The Shadows - "Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt" + some lovely Burns guitars!

guitarz.blogspot.com: Ah, call me mischievious if you will, but you didn't seriously think I was going to let Bertram get away unchallenged with that comment about The Shadows in previous post, did you? I don't care if they are old fashioned, I think their tunes are well worth a spin. I quite like this piece from Australian TV in 1967 from when the band were endorsing Burns guitars. And if you don't like that, then there's always the dancing girls.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

2010 Burns Bison 62 Reissue

guitarz.blogspot.com

You have to admit that the Burns Bison 62 is one of the coolest guitars ever - it is on the top on my guitars-I-need-to have-and-play-on-stage-before-I-die list! Like many pioneering guitars of its time, its design proved timeless, however slightly eccentric - and since I have no idea of who the Shadows are and don't want to know, it has no 'surf' connotations to me - and probably most people.

And it's not only the looks, its tri-sonic pickups sounds perfect - and I'm a humbucker kind of guy -, I particularly enjoy the tone selector that makes more sense than tone pots - one switch and you have exactly what you need... I like how some historical brands resurrected and reissued their great guitars of the golden age (see also what Eko has in stock), though some are still missing!

Bertram D

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1950's Mattel Walt Disney Davy Crockett plastic Ge-tar

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Sometimes we like to take a look at vintage toy guitars as often they are as collectable as the real thing, and are also very interesting cultural artifacts.

This particular Walt Disney Davey Crockett guitar (or "ge-tar" as it's spelt on the box) is of course a piece of movie memorabilia so could possibly appeal to collectors of film ephemera as well as guitar and toy collectors. Made by Mattel, at first I was not sure if the eBay seller's dating of 1953 is correct seeing as Walt Disney's "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier" was released in 1955. But then again, that film was comprised of three Disney television specials edited together, the first of which was originally broadcast in December 1954, so maybe these guitars could have been produced in advance?

The cynic in me wants to say it's hard to picture the King of the Wild Frontier playing a 4-string plastic "ge-tar" with his own picture on it which also conveniently functions as a music box using a wind-up handle on one side, but then I guess kids have better imaginations than us adults and wouldn't consider such issues. Still, it's a nice item, in good condition and with the original box, so it'll be interesting to see what this fetches in the eBay auction.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

One-off pre-production Musicvox MI-5 bass in seafoam green

guitarz.blogspot.com:

We're big fans of Musicvox guitars here on Guitarz; they're modern high quality highly-playable guitars with a certain retro quirkiness to them. The company was recently re-launched after a brief hiatus, and have introduced several new models including the MI-5 series. This particular Musicvox MI-5 Bass is actually a pre-production model (I guess that's the same as a prototype) and is a one-off featuring a seafoam green finish and alternate control layout to the production version. It's worth following Musicvox's eBay auctions as they have been selling a number of one-off future rarities.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $899.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1980s Tokai Talbo Blazing Fire aluminium-bodied beauty

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here's a proper 1980s-era Japanese-made Tokai Talbo Blazing Fire with aluminium body, and definitely not to be confused with the later Korean-made wooden bodied versions. In fact the wooden-bodied Talbo is an oxymoron, since the very name "Talbo" is a portmanteau of "Tokai ALuminium BOdy". The seller describes this guitar as playing "like a Stratocaster on steroids" and you can be sure that given the body material this guitar is going to be seriously resonant.

Currently being auctioned on eBay UK with a starting price of £499.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Electric Thailand dragon guitar (or maybe it's an electric pin)

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Although the eBay listing calls this 4-string instrument a "Thailand dragon guitar", it's obviously an electric version of a traditional folk instrument and I'm thinking it might be an electric pin. We looked at a less ornate version back in May 2009.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $699.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Robin Raider with Mosrite-inspired body made in Japan by Tokai

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here we see a Robin Raider guitar from the now legendary Robin Guitars of Texas. This is an early Robin from the period 1982-1986 when their guitars were made in Japan. After 1986 production moved to the USA ... which makes a refreshing change from the way things are usually done as so many American guitar companies used to build in the USA and then transferred production to the Far East. Robin designs were often Fender-inspired so it's nice to see the nod to Mosrite guitars on this model.

In keeping with the Mosrite-theme it's one of those rare breed of right-handed guitars that look as if they should be left-handed! The illusion is further enhanced by the upside-down headstock.

Currently being offered for sale on eBay with a very fair sounding Buy It Now price of $449. Sale ends very soon!

G L Wilson

 © 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

GIG 10 Raptor bass prototype with quilted maple body & Matsumoku neck

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here at Guitarz we like to applaud small guitar companies everywhere who of course have to compete against the usual suspects in the guise of Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, etc and also against cheap Chinese imports. Having said that, I can't in all honesty say that I like the design of this prototype Gig 10 Raptor bass. Unfortunately, the design looks all too random in a "weird for the sake of it" way, and I say that despite being a fan of "holey" guitars. But never mind me, I'm sure there's a whole bunch of people that it'll appeal to, after all it does look like a bass that's been born to rock. If B.C. Rich had come up with this design, it could have been a classic already. This prototype from GIG 10 Guitar Productions of the Pacific Northwest, USA, features a refurbished Matsumoku-made neck circa 1985 married to a one-piece solid maple body with a highly figured quilted grain.

Currently listed on eBay with a starting price of $499.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1960s German-made Perlgold Musima/Migma bass in stunning pearloid

guitarz.blogspot.com:

This 1960s Perlgold bass is quite obviously from the same stable as Germany's Musima and Migma guitars - the shape and those pickups are quite distinctive. And isn't it great to see three pickups on a bass? Remember this instrument is from the era when four pickups on a guitar was commonplace. I don't really have a lot to say about this beauty of a bass, other than to urge you to enjoy the photos!

This item is located in Hungary and is currently being auctioned on eBay with a starting price of $209.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Spot the Mexican in this line up of Fender American Roland Ready Strats

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Todd writes:

I collect and play Fender USA Roland Ready (RR) Strats because of their high build quality (comparable to other USA Strats of the period); they drive a great product line of devices made by one of the best instrument manufacturers; and of course, because they're pretty rare for a mainstream brand and well known model. I've even seen knowledgeable Fender collectors claim they are all forgeries and were never actually produced by Fender in the USA.

Some of the confusion stems from the fact that they are neither Fender VG Strats nor the Made in Mexico (MIM) RR Strats still made today: VG Strats have an abbreviated number of modeled sounds/tunings on board the guitar and therefore no 13-pin jack - whereas the Roland Ready models actually sport a 13 pin connector on the lower bout (facing the floor while played, in addition to the normal the 1/4 jack on the front) and have no on board sounds. All Roland Ready Strats are simply a sound source for Roland GR, GI and VG series devices, but MIM RR Strats don't offer the same features as the briefly produced USA versions.

Speaking purely technically, the USA RR Strats offered the same upgraded build quality as the normal USA Strats of those years - they play identically to USAs of the same vintage (with the exception of sacrificing one tone knob), The differences between MIMs are:

• A 22nd fret (vs. 21)
• Larger cast steel bridge saddles (like other USAs)
• Upgraded tuners (?)
• Two cast string retainers on the headstock (vs. one stamped)

The upgrades contribute to an overall feel of improved quality, with a noticeable improvement of sustain, in particular. All Roland Ready Strats can be used to drive: VG-8; VG-88; VG-99; GI-10; GI-20; GR-20; GR-33 and the GR-55 among others, which are very well made and sound great.

It's not clear why RR Strats were produced in the USA so briefly - their serial numbers appear to range only from N5 to N7 (1995 to 1997). Wikipedia does not mention RR Strats (neither the USA or MIM varieties; although VG Strats do get a brief nod), but it does offer the following information, which could explain the timing and brevity of the USA production:

"On February 11, 1994 the Fender manufacturing plant based in Ensenada, Mexico burned down. Fender President Bill Shultz decided to temporarily move production from the Mexico plant to the U.S. plant. These Fender guitars are fairly rare and can be identified by the unique serial number."

However, that doesn't fully explain the design changes listed above relative to the typical MIMs - perhaps Fender simply chose not to use the MIM design while manufacturing it in the USA? Any information regarding the "unique serial number" mention in the Wikipedia article would be greatly appreciated.

Todd

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1960s vintage vinyl-covered Egmond Jazzmaster-style guitar

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Although Holland's Egmond guitars are not particularly known for their high quality of workmanship or playability, certain models are nonetheless becoming quite collectable, such as this vinyl-covered Egmond currently listed on eBay UK with a Buy It Now price of £350.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Res-O-Glas English Electronics Tonemaster by Valco

guitarz.blogspot.com

You are probably familiar with this guitar model since it's been released under several historical US brands in the 1960s - mostly Supro, National and Airline -, revived lately by Eatswood and Guitar Kits USA (as Res-O-Glas bodies only), and put in the spotlights by Black Keys' guitarist Dan Auerbach.

Nevertheless you probably don't know the English Electronics Tonemaster brand under which this one was released - well it was just one of many that branded and sold Valco instruments - mostly amps if I understand well.

That's a very desirable guitar if you want my opinion, I love the 3 knobs on the top, and the famous 'aztec' stoptail! One of these days I'm going to get myself a kit and make one like this...

Bertram D

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1960s Höfner Verithin

guitarz.blogspot.com

I know we've looked at vintage Höfner Verithins before, but it's such a simple beautiful guitar that it deserves another shot. Can't offer much more actually, since I couldn't identify the model - there've been many Verithins since the 1960s until now, with different combinations of gear and pickups though this one is clearly an early model...

Bertram D

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Ultra-rare & ultra-weird Roberts Roto-Neck guitar on eBay: lots of photos!

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I hope I'm not being too cheeky copying all these photos from the eBay listing for this Roberts Roto-Neck guitar from the first series (circa 1991), but then again the eBay seller did quote from our article on The Evolution of Lubani RotoNeck Guitars so hopefully he won't mind. If you want to know more about this very unusual guitar, then read the article.

This guitar is currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $4,500.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Trussart Steel Deville with shiny nickel body, perforated front and back

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Maybe I'm in a minority here, but I really think this shiny nickel finish on this Trussart Steel Deville looks 100 times better than the rusty finishes that Trussart's guitars very often feature. The difference is subtle but don't you think that nickel is so much classier than chrome?

Specs:

• Hollow, shiny nickel steel body with perforated front and back
• Bolt-on Koa neck, '60s shape, with a recessed steel head cap
• High end 24-fret Ebony fingerboard with Aluminium binding and dots
• 24-3/4" Scale; 1-5/8" Wide Nut; 10" Radius 
• Frets #6130 (Medium Jumbo) 
• Controls - 2 Volume, 2 Tone and a 3-Way Toggle switch 
• Weight 9.0lbs / 4kg 
• Front and rear pickups are Trussart / Arcane Inc.® Humbucker Standards, which are hand-wound and built specially for Trussart guitars

This is example is currently listed on eBay Australia with a Buy It Now price of AU$3,200 (Australian Dollars). That's approx US $3,354 at the time of writing - compare that with the retail price from Trussart in the region os US$5,500.

Thanks to Andrew K for bringing this guitar to my attention.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Arnold Hoyer Esquire 19a

guitarz.blogspot.com

This Arnold Hoyer Esquire 19a is a quite sober guitar compared to the flamboyant jazz/acoustic guitars this brand offered in the 1950s: no special finish, no German carve nor carved top, no complex binding, regular F-holes... No, wait, look at that crazy fretboard with burgundy mother-of-toilet-seat accordion finish! And the scratchplate could have been used on an halberd!

A similar guitar is this alleged Rellog Gitona - I'm not sure that Rellog Gitona was ever a guitar brand, for me it's a pickup brand but it's probably the only label on the guitar, that might be confusing... Anyway, tell me if I'm wrong!

These guitar share the same headstock design but this one has an East-German stoptail where the Hoyer has a West-german one... Well by now you know all about the big mess that was early electric lutherie in Europe, where you couldn't tell here in Fender, here is Gibson, and that's how it all started (if it's true actually...)

Bertram D

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1980s Made In Japan Fender Strat with locking trem and single humbucker

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Although I am aware of the existence of these MIJ single humbucker Fender Strats (I guess that they were a "Superstrat" of sorts) I've not previously seen one with the enlarged pickguard that we see pictured here. Seeing as the guitar has a backplate for the controls, I'm guessing that the pickguard is non-original and that this guitar would oringally not have had a guard at all. I suspect that the volume control has been moved from the usual position next to the pickup and the switches (coild tap and brighness) added, despite the fact that the seller claims the guitar is all original.

Unless of course this is a Fender Japan model I'm not aware of. Does anyone out there know for sure?

This guitar is currently listed on eBay with a low starting price.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Maton "Alver" 1960s Australian-made semi-acoustic guitar

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here's a vintage Maton semi-acoustic guitar bearing the Alver brandname, currently listed on eBay UK with a Buy It Now price of £499. Although the guitar has quite a lot of wear through use over the years, I'd say that price sounds very reasonable for one of these legendary Australian-made guitars, although I confess that I am not an expert. The machine heads are not original and the pickguard is missing (this is evidenced by enlarged lobe on the treble-side f-hole - no doubt this was to facilitate getting the pots and wiring loom inside the instrument).

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Hoyer 5069 Flying Arrow - Germany's answer to the Gibson Flying V

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Dirk writes:

I just bought a Hoyer Flying Arrow 5069 from 1972 (not yet a 5069 S with DiMarzios, neck-through and string-through) in my town here in France after having followed it for more than a year. The guy who owned it last (it changed between two shop-owners) got hassled by me for a couple of weeks and yes, yesterday after two and a half hours of "discussing" in front of his shop he ended up by bringing the case out, taking my (reasonable) €600 in cash and I ran to plug it into my amps...

It's very pleasant to negotiate with real people in real life without screen and keyboard inter-faced, I must say!

Some basics: three piece mahogany body, center block plus two "wings", an ultra-rigid laminated set neck, fat and round (about twenty layers or so) like some older German archtops (Höfner, Hopf or Hoyer?); the original, Hoyer-branded, low-output single-coil pickups which look like Humbuckers have been replaced by some no-name doublebobbins, one volume, a pot to influence the lower frequencies, another one for the higher tones. The switch (very flimsy on top, good mecanically underneath) does neck, bridge and both out-of-phase (very useful for a full-throttle Hardrock axe ridden at 11 - but it does the softer, bluesier or jazzier range as well with the neck pickup and pots rolled back).

I'll get her some decent pickups one day (Gibson '57, without the + ?).

The interesting thing in fact is the bridge (Schaller ???), no stamp. It is adjustable in any direction; I wouldn't call that a roller bridge, because the rollers just help you to adjust the spacing of the strings as you like...

Intonation is perfect so.

Easy to service; just loosen the strings, unscrew the block which holds them, swing it away and you do whatever is necessary to her. Ah yes, tuners are Schallers, not original.

I love it, sounds great and I don't want to sell it.

When started [playing guitar] about the age of 14/16 there were Flying Vs or Arrows all over the town, every shop had them, cause I used to live in Hanover, Germany and Scorpions played Vs, at least the Schenkers did. So we flatenned our noses on windows and put our paws on some of these Vs, but never on a Gibson (always protected by "Please don't touch" or "Ask a seller" notes) and by that time the Flying Arrows had a very good reputation as a Gibson V Killer (the Humbucker versions!) and we were allowed to touch them!

If you're a poser, you'll need the right logo. If you're a player looking for the advantages of these guitars, accepting the inconveniences, a Hoyer Flying Arrow will satisfy you for a lot less money. It's a 40 year old mahogany girl with an undestroyable neck, made in Germany and not thrown together from Asian prefrabrics.

Just two things: if anybody knows how to get the fretboard dots back up (they've sunk in theirs slots !) I'd be happy to learn about that. Second thing, if anybody knows about a 5069 S (neck-through, string-through, last version of it) for sale, I'd be more than very interested! I'd even be interested in a 5069 S woodwork, just the body and the neck... all offers are way more than welcome.

Dirk can be contacted via Guitarz - we will pass any messages on to him.

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1960s Made In Japan "Nivico" solidbody electric

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Trying to identify a 1960s Japanese guitar can at times be very hard work considering the number of often obscure brand names used, and the fact that different manufacturers seemed to share hardware and even guitar designs. You can see why many people just say "Oh, that's a Teisco." It's as if Teisco has become shorthand for obscure 1960s Japanese "junk shop" guitars.

As to this "Nivico" guitar, I don't think it IS a Teisco, despite the push button pickup selector switches and the large expanse of metal on the face of the body. However, I'm happy to be proven wrong if you have any information on this instrument and have seen, played or even own(ed) one like it. The plate beneath the tailpiece is an oddity - it looks as if there should have been a vibrato arm here, but there are no holes in the plate so I'm guessing that this is a non-original later replacement.

This guitar is currently listed on eBay with a starting bid of $260.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1978 Renaissance bass in black lucite

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Following on from the fabulous Fender lucite prototype, here's another lucite-bodied guitar, this time it's a Renaissance Bass from 1978 with a body fashioned from opaque black lucite rather than the usual see-through variety.

Renaissance guitars also appeared with see-through lucite bodies (such as this example) and with smoked-effect lucite (see this other example).

Renaissance guitars and basses were produced between 1977 and 1980 in Pennsylvania. As well as lucite bodies, guitars and basses featured DiMarzio pickups and active electronics.

This bass is currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $2,795.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Another Soviet-era Czechoslovakian-made beauty: Jolana Marina archtop electric

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Regular readers will know that we here at Guitarz have a fondness for instruments such as this soviet-era Czechoslovakian-made Jolana Marina currently listed on eBay with a starting price of $189.

What strikes me most about this particular guitar is the unusual angular metal pickguard - a particularly chunky affair - which also houses the wiring and control pots which are mounted sideways on along the bottom edge of the guard. It's a beautifully idiosyncratic design with an almost DIY feel to it, reminscent of Italian Wandre guitars.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1972 Fender lucite-bodied prototype guitar, ex Beach Boys Carl Wilson

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here's yet more proof that Fender have not always been stuck in a rut ("another Strat, another Tele" as Leo Fender himself once said). This very modern-looking sculpted lucite-bodied Fender guitar actually dates back to 1972, but it is a one-off creation by Roger Rossmeisl who as well as designing for Rickenbacker was the man who brought us the Fender Coronado, Starcaster, and the much more popular Telecaster Thinline.

Note that this prototype borrows the Starcaster neck as evidenced by its distinctive headstock. Note also how the body has been sculpted and features two through-body holes either side of the bridge; anyone who has ever picked up a luctite-bodied guitar should know how heavy they can be, so it looks like the sculpting and body holes were all part of a weight-reducing effort - which would suggest that the guitar was conceived to be lucite-bodied should have gone to the production, and not that merely the prototype was made that way.

I'm going to be really cheeky and heavily borrow text from the eBay listing, but this is the kind of information that needs to be preserved and recorded for prosperity as I feel this guitar is an important  and very interesting part of the history of Fender guitars:

For your consideration is this vintage 1972 Fender prototype electric guitar. This one-of-a-kind creation was hand-designed by Roger Rossmeisl himself, who is well-regarded as a former Rickenbacker designer, and also father of the Fender: Telecaster Thinline, Starcaster, and Coronado. A very fine luthier in his own right, Rossmeissl was originally scouted by Leo Fender himself for the purposes of crafting Fender's line of acoustic guitars. An unbelievably talented pioneer with regard to guitar design, Roger Rossmeisl might not be as legendary as the likes of better known builders Leo Fender and Paul Bigsby, but his ever-lasting impact is arguably just a important. Having introduced his, originally his father's (Wenzel Rossmeisl), famous German-carve technique featured on numerous early Rickenbacker models, he is also credited with the development of the Rickenbacker 330 and 360, as well as, the Guild Starfire. His undeniable influence should be celebrated as his enduring vision transcended decades of development and remain just as timeless, relevant, and valuable today as ever. This breathtakingly unique model is special in nearly every way, and the historically significant provenance is just as incredible. This missing-link has long been discussed by enthusiasts, experts, and players alike after a photo of it being played by Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys surfaced many years ago.

This museum-piece is more than just a rare guitar, it is the only one of its kind. It signifies the attempt Fender considered to completely diverge from its previous path, toward an interesting and unknown direction. Much evidence exists of Fender experimenting with instruments, namely producing existing models with innovative features, and prototypes for successful models, but a Fender prototype for a model that was never released has not been documented.

Perhaps most important, is the utterly radical concept and futuristic space-age approach for the clear, contoured Lucite, body design, which was only to be enhanced by the special production black anodized parts, and correspondingly prototypical never-before-seen hardware. As previously suggested, all features and details of this guitar are unique and extreme, having required immense effort, complete hand-tooling, and significant hands-on attention from Rossmeissl himself. Yes, the Seth Lover designed Wide Range Humbucking Pickups sport black anodized covers, and even the otherwise standard Fender "F" tuning machines have black anodized buttons. The body has stylized cut-outs to reduce weight, which seems most logical, yet they simultaneously contribute to the overall sculptural essence of the body. The highly carved and beautifully refined layers and shapes required the eye and hand that only an artist like Rossmeisl possessed.

Since the guitar was photographed sometime in early-mid '72 being played by Carl Wilson alongside other members of the Beach Boys while recording their '73 album Holland, it can only be deduced that this prototype guitar was finished sometime in late-'71 to early'72. It features a Marauder prototype headstock Fender model to feature the Starcaster headstock profile, as well as, one of the first to be equipped with the incredible Seth Lover-designed W.R.H.P.s. Nevermind the hardware which has never been seen on any other known model.

The Carl Wilson connection is interesting, as the Beach Boys relationship with Fender was the best of any artist relations dynamic Fender had with any band. The Beach Boys exclusively used all Fender equipment since the beginning, as they were endorsed, and were usually exposed to custom color versions, special order instruments, and even rarer low-production examples. In fact, the Fender promotional photo where Carl Wilson can be seen playing this guitar, features several prototype Fenders within, including a prototype Coronado being played by Blondie Chaplin.

This instrument was not just a promotional tool, not simply placed in the hands of Carl for a quick Fender photo shoot, and not only to be used in a featured catalog of some sort, as it would not return to Fender's Fullerton factory because it would stay with Carl for many years to come. Though we do not have access to additional photos of him using the guitar, he owned it for many years to come.

Whether this guitar was intended to compete with Dan Armstrong lucite guitars, be a one-of-a-kind prototype for late production models made of wood, or just be a special project, little is known about what some have called "The Mod." It is not just an amazing guitar, but is clearly a massive statement, and meaningful work of art. Mid-Century Modernists will appreciate its contours just as much as a collector would, and it could equally be considered an important Fender prototype as it could an advanced architectural enigma.

Very few opportunities are impossible to recreate, but this offering might only be made once, so do not hesitate and make an offer, as the next owner of this guitar will most likely discover its ultimate importance, only enhancing its value over time.

The guitar includes the original case and the original mini-trem arm. It is in all original, unmodified condition, and has only a small 2/5" pressure crack near the neck joint. It is otherwise in very excellent all original shape.

This guitar is currently listed on eBay with an unsurprising Buy It Now price of $29,999.99. Check the eBay listing for further photographs of this fascinating guitar.

Thanks to Rick Smith for bringing this guitar to my attention.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1970s East German Musima Elektra De luxe B Bass in frog green

guitarz.blogspot.com:

We love these old Soviet-era "Behind the Iron Curtain" guitars here on Guitarz. I've said before I can't understand why so many bassists stick with the no doubtedly trusty, but unadventurous, Fender Precision Bass when there are so many other fantastic basses - old and new - to consider. I have a couple of 1960s basses in my arsenal and have recorded with them with no problems whatsoever. OK, I appreciate that certain vintage basses, particularly short-scale instruments, don't provide very modern punchy bass tones, but why follow the herd and use the same sounds as everyone else anyway? I don't know what people are so scared of.

This particular bass in "frog green" finish (as the seller calls it) is a Musima Elektra De luxe B Bass and is currently being offered for sale on eBay UK for what seems to me like a totally reasonable price of £189.

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

President George Bush (Snr)'s guitar

guitarz.blogspot.com:  

Back in 1989 during the inauguration party of President George Bush (the first), the news organizations snapped this picture of the president-elect and political strategist Lee Atwater, "jamming" onstage. Bush was slinging a guitar custom-painted for the occasion and the press ate it up.

The guitar is on exhibit right now at the Newseum in Washington DC, as part of the "Every Four Years" exhibit, looking at media coverage of the presidential elections.  Specifically, it is an inexpensive Epiphone Strat clone from around 1988 - most likely an S-310 - and is pretty much stock, with its laminated alder body, hockeystick neck, ivory finish, low-grade hardware and maple fingerboard. In truth, it probably wouldn't receive two glances on eBay or Craigslist today, except for the fact it was the guitar worn (but not really played) by "The Prez" a little over 20 years ago.

As an aside, the Newseum is a pretty cool place to visit for anyone coming through D.C.  Look it up: www.newseum.com

Alan Peterson

Washington DC USA

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Paul Gagné Guitars Veetle: Rudolf Schenker's Volkswagen themed Flying V

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Hi Gavin and everyone at Guitarz. I've been following your website for many years. It's a feast for the eyes and the mind. I may have a few pics of guitars I made to share with you to have possibly put on you're website and Facebook. I have this one, which was a custom order from Scorpions management in 2010 for their founder/rhythm guitarist and leader Rudolf Schenker. Enjoy!

• Sculptured African mahogany body, with VW Beetle "hood"
• 3-piece Honduran mahogany / hardrock maple neck with volute
• Custom made maple mounting ring for Gibson 500T pickup
• Bound ebony fretboard with custom VW octave inlay
• Grover Rotomatic machineheads / Gotoh wraparound bridge
• Genuine VW polyurethane finish
• VW logo in body handmade from T6 aluminium, illuminated underneath from inside the body

Paul Gagné

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!