitars, Telecaster and Stratocaster, which models still had maple necks, and the earlier two-tone sunburst color became three-tone (brown to red to yellow).    This WAS $21,645 but is NOW ON SALE:

The original Gibson Gold Top Les Paul guitar is legendary, in so many ways.   The years in which they had a "stop" tailpiece are considered extremely desirable (as opposed to the original period when they had the long trapeze).   This is a glorious and beautiful Gibson solid body electric guitar from the golden period of the 1950s.   It is largely factory original condition with few and minor aberrations, and would be the prize that awaits a player who is seeking to document his or her success in life with a rare and desirable, collectible, memorable and powerful piece from the “golden” period.      THIS WAS $20,104 BUT is NOW ON SALE:  

This Orchestra Model is simple and utilitarian and yet elegant and stately at the same time.   The wood is, in our opinion, of "select" status - that Englemann top is wider at the extremes and extremely close in the middle - with a plethora of cross-silking (medullary rays) to prove it.

WAS $3295 WITH A CASH PRICE OF $3195, BUT NOW ON SALE!

Although a middle-of-the-line Martin ukulele model (Martin starts with the ubiquitous Style 0, then Style 1, Style 2, Style 3 and finally Style 5), the stately Style 3  is amazingly beautiful and handsome.  

 OUR PRICE WAS $2263 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:

The case lid has an old decal on it from the George Hotel in Bermuda (oh, the stories it could tell).  There are few tenor banjos as well regarded or as beautiful in their simplicity as the prewar B&D Silver Bell No. 1.  Silver Bell was the highest numbered series in the B&D banjo line.   This one has the scalloped headstock design, the flowery headplate that is inlaid with many dozens of pieces of mother of pearl forming wreaths and branches and leaves and flourishes with the words “B&D,” and then “Silver” and then “Bell” in large pearl script.    WAS $1335 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:

According to Gibson records the last guitar made with an A-prefix serial number in 1957 was A-26819.  This number is 10 numbers before the last guitar made that year, so one can safely say it is December 1957.   This acoustic archtop is in excellent condition, showing light normal signs of use that 55-year-olds show . . . .  THE PRICE WAS $4381 BUT NOW ON SALE in a major big way.   

Dennis Balian was the successor, as production manager of Flatiron, to the founder, Steve Carlson.   After Gibson purchased the Flatiron Company and made it a subsidiary of the Gibson Mandolin Company in Bozeman, MT, they quickly parted ways with Mr. Carlson and appointed Mr. Balian as supervisor.    "  OUR PRICE WAS $5000 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:

This guitar has seen much trial and a modicum of tribulation, nevertheless it is the ultimate statement of the visual essence of the C F Martin guitar in the 20th Century.   We are in awe of its rarity and historic significance.  1926 was technically the 13th year of in which the 000-18 was made, and it was also the largest year of production for the 12-fret version – Martin made 224 that year.  Over the 13 years of production, however, they averaged only 27 guitars per year.  In the year 1926 this model Martin sold for $45.    NOW ON SALE!  THIS WAS $6181.  BEHOLD. . . A MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION 

We present to our readers and fans a truly gorgeous Gibson mostly 1964 Model ES-175, in vintage sunburst which was stated to us by its owner as being in excellent [it's not, exactly] and mostly original [it's not that either] condition, presently having two humbucking nickel-plated pickups.  Although altered, this guitar fulfills the dream of the working jazz practitioner who needs to get the finest sound possible out of a modestly priced vintage instrument.  NOW ON SALE!  WAS $5670 BUT NOW: 

One of the most beautiful guitars that Gibson Company has ever designed is the SJ, or mahogany and spruce slope-shouldered dreadnought.   The period of the early 1950s is, by anybody’s standards, one of the finest in Gibson acoustic guitar history.   The sound of this instrument is proof of that.    This instrument shows about the right amount of wear one might anticipate seeing on a guitar that’s 60 years old.  NOW ON SALE -- OUR PRICE WAS $6701 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR: 

The full-blown Florentine body and headstock mandola is, of course, the alto voice of the mandolin family.   It is tuned C G D A from lowest to highest course.   It is so sweet, so full, so fully packed with plectral pulchritude that we don’t see why everybody doesn’t want one.    This extremely high quality, hand-made example has the following features:  • Solid Carved European Spruce Top • Solid Carved Highly Flamed Maple Back • Solid Highly Flamed Maple Sides • Solid Highly Flamed Maple Neck  NOW ON SALE!  OUR PRICE WAS $2499 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:  

This is a twelve-fret to the body, slotted headstock guitar that has some traditional and some modern features.  The traditional include what many call African Mahogany sides and back, more properly known as Sapele (with the accent on the middle syllable, it is like the great Brazilian soccer player, Pele, but with the syllable “Sah” in front).  The top is hand-selected Sitka spruce that is completely “clear” – meaning no visual aberrations.  It is close-grained and displays a great deal of cross silking as the finest Sitka does.  NOW ON SALE!  OUR PRICE WAS $1747BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:

The Gibson F-7 was a fairly short-lived but extremely well regarded model, made for just six years between 1934 and 1939. What it is, essentially, is a Gibson prewar F-5 mandolin with simpler appointments, and having a neck that joins the body at the 10th fret. In terms of the simpler appointments, this model has single-ply crème celluloid side, neck, headstock and pickguard binding, unbound twin lower case f-shaped soundholes.  NOW ON SALE!  OUR PRICE WAS $12,887 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR: 

James Goodall is one of the earliest makers of the acoustic baritone guitar, an instrument happiest when it is tuned C to C instead of the usual E to E.  

NOW ON SALE - WAS $4895 BUT NOW ON SALE FOR:

Behold, a gorgeous thing was one of the 3 top-of-the-line Gibson banjos.  Steve Martin and John McEuen of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band each have a Gibson Florentine, Roger Sprung has a Gibson All American, and this was the third in the trilogy – the “Beautiful Voice” or “Bella Voce.”    The back and sides of the resonator are engraved and painted in many colors.   THIS WAS $9275 BUT THEN PUT ON SALE for $5671 with a Cash Price of $5,500.     THIS BANJO IS "ON HOLD FOR A BUYER FROM VIRGINIA.