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2013 Comins “Black Tie” Classic, European Maple/European Spruce
Sharp dressed for a special occasion–this 2013 Black Tie Classic from Bill Comins is appropriately named. European Maple back and sides with sweet figuring pairs with X-braced European Spruce on top, understated Ebony appointments, bridge, tailpiece, and pickguard, and outfitted with a floating Kent Armstrong humbucker. Together in a 17 inch package, the result is a classically modern archtop that plays like glass in your hands. The acoustic voice is punchy and quick, even with flatwounds, while the amplified tone is thick, expressive, and dynamic. This Comins Black Tie Classic is one-hundred percent the professional, dressed to impress and ready to sing.
Other keywords: lutherie, fingerstyle, duane simpson, arch top, euro spruce, blonde
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.125 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - European, Maple - European 
2017 D’Ambrosio Angel City, Italian Maple/Alpine Spruce
A heavenly host indeed. This is Otto D’Ambrosio’s full-size, 18” archtop, the Angel City, here rendered with pale Alpine Spruce over Italian Maple, plus Flame Maple bindings and appointments throughout. Otto’s been in the lutherie business since he was a teenager, working at the fabled Mandolin Brothers repair shop. Later with Flip Scipio and even John Monteleone, and even later with Guild, Otto has had his hands on hundreds of instruments, which experience has informed his present day builds. In this Angel City we can definitely see the influence of Monteleone at the soundholes and headstock, for instance. Across the board, this instrument is exquisitely crafted for an effortless playing experience—a 18” archtop which doesn’t feel like a 18” archtop in your hands. Otto has included an Armstrong pickup integrated into the Maple pickguard, but you’ll find the volume and tone knobs are integrated lower down, into the chrome tailpiece itself. This allows the right hand to very easily reach the knobs without having to stretch your arm further out and across the guitar.
This is the kind of instrument that checks all the boxes: flawless execution, playability, and elegance.Other keywords: duane simpson, fingerstyle, jazz box, arch top, 02213, gotoh
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - Alpine, Maple - Flamed 
2012 Forster “Charlie,” Carved Maple/European Spruce
In Nigel Forster’s “modern classic” archtop stable, his Charlie model comes to us with carved Maple back and sides, carved European Spruce top, and an innovative “long neck” design that marries electric guitar sustain and playability with the resonance and dynamic range of an acoustic instrument. Here with a handmade Kent Armstrong AlNiCo III Jazz humbucker and old school paper-in-oil capacitor with volume and tone knobs recessed under the Ebony pickguard, compensated zero fret and saddle, and Maple neck, our 2012 Forster Charlie cuts a fine figure, and plays flawlessly and spot on all across the board. The neck is 1.75 inches at the nut, giving the left fingers a bit more room to stretch out, and the Armstrong humbucker is a powerhouse pickup for everything from Jazz to Blues, and even further afield.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, n.k. forster, archtop guitar, evo frets, cutaway, stefan sobell
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - European, Maple 
1952 Gibson ES-350, All Maple
1952 Gibson ES-350, all maple. What a blast from the past—this guitar is the quintessential jazz archtop/hollowbody. In seriously amazing condition, dual P-90 pickups and an incredible neck carve. This is precisely the guitar everyone tries to recreate; it represents the golden era of jazz boxes. It truly doesn’t get much better than this. All original except for the tuners. Grab it while you can!
Other keywords/misspellings: Luthier, lutherie, bespoke, team built, kalamazoo
1958 Gibson ES-175 D, All Maple
All the way from 1958, we have a Gibson ES-175D. This sunburst hollowbody beast is crafted entirely from Maple, with a Mahogany neck and a Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard. The ‘D’ in the name designates dual pickups, both of which are original PAF humbuckers. This guitar is all original and carries all the mojo and vibes you’d expect from an instrument of this vintage, especially in the condition it’s in. It’s no surprise that this was the go-to axe for many of jazz guitar’s greats.
Other keywords/misspellings: Luthier, lutherie, vintage, classic, Patent Applied For, Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, Joe Pass, archtop
1991 Gibson L-4 CES Master Model, Mahogany/Spruce
Black as night and sweet as sin. This 1991 Gibson Master Model L-4CES is a tall, dark drink of water with a wide range of tones under the hood. Warm neck position down to a quacky bridge position with strong motown vibes; it does it all, and so well at that. Mahogany body with Spruce top, three-way toggle, twin humbuckers, and gold hardware throughout. Parallelogram position markers, 1 1/16″ nut width, tortoise-style pickguard.
Other keywords: duane simpson, fingerstyle, jazz, arch top
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.625 in Nut Width 1.688 in String Spacing 2.063 in Woods Spruce, Mahogany 
2001 Gibson L-5 Wes Montgomery, Flamed Maple/Spruce
This 2001 L-5CES Wes Montgomery is a powerhouse, elegantly appointed and set up for glassy playability. Maple body with Spruce top, ’57 Classic PAF humbucker plus gold hardware, and being from 2001 this has Jim Hutchins‘ signature at the label. Looking for a classic Gibson L-5? The Wes Montgomery will do quite nicely.
Other keywords: duane simpson, fingerstyle, arch top, jazz, 23021003
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.688 in String Spacing 2.063 in Woods Spruce, Maple - Flamed 
2000 Gibson Tal Farlow, All Maple
This Gibson Tal Farlow signature model is smartly appointed and ready for action. Built in 2000, it’s in excellent shape with Figured Maple body and top, twin humbuckers plus toggle switch, nickle hardware, Rosewood fingerboard, and the ubiquitious faux scroll cutaway design. 1 11/16″ nut and currently setup with flatwound 13s, but you would also have a blast with roundwounds.
Other keywords: duane simpson, jazz box, archtop, 21240004
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.688 in String Spacing 2.063 in Woods Maple - Figured, Maple - Flamed 
1996 Gibson Citation, Tiger Maple/Spruce
This 1996 Gibson Citation model takes out every single stop. Dressed to the nines, upgraded with premium woods and 24 carat gold hardware, then powered by a Gibson BJB humbucker. Back and sides are carved Tiger Maple with tight flame (ditto for the neck); top is carved Sitka Spruce. Extensive MOP inlays along the fretboard, bridge, and culminating with a fleur-de-lis at the headstock between gold Kluson Sealfast tuners. Maple pickguard creates a light contrast to the honeyed Sitka top, and is adorned with the BJB’s volume knob towards the bottom.
Other keywords: lutherie, duane simpson, 19967001, f hole
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.688 in String Spacing 2 in Woods Spruce, Maple - Flamed 
1969 Gibson Super 400 from Chinery Collection, Maple/Spruce
A beautiful example of the 1960s Gibson legacy. This is a gorgeous Super 400CN-WAL coming to us from 1969, and from the Scott Chinery collection along the way. You can find it with its own spread in The Chinery Collection: 150 Years of American Guitars! Figured Maple back and sides with a carved Spruce top, Flame Maple neck, and original gold hardware. The back and sides feature a unique walnut stain that really sets off the honey amber Spruce top. The original pickguard has since succumbed to time (remaining fragments included with purchase), and later replaced with a period correct replica. The instrument has been recently outfitted with an acoustic pickguard (the original, nonfunctioning Dearmond pickup and replica guard are also included with purchase). The voice is characterized by a complexity and airiness that is reminiscent of a modern archtop responsiveness. Lively, expressive, and enveloping.
Other keywords: vintage, blue guitar, super 400, s-400cn, duane simpson, ’69
SOLD Sale! Read moreScale Length 25.375 in Nut Width 1.68 in String Spacing 2.06 in Woods Spruce, Maple 
1982 Gibson D’Angelico #2166S, Maple/Spruce
A special piece, this one. We’ve got a 1982 Gibson/D’Angelico, #2166S. This archtop was commissioned by Gordon Poland, and built by Gibson’s master luthier Aaron Cowles out of his own home, one of only two D’Angelico replicas Cowles built. Here, the guitar was built from various specifications and dimensions of Johnny Smith’s original 1955 D’Angelico Excel 1000—and Cowles had direct access to this very instrument for this purpose.
Cowles acquired a tailpiece in the D’Angelico style from the original company John used, you’ll find a D’Angelico stamp on the inside of the instrument and “IHJD” inlaid on the back of the headstock, “In Honor of John D’Angelico.”Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, jazz guitar, dangelico, d’angelico guitar, d’angelica, johny smith, new york
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.875 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.0625 in Woods Spruce, Maple 
1958 Gibson ES-175
Man oh man, this is a fun one. We’re talking about a virtually all-original 1958 Gibson ES-175 (right down to the curlicue pickguard) with the original Gibson Lifton case, PAF pickup, tuners, bridge—on and on. We’ve gone over this one with a fine tooth comb to make sure everything is in order, and we’re very happy to say this one is on the up and up! It plays like butter with a chunky C neck, and the PAF screams when you dig in, and purrs when you don’t. More mojo than you can shake a pick at! It’s in amazing condition to boot (but please, keep those boots away from this vintage ES-175).
This is the kind of Gibson history you want to keep close at hand, at all times.SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.625 in Nut Width 1.72 in String Spacing 2 in Woods Mahogany, Mahogany 
1979 Gibson Johnny Smith, Maple/Spruce
Certifiably cool, calm, and collected: our 1979 Gibson Johnny Smith cuts a fine figure in your hands, and dresses your tone in pure velvet with a Kent Armstrong humbucker. Our repair team recently went over this archtop from tuners to tailpiece, removing the original corroded pickguard and pickup and replacing the former with a matching vintage guard, and the aforementioned Armstrong humbucker. Vintage vibe is further maintained with the inclusion of an 1/8” jack for the pickup, mounted right to the pickguard with volume and tone knobs (cable included).
We’re talking serious juice. The trebles are dripping with it, and the bass does some kind of miracle work with note definition that cuts cleanly through the mix with smoothness and expansiveness. The setup? Butter is tough by comparison. Such a well-preserved Johnny Smith is not to overlooked!
Other spellings: gibsen, givson, johny smith, jonny smith
1936 Gibson ES-150 Charlie Christian & EH-150 Amp
Once again Al Petteway landed a king-size catfish, and now he’s passing the fork (two forks in this case) onto you guys. We’re talking about the deadly combination of a 1936 Gibson ES-150 and a 1936 Gibson EH-150—both original, both Charlie Christians, both the perfect complement to the other.
The ES-150 is in great shape with a fast setup and hard V neck. That Charlie Christian pickup gives up the equivalent of a 32oz porterhouse steak in juicy tone. All the knobs work fine, only a minimum of play wear on the top (considering this beauty is over 80!), and it even comes wrapped up in its original case. When plugged in to the EH-150, you better be prepared for a goosebump-raising experience. Al’s had this amp for almost four decades, and it’s still going strong.
We hate breaking up siblings, so these two are being sold as a pair. A rare opportunity to get both parts of the Gibson Charlie Christian package at the same time!
1992 Gibson BB King Lucille Maple (Laminate)/Maple (Laminate)
The late B.B. King is, and will always remain, one of the household names in blues. No less can be said for his guitar, Lucille, or Gibson’s long line of semi-hollow body ES345 guitars of the same name. We have here an excellent member of that long line of excellence: a 1992 Lucille in cherry red with Ebony fretboard and Gibson Humbucker pickups. As per B.B. King’s specifications, this beast of a guitar is made of laminated Maple, with a 3-piece Maple neck and carved Spruce toneblocks for extra sustain. The setup is stellar, and the guitar is in overall mint condition, aside from some light scratches on the pickguard. The classic Gibson Varitone is installed, which attenuates the low frequency spectrum as you cycle up through its settings, yielding a variety of different textures yo can add to your sound. This guitar comes with the original hardshell case.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.75 in Nut Width 1.69 in String Spacing 2.13 in Woods Maple - Laminate, Maple - Laminate