Fine Guitar Consultants Guitar List 8

1959 Gretsch Single Diamond Anniversary Model 6124 S.N.#31861
For playability and cleanliness, this instrument gets very high marks. Considering the wild fluctuation in Gretsch quality, owning this particular guitar is like winning the Lottery! It has a great neck. Very few guitars of this model were custom ordered originally with a bigsby. We have purchased a new old stock Bigsby vibrato that is correct for this model and year. It will be provided at no charge with the guitar on the side. The installation is up to you, if you decide to do so. We feel that keeping this Bigsby with the guitar will enhance its value to you or the next owner. If you would enjoy recreating Chet Atkins early sound, consider buying a reissue Standel Model 25L15 Vintage+ Class A tube amplifier. See the Standel Amp page on this Web Site and call Richard for details. We originally acquired this guitar to demonstrate the Standel amps. We are releasing it for sale because we now have our English Guitars sample to re-create Chet and Merle's sound on the Standels.
$2,650 with a grey fabric Gretsch hard case.


SOLD OUT 4 more coming later this year Boaz Elkayam "Incognito" 12-fret "FGC Special" Non-cutaway Remember when customized vans were the craze in the 70's? My dream van was a beat up looking, nondescript vehicle that no one would want to steal. Inside, my fantasy van was decked out with all the latest electronic and stereo gear and had a super-powered engine that could fly down the road. I never did buy such a van. That "Clark Kent/Superman" thinking did surface again when I played coffeehouses as a solo in the 80's, though. I always loved fine guitars, and was struck with the notion that when I played a fancy guitar in a coffeehouse, tips would suffer! Amused by this thought, last year Boaz Elkayam and I brainstormed, co-designing the "Incognito." This guitar is the perfect "stealth acoustic." Under its humble 30's style gold to black sunburst finish-- with which you would expect to hide some "mild-mannered" wood on a lower line production guitar--is a 30 year old Englemann Spruce top of the highest quality ("Superman!"). Though the simple, bound soundhole would indicate a typically X-braced top inside, this well-seasoned top is braced in Boaz's "advanced" style. Bottom line: loud piano blues and alternate tunings that hold their own. Full, singing highs all the way up. Elegant mid-range. Highly present and clear basses. The 24.75" scale likes light gage strings while delivering the punch of mediums. The back, freed to vibrate, is beautiful, old quarter-split Brazilian Rosewood. You and I will know it is there...and the black toner will mostly hide this "secret weapon-wood." A clearburst window on the back reveals the quality tonewood. A Gaboon Ebony fretboard is appointed with small (1/8") gold mother-of-pearl dots. White Lemonwood binding looks like vintage plastic for effect. Wood bridge pins in a Brazilian Rosewood bridge add nice subtleties. Pull this humble-looking guitar out and expect a few raised eyebrows from the hot shots...until they get their hair blown back by this rusty van with all the inside gadgets! "Incognito." The next 4 will have 30-year-old Spruce tops like this one. $5,555 (add $400 for cutaway)

From Our Sample Gallery...2004 Michael Bashkin "Placencia-OM" Steel String We take pride in representing the work of Michael Bashkin. We now have a Bashkin to add to the mix during our popular blindfold taste-testing. "I have played OM-size guitars of many kinds. This is a huge sounding small body guitar! In a recent 2-week period, 3 of the top touring acoustic artists in this country have played this instrument and had very enthusiastic comments, like "...the (character of the) notes have a beginning, a middle and an end...""...fills the room with sound..." Well, that it does. A 25+ year-old Sitka Spruce top is the star of the show. Fortunately, Michael knows just what to do with it. The back is the highest grade quartersawn Indian Rosewood. The sides are 2 solid Indian Rosewood pieces; the outer visible one matches the back. Aside from a beautiful body design, 2 striking Bashkin visual signatures are present: The bridge design and the capped x-braced back--both seen through the sound hole, which is framed with a Tasmanian Blackwood rosette. The back x-brace not only looks cool, but serves to reinforce the back arch while controlling the stiffness. The 2 Rosewood side pieces help to isolate the energy and focus it into the motion of the top and to reflection off the back. The resulting large volume, sensitivity and responsiveness are tremendous. The guitar projects across the room with ease, while feeling alive in your hands. The cleanly designed headstock is fronted with Brazilian Rosewood and backed with a Burled Walnut. Gold plated Gotoh vintage tuners provide good function and good looks. An Ebony fretboard sports a well executed fret job. (No surprise; Michael came up from a repair background for many years.) The 5-piece Honduran Mahogany neck is reinforced with graphite rods on the inside, bound in ebony on the outside. Koa top purfling from one tree, and stacked Koa side binding from another is separated with thin dyed wood strips for beautiful edge detail. Michael uses the texture and coloring of wood combinations for ornamentation, rather than inlay. The subtleties and detail are appreciated. Amber-colored horn bridge pins from Alaska complete the presentation." --Richard $4,200 (Or call FGC to order one with our guidance at the same price as direct from the maker...One more for sale coming in soon.)


2003 Sexauer FT-15 s.n. #971003 Bruce Sexauer just offered this guitar to us after it had been sitting in a store, undiscovered, with the wrong strings on it. The guitar is now thriving on a diet of GHS Vintage Bronze, but it still wakes me up in the middle of the night! We got it just before Bruce raised his prices. You'll pay the old price for this guitar, if you choose it. Years ago, I had a guitar that I miss from time to time. I sold it because it was so old and light in weight that I thought it might explode one day! That guitar was a 1931 OM-18 with banjo tuners. This guitar seems like its reincarnation! Light in weight, snappy, full richness of tone--Adirondack Spruce over Mahogany, head to toe. 1 3/4" nut and compensated saddle, hand made from bone. What more do I need to say? Plenty of headroom, big bottom, nice price. A player's guitar. $5,250

2002 Shimo Art Guitars of Japan "Tombo" Small Jumbo Cutaway The Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood and the very old Sitka Spruce soundboard are brought to high use in the hands of Master luthier/artist Takahiro Shimo. "Shimo" (It is customary in Japan to use the second name; it is the equivalent of using our first name in America.) is celebrated among the guitar community as one of the very top artisans. It is certainly a challenge to describe sound in words on a page. This instrument is one of those that instantly reminds us of how a truly fine instrument can sparkle. There is a great amount of complexity, resonance, depth of character, that somehow remains balanced. If the sound were a piece of fine chocolate, this sound would be dark chocolate, laced with fresh roasted almonds. I told you it is a challenge to describe! As usual with Shimo's guitars, the art works on 2 levels. This guitar responds to the lightest touch or can charge the room with powerful rhythm work; it is a looker, as well. A skillfully rendered dragonfly ("Tombo," in Japanese) appears to hang from a n inlaid wooden twig on the headstock. The Ebony fingerboard is blank. The next and subtley beautiful detail is the rosette and matching top edge treatment. Thin strips of wood frame segments of Brazilian Rosewood. The clean, contrasting detail is elegant, unusual, an a joy to spend time examining. The wood is clearly the feature here. The sound that Shimo successfully releases from the wood puts this into the upper class of hand made instruments. This is a "Life Partner." $14,000

SOLD 2000 Shimo Art Guitars of Japan "Turquoise" Acoustic Archtop Take in your first impression. This is organic art. Artistically, it was influenced by the art of Salvador Dali. It was painted blue, representing the true color of the semi-precious stone "turquoise" treasured by Far Eastern royalty. The soundboard is fine, straight grained, aged German spruce. Natural maple top and edge bindings, Mother of pearl decor features, including truss cover. Pearlescent buttons on gold Schaller tuners adorn the headstock. Ebony fretboard, Brazilian rosewood compensated bridge and carved cello tailpiece. The pickguard is lucite. The selection, orientation, and placement of each detail is quite artistic. The sound, from Master luthier/artist Takahiro Shimo is transcendant, light and has a singing quality all its own. We are honored to represent Shimo exclusively in the US. Shimo is a famous luthier in his native country, and his core passion is to go beyond his 30 years experience as a Master Luthier. His joy is to create these high works of visual art. If your taste in pure acoustic archtop tone is equaled by a love for art, you will get double pleasure from this fine instrument. $12,500

2002 A. Davis M-1 "FGC Special" Available now. Snap, Crackle, and Pop! It's an air-weight Sitka over Maple vibrating machine from A. Davis. I sat with 7 guitars from available Davis instruments and took the pick of the litter. This one shines with rich, shimmering balance and a big dynamic range. A dash of flash in ab purfling sets off the natural maple under clear finish. Tasty Maple leaf inlays on the fret board are a nice touch. This can be your songwriting guitar. I just put Extra-Light D'Addario Flat Tops on it (substituting a .012 and a .016 for the 1st and 2nd) and it plays effortlessly with sparkle and a HAPPY attitude! Phosphor Bronze lights will work just as well. A world famous rock star plays this hand made model guitar from A. Davis. Is that a good reason why you should buy one, too? No. There are plenty of other good reasons, though...Talk with Richard to see if this matches your music style and sensibilities. $3,600 in an upgraded Modern case (protects with less weight)

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Why consider New Custom guitars from us?Custom Guitars are an important part of what we do. We offer a balanced range of gifted, consistent luthiers. Prices from us are the same as direct from the maker. We will guide you to the likliest guitar builder and particular models that best match your needs. Let's talk guitars and have some fun together! We are here to serve you in a straight forward way. Give us a call. Often, a new instrument, coupled with new strong direction from a teacher with whom you have good communication can blast you out of your "rut."Let's work together to make your music more satisfying. Live life to the fullest. As a musician, this is what money is for!

We proudly represent more than 35 highly skilled luthiers and offer their instruments at the same price as directly from the maker.

All Instruments come with better hard shell cases unless otherwise noted. US Money Orders, Checks, or simple computer bank wire transfers are accepted. Financing, Terms, Trade-ins Available. Not responsible for errors or ommissions, subject to prior sale, and price changes due to market conditions.

We are responsible for taking all the time you need to help get you what you want.

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More Fine Guitars for Sale (a partial listing of guitars on hand... please call for others offered confidentially.) For all types of instruments shipping in soon, click here to read the "New Items Coming In Soon" page.
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2004 Michael Lewis D'Angelico (Authorized Hand Made in U.S.A. Replica) "New Yorker Custom Supreme" 16" Archtop Timing is everything. Though we regularly take orders for custom Michael Lewis guitars, to have a top of the heap, all-out D'Angelico for sale is highly unusual. Here it is in all its splendor. Before we talk splendor, though, let's get to the important stuff. Though brand new, this instrument has the feel, the tone, and the even, yet lively characteristics of the top archtops made today. The gorgeous, big acoustic tone is beyond what you would expect possible of a 16" archtop. Plugged in, the tone is lush and clear. A highly evolved Bartolini floating pickup is connected to tone and volume wheels situated at the underlying edge of the pickguard. Engraved white Mother of Pearl inlays decorate the Ebony fretboard. Vintage gold Mother of Pearl inlays provide a rich Art Deco motif--carried from the front of the crown to its rear face, to the heel cap itself--that is solidly born in D'Angelico tradition. The fit and finish are remarkable. A satin gloss keeps an elegant look on the obviously well-endowed instrument. Multiple binding anyone? Not an easy task to make the curves and turns so well. If ever there was an heirloom worthy guitar to play and pass down the generations, this is such an instrument. Michael Lewis is a Master Luthier. He alone is officially authorized to further the D'Angelico tradition in America. The bar is raised with the creation of this instrument (and its Blonde fraternal twin that just shipped to our client in Hong Kong). In my opinion, John D'Angelico would have definitely approved. A lone Master Luthier produces an instrument with his own two hands that succeeds on a much higher level than a manufactured instrument. The true long-lasting value lies under the pretty paint job. Make no mistake. $28,000 with beige Calton case (Call for a quote on a custom order through Fine Guitar Consultants. A 2-year wait can help allow you time to budget for your custom Lewis guitar. They are realistically priced and his prices will rightly climb forward.)

2001 Cerletti "Vivace" Acoustic Steel String Cutaway A one-of-a-kind spectacular sounding guitar by T. Cerletti. Tom Cerletti was the shop foreman for Tom Ribbecke for 10 years. He his now making hand made guitars under his own name. This is a red guitar with magical qualities. (Actually, in the sunlight and under stage lights, a subtle, almost hidden golden sunburst is revealed!) It has been made available by a good client of ours who needs to liquidate it for an investment opportunity. The contrasting rosette and heel cap is hand cut lapis lazuli. The back is a special art process involving the use of 24 kt. white and yellow gold foil, a chemical patina, and Japan paint over a sweet sounding Cedar. The clear protective coating seals in the art, while the inner woods reflect the gorgeously, rich and even tone. The top is of fine high altitude Spruce. The sides and bridge are pre-embargo Brazilian Rosewood. This guitar gets all "10's" for balance, easy feel, perfect set-up for pick and fingerstyles. The huge sustain and harmonic sweetness are the results of this accomplished luthier's abilities at the primary root of this acoustic artwork. Each turn of this exciting piece reveals a new surprise. The music it makes is the sweetest reward of all. Medium strings with low action over precision fret work make it a joy to play. $12,800

1998 Musser Brazilian Dreadnaught Clean as a whistle, this "like a virgin" Adirondack (Red Spruce) over Brazilian Rosewood dreadnaught guitar is in need of a player. Its owner plays too lightly. This one needs a driver that is not afraid to rip in with a heavy pick once in a while. This stiff, bell-like top needs to be rocked! It won't put you to sleep, though, unless a soft ballad caps off your play day. The beautifully scalloped nut measures 1 11/16" and guides the strings with precision down its scale length of 25.65" which cranks the energy to cut through the circle with clarity and power. The guitar is special. The intensity of the abalone ring in the simple rosette design is but a clue to the intensity of the explosive sound that comes from almost unlimited headroom here. The volume does not take away from a sugary sweet presence that has all the reverberance without the "mud." This is a balanced, sustaining, pretty-voiced guitar that proves how a hand made instrument, with attention to detail and great tonewood can easily rise above the level of most manufactured instruments. Play this one and pass it around. You'll be proud to own this understated, sweet bombshell. Ebony fretboard, Brazilian bridge with smoothed edges and what do you know?!--parabolic bracing. Interestingly, Scott van Linge taught Don Musser how to make a perfectly balanced guitar in New Mexico, in 1996. He taught Musser about his parabolic bracing approach and bridge techniques. This guitar, made 2 years later in Colorado, reflects that teaching. It is no wonder that this guitar has these stellar qualities. We had our top FGC set-up done on the guitar. It is raring to go! $6,900

1998 Harry Fleishman "Morning Glory" This is a one-of-a-kind instrument. Its owner wanted Harry to go all the way with a fanciful floral theme. I expect that people will have a dramatic reation to this instrument. It is provocative...and it plays and sounds beautiful to my ear. The instrument has hardly been played and is in near-mint condition. The man who comissioned this instrument has decided to pare down his collection, feeling guilty that this gorgeous guitar is not being played. Harry based his design on his signature Redwood/Spruce combination top, asymetrical body shape, and double sound hole. Curly Koa back and sides. The photos will speak for themselves in terms of the elaborate use of Abalone shell. One of the great things to appreciate is the hand cut morning glory petal shapes in wood, intruding into each of the soundholes. The wood shapes are then inlaid with the morning glories in Abalone. A stunning dragonfly is inlaid across the headstock. Photos don't capture its beautiful luminescence. The Ebony fretboard is an ergonomic experience, for sure. The guitar is fun to play. Contrary to most people's notion of the playability of the multi-scale fretboard, it is easy as can be. The interesting thing is that when you look at the fretboard while in normal playing position, the frets look normal. Play as usual and the guitar cooperates easily! Notice a photo of the bottom of the guitar at the extreme right of the montage (click on the thumbnail photo at right, as usual). You'll see a battery compartment for easy access, and the access door itself with a stereo jack installed. Harry Fleishman put in a dual pickup system when he made the guitar. It is ready to perform with, record in the studio...or be the centerpiece of your music room. $10,800 with a custom blue Calton hard case.