Great looking Hayman 3030 appears to be all original.

guitarz.blogspot.com:

The internet is killing me today.

Look at this Hayman 3030. This beauty is in great shape and to my eye appears to be all original too. I have a 3030 that i picked up last year, but wouldn't it be nice to have 2?

This auction is ending in 10hrs as I write this so you have only that long (or as long as my resolve to not click on bid can last) to get in on one of these for a very reasonable price in my opinion.

R.W. Haller (backing away slowly from the internet for the rest of the day)

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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1920s Epiphone Inspiration round tenor guitar.

guitarz.blogspot.com:

This seems like a rare bird. When the guitar started to overtake the banjo in jazz some companies took to installing tenor necks on their guitars. This gave us the common tenor guitars by Martin, Gibson, and others. But this Epiphone Inspiration took a different approach, essentially replacing tone ring and head with wood. Maybe they thought that it would be an easier sell to banjo players if the instrument still resembled what they were accustom to. 

Maybe they just liked how it looked. 

I know I do.

R.W. Haller

© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

1977 Burns Artist. The very first one made.

guitarz.blogspot.com:

My heart is aflutter. Look at this wonderful Burns Artist from 1977. It has the serial number A1, which apparently means that it was the first one made for sale.

Apparently Jim Burns thought the Artist had a "more conventional style". I agree with the seller that he could not have been more incorrect, or perhaps modest. This stunner screams originality. Awesome curves, carves, and simple elegance makes this one for the top my covet list.

Currently listed at $7995.

R.W. Haller

© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

1909 Gibson L-1 Archtop acoustic with Leather case

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I contacted the seller of this 1909 Gibson L-1 Archtop guitar since it was mentioned in the ad that it came with a great story. I received this reply:

"As the story goes on that Gibson....It belonged to a preacher that rode a moped across Canada with this guitar in that leather case on his back. The guitar was later given to his son who kept it in a closet for like 50 years..till now...its in very good condition, as it sat in closet for most of its life."

I'd like to hear some of the stories this semi-closet classic would have to tell from the trip along the way. I've driven across Canada, and cannot imagine what it would have been like on a moped. This stunner did it on the back of a preacher, only to be kept in a closet for 50 years after that. I hope it goes to someone who can give it stories again.

R.W. Haller

© 2015, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: 1963 Framus Strato Deluxe sunburst

guitarz.blogspot.com:

We've looked at various Framus Strato and Strato Deluxe guitars before here on Guitarz but I do think this model bears looking at again. This 1963 Framus Strato Deluxe sports three pickups - note how they are all mounted straight with none at rakish angles as often seen on these guitars - and a bewildering array of knobs and switches. As someone who gets confused by a Les Paul's layout of volume and tone controls for each pickup and who would prefer a single volume control, a pickup selector and nothing else, I wouldn't relish trying to remember my favourite tone combinations on this Framus but I have to admit it does look rather cool. As do the metal cover plates, with one huge plate acting as a vibrato cover plate and control plate.

It's also worth looking around the back and at the neck heel. That's quite a peculiar looking bolt-on neck arrangement. I'd imagine it's a bolt-on tenon joint system. Yes, there does appear to be a huge gap between body and neck but as long as the tenon itself is seated firmly into the body it shouldn't cause any playing/performance difficulties.

Currently being offered for sale by Wutzdog Guitars of Germany via Vintage & Rare priced at €490.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: Mosrite 350 Mono Bass from 1973

guitarz.blogspot.com:  

I figured it was high time we looked at another bass, and so present the above-pictured for you. Although it's not a bass that you see every day I'm sure that most everyone reading this blog knows who it was made by just by looking at it even if they are unsure of the model designation. From 1973, it's a Mosrite 350 Mono Bass, and as I have limited time today I shall copy and paste from the listing on Vintage & Rare:

This exceptionally rare, custom-color 'semi-transparent Wine Red' "350 Mono" bass weighs 8.60 lbs. Solid alder body and two-piece medium-profile rock-maple neck with a nut width of 1 5/8 inches and a scale length of 30 1/4 inches. Single-bound rosewood fretboard with metal nut, zero fret and 20 original jumbo frets frets with clay dot position markers. Specially shaped headstock with "Mosrite of California, USA", "By Semie Moseley" and the Mosrite "M" logo decal in black. Black plastic bell-shaped truss rod cover with two screws. Individual Mosrite of California closed back tuners with crown shaped metal buttons. The serial number is stamped in blind into the twentieth fret of the guitar. Four-bolt neck plate. Two Mosrite 'Humbucking' pickups with black plastic covers with "Mosrite of California" embossed on the lower edge and outputs of 5.45k and 4.95k. Three-layer (white/black/white) plastic pickguard with eight screws. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way pickup selector switch, all on the pickguard. Mosrite metal 'hat type' knobs with "M" stamped on top, numbered from 1 to 5 (one with a "V" and the other with a "T". Jack socket on pickguard on treble horn. Mosrite bridge with four individually adjustable saddles and Mosrite aluminum and rosewood tailpiece secured by three screws. The 'Translucent Wine Red finish is bright and vivid and shows no fade. There is some very light finish checking on the back and a few small and fairly insignificant edge chips. Overall this super rare and all original, early seventies Mosrite Bass is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition. Housed in its original three-latch black hardshell case with black leather ends and burgundy plush lining (9.00). We have never seen another Mosrite "Brut' Bass.

I think that probably says it all. I love those "Bart Simpson" tuners, by the way. Currently being offered for sale by Fretted Americana via Vintage & Rare priced at €2185 / $2800.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: Bellwood acrylic-bodied "Super Swinger" Strat circa 1979

guitarz.blogspot.com:

This 1979 acrylic-bodied Bellwood "Super Swinger" Strat-type guitar caught my eye on Vintage & Rare this week. This is a Japanese-made plexiglass bodied guitar from the late 1970s and other than the colour details is identical to my own Sanox Sound Creator-branded guitar. There are a couple of clues that betray the fact that these are the same guitars, most noticeably the rectangular pickup cavities, the plate behind the pickup selector switch (the narrow body of the guitar, necessitated by the desire to keep the weight down meant that the cavity for the 5-way switch goes right through the body - hence the back cover), and also the back of the machine heads which have a star design on them - dead giveaways.

These guitars seem to have been sold under various different brandnames including Bellwood, Sanox Sound Creator, and Coloursound ("guitar guru" Paul Day has one with a blue pickguard in his collection and which is pictured on page 109 of The Ultimate Guitar Book by Tony Bacon).

This Bellwood version appears to be in supreme condition, although I would hazard a guess that the coloured control knobs and selector switch tip are replacements (also, why not go for coloured pickup covers?). It's certainly in better condition than my own Sanox Sound Creator which has a nasty-looking internal crack beneath the bridge.

Currently being sold by Germany's Wutzdog-Guitars (coincidentally, I bought my Sanox from Germany) via Vintage & Rare and priced at €990.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: 1965 Huettl Beat King II thinline

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here we have a vintage 1965 Huettl Beat King II thinline semi-hollowbody guitar from one of Germany's lesser known guitar makers. Some Huettl guitars were so basic that they didn't even have a trussrod, although what appears to be a trussrod cover on this Beat King suggests that this model is equipped with one.

The shape is reminiscent of a guitar from another German manufacturer, i.e. the Hofner Verithin, although without such a "very thin" body depth. The 6-in-a-line headstock, however, may be a nod towards Sweden's Hagstrom Viking, although that model wasn't really popularised until 1968 and Elvis Presley's Comeback Special. As to the blackburst finish, it reminds me of Fender's "Antigua" in negative!

Currently being offered for sale by Germany's Wutzdog Guitars via Vintage & Rare for €690.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: 1960s Hagstrom 8-string bass

guitarz.blogspot.com:

This original 1960s Hagstrom 8-string bass in cherry red finish is currently being offered for sale via Vintage & Rare by New Kings Road Guitars in the UK who comment that as this model was the world's first 8-string bass, it's "probably Sweden's greatest contribution to popular music ... (YES, including A**A)."

The Hagstrom 8-string bass was probably most famously played by both Jimi Hendrix and his Experience bandmate Noel Redding (check here for further info).

This particular example is listed at £1995 / €2,500.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare "Guitar" of the Week: Manndolins by Jonathan Mann

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I'm a couple of days late with this Vintage & Rare "Guitar" of the Week and once again, it's not actually a guitar I'm featuring. The instrument you see pictured here is actually a Manndolins 5-string Octave/Baritone semi-hollow body electric mandolin by Jonathan Mann (check out his website here), handbuilt in Tennessee, USA. Jonathan Mann explains his range as follows:

I am a "small shop" instrument builder and repairman. In the past I have built dulcimers, acoustic and electric guitars and acoustic and electric mandolins. Currently I am building only mandolins and concentrating on my "neck thru" design.

I recently got back into the electric mandolin, (building and playing). I came up with this body style by "morphing" a few popular styles into one. Available with 4, 5 or 8 strings. These Manndolins are available in three body types :

1. Hollow body - This version utilizes a traditional style floating bridge and has the most acoustic volume of the three. Its tone is warmer both acoustically and plugged in.
2. Semi Hollow body - This version has the lighter weight of the hollow body but has a mahogany block under the bridge which decreases the acoustic volume but increases the sustain and feedback resistance. This model uses the Aluminum "wrap around" Bridge/Tailpiece.
3. Solid Body - This version has the least amount of acoustic volume and the most sustain/feedback resistance. It also uses the aluminum "wrap around" Bridge/Tailpiece.

Instruments such as that pictured are listed for sale on Vintage & Rare priced at €775.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: 1984 Charvel San Dimas Explorer Bass

guitarz.blogspot.com:

GrinningElk Music Co., USA, are selling this unashamedly 1980s "hair metal"-era Charvel San Dimas Explorer Bass with lightning bolt graphics via Vintage & Rare. In their own words:

If you're looking at this bass, you are either a big fan of San Dimas guitars and recognize its rarity, you had long hair back in the 80s and it was the greatest period of your life or both. We've had this beast stashed for a good while [...] Anyway, this bass was custom ordered from Charvel by Roy Jenkins in '84 and truly represents all that was cool back in those glory days, so far as Metal instruments are concerned. It, of course sports the gold logo and earlier, brass appointments. You gotta wear it low, if for no other reason than to look cool and the bass comes in its original blue- lined, Charvel case. Sometimes, you buy a bass or guitar just to take you back to the days when everything was right in the world, all the girls wore spandex and there was nothing like a mortgage to worry about. Sometimes, you buy something for yourself and there ain't nothing wrong with that in our book...

It's a great looking bass, but as the seller insinuates, it definitely evokes a certain era. Price available on application.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: Stevens Custom Guitars Bass Ukulele

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Our Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week this week isn't technically a guitar at all, it's a bass ukulele. I'm aware of the Kala U-Bass (I have one in my arsenal and enjoy recording with it), but if the above video is anything to go by I suspect it has been surpassed by the Stevens Custom Guitars Bass Ukulele from Germany.

The secret of Kala's U-Bass is in its polyurethane strings, and here with the Stevens bass uke, once again the custom-made strings from Pyramid strings must surely lie behind this tiny instrument's huge sound. The Stevens Guitars website tells us that the strings are "similar to classical, wounded, silverplated strings and custom made for our instruments". I'm not sure if that means that they have a nylon core as on classical guitar strings, but I think that would be my interpretation.

Available in fretted and fretless versions, the Stevens Custom Guitars Bass Ukulele is available via Vintage & Rare for €1100.

For comparison check out also the Kala U-Bass.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: 2012 Nick Page Gott 4 Paisley Bass

guitarz.blogspot.com:

This Gott 4 bass is an original design from Berlin's Nick Page Guitars, featuring a Swamp Ash body and American Maple neck and fingerboard. The design has some Rickenbacker influences, whilst the paisley finish must surely be inspired by Fender. On the Nick Page website you'll see a simlar bass with an aluminium top; I can't decide which version I like the best.

The Nick Page Gott 4 Paisley bass is being offered for sale by Gitarren-Studio-Neustadt, Germany, via Vintage & Rare and is priced at €3200.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: Katar Popmaster Thinline Kustom 2012

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here at Guitarz we don't just celebrate only vintage guitars, we also take an interest in contemporary instruments. Katar Kustom Kuitars (their spelling!) are a boutique maker from Finland specializing in Custom Shop instruments. As well as guitars obviously styled after certain famous Fender and Gibson models, Katar also offer some original designs such as the Popmaster which is delightfully retro in its design having the vibe of some of those old Danelectro and Kay guitars, but obviously with much higher production values.

This particular guitar is being sold by Amplisonic Ltd of Finland via Vintage & Rare and is priced at €3800.

G L Wilson

 © 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: Schwarz Custom Guitars Supercharger "Little Charlie"

guitarz.blogspot.com:  

It's funny how a little twist on an established design can sometimes give it a lease of new life. From Germany, this Schwarz Custom Guitars Supercharger "Little Charlie" model takes a Bigsby-equipped Telecaster Thinline and gives it the offset waist treatment. Design-wise it works beautifully; you have to question why no-one thought of it before. (Or perhaps they did... observations on this matter in the comments please!) The guitar also features a pair of Charlie Christian style pickups, which I'd imagine are the reason for its "Little Charlie" nickname.

Specs:

• Neck: Canadian Hardmaple
• Fretboard: Madagascar Rosewood, 9.5" radius
• Body: SwampAsh Thinline
• Scale: 25,5 Inch
• Tuner: Gotoh
• Frets: Ferdinand Wagner 9662
• Pickups: Dead End Little Charlie
• Bridge: JM Style with Vibramate V5 Bigsby B5 (also available with Mastery Bridge)
• Finish: Black Nitro light aged, real Celluloid perloid Binding

Priced at €2390 and available via Vintage & Rare. See www.schwarz-custom.de and/or www.gitarren-studio-neustadt.de for further information.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of (last) Week: Finnish Guitar Works acrylic-bodied Precision Bass

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I should really have posted this Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week a couple of days ago, but as ever, other things came up and before I knew it, it was next week already!

Anyway, here we have an acrylic-bodied Precision-style bass from Finnish Guitar Works (FGW). I don't think we've had the occasion to feature a Finnish-made instrument on the blog before. The slab-bodied Precision design with its single pickup and simple contol layout makes for an ideal instrument to receive the see-through perspex body treatment, as there is not a lot of internal routing to be seen.

This bass is currently being offered for sale via Vintage & Rare, priced at €890.

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vinage & Rare Guitar of the Week: 1956 Gretsch Chet Atkins model 6129

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Whoops! It seems I've not featured any Vintage & Rare guitars recently - this is not a deliberate oversight, rather it's just a case of me having been very busy and often not posting on the blog until last thing at night and - dare I say it - without having had the time to put in the research. So apologies to our friends at Vintage & Rare - we haven't forgotten you!

Although it looks like a Gretsch Roundup, this particular beauty - a 1956 Gretsch model 6129 - is believed to be the original Chet Arkins guitar before Gretsch developed his own signature model. It is being offered for sale by The Guitar Doctor via Vintage & Rare. Note the studded leather trim around the sides of the body; on many guitars it could look tacky, but on this Gretsch it looks quite natural and "appropriate".

To see and hear more, check out this video from Vintage & Rare:

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - 10 years and counting!

Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: Bigsby-equipped Blastcult FIF T SIX

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Seeing as Blastcult, founded by Orange County bass maker Jason Burns, specializes in hand-built upright basses, perhaps it'll come as little surprise that this Blastcult FIF T SIX guitar has a distinct Rockabilly flavour. It has a chambered sugar pine body with nitro cell pearloid binding. The fretboard is of gaboon ebony and the guitar has a scalelength of 25.5". Hardware includes Hipshot locking tuners, TV Jones pickups and USA Bigsby tailpiece.

This guitar is listed on Vintage & Rare and is priced at $3,250.

G L Wilson

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