From my personal collection of classic, rare & vintage jazz archtops.

This superb Guild was entirely hand made by the highly skilled craftsmen at Guild's Custom Shop.  Using only the best woods,  it combines a Benedetto Scale neck with Guild's version of the classic Johnny Smith electrics.   Quite exceptional!

Over the years, Guild have made a series of Long Neck models, each bearing the suffix LS.   This is the only LS I am aware of with a Benedetto scale neck.   It sounds really good and it is designed to suppress some of the 2nd string dominance that occurs with the standard 25.5" scale.

It also departs from Guilds normal practice by having a bound pickguard (also like a Benedetto)!.

In one careful ownership since new, it is outstanding with just a few signs of age.   You just have to play it!

Price    £4350  reduced to £3950   Unique.

For pics and full details, just click on the pic.

#086  Johnny Smith Award.   2004.    MINT.  

The Benedetto Johnny Smith Award is a truly great guitar!  Stunning to look at,  inspiring to play.  I really love this guitar!  

it is full voiced with ringing harmonics and capable of delivering whatever a guitarist calls for.   Utterly amazing feel and tone.   Enormous acoustic power and a superb electric voice.

This guitar has only been played for a few hours, with no visible sign of playing and zero wear.   It is Mint.

Signed by Bob Benedetto with its original case and CoA.

It feels right and it sounds superb!

Price    £6850  reduced to £6250    Truly Outstanding

For more pics and full details, just click on the pic

#096  Guild X-500S.  1975.    1 of only 2 made.    

A real jazz guitar from the great age of be-bop.   Owned and played mostly by Jazz professionals throughout its life,  this is an exceptional archtop in outstanding condition and so easy to play!

Only two single pickup X-500s were made, both in 1975.  This is the only remaining, original example.   No others single pickup models were made until the X-700.

It has a stunning, rich golden finish with a rich, golden tone to match.   All original and virtually no play wear!   

This is a unique and very important guitar.   It lived in the Studios and Bars of New York throughout the late 70's and early 80's yet there is hardly a mark on it.   There will never be another one like this.

Price    £4250  reduced to £3950   Special

For pics and full details, just click on the pic.

#100  Byrdland single p/u.    2008.    SUPERB.  

This is the only known single pickup Byrdland.  A jazz players dream guitar!

Had I started with a clean page, thinking about my ideal guitar,  I would have created exactly this instrument.  

Jim Triggs is widely recognised as having made the very best of Gibson's Byrdlands and it is only natural that he should have been commissioned to make this Custom model in 2008.    Superb in every sense.  Amazing tone.

Immaculate, original and like new*  it is quite sublime.

Price    £6250  SOLD    Sublime    

This has been my favourite guitar for a long while. 

The NYS-2 is the small body New Yorker at 15.5" wide, 2.75"deep with a 24.75" scale.   

John D'Angelico first made a small-bodied archtop in 1951.   Now, when many top jazz guitarists are playing small body archtops,  its clear that the NYS-2 was way ahead of its time.

I personally prefer this size  -  it is comfortable, lightweight and easy to play, retaining all the tone, depth and character of the full sized models when amplified.

This 2005 guitar has a superb jazzy feel as befits an archtop of quality.   Mellowing nicely.

Price    £3750  reduced to £3450    So Jazzy    

For pics and full details, just click on the pic

#101  NYSS-3b FM.  2013.    2 Hrs Play.   SUPERB.  

The Flame Maple NYSS-3b not only looks stunning,  it brings a brightness of tone laid over the superb mellowness of the Spruce version  -  it somehow combines both.   A jazz players dream guitar!

The flame on this one is the best I have seen and the Vintage Sunburst is so rich.   I have owned it since new and kept it as a museum piece.    It has been played only to keep it in tune.  

Price    £3650  reduced to £3250    Sublime    

For pics and full details*, just click on the pic

This 2013 Bubinga finish is very rare.  Only six were made,  with different colour sides and necks.   There are only two with this finish. 

The neck is finished in a rich, vintage Natural with the Top and Back finished in natural Bubinga and the Flame Maple sides matching the body colour.   The whole guitar looks stunning.   I have owned it since new and kept it as a museum piece.    It has been played only to keep it in tune.  

Price   £3950  reduced to £3450   Stunning and MINT.

For more pics and full details, just click on the pic

This 2014 Birdseye Maple NYSS-3b is exquisite.   Only two have been made with this finish. 

The neck and sides are finished in a rich, vintage Natural and the whole guitar looks stunning.   I have owned it since new and kept it as a museum piece.    It has been played only to keep it in tune.  

Exquisite looks  -  it really takes your breath away!.

Price   £3950  reduced to £3450  Stunning and MINT. 

For pics and full details, just click on the pic

#043  Gibson ES JAZZMASTER.   1980.    UNIQUE. 

"Quite amazing!   Jazz, Blues, Fusion, Everything  ....  and so easily.    Magical.

This is a one-off, Customer Special, built by Dan Torres of California on a Gibson ES Artist for a West Coast bluesman, who wanted ES 335 sound and performance with all the pickup splitting options of a PRS.  The Torres electrics are mighty!    Great neck  -  amazing tones..

This is my perfect blues guitar - but its pretty jazzy too. 

Price    £2950  reduced to £2650   

For pics and full details, just click on the pic

HOFNER and SELMER VINTAGE CATALOGUES.

Five MINT collectors condition Hofner and Selmer catalogues.

I also have a collection of Vintage and very old catalogues on CD.

Please ask.

HOFNER MEMORABILIA.   UNIQUE!

This is NOT a headstock Fascia.

It is THE original Workshop MASTER,  from the Bubenreuth factory,  kept by me as a memento of a factory visit a long while ago!

This is simply a nice, original and genuine item of memorabilia to hang in your workshop!

The Inlay is set into a hard resin based fibre board.

The pic below shows the word MASTER written in Chalk.

It was used as a pattern and a guide in the days when headboards were inlaid by hand.

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