CURRENT INVENTORY LIST
Updated:
Thursday, July 2, 2009

We are dealers for Martin, Tippin, National, Eastman, Schoenberg, Sexauer, Santa Cruz, Kenny Hill, Michael Dunn, John Morton, Asturias, Gold Tone Banjos, Tacoma and Seagull. We are brokers of many fine used and vintage instruments, such as Martin, Gibson, Epiphone, Guild, Vega, National, Dobro, Fairbanks, Vega, Washburn, Regal, D'Angelico and many others.

We offer our customers the full benefit of our expertise. *Each instrument receives a full custom set-up for it's buyer, matching their playing style and action desires, and either we will repair (used instruments) any defect or make accomodation in the price.

We are also a "player's store"; we are accomplished players who can talk to you intelligently about the tone, the feel, the playabilityof each instrument. We are also teachers and are excellent resourses for advising you on the relative merits of each instrument for your needs and desires. We believe in supplying the right instrument for each customer; we've been doing this for over a quarter of a century, and take pride in being excellent and impartial advisors.

We do not engage in the tricks of the supermarket style guitar shops, such as separating the manufacturers case from its instrument and supplying a cheaper one to make the price look discounted. People fall for these gimmicks all the time, and they are being plain-and-simple ripped off.

As for our "Cash price" issue, unfortunately, the credit card companies support "swiped" charges in which the card is physically run through the card reader. Phone-in charges are charged at a much higher rate (to the seller) which can take quite a big chunk out of a high-dollar sale. Thus, for those call-in sales, let's discuss the issue at the time; hopefully, we can figure some way to deal with it.

Call us at 415-789-0846 or email us if you want an instrument that's not on our stock list. We'll be happy to notify you when we get what you're looking for. Tell us the make, model, years you may be interested in, and any other info you think we should have. And tell us the best way to reach you.
Used Acoustic Guitars
Electric and Archtop Guitars
Amplifiers
Gypsy Jazz Guitars
Resonator Instruments
Classical Guitars
Independent Luthiers
New Steel String Guitars
Mandolins
Banjos
Ukuleles
Cases
Accessories


USED ACOUSTIC GUITARS

1905 Martin 00-42, Beautifully restored, much played but not abused, great sounding and playing, very classy early Martin. Playing this guitar, one gets a warm classical feel from the purity and delicacy of tone. The guitar has a replaced ivory bridge and bridgeplate, assuring use of at least custom-light gauge strings with no loss of tone, in fact possibly an improvement over the original practically non-existant plate.
• Cash price, $9995 New low price!

1919 Martin 0-42, Excellent all original condition except for three tight professioally repaired top cracks. This is a featherweight guitar that holds extra-light strings very well. Neck shape is slim and comfortable with b1 7/8" X 2 3/8" string spacing, full abalone top and soundhole purfling. This is indeed a beautiful work of art!
• Cash price, $14,775

circa 1920 Weymann Parlor, Very sweet mahogany/spruce 0-sized (13 1/2") parlor from the '20s or earlier, straight braced, a superb instrument in very nice original condition.
• Cash price, $1750

circa 1920's Sovereign Concert, By any other name a Stella, by Oscar Schmidt, the only good thing I know of to come out of Jersey City, NJ. This one is 13.5" wide with a 24 .75" scale, has pearl inlay around the top and a nice pearl vine inlay on the fingerboard—the Sovereign name was used mostly on the higher-end Stellas. Very nicely set up—plays great, and sounds great; a quintessential blues machine
• Sold

circa 1930 Paramount Style L Tenor Guitar, Made by Martin for the Wm. Lange banjo company, this is an extremely rare example of one of Martin's most unusual instruments. It consists of an O-18T sized body with a chamber behind, similar to a banjo resonator, with ivoroid ringed soundholes along the front perimeter. All is out of intense Brazilian roswood, and the tone is outstandingly full and strong.
• Cash price, $4850

1930 Martin 000-45 Deluxe, 12-Fret 000, possibly the rarest and finest Martin in many ways, the second (Roy Rogers OM-45 Special is the first one) Deluxe, though not officially named such at the time—the records have it listed as a 000-45 Special. The serial number pre-dates the fourteen OM-45 Deluxes, with all the Deluxes falling in 1930. This instrument has been refinished by Martin in the late 1940's, as evidenced by the CF Martin decal on the back of the peghead, as on Gene Autry's 12-Fret D-45 which was refinished about that time. The decal was put there to replace the Martin stamp which loses its definition due to the refinish process. The refinish was an exquisite job, and the guitar is now, sixty to seventy years later is in absolutely beautiful condition. As Paul Ackling, T-Bone Burnette's guitar tech, just said, it's the most beautiful guitar ever.
• More Photos
• Call for price

1932 Martin C-3 Conversion, C.F. Martin’s C series was made in small numbers in the early to mid-’30’s as a competitor to Gibson’s archtop L-5 guitar. They were the same 15” size as Martin’s OM series guitars, with a slightly deeper body. The C-3 was the top of the line, and had the neck inlays and premier grade Brazilian rosewood back and sides of the Style 45 guitars. Martin only made 53 C-3’s in the round hole version (1931 – 1933, with 26 in 1932) which had the long scale of the OM series guitars before switching to the ff hole version with short scale in late ‘33. The pressed top construction of the C series made for tops that tended to be unstable and for the most part it’s agreed they were not great sounding guitars.
  This particular C-3 turned up in Missouri in the late ‘80’s with lots of top cracks and was missing most of its top binding, so the conversion made sense. It was re-built as a shaded top OM-42 by Chris Berkov, with the bracing and finish copied from a nice ‘31 shaded top OM-28. The conversion is excellent work, with a perfect neck angle and beautiful green and blue abalone pearl around the top with perfect joinery. The top is 35 year old German spruce (there is debate over whether pre-war style 45’s had German tops). It sounds superb. It has its original finish to the back, sides and neck, and comes with the original faux alligator arched top Geib case. The original gold colored Grover tuners are in the case, it’s currently set up with gold engraved Waverleys. 1 3/4” spacing at the nut, 2 3/8” string spacing at the bridge, 25.4” scale.
• Cash price, $19.5K

1933 Martin OM-28, A beautiful example in original condition except for having an obliterated serial number. There are three beautifully repaired top cracks, otherwise great condition. The top is gorgeous with very tight grain, excellent quartersawn Brazilian rosewood back & sides. The tone is very beautiful: smooth, even, balanced, very musical. Recent neck reset by Chris Berkov which has revealed the serial number, 54557.
• Cash price, $37K

1934 Gibson Jumbo, The earliest big-bodied Gibson, the Jumbo is extremely rare and famed for its superlative tonal qualities. We feel that this one is from 1934 because of the absence of fingerboard binding which, according to Gibson's Fabulous Flattops, was exclusively done in 1935. An unusual feature of this guitar is the shallower depth (4 3/8" at the rear end) of the known Jumbos, which are fully 1/4" deeper according to GFF. This guitar has had either an overspray or excellent refinish, all original bracing—three tonebar version—perfect set-up, unbelievable light; all together this is an incredible player: amazing tone, great neck shape.
• Sold

1934 Martin 000-18, From the earlier part of 1934, just prior to Martin's shift to short scale in their 000s, thus long scale, a virtual OM. This instrument has been owned and used extensively by a professional player and recording artist for the last 28 years; it's not a 'collector' instrument in that it has been refinished (before the last owner acquired it) but it is an instument of exquisite sound and playability. After all, these instruments are prized by their qualities as musical instruments, not icons for a collector's vault. Details: There was a second pickguard once, prior to the refinish, which is slightly visible; the bridgeplate is a replacement, slightly larger than original—for all we know it improves the tone—the fingerboard seems to have been replaced, there is a 4" tight crack in the top at the butt end, a repaired case bite (with a spruce inlay), gold replacement Schaller tuners, a wierd maple inlay above the nut to fill in a space in the peghead veneer caused by a former oversized nut (why they didn't use rosewood is a mystery to me), a high 14th fret, causing the F on the 13th fret high E string to buzz, and the bridge has been reshaped behind the pins—I think someone thought they were being artistic!
• Cash price, $12,500

1934 Martin 000-28, Long scale, bar frets, finish wear but very beautiful, one repaired crunch in treble side, otherwise appears to be fully original, with low action. There's a large patch of finish missing on the back, probably from many years of belt-buckles, some bare spots next to the fingerboard and pickguard from years of playing, while the top has a gorgeous patina and deep color.
• Cash price, $32,500

1935 Martin 5-18, An extremely rare beauty in excellent, fully original condition; scalloped braces, bar frets (no metal in the neck), 1 3/4" nut width, this has got to be the world's best travel guitar! It's been played—there's some pick wear and finish cracks on the top, but no actual cracks, very lively clean tone. There were a bunch of these made in later, years, all non-scalloped, but these earlier ones are few and far between.
• Cash price, $6150

1939 Martin 000-18, Very nice mostly original pre-war 000, some side cracks, otherwise excellent condition. This classic Martin is from early '39 and thus has the wider OM spacing and a surprisingly nice neck shape. Owned by a player, it's had a recent neck reset, new bridge and new Waverly tuners. The tone is great big yet sweet, everything you would expect from a Stradivarius of the steel string guitar. There is a chip in the peghead, original pickguard is that impossible-to-replicate brown tortoise color, very minor pickwear on the top, thus this is a gorgeous looking vintage Martin.
• Cash price, $16,500

1939 Gibson LC Century, An unusual LC in that the peghead veneer is rosewood, not the standard mother-of-toilet-seat pearloid. There are several repaired cracks, the back is one piece, solid maple (some of these were laminated), all parts appear to be original, with an excellent set-up and gorgeous sunburst. The tone is shockingly good, very loud with a maple crispness yet full, better sounding than I remember any of the many others I've played over the years.
• Cash price, $4675

1941 Martin 000-18, A powerhouse of a guitar, refin, all else is original: bracing, tuners (the plastic buttons have been replaced, I think), mahogany/Adirondack, rosewood fingerboard & bridge, brown tortoiseshell binding. There is extensive checking in the finish and a couple of repaired cracks in the bass side. The top, back, treble side and neck are crack free. It's a very healthy, solid vintage Martin with a strong, rich, played-in tone that cannot be had in a recent instrument.
• Cash price, $8475

1941 Martin 000-45, A very powerful sounding, beautiful instrument with full pearl border at every joint, Martin's stately pearl-inlaid logo on the peghead and the best of everything that Martin was capable of at the time: wood quality (Brazilian rosewood, European or Adirondack spruce), neck shape, workmanship. Restored by Chris Berkov, one of the Bay Area's superior vintage repair magicians, to first-quality, with refinish, new binding except peghead, one perfect crack repair in top, a couple in back and sides. The name painted on the case is Smiley O'Brien, who recorded with the Delmore Brothers.
• Call or write for full details
• Cash price, $48K

1943 Martin D-28, 30 year old refinish, looks beautiful though still glossy, replaced pickguard (Tortis), there is a very tight crack in the top by the edge that isn't visible inside and doesn't allow air through, we just reset the neck, did a fret job and installed the Greven pickguard. The tone is exceptional, very big with a lot of clarity which seems to be a characteristic of this particular year, and endless dynamic range.
• Cash price, $52K

1944 Martin 000-21, This period spawned a bunch of particularly great sounding guitars from Martin, most likely because of a particularly wonderful spruce log, most likely Adirondack. This guitar's Brazilian rosewood is also especially stunning. However, the most stunning aspect of this instrument is it's condition. It is 100% original (the tuners are in the case), including hard shell case, and 99.99% mint. There are a couple of dings on the top and some cloudiness in the finish over the pickguard, known tohappen to original finishes in 1944. It was obviously owned by someone who polished it often, since it is glossy and beautiful. It is about as nice as they come!
• Cash price, $23.5K

1945 Martin 000-28, A healthy, great sounding and great looking herringbone, non-scalloped Brazilian 000 with a few repairs, all professionally done. The top is oversprayed, back, sides and neck are refinished, a beautiful job. There are tight crack, five in the top, various other cracks in sides and back, new pickguard. Action is low, sound is very, very fine, and price is very low, since the book has these at $21K-$25K.
• Cash price, $12.5K

1946 Martin 00-21, A very fine vintage Martin with finish issues but excellent structural and set-up condition. The finish seems to have run into a little too much heat at one time, enough to cause some extreme adhesion problems in a few spots on the sides and back of the neck. There are no cracks, all parts are original and the set-up and tone are superb.
• Sold

1947 Martin 0-17, excellent condition, in the shop for neck reset.

1948 Martin D-18, A little pickwear on the top, but that's it for issues, otherwise this is clean, original, great set-up and fantastic tone. The saddle has been fully intonated with an extension in front of the saddle slot - an ingenious way of maintaining the originality while maintaining full playability.
• Cash price, $8900

1950 Martin 5-18, From a body size & style originally a 19th Century Martin called a Terz Guitar, tuned a third higher than standard. This model was made famous by Bobby Gentry in Ballad of Billy Joe. Condition is excellent and original.
• Cash price, $2375

1954 Gibson SJN, A classic big early Fifties slope-shouldered Gibson, much played and sounding incredible! The rosette has been mildly Willie Nelsoned, there are no cracks, and everything is fully original, including the case, which happens to have an ancient "Bill Haley And The Comets" painted on it.
• Sold

1963 Gibson Country Western, A beautiful natural finished mint condition example, fully original, with plastic adjustable bridge and remarkably clear strong tone. These bridges are often replaced with wooden bridge and bone saddle, which can make the tone even better.
• Cash price, $3650

1964 Martin D-18, in transit

1966 Martin D-18, Excellent condition, very strong, punchy loud tone, low saddle with low action. A "cannon" as some say, though the analogy seems very unmusical. This D-18 is early enough to have the original small bridgeplate and tortoise guard.
• Cash price, $3775

1968 Martin D-21, Last of the small maple bridgeplates, with black pickguard and ultimate quality Brazilian rosewood. This guitar sounds fabulous, has very low action (saddle is low), and is virtually mint! There are a couple of minute dings and otherwise the condition is as-new, fully original including the hard shell case. This guitar is fabulous!
• Cash price, $7795

1968 Guild D-40, Spruce top, mahogany back and sides, Hoboken label—and much better made than the later Rhode Island Guilds—much, much better sounding as well—in excellent condition except for slightly shrunken peghead veneer.
• Cash price, $1950

1985 Martin M-38 Brazilian, The M-38 was a particularly successful model, recently reintroduced. There were a small handfull (around a dozen, I believe) customs made with back & sides of Brazilian rosewood, this being one, Nut is 1 11/16"; spacing at the bridge is 2 1/8". This is a very powerful instrument, with a lot of warmth and depth; very gratifying to play and hear.
• Cash price, $8795

1987 Martin D-45LE, mint condition, with amazingly nice quartersawn Brazilian rosewood. A limited edition of 50 guitars were made, this one being #37, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fourteen-fret D-45, with the higher X bracing from before 1939, 45 style appointments plus an abalone border on the sides and front of the peghead, fingerboard and sides of heel, pearl hexagon outlines on fingerboard and bridge wings. Top is signed by C.F. And all who worked on it. The tone of this guitar is extremely strong and powerful, with exceptional balance and a clean bottom end; dreadnaughts don't get much better than this!
• Cash price, $21K

1988 Schoenberg Soloist, Made at the Martin factory under the unique arrangement between Eric, Dana Bourgeois and Martin that started off Schoenberg Guitars just a couple years before this guitar was made. It has Brazilian rosewood back & sides and Engelmann spruce top and is in almost perfect like new condition. Teardrop pickguard, pyramid bridge, beautiful woods; Waverly tuners and pickup endpin have been added. The sound of this guitar is very clean, with a soaring treble with a full compliment of overtones—one of the characteristics of a great OM—matched by a moderately crisp bass that balances very nicely in volume.
• Nut: 1 3/4"', bridge: 2 3/8"
• Cash price, $8650

1994 Gibson '63 Hummingbird Centennial Edition, Number 7 of a Limited Edition of 100, this is one of twelve "Centennial Collection models done in 1994. It is a copy of a particularly rare maple-bodied Hummingbird done only in 1963. Sunburst finish, double parallelogram inlays, humingbird pickguard, triple bound and 1 11/16" nut width. Tone is shockingly good, condition is perfect as-new virtually unplayed, original Certificate of Authenticity signed by Ren Ferguson.
• Sold

1996 Grit Laskin, Brazilian rosewood 12-Fret 14 5/8" body, 25 1/2" scale, with Grit's built in ebony armrest. One of Grit's more sedate inlay patterns, though still very ornate, the peghead and fingerboard subtlely depict a natural shore scene, with the sun or moon low on the horizon, light glinting in the water accompanied by shore birds and seals. Based on a classical shape, with elaborate pearl and wood rosette, 1 7/8" x 2 3/16" string spacing. If ordered today, it would cost approx. $19K.
• Cash price, $9,950

1996 Gallagher 00 Cutaway, A custom ordered 12-Fret guitar from this famous father & son luthier shop in Wartrace, TN, known the world over as luthiers for Doc Watson and Joe Miller (our teacher here).Condition is excellent, with a slim 1 11/16 x 2 1/4" neck, Indian rosewood and Sitka spruce, herringbone trim and '45' style headstock and fingerboard inlays.
• Cash price, $2875

1998 Santa Cruz OM Braz., European spruce, Brazilian rosewood, much played and still in close-to-mint condition, very rich and warm sounding. The neck is thin but nicely V-shaped with gently curving cheeks and soft point.
• High X bracing
• Spacing: 1 3/4" X 2 3/16"
• Cash price, $6750

2000 Martin Custom 0000 Koa, An ultimate custom, with gorgeous woods, top is bordered 42-style (includes around the fingerboard and rosette) in pearl herringbone, full ivoroid binding with 45-style fingerboard inlays and torch peghead, and Deluxe style inlaid pickguard. Top is incredible perfect Sitka spruce, tuners are gold Waverlies, condition is mint, as new.
• Cash price, $8850

2000 Froggy Bottom Model B Baritone, As new condition, with a wonderful deep tone, this guitar is out of Indian rosewood and Sitka spruce, is an excellent design to be extra-large yet still comfortable to hold and play at 16.5" wide and only 4.5" deep; scale length is 27". It has remarkable dynamic range, sounding great at low volume, and stong and punchy at loud volume.
• Cash price, $3750

2002 Martin 0000-28C Custom, Indian rosewood, Italian spruce, custom ordered by us to be as much guitar for the least possible price. The concept is to have a guitar that works like an OM with more bass. The body is one inch wider than an OM, and a touch shallower. A perfect combination of elements. Nut width: 1 3/4; Bridge spacing: 2 5/16. New old stock, with papers.
• Cash price, $2995, New Lower Price

2002 Tippin 00T12, A beautiful 12-Fret 00 from Bill Tippin out of Amazon rosewood and hard growth Adirondack spruce. Braces are Italian spruce, and this one of Bill's first guitars with his floating back/tailblock configuration. The slotted peghead is adorned with Bill's deco "T" logo, which resembles a modernized torch inlay while the fingerboard has very tastefull small inlays out of pearl & abalone. According to Bill, it would take around $10K to buy this guitar new today.
• Cash price, $4985

2003 Schoenberg 00 Soloist, We call this model our 00-OM, in that it is an OM in all respects except it's a 00 instead of 000. This means the neck dimensions are wider and the scale is longer; thus we have a superlative concert-quality instrument in every way, just a different balance from the smaller body. This one is European spruce and drop-dead gorgeous AAAA grade Brazilian rosewood. It is very even, rich, pure toned with a sweet sparkle in the treble and open, smooth bass. Other attributes include pyramid bridge, ivoroid binding with herringbone inlay around the body, inlaid ivoroid logo in peghead veneer.
• Cash price, $9450

2003 Martin Custom 00-18, European spruce top, mahogany back & sides, Martin "Golden Era" style with low oval neck shape. Tone is very full and balanced with exemplary treble as one would expect from a wonderful 00.
• 1 3/4" nut; 2 5/16" spacing at bridge
• Cash price, $2985

2003 Moonstone 000-42, An incredibly beautiful 12-Fret 000 with 42 style body inlays and 45 style neck. The back & sides are out of AAAA quartersawn Brazilian rosewood, the top is of first-quality Adirondack spruce. This guitar was made by Steve Helgesen as his personal guitar, and now he's decided to sell it. It is in perfect condition, sounds absolutely incredible, and is visually stunning.
• Cash price, $9200

2005 Martin 000-16SGT, As new condition with great set-up, this is the now discontinued 12-Fret 000 spruce and mahogany model that was for us the king of Martin's 16 series of great-but-affordable guitars. The tone is responsive, alive, nicely balanced.
• Cash price, $1145

2005 Schoenberg 000C Standard, Our 12-Fret 000 body with cutaway, out of European spruce and an extremely rare black cocobolo. It's an extremely light guitar, especially in the back & sides, giving it an unusually beautiful sound; if cocobolo, which is very dense, is left at normal thicknesses, it tends to rob the tone of its depth and richness. Unfortunately, it moved to the desert where extreme dryness caused several cracks, now repaired to almost invisibility.
• Cash price, $6875

2005 Schoenberg Standard 00, Brazilian rosewood, exotic and quartersawn, and Italian spruce, both the highest grade woods. This 12-fret 00 has pearl rosette and inlay on the top, koa binding, and no backstripe, to show off the fine figure of the Brazilian rosewood. Exceptionally responsive, the lightest touch brings out bass notes from a velvet black background and trebles that threaten to float off the fingerboard, so bell-like do they become up the neck. It's more sweet than dark overall, this guitar, but you can push the darkness if you like or let the sweetness predominate. It's a rare combination -- it's clear and loud but it can be intimate, very intimate. If you ordered a custom Schoenberg, you might want it to be like this one.
• By Robert Anderson & Eric Schoenberg
• Cash price, $8995

2005 Santa Cruz SSJ, Based on a particularly nice 1933 Roy Smeck owned by Steve Swan, this is one of two prototypes, out of heavily flamed koa and top grade Adirondack, 12-Frets to the body, modified F peghead shape, fully bound in ivoroid, 1 13/16 x 2 5/16" spacing, extremely light build with extreme responsiveness, depth and singing treble. A remarkable instrument that is both gorgeous to see and to hear.
• Sold

2006 Martin OM-42 Limited Edition, A rare and beautiful limited edition, flamed mahogany and Adirondack spruce, #5 of 30. Mint condition, vine inlay fingerboard designed by Dick Boak, CF Martin peghead logo in abalone, style 42 body inlay, Accord case. This box sounds great - on the high end of the great Adirondack-topped GE models coming out of Martin these days.
• 1 3/4 x 2 1/4"
• Cash Price, $6895

2007 Martin D-18 GE Sunburst, As new condition, except for strap button added in the heel.
• Cash price, $2495

2007 Santa Cruz OM, As-New condition Nick Lucas inspired guitar out of Brazilian rosewood and Adirondack spruce, slot-head, fancy multi-colored body purfling, pyramid bridge, 1 3/4" nut width. This is an exquisite instrument with perfectly straight dark quarter-sawn rosewood, gorgeous spruce, and startlingly lovely tone. Forward-shifted scalloped X Adirondack and AAA grade Brazilian, custom with finest wood selection; extremely smooth and sonorous with beautiful clear highs and deep bass, one of the best sounding SCGCs I've ever played!
• Cash price, $7400

2007 Santa Cruz H-13, As-New condition Nick Lucas inspired guitar out of Brazilian rosewood and Adirondack spruce, slot-head, fancy multi-colored body purfling, pyramid bridge, 1 3/4" nut width. This is an exquisite instrument with perfectly straight dark quarter-sawn rosewood, gorgeous spruce, and startlingly lovely tone.
• Cash price, $7885

2007 Merrill OM-42, From one of the top luthiers of the traditional style today comes this incredible OM guitar. Out of Honduras rosewood and Adirondack spruce, with fossil ivory nut (1 3/4") and saddle, 45 style torch inlay, 42/45 style fingerboard inlays, age-toned top, gold Waverlies. It was initially ordered as an OM-41 and thus stamped on the neck block, but was upgraded to Style 42. As we've come to expect from this maker, the guitar has enough tone to sink a navy, yet it has a supremely refined quality, as befitting a pearl-trimmed box such as this.
• Cash price, $7495, new lower price

Recent Collings 00-1, An All Mahogany 12-Fret based on Martin's early 00-17. With simple binding and pyramid bridge. The one variation is a solid headstock with volute and 1 3/4" nut width. The mahogany is a rich, dark color and the tone is startlingly clear and full—Collings seems to know how to get great sound out of a mahogany top. As New condition.
• Nut Width, 1 3/4"
• Cash price, $4275

Recent Collings C-10 Deluxe, Mahogany Back, Sides and Top, very lightly built for Collings, and in barely played, as new condition. Fully bound in ivoroid, tiny fingerboard pearl dots, subtle flamed mahogany stained to a traditional dark color, smallish rounded heel and the Collings sexy asymmetrical peghead shape. This guitar is very lively, responsive and sweetly bright with excellent balance. The bass is not gigantic, of course, but it is surprisingly rich and pleasing.
• Nut Width, 1 3/4"
• Cash price, $4250

Recent Collings C-10 Deluxe, Incredible all-Koa guitar; I've never seen koa like this before. Also, great sounding, which is not too easy to do with a koa top. This one has a 1 3/4" neck, ivoroid bound top, back, fingerboard and peghead, simple L-00 style purflings, 14-fret neck.
• Cash price, $6195

Recent Collings C-10 Western Custom, Extremely beautiful shaded-top L-00 style with Mahogany b&s, AAA spruce top, ivoroid and rope binding and bound soundhole. The fingerboard has been inlaid by Harvey Leach with a gorgeous and tasteful night time evergreen forest landscape, while the body sports one of the sexiest subtle sunburst ever. An extremely classy instrument.
• Nut Width, 1 3/4"
• Cash price, $4750

Recent Collings Baby, The highest quality travel guitar on the market, out of Indian rosewood and spruce, excellent condition.
• Cash price, $3395

Recent Baby Taylor, All mahogany, great kids guitar, travel guitar, boat guitar, etc. Excellent condition, with gig bag.
• Cash price, $175

Schoenberg Standard 00 CM, Patterned on an early 00-28 with 12-frets, herringbone purfling, ivoroid binding, Martin-style herringbone back-stripe and solid peghead. This box we have altered, assembled and finished from pre-existing parts from our Massachusetts days, of Indian rosewood and Adirondack spruce, with french polished top. The tone is big, crisp and focused.
• Cash price, $6375

Maize Acoustic Bass Guitar, Five-Sting Fretless, fully hand-made by Dave Maize in Oregon out of Engelmann spruce and fancy claro walnut. Dave makes basses exclusively, the results being possibly the best acoutic bass guitars in existance.
• Cash price, $2985

John How FP, By John How of Cool, CA; a contemporary 00 (14 1/4") model with cutaway out of redwood and fancy flamed koa, x braced, dark violin stained finish.
• String spacing, nut: 1 3/4"; bridge: 2 1/4+"
• Flamed Koa fingerboard and body bindings, as well as rosette
• Cash price, $3495, new lower price

Recent Gibson J45 TV VOS, One of Limited Edition of 167, True Vintage repro of the early '40s Banner J-45 with Adirondack Red Spruce Top, 1930's Advanced Bracing Mounted with Hot Hide Glue, Antique Vintage Sunburst Finish, Historic Banner Headstock Decal, Vintage Style Tuners, Custom Vintage Case with Cover & Certificate of Authenticity. 1.725" nut width, 24 3/4" scale
• Sold

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ARCH TOPS AND ELECTRICS


1957 Gibson ES-125, In excellent condition, full hollow-body with single P-90 pickup, newish Kluson Dlx tuners, a little fret wear, otherwise super tone!
• Cash price, $1549

1959 Guild T100BDP, This body, two Guild white-cover P-90's with a great set-up. The black finish looks to be redone, although one could think the "BDP" refers to Black Double Pickup", the bridge saddle is Tune-a-matic, also a replacement.
• Sold

1997 Gibson Citation, Natural finish, the most highly regarded and rarest of all Gibson archtops, this is a 17" hand carved box of the finest flame maple, with many gorgeous deluxe appointments (pics coming soon). The guitar is in as-new unplayed condition with it's original black leather-covered case.
• Cash price, $14,675

2006 Collings City Lights Prototype, Prototype Solid Body, made for the '04 Summer NAMM show, this being #1. This one seems to be a CL Deluxe with dot inlays; appointments include fully carved premium quilted maple top, Honduran mahogany body, two Loller Humbucking pickups, hand-set mortise and tenon neck joint, grained ivoroid bindings, truss rod cover, custom knobs and pickup rings, Sperzel tuners. This guitar has tons of class and beauty.
• Cash price, $7995

recent Godin Multiac Nylon Duet, Thin chambered semi-acoustic mahogany body with solid spruce top, L.R. BaggsTM I-Beam Duet system. Plugged in, the Multiac Duet produces the sort of fidelity that you normally associate with a high-end condenser mic on a full body acoustic guitar. As new condition and hard shell case.
• Cash price, $995

recent Larry Pogreba Light Body, An amazing two pickup electric, one of three that Larry made for Bonnie Raitt to choose from. Made of exotic woods—the neck is Belizian redwood, the body is black poisonwood and the headstock veneer is rosewood burl. The pickups are by Jason Loller, a P-90 in the neck position and his version of a Gibson lap-steel in the bridge position. Larry is a very creative and skilled person, and this guitar of his is a true masterpiece.
• Larry says, "The two dark knobs are Volume for each pickup. The front light brown knob is a normal tone and the back one is a mid-range cut/boost—left in the center of the sweep the pickups sound stock, to the right cuts mids and gives a nice silky sound, to the left will take the paint off.
• Cash price, $2000

2007 PRS SC245, SC for Single Cut, 245 for the 24.5" scale, same as the Santana. A classy instrument inspired by electric guitar pioneer and PRS mentor Ted McCarty, with a "10" top quilted maple, lightweight mahogany back, 22-fret Peruvian mahogany neck with a wide-fat neck carve, and a rosewood fretboard with distinctive bird inlays. Includes a PRS Stoptail bridge and vintage-style tuners, and two PRS 1957/2008 pickups provide ample output with great articulation.
• Finish: Emerald Green, not currently available
• Quilt Maple 10-Top
• Volume Control, Push/Pull Tone Control, 3-Way Switch
• Condition is "as new", with tags/case candy
• Cash price, $1965

We now have a major portion of Ted Greene's collection, finally being made available to the public. Ted was, in my mind, as well as many others, the greatest fingerstyle guitarist. His one album, recorded in the 1970's, remains a beautiful document to the breadth of his knowledge and skill, but especially to his musicality, encompassing the heart and soul of a pure musical being.
In his earlier years, Ted's instrument of choice was the Telecaster, which he altered extensively to obtain an amazing, orchestral tone. In his later years, he discovered the Guild hollow bodies which seem to have his sound without doctoring. Here is a partial listin, and check under amplifiers as well:

• 1963 Gretsch Tennessian, From the Ted Greene estate, replaced humbuckers, otherwise original. $2250

• 1964-1965 Fender Jazzmaster, Sunburst, played a lot, replaced knobs, big leather shim in heel, everything else orig, including black case. $4200

• 1964 Supro Electric, From the Ted Greene collection, by Valco, an outgrowth of National Guitars in Chicago, the black reso-Glass semi-solid body has a white center lamination, reverse gumby headstock with intact Supro logo.  This is a single pickup model with 1 volume control but with a 3 way switch and 2 separate tone controls; the scale is 25". Condition is excellent all original, with Ted's usual excellent setup and in excellent working order. $1200

• recent Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass, Blonde, Marked "2ch" on back of peghead—the serial number spot on the label is bank, 16" lower bout, 2 3/4" depth, two humbucking pickups, tortoise shell pickguard with Joe Pass' signature, gold plated parts, flame maple back and sides, with the famous Epiphone Emperor peghead inlay and shape. Condition is 'as new', from Ted Greene's collection. $675

circa 1994 Gibson Chet Atkins SST-12, A solid body acoustic/electric designed for Gibson by Chet Atkins and highly regarded as a performance instrument; solid spruce top on a mahogony body, no resonating chamber or soundhole, piezo pickup, gold-plated parts. This guitar is in as-new condition with its original brown hard shell case.
• Sold

New Renaissance RS-6 Fingerstyle, Rick Turner's fabulous thin acoustic/electric series. Years of trying to perfect the acoustic pickup led Rick to perfecting the perfect guitar body to get the most of the pickup. This example has a gloss spruce top and satin fiish mahogany, 25.5" scale with Rick's D-TAR 18 Volt preamp and pickup system.
• Wider nut and bridge spacing made specially for us, the Fingerstyle Guitar Capitol Of The World.' We are nuts about wider spacing!
• Nut width, 1 3/4", bridge spacing 2 5/16"
• Thinline body built like a fine acoustic, but with an added mahogany center block to cut feedback
• A Turner piezo bridge pick-up feeds full-spectrum signals to an 18-volt Turner pre-amp
• Low-noise volume and tone controls
• Designed from scratch to produce premium acoustic tone as an amplifiable, recordable electronic signal.
• Cash price, $2195

"High" Renaissance RF6 Nylon Hybrid, Cedar top, fancy claro walnut body, All Gloss finish, beautiful colored wood purfling, this guitar is the perfect classical electric, capable of loud volumes with technique as delicate as you like, the best of both worlds.
• The thinline body is built like a fine acoustic guitar, but with an additional mahogany center block to cut feedback.
• Nut width, 1 7/8"; spacing at bridge, 2 5/16"
• A Turner piezo bridge pick-up feeds full-spectrum signals to an 18-volt Turner pre-amp
• Low-noise volume and tone controls
• Designed from scratch to produce premium acoustic tone as an amplifiable, recordable electronic signal.
• Cash price, $1854
• see http://www.renaissanceguitars.com/renac.html for more detailed info.

Eastman AR805CE, 16" ƒ-hole cutaway with Kent Armstrong floating pickup, maple and spruce, beautiful sunburst hand-applied varnish finish, ebony pickguard and tailpiece. Top-class workmanship, playability and tone. Single Cutaway with X bracing, fully carved spruce top and maple (flamed) back and sides - all solid woods-15" lower bout, 1 13/16" thick 25" scale- 1 3/4" at nut, ebony tailpiece, based on the early 16" Gibson L-5 body. Great clarity and note separation and clean crisp tone.
• Cash Price, $2149

Eastman AR905CE, Eastman's nicest 16" Acoustic, Natural finish, wood bindings, gorgeous flamed maple, 1 3/4" nut width. Very beautiful, fully hand-carved, all solid, lightly built and pure toned. Cutaway, Kent Armstrong floating humbucking pickup, volume and tone controls nicely hidden under the bottom edge of the ebony pickguard, beautiful ebony tailpiece.
•Cash price, $2379

Eastman Uptown AR810CE, This is the 17" model, with cutaway, floating Kent Armstrong humbucking pick-up and Eastman's beautiful Classic spirit varnish finish (with a very thin clear coat of laquer on top). Top is spruce, back & sides are flame maple, remarkably loud and clear tone with sustain and response. This is a fully hand-carved (solid wood of course) instrument that could easily cost five times as much if it were made in the US. Partly based on Bennedetto's body style, extremely handsome and remarkably great full-on jazz box.
• Cash Price, $2049

Eastman AR810CE Blonde, beautiful natural finished Seventeen inch Acoustic jazz box. The Natural ones have been hard to come by, and are particularly nice. 1 3/4" nut width. Very beautiful, fully hand-carved, all solid, lightly built and pure toned, cutaway, Kent Armstrong floating humbucking pickup, volume and tone controls nicely hidden under the bottom edge of the ebony pickguard, beautiful ebony tailpiece.
• Cash price, $2395

Eastman El Ray Deluxe Jazz, Fully hand carved hollow body, Spruce top and Maple back, sides, neck. This guitar has two Kent Armstrong humbucking pickups, a 3-way pickup selector switch and 4 control knobs (2 volume and 2 tone). The bridge is a tune-o-matic style, mounted on a standard archtop bridge base. A short tailpiece is fastened to the end block like a standard jazz guitar. This series was designed by Otto D’Ambrosio, and has a remarkably bell-like singing, sparkely tone with a 1 3/4" nut width, great for fingerstyle players.
• Cash price, $1595

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AMPLIFIERS

1960-1963 Fender Concert, Four X 10, brown tolex, excellent condition, original speakers, grill, quality old stock tubes, great sound; from Ted Greene.
• Cash price, $1795

Fender Reverb Unit, Early Sixties original, exc. condition, from Ted Greene.
• Cash price, $1250

New Austin Songbird, The best jazz amplifier I've ever heard, made here in San Rafael entirely by hand by Kirk Austin, whose original influence came in 1967 from his teacher, the great jazz guitarist Ted Greene. All Tubes, Completely Unique, Audiophile Quality Convincingly Acoustic. Based originally on schematics supplied by Ted of the early Fender amps and extended by studies of the modern advances in audiophile tube amplification, with the simplest possible signal path, minimum number of tone-robbing capacitors and a closed-back cabinet designed to work like the body of an acoustic guitar. The sound has a dramatic three dimensional quality and acoustic-like presence like no other amp. There are no tone controls, due to the absence of any phase smearing tone controls. Great care is taken to ensure that the sound coming out of the speaker is as natural as possible.
• Cash price, $2600

We carry the Ultrasound line of acoustic amplifiers. They are priced very nicely, and seem to sound better than anything else we've tried in their range. Steven Stone's column in the latest Vintage Guitar Magazine reviews them very highly.

• UltraSound AG-30, The almighty 30 watt practice amp, actually some feel it's the best sounding of all. Has one 8" coaxial speaker and 2" tweeter. This one has the 'lean-to' stand installed.
• Cash Price, $225

• UltraSound AG-50 DS4: 50 watts RMS, with the Alesis 16 progam chip, stereo effects, two 8" coaxial speakers with two 2" tweeters. Can be combined with the 50E for 100 watts of pure sound, spread throughout the room. This one has the 'lean-to' stand installed.
• Cash price, $469

• UltraSound CP-100, The newest model, a very compact (smaller than the AG-50s) full-featured 100 watt amp, with two 8" coaxial speakers and a 2" tweeter, with Alesis 16 program effects chip and active eq. The notch filter is a sweepable 18db cut, the shape filter is a mid dip control with boosted high & low frequencies.. UltraSound minimizes the number of external adjustments needed by effective design of the internal electronics.
• EQ Section-bass and Treble Balance, Notch Filter- Eliminates Feedback, Shape-Controls.
• The EFX allows the player to input any special effects they want and this automatically overrides the reverb.
• The Line Out reproduces the signal; with effects/reverb, while Direct out eliminates the reverb effect.
• They have also designed-in short circuit and thermal overload protection, as well as sampling the speaker signal to eliminate unwanted power amp distortion. When you first turn on the UltraSound you will not hear the "popping noise" made by most amps and neither will you hear any "white noise". This kind of attention to details only enhances the UltraSound amps. • UltraSound designs a unit that is lightweight but still has a big sound. Read the CP-100 Review in Acoustic Guitar Magazine
• This one has the 'lean-to' stand installed.
• Sold

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GYPSY JAZZ GUITARS

1998 Dell Arte L. Sevillano Model, Fairly early for Dell Arte, made for them by Sevillano in Tiajuana, these are well regarded instruments, nicely made and great sounding. The big "D" sound-hole is supposed to be for rhythm, but it makes a great gutsy, fat lead instrument. New accurately intonated bridge, tuners upgraded to Waverlies, upgraded hard shell case.
• Nut width: 1 7/8", String spacing at bridge: 2 5/16"
• Scale length: 25 3/8"
• Cash price, $1495

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RESONATOR AND HAWAIIAN INSTRUMENTS

1929 National Triolian, Palm Tree model, New maple neck(the original was made out of Bakelite) in original polychrome finish, new aged tuners, new National Hot Rod cone, original bisquit, finish is VG+ to Excellent condition, set up is ultimate, with as good a tone as you will hear on one of these.
• Cash price, $3400

Recent National El Trovador, Based on Mike Dowling's tried and true 1930's El Trovadore. A deep-bodied long scale mahogany single cone, it has a number of significant improvements over the original designed, cooked up by Mike and the genii at National. This one was purchased from us about a year ago and still lookd brand new.
• Cash price, $2250

2004 National K1 Custom Tricone, Custom ordered to match the color of an old red barn, with no inlays on the fingerboard, a squared-off peghead shape, fingerboard and peghead bound in ivoroid and a 1 3/4" nut width.
• Cash price, $2685

New Nationals:

National Antique Brass Delphi, A new model from National, this is a brass bodied, non-plated single cone box with a fat, deep tone and a gorgeous antique finish that is fingerprint free. The model is brand new - not even in the catalogue yet.
• Cash price, $2395

National El Trovador, Based on Mike Dowling's tried and true 1930's El Trovador. A deep-bodied mahogany single cone, it has a number of significant improvements over the original designed, cooked up by Mike and the genii at National.
• Cash price, $2560

National Estralita Deluxe, Wood bodied single cone, sunburst finish on a flamed maple top, slothead, beautifully detailed with very sexy pearloid peghead veneer, great warm tone.
• Cash price, $2195.

National Cutaway Tricone, Nickel-plated bell-brass, basically a Style 1 with cutaway added thus preserving the 12-fret body yet openning the upper frets. The most sustain and sweetest tone of the National line, and this one is very rich, warm and loud.
• Cash Price, $2959

National RM-One Mandolin, Antique brass model, a recent concept for National, they were inspired by a rare pre-war wood bodied National mandolin, this new mandolin has traditional features like the biscuit bridge combined with modern touches such as an intonated saddle and a comfortably radiused fingerboard. The art deco cast tailpiece is a National exclusive. With the best modern gears, this new mandolin stays and plays in tune better than any mandolins in National’s history. The musical tone and sheer versatility of this instrument will impress many musicians. While it has all the power and projection that you would expect from a resonator instrument, it also has a sweet, woody sound with terrific tonal balance. The most common musician’s reaction is that it sounds like a fine wooden mandolin played through an excellent PA system. The new National mandolin is the perfect instrument for both the serious mandolinist and for guitarists looking for a second instrument. Sweet, yet loud; lyrical, yet powerful. The Antique Brass resonator plate is beautiful! Check out http://www.nationalguitars.com/index_ie.html for more info, photo and sound clip of Rich Del Grosso playing one
• Cash price, $1775

On Order: Tricone German Silver

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CLASSICAL GUITARS


"High" Renaissance RF6 Nylon Hybrid, Cedar top, fancy claro walnut body, All Gloss finish, beautiful colored wood purfling, this guitar is the perfect classical electric, capable of loud volumes with technique as delicate as you like, the best of both worlds.
• The thinline body is built like a fine acoustic guitar, but with an additional mahogany center block to cut feedback.
• Nut width, 1 7/8"; spacing at bridge, 2 5/16"
• A Turner piezo bridge pick-up feeds full-spectrum signals to an 18-volt Turner pre-amp
• Low-noise volume and tone controls
• Designed from scratch to produce premium acoustic tone as an amplifiable, recordable electronic signal.
• Cash price, $1854
• see http://www.renaissanceguitars.com/renac.html for more detailed info.

recent Godin Multiac Nylon Duet, Thin chambered semi-acoustic mahogany body with solid spruce top, L.R. BaggsTM I-Beam Duet system. Plugged in, the Multiac Duet produces the sort of fidelity that you normally associate with a high-end condenser mic on a full body acoustic guitar. As new condition and hard shell case.
• Cash price, $995

We also have a full selection of high-quality student grade classicals, from $205-$600 by La Patrie (Godin/Seagull), as well as sized guitars for children. We start at 5 years old, which we feel is the youngest age for 6-string learning, with a 1/8 size, then we have 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4.
• Call for more information.

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INDEPENDENT LUTHIER GUITARS

Robert Anderson Model 03 Brazilian, A beautiful new guitar from Victoria, B.C. Back & sides are gorgeous fancy Brazilian rosewood; top is reclaimed Sitka Spruce that was salvaged from pilings and air dried for about 25 years.  Robert split the billets from 5 foot long quarters of the actual logs. These particular tops are uncommonly rich in tone and much warmer than other Sitka. The bindings are flame maple with a tastefully thin abalone rosette. Tonally, it is loud and clear with a full frequency range: a true concert solo guitar.
• String spacing is 1.75" x 2.25"
• Scale Length is 25.25"
• Body width, 14.75"
• In the shop for repairs

Laurent Brondel A2, Carpathian spruce and Sapeleye, a beautifully made 15" wide x 4.25" deep guitar with subtle appointments and oil varnish finish. The binding and rosette are of tortoise shell, spacing is 1 3/4" x 2 5/16", scale is 25.59". Laurent is a very talented Frenchman living in Maine. He worked at Bourgeois Guitars for a while, before that he played professionally for a couple decades, mostly out of Paris. He is an excellent guitarist, and his guitars have the something special that is only found when built by an accomplished guitarist.
• Cash price, $4050

John How XGC, Based on the Stella guitars of the 1920's, this one differs in that it is X-Braced. The idea came from a very nice Stella we had that had been rebraced, with very successful results—it sounds amazing! This Grand Concert from John is 14 5/8" wide, with very enticing flame mahogany—it glistens, some would even say it glows—and Lutz spruce, a mating of Sitka and Engelmann. Other features are bone pins, upgraded colored wood purflings & nitro finish. Must be played to be believed (you could say that about all guitars;) it's a very light guitar with quick response, and a delicate yet full tone. All in all, a delicious guitar to play and hear. 1 3/4" x 2 5/16".
• Cash price, $4800

John How FP Cutaway, By John How of Cool, CA; a contemporary 00 (14 1/4") model with cutaway out of redwood and fancy flamed koa, x braced, dark violin stained finish. Virtually new condition.
• String spacing, nut: 1 3/4"; bridge: 2 1/4+"
• Flamed Koa fingerboard and body bindings, as well as rosette
• Cash price, $3495

Howard Klepper 12-Fret 000, 15" lower bout, but not Martin shape, with the long 25.4" scale.  The back and sides are quartersawn Cocobolo, with black "ink" lines and some beeswing figure.  The top is of western incense cedar (Libocedrus decurrens, also known as Calocedrus decurrens).  This is the premier wood for making pencils, hence another common name is pencil cedar.  It is rarely available for guitar tops--most of the trees are owned by or committed to the pencil industry--but it has outstanding structural and tonal properties.  It is a lot harder,  stiffer and stronger than western red cedar, and tends toward a vibrant tone with a quick attack. This guitar's bindings are curly Ceylon satinwood, another rarity in the lutherie world.  The fretboard is African blackwood with inset bloodwood purfling, and the bridge is Brazilian rosewood.  The top purfling is some of Howard's custom half-herringbone marquetry. The multi-piece neck is of mahogany and Brazilian satinwood, with black and maple veneers.
•1-3/4" nut, 2-1/4" string spacing at the bridge, Gotoh tuners, and a hard shell case.
• Cash price, $6500

Howard Klepper Pernambuco OM, Pernambuco, sometimes called "The Music Tree" in its native Brazil, is unexcelled as a choice for guitar backs and sides.  Its elasticity, low damping, and high speed of sound transmission have made it the wood of choice for violin bows for centuries. Guitar sets are only occasionally available. It lends a unique clarity and focus to a guitar's sound in all registers without harshness in the treble or boominess in the bass.
This guitar by Howard Klepper is in the OM style with a 15" lower bout, 14 frets to the body, and a 25.4" scale.  It has a 1-3/4" ivory nut and 2-5/16" string spacing at the bone saddle.  The top is European spruce with bearclaw figure.  The bridge, binding, fretboard, and outer headstock veneers are Madagascar rosewood.  Among the guitar's appointments are Howard's custom curly maple purflings, including half herringbone around the top and a herringbone backstripe, camphor burl rosette and end graft, multipiece mahogany, maple, and walnut neck with backstrapping at the headstock, a bound side soundport, snakewood bridge pins, and a custom patterned pickguard.  It has Gotoh 510 tuners, a nitrocellulose lacquer finish and includes a hardshell case.
• Cash price, $7500


Kramer Big Skye, Another strikingly beautiful 14 5/8 wide 14-Fret guitar from this wonderful craftsman from Truckee, CA, out of Ziricote and European spruce. As we've come to expect from Sparky, this guitar is a tonal wonder—powerful across the board—and a dream to play. The headplate, back headplate and rosette are matching ziricote, scale length is 25 1/2", nut width is 1 3/4, bridge is 2 1/4", tuners are Gotoh open/butterbean style.
• Cash price, $5895

Kramer Prairie Grass Narra, Sparky's newest, his second with the sound port. The first was extremely successful - and so is this one. The back & sides are Narra, a rare hard wood native to the Solomon Islands (South Pacific, east of Borneo). Binding and headstock overlay are Madagascar rosewood, rosette is Madagascar and koa, nut is 1 3/4, scale is 25.5". This box has a clear fundamental, like mahogany, with beautiful overtones somewhat reminiscent of rosewood.
• Cash price, $5875

1996 Grit Laskin, Brazilian rosewood 12-Fret 14 5/8" body, 25 1/2" scale, with Grit's built in ebony armrest. One of Grit's more tasteful inlay patterns, though still very ornate, the peghead and fingerboard subtlely depict a natural shore scene, with the sun or moon low on the horizon, light glinting in the water accompanied by shore birds and seals. Based on a classical shape, with elaborate pearl and wood rosette, 1 7/8" x 2 3/16" string spacing Current cost of this instrument today would be approx. $19K.,
• Cash price, $9,450

Merrills in the works: 000 12-Fret, Cocobolo/Carpathian; C-28; C-28 12-Fret; OM-18 Hide Glue, Pyramid Bridge, Shaded Finish; OM-28, Cocobolo, Hide Glue, Pyramid Bridge, Shaded Finish (sold).

Ivon Schmukler NL Legacy, Out of fancy mahogany and Adirondack, 24.9" scale, very lightly built, with 1/4" braces and only one tone bar, this guitar is beautifully constructed, with exquisite detailing and an old-Martin kind of sound. I've known Ivon for over forty years and know his experience in the field is deep and full.
• From Ivon's web site, http://ivonguitars.com/
• Cash price, $7500

The Schoenberg 00C Soloist, a 14-Fret Cutaway, in Indian rosewood and European spruce by Robert has been our most popular model, with the first one quite a few years ago having been chosen by jazz fingerstylist Jamie Findlay as his dream flattop. The last one we had was in for just a couple days. I call this model the 00-OM, after the fact that the greatness of the OM comes more from the scale length than from the 000 size. In fact, the 00 with the longer scale has its own special qualities, such as a more pure balance in which counterpoint lines have equal prominance and a particularly musical treble. Robert's guitars are more reminiscent of the Larson Brothers qualities, with a domed but lightly built top, giving great projection and strength of each individual note, as well as more overall volume and powerful bass.
• Cash price, $7495

Schoenberg 00C Soloist, Sunburst, Carpathian spruce, quartersawn Brazilian, what we like to call our Cutaway 00-OM. Martin's 14-fret 00s were all short scale and mahogany; we believe that changing the specs to long scale produces an instrument with all the power and complexity of a standard 15" OM, with possibly a different eq and a smaller body for comfort. This instrument is very large sounding, with plenty of the sparkly treble that comes out of the smaller boxes.
• By Bruce Sexauer & Eric Schoenberg
• Sold

Schoenberg 000 Soloist, Out of Engelmann spruce and Panama rosewood, a straight OM with rosewood body and fingerboard binding, pyramid bridge, thin abalone rosette, logo of inlaid ivoroid, short pattern diamond & square fingerboard inlay and a slim traditional mild "V" neck shape with 1 13/16" nut and 2 3/8" bridge spacing. The slimness of the neck gives it the feeling of being much narrower, yet there is plenty of room for fingers. The tone has the unusual characteristic of being warm and bright, with clear, strong trebles and rich bottom end—the choice of Engelmann spruce works particularly well with the domed top, adding warmth and depth.
• By Robert Anderson and Eric Schoenberg
• Cash price, $7265, with Deluxe Hard Shell Case.

Schoenberg 000C Standard, Koa and Adirondack 12-fret 000 cutaway. This is an exemplary guitar, very clean & pristine tone, beautifully crisp, perfect craftmanship with wonderfully curly koa. Pyramid bridge, colored purfling rosette—a very nice and unusual touch, subtle laminated peghead veneer, Brazilian rosewood peghead veneer, binding, heelcap and end plate.
• By Alan Perlman & Eric Schoenberg
• Cash price, $8450

Schoenberg Soloist 000C, Curly mahogany, fancy Adirondack spruce, beautiful detailing with vintage style tortoiseshell appointments (binding and peghead veneer). The Soloist is our name for the OM model: 14 frets to the body, 1 13/16" at the nut. This guitar is truly alive—intense, deep bass, with an overlay of luster in the treble, totally alive, giving out seemingly way more than you put into it. An unbelievable mahogany guitar!
• By James Russell & Eric Schoenberg
• Cash price, $6950
• On Hold

Yamamoto OMY, Made in Dublin, CA, this Cutaway OM is a fully hand-made, single luthier instrument out of flamed koa and Adirondack spruce. The detailing is beautifully executed, with cocobolo bindings, purflings and rosette, ebony peghead backstripe, beautiful koa headstock veneer and nitro finish. The tone is very alive, sweet, with great clarity and a lyrical fat middle and high end and plenty of bass. The neck is 1 3/4" at the nut, and slim, C-shaped, the workmanship and detail are extremely fine, the lines are exquisite..
• Cash price, $3000

Yamamoto Multi-Scale 25.5-27, Tony's first fan-fret guitar, as usual beautifully engineered and carried out. The scale length is 27" on the 6th string, 25.5" on the first, body is wedged to make this large body very comfortable. Woods are Honduras rosewood and Adirondack spruce. It was designed for open tunings with light guage strings; the low-tuned bass strings are gigantic sounding.
• Cash price, $4975

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NEW STEEL STRINGS

Art & Lutherie Ami, Parlor size, by Godin, available in steel and nylon stringed versions, super as travel or student instruments, hopefully always in stock.
• Almost Always in Stock

Blueridge Guitars, A branch of Saga Musical Instruments. These are phenomenal values, with tone unheard of at these price levels, indicative of the great strides being made by Chinese musical instrument manufacturers. Patterned after true vintage models, these boxes get an amazingly good sound quality. These are the long-awaited (by us) Blueridge 000 size: more comfortable, more healthy for nerves and tendons, and more balanced tone of the smaller bodies. Solid spruce top with forward-shifted, pre-war style scalloped X braces. We carry the ooo size Blueridges since they have plenty of power and volume, so who needs a dreadnought. And being smaller, they are far superior ergonomically, especially for student instruments.
• Our full set-up, custom for each buyer:

• BR-43, 000-size. Solid top, mahogany b & s, $369

• BR-63, 000-size. Solid top, rosewood b & s, $446

• BR-143, All solid, long scale, the right size (000), mahogany back & sides. Remarkable tone, coming from the unbeatable concept of repeating the traditional styles that work instead of always trying to reinvent the wheel. $565

• BR-163, All solid, long scale, the right size (000), rosewood back & sides. Dreadnoughts have been foisted on us for years—finally we have great choices in real guitar sizes. Sold

• BR-341, At last a small bodied high-quality guitar at an affordable price. Based on a specific Martin 0-18 from 1906, this one, at 14", is between a '0' and a '00' and offers a wider neck and slotted peghead. The tone is surprisingly strong and rich—these have been possibly the most popular model here lately. $845

• BR-361, Our most popular guitar, same as the 341 except rosewood body, herringbone rosette and ivoroid tuner buttons. Modelled on a 1906 Martin, these guitars offer qualities never before found in this price range. We've been selling them to owners of great vintage instruments, to be used for gigging, travelling etc. The tone is surprisingly strong and rich—these have been possibly the most popular model here lately. $1059

• BR- 140A, Brand new model for us, this is the Blueridge D-18 style box with an Adirondack spruce top, possibly the least expensive Ad. top guitar in the world! This venerable rare spruce is often credited with being a major factor in the tone production of pre-war Martins, and the difference can easily be heard in this 140A. It has depth and power that one would love to hear in an instrument 10X the value of this one. Back & sides are solid select mahogany. $624

Eastman AC708S, The new 15" OM type flattop, all solid, rosewood back & sides, Engelmann spruce top, slotted peghead, 1 3/4" nut. This company is coming on strong—this is a great sounding guitar!
• Cash price, $995

Eastman AJ815C, We had the first several of this remarkable model, this is the last one. Hand carved maple b&s make these a special occurrence in the history of guitar making. The woods and finish are gorgeous, the neck shape is to-die-for, the 15 1/4" body just the right size. This model has, interestingly enough, been chosen by professional players who usually play great old vintage instruments—the sound is special and different, while the neck feels great.
• 1 3/4" nut, 2 3/16" bridge spacing
• Cash price, $1285

Goodall Grand Concert Cutaway, Rosewood/Adirondack, smallest (15") jumbo from Goodall, sort of a jumbo-shaped OM. This is a powerful, yet balanced guitar; lots of bass, yet treble that fights back! Curly koa binding, 1 3/4" nut width, 25.5" scale.
• Cash price, $4995, includes hard shell case

Guild GAD M-20, replica of Guild's amazing unsung little M-20 from the '50s and '60s. All solid mahogany, 13 5/8" wide at lower bout, with a sweet, rich, smooth tone that will sooth the soul of the savage beast, and be a top quality student, travel, or professional instrument.
• Cash price, $575, includes hard shell case

Guild GAD F-20, The original F-20s of the '50s and 60's (Hoboken period) were the sleepers of the generation. They were the bottom of Guild's line, yet I knew a number of great players who started on them and never let them go. Now they're quite rare and always an exciting find. All Solid Spruce and Mahogany, small body for total comfort.
• Cash price, $669

Guild GAD F-20 Iced Tea Burst, The original F-20s of the '50s and 60's (Hoboken period) were the sleepers of the generation. They were the bottom of Guild's line, yet I knew a number of great players who started on them and never let them go. Now they're quite rare and always an exciting find. These new ones are a long-awaited ressurection; All Solid Spruce and Mahogany, beautiful top shading, '0' size body for total comfort.
• Sold

Guild GAD-30, Orchestra body, based on the original Guild F-30 (actually based specifically on a 1957 F-30 that Fender purchased from us), solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, mahogany neck, wood binding.
• Cash price, $829, with hard shell case

Guild GAD-30R, Orchestra body, based on the original Guild F-30 (actually based specifically on a 1957 F-30 that Fender purchased from us), solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, mahogany neck, wood binding.
• Cash price, $879, with hard shell case

New US-Made Guilds:

Guild F-30 Aragon, Natural finish. This is Guild's reincarnation of their best model (in our biased opinion, since it's very close to an OM) from the early days when they were made in Hoboken, NJ. One major difference: Red Spruce top and braces. The quality is exceedingly good, with a warm, full, balanced and open tone.
• Cash price, $1724, with hard shell case

Guild F-40 Valencia, I couldn't not have this Iced Tea Burst in the store, it is so beautiful! The rest of the guitar is not bad either! Adirondack Spruce, Scalloped Adirondack Spruce Braces, Traditional Early Guild 16-inch Body, Solid Mahogany Back and Sides, Dovetail Neck Joint, Bone Bridge Pins, Tortoise Shell Bindings, Bone Nut and Saddle, made in Tacoma, WA. This is one high class instrument!
• Cash price, $1724, with hard shell case

Coming, F-412 Maple Twelve-String.

Larrivée Parlor-05, Mahogany and spruce, similar in size to a Martin size 1, just a hair wider and half an inch shorter in body length; this is a very appealing travel guitar or comfy, sit-and--play-on-the-couch guitar. The tone is surprisingly full, even as a new guitar; a little breaking-in will go a long ways. Nut width is 1 3/4", scale length 24".
• Cash Price, $985, w/hard shell case

Larrivée Parlor-09, Rosewood and spruce, similar in size to a Martin size 1, just a hair wider and half an inch shorter in body length; this is a very appealing travel guitar or comfy, sit-and--play-on-the-couch guitar. The tone is surprisingly full, even as a new guitar; a little breaking-in will go a long ways. Nut width is 1 3/4", scale length 24".
• Sold

Larrivée OM-03R, Same as the OM-03 with a rosewood back & sides instead of mahogany, therefore somewhat warmer, deeper sounding. Both of these models are an exciting addition to the shop in that they offer a very special value not available in any other line.
• Nut width 1 3/4"
• Sold

Martin LXM, LXME, LX!, LX1E and LXM2 the LXMB (Black) Has Fishman Mini Q pick-up, the LXM2 is faux koa. Martin's brand new travel guitar, out of HPL and Stratabond, sounds great; the best travel guitar on the made today for the $, as well as a great 3/4 size steel string for kids.
• Includes nice gig bag
• Our full set-up, custom for each buyer
• MAP Price: LXM, LXK2 & LXMB, $279; LX1, $299; LXME, $339; LX1E, $359

Martin 00-15, All solid mahogany and a perfect smaller size. This model is part of a long tradition of economically priced but high quality instruments, often being quite popular due to the sweet warm tone of the mahogany.
• List price, $1249, MAP, $949, includes hard shell case

Martin 000-16GT, All solid, mahogany & spruce, long scale. Basically an OM-18 with Martin's standard-width 1 11/16" neck. The sound of this box is quite wonderful: full and sweet, a gorgeous liquid treble, a full yet clear bottom end; I don't know of anything else available on the market today to compare in the tone/price continuum.
• List, $1449; MAP, $1049, with hard shell case

Martin J12-16GT, Mahogany back and sides, spruce top, all solid woods. This model features emminent playability: 12 strings need low action, and this one's got it. Our favorite 12-string.
• List price, $1749; Map, $1299, includes hard shell case

Martin OMC-160GTE, A brand new 2009 cutaway model representing a great combination of bargain price and new Roland's AP-1 pick-up technology. The back is three-pieces, Indian rosewood in the center, ovankol on the two outer pieces. The nut width is 1 3/4", with Martin's low oval neck shape, and white binding around the body and fingerboard.
• List, $2199, MAP is $1649.00

Martin DC-160GTE, A brand new 2009 cutaway model representing a great combination of bargain price and new Roland pick-up technology. The back is three-piece ovankol.
• List, $2199, MAP is $1649.00

Martin SWOM GT, "Smart Wood" certified cherry back and sides, spruce top, with tortoise-shell appointments. Being an OM it has 1 3/4" at the nut and long scale. 'GT' stands for 'gloss top'. Has a new, slim neck shape, and a hard shell case is included in the price.
• Sold

Martin OMC-16RE Aura, Rosewood & spruce, this instrument features the magic of the OM model with the Schoenberg cutaway, all solid spruce and rosewood. On top of all that, you have the new Fishman Aura system, possibly the height of technology in acoustic guitar pick-ups today.
• List price, $3099; MAP, $2299, includes hard shell case

Martin OM-21, How wonderful it is that the Martin company has created this model and kept it as a standard catalogued item. As you may know, we're maniacs for OMs, and remember very well when they were an exclusive item, only available as a rare vintage guitar. This model helped make the OM a people's fingerpicking guitar!
• List price, $2699; Map, $1999, includes hard shell case

Martin OM-21 Special, A new OM, with vintage features including the pyramid bridge with drop-in saddle (yeah!), custom ordered with no toner on the top, full scalloped 1/4" braces, Low Profile neck, spacing of 1 3/4" x 2 1/4". We love OMs, and now we have another with which to enrich the world. The tone is remarkable, possibly because of the pyramid bridge, and we think the natural finish is way nicer looking than the dark aging toner of others of this model. The Indean rosewood is particularly nice on this one as well.
• List price, $3,799; MAP, $2899, includes hard shell case

Martin 000-28VS, The 12-fret 000 is considered by some (including me) to be Martin's best sounding box. This reissue is a part of their estimable effort to bring back the great models from their "Golden Era".
• Nut width: 1 13/16", string spacing at the bridge: 2 5/16"
• Sitka spruce, Indian rosewood
• List, $4599; MAP, $3499, includes hard shell case

Martin D-18 GE, Not a common stock item for us because of our focus on the smaller models, but the clamor for this model has been so great that we couldn't resist. A number of our most respected professionals, such as Scott Nygaard and Julian Lage, have chosen the D-18GE over all other models. Somehow the combination of its numerous virtues seems to have created a monster guitar: Adirondack top combined with the mahogany back & sides, the Golden Era bracing, the high X, plus the wider neck, fossilized ivory and various 1934 stylings. As in the original 1934 era Ds, the earlier style bracing seems to be most effective with the mahogany body, in that the open, bassy effect of lighter bracing and high-X does amazingly well with the contrasting happiness, clarity and definition of the mahogany.
• List price, $4349; MAP, $3299, includes hard shell case.

Martin OM-28 Marquis Madagascar, The Marquis line is the "Golden Era" line with Indian rosewood instead of Brazilian; this guitar represents an upgrade to the standard "Marquis" model by its use of Madagascar rosewood, a newcomer to the guitar world that is quite rare and possibly of equal quality to Brazilian. Crafted with pre-war GE appointments and tonewoods that include Adirondack red spruce for the top and braces, high X scalloped braces and traditional neck dimensions and string spacing.
• List, $7599; Map, $5699, includes hard shell case.

Martin OMC 18LJ Custom, A new run of the mahogany Juber model, an open-ended Custom Edition, this new edition includes the volute, two-way truss rod, headplate of Madagascar rosewood, and a much improved modified V neck. Other features include Adirondack top, 1/4" scalloped braces, tortoise binding, 1 3/4" x 2 1/4", extra-light construction, and no external signature. These have been 'killer' and this one is no exception, with a much improved neck shape and big, rich, powerful, clear and bassy tone. The recent Martins we've been recieving have been well above the norm, and offer startlingly remarkable tone.
• List price, $4799; MAP, $3799, includes hard shell case

Martin OMC 28LJ, an OMC with Madagascar rosewood and Adirondack spruce, the Schoenberg cutaway. The sound of the Mad. rosewood is very much like Brazilian, maybe slightly brighter. This is a satisfyingly clean sounding box, with lots of delicious overtones and no muddiness. The "LJ" stands for Laurence Juber. The recent Martins we've been recieving have been well above the norm, and offer startlingly remarkable tone.
• Martin OMC-160GTE, A brand new 2009 cutaway model representing a great combination of bargain price and new Roland pick-up technology. The back is three-piece ovankol.
• List, $5799.00, MAP is $4599.00

Martin 00-21 Custom Cutaway, There was only one 14-fret 00-21 made in the 30s, and here it is again. Adirondack spruce, IE rosewood, OM neck spacing, 21 appointments such as herringbone rosette and tortoiseshell binding. An OM pickguard is a perfect touch for this smaller body. We had a used Custom with these features a couple years ago, and it was so successful we decided to order another one.
• Nut: 1 3/4", Bridge: 2 5/16"
• Inlay: Diamond & Squares, Short Pattern
• Binding: Grained Ivoroid
• Neck Shape: Low Profile
• Bridge: Drop-In Saddle
• Tuners: Waverly Nickel
• Cash price, $3695, includes hard shell case
• Sold, replacement on order.

Martin 00-28 Cutaway Custom, 12-Fret Cutaway, slot-head, Adirondack/Indian, herringbone purfling, long scale, pyramid bridge, Low Oval neck. We love to order customs from Martin which combine our favorite qualities. The idea of a Cutaway 12-Fret is intriquing in that it offers full access (better than a 14-Fretter) with the very appealing tone of a 12-Fret body. The 00 size has been grossly under-represented in the catalogues of modern guitar manufactures, unfortunately so, since they seem to offer a perfect balanced tone and ultimate comfort of playing. The recent Martins we've been recieving have been well above the norm, and offer startlingly remarkable tone.
• Nut: 1 13/16", Bridge: 2 3/8"
• Inlay: Diamond & Squares, Short Pattern
• Binding: Grained Ivoroid
• Neck Shape: Low Profile
• Bridge: Pyramid with Drop-In Saddle
• Tuners: Waverly Nickel
• Sold, replacement on order.

Martin 000-28 Cutaway Custom, 12-Fret Cutaway, slot-head, Adirondack/Indian, herringbone purfling, long scale, pyramid bridge, Low Oval neck. We love to order customs from Martin which combine our favorite qualities. The idea of a Cutaway 12-Fret is intriguing in that it offers full access (better than a 14-Fretter) with the very appealing tone of a 12-Fret body. The recent Martins we've been recieving have been well above the norm, and offer startlingly remarkable tone.
• Nut: 1 13/16", Bridge: 2 3/8"
• Inlay: Diamond & Squares, Short Pattern
• Binding: Grained Ivoroid
• Neck Shape: Low Profile
• Bridge: Pyramid with Drop-In Saddle
• Tuners: Waverly Nickel
• Sold

Martin OM-30DB Pat Donohue, Absolutely gorgeous 000 14-Fret with Style 30 apointments: colored purfling around the top and abalone soundhole rosette, wide neck with the slotted headstock, designed by fabulous fingerstyle player Pat Donohue, of "Prairie Home Companion." The one real departure from OM specs is the deeper body, giving the guitar a fuller, airier tone.
• Scalloped Adirondack braces, ivoroid binding, style 30 multicolored wood top trim, 45-style abalone rosette, Delmar tortoise pickguard, pyramid bridge. Modified V neck, 25.4" OM scale, bound slotted peghead with torch inlay, style 30 inlays, bone nut, fossil ivory drop-in saddle, bone bridge pins with abalone dots. String spacing at bridge is 2-5/16", 1-13/16" nut, Waverly 3-on-plate gears with ivoroid buttons. Inside label signed by Pat Donohue and numbered in sequence without total.
• List price, $6799; Map, $5399, includes hard shell case

Martin 000-18SGE Custom, A custom 12-Fret 000 out of Mahogany and Adirondack, with vintage Amber Sunburst. This is an extremely successful Golden Era Martin, tonally as well as visually. Features are slotted head, belly bridge with old-style saddle, Waverly tuners, 1 7/8" nut width and 2 5/16" bridge spacing.
• Cash price, $3975, includes hard shell case

Martin 1833 Custom 00 12-Fret, Very beautiful, unusual Martin with amber-stained birdseye maple back & sides, Adirondack spruce top, maple neck(!) with a rosewood lamination running down its center, rosewood binding and fingerboard. Golden Era bracing, 1 7/8" modified V neck, long scale(!), 42-style fingerboard inlays and the early torch inlay on the peghead. The maple neck is the most unusual aspect for Martin; the denser material can pull a lot of extra sound out of the box, as does the long scale—it'll be a lot of fun experiencing this instrument as it breaks in!
• Cash price, $4995, includes hard shell case

Potomac Standard, OM style, all solid Engelmann spruce and mahogany, made in China by Eastman, 1 3/4" nut width. A startlingly good sounding and playing instrument, comparable to the Recording King RO-26.
• Sold

Potomac Deluxe, OM style, all solid Engelmann spruce and rosewood, made in China by Eastman, 1 3/4" nut width, abalone soundhole rosette. A startlingly good sounding and playing instrument, comparable to the Recording King RO-27.
• Cash price, $549

Recording King RO-26 & 27, 000 size,e, all solid, African mahogany (RO-26) & Indian rosewood (RO-27) and Engelmann spruce, with classy vintage features and a big, full sound. The nut is 1 3/4" wide, a great advantage especially for learners.
• Cash price, RO-26, $395; RO-27, $516

Recording King Century Studio 000 12-Fret, Recording King Century Series guitars feature 000 12-fret style bodies for a robust sound and comfortable playability, and a hand-buffed nitrocellulose finish for the deep, authentic tone and warm projection found on original fretted instruments from the early 20th century. Other features include AAA solid Sitka spruce top, solid figured mahogany back and sides for the model 626, solid Indian rosewood for the model ROS-627, one-piece mahogany neck with a vintage ‘V’ profile, slotted headstock and pyramid bridge.
• ROS-626: Cash price, $749
• ROS-627: Cash price, $899

Recording King Century Jubilee ROJ-16, Solid spruce, mahogany back and sides, Gibson-style Sunburst, greatly improved neck shape, 1-3/4” X 2 5/16", our favorite student guitar!
• 1-3/4” X 2 5/16"
• Cash price, $449

Recording King Century Jubilee ROJ-27, The best yet, in that this model represents Recording King's top features, and has the most universal neck shape and string spacing.
• Hand-Rubbed Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish, Gibson-style Sunburst
• Hand-Shaped Scalloped Spruce X-Bracing
• Attention to the neck profile
• Hand-fitted dovetail neck joint
• Solid Sitka Spruce Sunburst Top
• Gibson Nick Lucas style fingerboard inlays
• Dovetail Neck Joint
• Vintage-Style Grover Tuners
• Bone Nut and Saddle
• 1-3/4” X 2 5/16"
• Lifetime Warranty
• Cash price, $825

Seagull M12 Gloss, Solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back & sides, a big, full sounding 12-string with a great neck shape and action. This guitar would be an excellent purchase at twice the price!
• Cash price, $579

Simon and Patrick Parlor, by Godin, an absolutely wonderful small-bodied inexpensive guitar that sounds as good as many bigger, more expensive guitars. Solid spruce top, mahogany sides and back.
• Always in stock

Trinity College TG-20, The rosewood version of the aforementioned TG-10, features include long scale,lightly braced, 1 3/4" nut, 15 5/16" lower bout, rosewood back & sides, solid spruce top, 12-frets with cutaway.
• Cash price, $529

Trinity College TG-100, A surprisingly good sounding version of Saga's new Trinity College Schoenberg clone, All solid cedar and mahogany make a smooth, rich toned instrument, and of course we like the wider spacing and cutaway. It is 12 frets to the body, 25 3/4" scale, just a little bit larger than the traditional OM and our Soloist.
• Nut width 1 3/4"
• Cash price, $969

 Trinity College TG-222, The 14-fret model of this part Schoenberg Soloist clone by Saga. It's all solid rosewood and spruce with rosewood/maple binding and scalloped braces. The Schoenberg cutaway is, in my view (obviously) ideal. Body is 15 5/16" wide, depth is 4 1/8", neck width is 1 3/4 x 2 3/8", copied off of a Schoenberg Soloist.
• Cash price, $1025

Voyage-air OM1C, The ultimate travel guitar, a professional quality, full 000 size yet the neck folds without retuning—ask for a demonstration—and a backpack case that will go onto any airplane.
• Cash price, $1295

Voyage-Air OM2C, The ultimate travel guitar, a professional quality, full 000 size yet the neck folds without retuning—ask for a demonstration—and a backpack case that will go onto any airplane.
• Cash price, $1665

Voyage-air OM SongWriter, The budget line: no cutaway and non-solid mahogany back & sides, still wonderful quality and equally portable as the OM1C and OM2C. Includes a backpack case that will go onto any airplane.
• Cash price, $749

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MANDOLINS

1919 Martin Style B, In excellent original condition, quarter-sawn, dead straight grain Brazilian rosewood and Adirondack spruce. The workmanship is the same perfection and grace as Martin's pre-1940's guitars.
• Cash Price, $1225, w/ orig. hsc

1923 Gibson F-2, A very rare and spectacular Loar era Mandolin. Outstanding tone, Loar period with truss rod and Virzi! All original, no cracks, No issues, OHSC
• Cash price, $7450

Weymann "KayKraft", Excellent condition, possibly made by Stromberg-Voisinette or Kay, with a unique body shape similar to the guitar made by the same companies. Plays very nicely.
• Cash price, $600

Lyon & Healy Style A, Two point assymetrical top of the line carved top & back mandolin with the violin scroll peghead. There is one alteration: the black bakelite headstock cover piece is replaced by a very nicely done metal plate. A charming and beautifully made instrument.
• Cash price, $3650

1932 Gibson C-1, Very rare (first I've seen!) post Army-Navy model, these were made for the Kel Kroyden line—it seems no one really knows who (or what) Kel Kroyden was. We think the pickguard has been added—it looks right except it looks too new.
• Cash price, $1150

1937 Gibson A-00, A rare ƒ-hole model, excellent condition. Yes, we have two of them. Actually three—look at the next item...
• Cash price, $1850, w/original hard shell case

1937 Gibson A-50, A rare ƒ-hole model, long scale, wider body than standard for A models, excellent condition, Nick Lucas styly fingerboard and peghead inlays, fabulous curly maple and sunburst finish. The serial number dates it as 1937, but included with the mandolin is the original American Railway Express Co. Shippers Collect Receipt from 225 Parsons St. to Lismore, Minn, declared value of $50 and dated Oct. 1, 1936. Includes original soft shell case.
• Cash price, $2150

Recent Gibson F5G Deluxe, Serial #41118020, with the Sam Bush neck with wider spacing (and block inlays), and Virzi. Revoiced by Roger Siminoff in July, 2007.
• Cash price, $4750

Arrow Octave Mandolin, Carved top, Sunburst by Luthier Paul Lestock, who has become well known with his jazz mandolins, the "Jazzbo", played by Radim Zenkl, Joe Craven and others.
• Cash price, $3595, New Lower Price

Randy Wood Solid Body 5-String, From one of the best known mandolin builders, this is a five-string Esquire-like solid body with a single-coil neck pick-up and maple fingerboard. The body is mahogany and the back is contoured like a Strat.
• Cash price, $1475

National RM-1 Antique Brass, A new concept for National, they were inspired by a rare pre-war wood bodied National mandolin, this new mandolin has traditional features like the biscuit bridge combined with modern touches such as an intonated saddle and a comfortably radiused fingerboard. The art deco cast tailpiece is a National exclusive. With the best modern gears, this new mandolin stays and plays in tune better than any mandolins in National’s history. The musical tone and sheer versatility of this instrument will impress many musicians. While it has all the power and projection that you would expect from a resonator instrument, it also has a sweet, woody soud with terrific tonal balance. The most common musician’s reaction is that it sounds like a fine wooden mandolin played through an excellent PA system. The new National mandolin is the perfect instrument for both the serious mandolinist and for guitarists looking for a second instrument. Sweet, yet loud; lyrical, yet powerful. The Antique Brass resonator plate is beautiful! Check out http://www.nationalguitars.com/index_ie.html for more info, photo and sound clip of Rich Del Grosso playing one
• $1775

Loar LM-600VS, Patterned very closely after the 1920's Gibson F-5 by Lloyd Loar, this mando is a hand-made, hand-carved instrument with a graduated solid spruce top and solid flame maple back, sides & neck, hand-rubbed delicate nitrocellulose finish. This is a remarkable instrument!
• $749

Kentucky KM-160, Newly upgraded model, sunburst, hand crafted, adjustable truss rod, set up by us to super low action so students will have no excuse!
• Price, $246

Kentucky KM-250, Saga has recently upgraded these mandos: they are all solid (maple & spruce,) hand-carved and graduated, radiused fingerboard, high-quality nickel-plated tuners. And they sound great!. Our last one was purchased by Scott Nygaard for an upcoming tour with Joan Baez.
• Price, $369

Kentucky KM-505, A shape, ƒ-hole out of hand-selected solid spruce and solid flamed maple, hand carved and graduated construction and Vintage Amberburst nitrocellulose finish. The fingerboard is radiused and bound, peghead is bound and inlaid with a very tasty pearl inlay This is truly amazing quality with professional level tone and playability.out of hand-selected solid spruce and solid flamed maple, hand carved and graduated construction and Vintage Amberburst nitrocellulose finish. The fingerboard is radiused and bound, peghead is bound and inlaid with a very tasty pearl inlay. This is truly amazing quality with professional level tone and playability.
• Cash price, $449

Kentucky KM-675, Saga has recently upgraded these mandos: they are all solid (maple & spruce,) hand-carved and graduated, radiused fingerboard, high-quality nickel-plated tuners. And they sound great!
• Cash price, $769

Eastman MD-515, Eastman's newest line, the 500 series, is fully in their tradition of releasing less expensive models that are just as good, if not better, than the higher models. Same woods: spruce anbd maple, a little plainer in decoration...but not much, the metal parts aren't gold plated, Sunburst Varnish; loud, clear, plenty of bark; a top quality professional instrument. A nice touch is the curved fingerboard.
• Cash Price, $995

Eastman MD-614, The venerable Gibson F-4, Gibson's highest grade round-hole mandolin, has a sweeter tone than the ƒ-hole mandos of otherwise similar design, fully hand-carved of the best materials.
• Cash Price, $1295

Eastman MD-615, Eastman's great mid-level F-5 style mandolin, hand-carved back with sunburst top and beautiful antique red finish on back & sides. Other than the nickel tailpiece and the finish, it's exactly the same as the MD815!
• Cash Price, $1239

Eastman MD-805, A-5 style, an extra-fine hand carved, rich varnish sunburst finish; very alive and full sounding, excellent neck shape. From the first batch of this new line made by China's leading maker of violin family instruments.
• 'Price, $1125

Eastman MD-814, ƒ-style roundhole, Eastman's version of the old Gibson F-4, a brilliant, loud, clear sounding mandolin. It is fully hand-carved by expert violin builders in Beijing, China. The finish is hand-applied violin varnish
• Cash Price, $1649

Eastman MD-814 Golden Age An extremely beautiful natural finish with a honey-colored stain. F style roundhole, Eastman's version of the old Gibson F-4, a brilliant, loud, clear sounding mandolin. It is fully hand-carved by expert violin builders in Beijing, China.
• Cash price, $1575

Eastman MD-815V, Very beautiful high-flame maple and Adirondack Spruce a fully hand-carved top and back by Eastman's skilled violin craftsmen, and a very rich sunburst hand-applied oil varnish finish F-5. The competition is strong, and each American/Chinese mandolin manufacturer keeps topping the others. This is the newest, and we are very impressed! If you're interested in an F-5 at this level, now's the time to come in and compare—we have all three.
• Cash price, $1595

Eastman MDA-615 Mandola, Beautiful, deep, rich, throaty, H-5 style, meaning ƒ-hole & F-style, elevated fingerboard. Beautiful hand-applied varnish with thin laquer over-coat, hard shell case.
• Cash price, $1695

Eastman MDC-805, We are very pleased to be able to offer this rare Mandocello! Designed after the Gibson Lloyd Loar K-5, which used the body of the early 16" L-5 guitar. This is a gigantically rich instrument, with it's bass string tuned to the C below the guitar's low E. Finish is a gorgeous sunburst varnish, highly flamed maple back and sides, beautiful wide neck.
• Cash price, $1929

Rover RM-75, by Saga (Kentucky), a copy of the Lloyd Loar F-5, this mandolin is all solid spruce and maple, hand-carved, nitro-cellulose laquer finish, scalloped fingerboard extension to eliminate pick noise. For it's price, it is extremely successful—you'll be shocked at how good it sounds and feels.
• Price, $439

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BANJOS

1891 Fairbanks, Double Stamp (Fairbanks and F & C), 11" head, exc. cond. 26.25" scale. Beautiful sounding classic open back, original ivoroid tail piece & hardware. Built by Fairbanks right after the F & C era, thus the double stamp. High quality skin head.
• Cash Price, $865

1900 S.S. Stewart Special Thoroughbred, This instrument plays and sounds fantastic! It is complete with all original or very-early upgraded parts. Rim measures: 11” diameter. Patent-marked neck-adjuster. The dowel Stick has an old-style Stewart stamp partially covered by a metal plaque, the metal plaque bears no markings except the letters “PAT” on one end. New high grade calfskin head, Nyl-Gut Strings. Carved heel, ebony fingerboard, 3-layer, multi-color fingerboard underlay. Original tuners w/ grained ivoroid buttons. Original finish in excellent condition. One small inlay missing in headstock; scale: 27 7/16”.
• Cash Price, $1595

1929 Vegaphone Professiona Tenor, Early individual flanges, superb 19-Fret tenor, in great shape and all original condition, including case.
• Cash price, $1195

Gold Tone BC-350, During the last NAMM show I ran into an old friend, Bob Carlin. The last time we hooked up was probably 25 years ago in New York. He has long since been elevated to a status as one of the great clawhammerbanjo players around. I'd downloaded several of his pieces on ITunes and have listened to them over and over. He pointed out to me something that I'd been hearing in much of the great current clawhammer playersbut hadn't realized: the banjo one hears these days is not the 10 3/4" or 11" White Laydies and Tubaphones we used to cherish—it is the 12" pot with fat and rich tones. They have scooped fingerboards in order to allow an even plunkier tone by playing as far from the bridge as possible. This emulates the Galax sound of players like Fred Cockerham and Tommy Jarrell. Anyway, Bob, looking for affordable 12" banjos, connected with Wayne of Gold Tone to create this line. The Bob Carlin signature model banjo features a 12" maple rim, Fingerboard scoop, Rolled brass tone ring, Modified dowel stick, "paramount style adjustable armrest”, No Knot" tailpiece, Vintage old timey neck design and a Renaissance head.
• For specs: http://www.goldtone.com/products/details/w/instrument/46/BC-350-Bob-Carlin-350
• To hear Bob playing his Gold Tone: http://www.goldtone.com/artists/w/id/3/name/Bob-Carlinf
• Cash price, $895 w/hard shell case

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UKULELES.

Martin Style 5K, New, reintroduction of possibly the best ukulele ever made, koa top, sides and back, '45' style pearl inlay (the uke version) around top, back, rosette, fingerboard and peghead, beautifully finished. The tone rings loud and clear—a very successful reproduction.
• List price, $5199; MAP price, $4199. Includes a classy hard shell case

1940's Martin T-1 Tenor, Reglued top seam, otherwise in fine condition, tortoise-shell binding. Peghead has decal with no stamp on the back, black button (Champion?) tuners.
• Cash Price, $1595

1928 Martin 5-17T, A small tenor guitar that was converted, probably around 50 years ago, to a baritone ukulele. The work looks to have been done by Vega, but that's just a guess. We've reset the neck so it plays well. The result is maybe the world's best Baritone Ukulele.
• Cash price, $1725

Sexauer Concert Koa, Hand made, of the highest quality, super-light construction like the great vintage ukes. The body is large for a Concert, and the tone is loud, bright, clear, very joyous, just like ukes are supposed to be.
• Cash price, $1895

Moore Bettah Double-Hole Tenor, All koa Cutaway, these are the nicest new ukes we've ever had! Made on the Big Island of incredible flamed koa with pearl and abalone details, workmanship is top-notch and a tone that is positively remarkable. Sold

Moore Bettah Single-Hole Tenor, A super-fine All Koa Tenor from the Big Island, with Cutaway, sound port and orchid inlay. The koa is highly flamed, workmanship is top-notch, abalone purfling on top and peghead, nice wide neck. The tone is loud while being rich and fat. Sold

Kala Ukes, A great line of student grade and beyond ukes. Our favorite feature is guitar-style tuners - way more user friendly than the old standard straight-through uke tuners. Call

Asturias Ukuleles, I recently came across these wonderful ukes, made by the Asturias Guitar company in Kobe, Japan, the maker of the "John Mills Model" classical guitar, one of the most esteemed production guitars to come out of Japan. I believe they're the only Asturias ukes in the country. The concert size is just a bit larger than the soprano, though tuned the same. The intention is to give a fuller sound. The neck is wider as well. It seems to be particularly popular these days. They all include a very nice gig bag now (prices varies with the exchange rate).
• Asturias Soprano 17 Mahogany, basically a copy of the Martin Style 0 with a 17 fret fingerboard.
• Asturias Soprano Koa 12, with beautiful flamed koa from Hawaii. $624
• Asturias Soprano Custom 17 Mahogany, maple bound, vary tastefully done. $624
• Asturias AH-1, Soprano, Kamaka shape, 16 frets, beautiful koa. A first-class top quality uke, includes nice gig bag. $768
• Asturias Tenor Maho, This ukulele is the only example of this model available in this country. Beautiful materials, traditional Martin-style light construction and top-flight hand craftmanship combine to create one of the finest tenors being made today. Sold

Pohaku "Big Sistah" Tenor, Art deco design out of curly maple and spruce with a hula girl inlaid in the peghead. Bright clean tone—a uke with a very sunny disposition and incredible tone.
• Cash price, $1500

Kala Ukes in all sizes, all personally set-up here at the shop. This local company is producing some of the best quality student ukes and cases. We are particularly fond of the Flame Maple, Solid Spruce models and the new All-Solid Mahogany in all sizes, the archtop Tenor and two versions of their cutaway electric Tenors. We are also carrying their various cases, both hard foam and hard shell.

We have some beautiful Tweed hard shell cases for Soprano, Concert and Tenor, prices are $69 - $79.
We also care the nice hard foam violin style extra-light cases for all uke sizes, $49.

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CASES

We have a virtually new Cedar Creek Custom all leather covered 12-fret 000 case.
• Cash Price, $895

Cedar Creek Custom 1 Size, Extremely nice, great fitting. Exterior is tweed fabric (black seems to me to be the worst color for a case, unless you want to bake your instrument on a sunny day), dark green plush lining, comfortable handle, nickel hardware (none on back), double neck support.
• in the works...

Cedar Creek Custom 0-Size, Extremely nice, great fitting for 12 or 14-fret 0s. Exterior is tweed fabric (black seems to me to be the worst color for a case, unless you want to bake your instrument on a sunny day), dark green plush lining, comfortable handle, nickel hardware (none on back), double neck support.
• Cash Price, $279

Cedar Creek Custom 00-Size, Extremely nice, great fitting for 12 or 14-fret 0s. Exterior is tweed fabric (black seems to me to be the worst color for a case, unless you want to bake your instrument on a sunny day), dark green plush lining, comfortable handle, nickel hardware (none on back), double neck support.
• Cash Price, $279

Cedar Creek Custom 000 and OM case, as per the original Harptone Schoenberg cases, a smaller (00) footprint meant to redo the concept of the original 1930's Geib cases.
• Cash Price, $279

Reproduction Geib-Style (Golden Gate) F Mando, with red stripe, $99

Excellent Arch-Top 0, 00 and 000 Hard-Shell black, from China, for only...
• $64.95 to $95

Size 1 (12 1/2 inches) Hard Shell, unavailable for eons, finally Seagull is producing this flat-top hard shell for their Parlor series, which happen to be exactly...Size 1! My wife's 1901 1-21 is comfortably ensconced in one right now, and we're happy to finally have a properly fit case for it.
• $72

Very nice ƒ-Style gig bags, $59.95, by Boulder Alpine

Various other Hard Shell Cases and Gig Bags , from TKL, Cedar Creek, Seagull, Guardian, Golden Gate, Hohner, etc. Call or email for more info.

Ukulele Cases: We have some beautiful Tweed hard shell cases for Soprano, Concert and Tenor, prices are $69 - $79.
We also care the nice hard foam extra-light cases for all uke sizes, $49.

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Jimmy Buffet Tour Jacket
We have an unusual offering, from Jimmy Buffet's personal tour pilot: an original Jimmy Buffet Coral Reefers Tour jacket, virtually unused and in perfect condition. It was Buffet’s first such item. Only forty were made, for crew only—none were made for sale. It was given to the pilot, Michael Lofton, personally by Buffett. Also included are materials from other clients of Michaels' such as the Rolling Stones, Greatful Dead, Yes, Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Heart, Jefferson Starship, Paul Simon and others. Here's a link to the full information: Jimmy Buffet Tour Jacket
• As we have no idea as to the worth of these items, you are welcome to make offers.

Call us at 415-789-0846 or Email us if you want an instrument that's not on our stock list. We'll be happy to notify you when we get what you're looking for. Tell us the make, model, years you may be interested in, and any other info you think we should have. And tell us the best way to reach you...

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