Tg - 00108 1960 Martin 0-18 T Tenor Guitar     VG++   This is a typical great sounding 50 year old 0-18T. The top has some wear but only the typical pickguard crack which has been well repaired with hide glue. No cracks in the mahogany back or sides either and original finish all around. Gold Martin script on the peghead. Refretted and replaced replica bridge and tuning pegs. Non original hard shell case. It's currently tuned down to G D A E and it sounds fantastic and plays perfectly. Consignor is motivated, thus the bargain price.
Price:   $1395.00

NM - 0008 ca. 1932 National Triolian Mandolin     VG ++   Great setup and sound on this classic. The brown to tan sunburst finish is in really nice shape on the top with pick wear in the usual spot and just a few nicks near the edges. The back also looks fanstastic with just a few edge nicks and scrapes. Original tailpiece and endpin and a new cone with biscuit bridge and a new fretboard and neck set. It plays in tune and true and clear with replaced Elite tuning pegs and good frets and a straight neck. The Trioian decal on the headstock is in fine shape. The 15" scale length makes it sound great when tuned down to F or even E. Original case could benefit from some stitching. There's a little undocumented history on this one. The consignor says that it was supposedly played on The Amos and Andy show (whether radio or TV is not clear) and it came from an estate sale in LA of a guy who played in a lot of studio bands.
Price:   $1395.00

TG - 00107 1962 Gibson TG-0 Tenor Guitar Here's a nice old Gibson mahogany bodied tenor with the typical warm sound that mahogany gives. The top is crack free as are the sides and the back has no cracks either but one small repaired area at the edge of the lower bass bout. Rounded neck profile with the classic rounded Gibson heel. Very comfortable to play with easy action. Original tuning pegs and rosewood bridge and end pin and the Gibson script on the headstock. There's general play wear from years of playing by an the older gentleman who has consigned it and who took very good care of it and priced it to sell. Fon # B 4243 33. No case.
Price:   $595.00

TG - 00106 1933 Gibson TG-7 Archtop Tenor Guitar     EXC   A full 16" carved archtop body with the standard 23" scale tenor neck that plays great and sounds incredible. A little play wear but no cracks or issues and a fresh neck set with a great neck angle for any type of action you want. Sunburst spruce top and mahogany sides with figured mahogany (or maybe birch?) back. Fleur de Lys inlay on the headstock and Nick Lucas style inlays in the fingerboard which is elevated. Original two band Grover tuning pegs, original tailpiece and adjustable bridge and pickguard. The label is in fine shape and displays Serial # 91149. And it has the original if a bit tattered green plush lined hard shell case which would bring a pretty penny on it's own no doubt.
Price:   $4250.00

LM - 00012 ca. 1920's Leland Brilliantone Mando by Larson Brothers     EXC-   This is a lovely Larson made mandolin and yes it is really called a "Mando" on the label. The top is beautifully aged spruce and crack free. The back and sides are highly figured Brazilian rosewood and there is one repaired crack in the back and none on the sides. Rosewood overlay on the headstock and original enclosed tuning pegs that work fine. Original tailpiece. Paper thin tortoise shell pickguard and exquisite reproduction bridge by Chris Berkov as well as a complete setup. Clear strong voice and easy playing. It fits in this funky old case so that's what we'll ship it in.
Price:   $895.00

TG - 00104 1932 Martin 0-18 T Shaded Top     EXC+   A beautiful and powerful sounding example of this classic model. Check it out on it's Museum page in the tenor guitar secion of The Museum. Sunburst spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Crack free and plays wonderfully. Serial # 50132   Original Hard Shell Case is a bit worn but a gem itself.
Price:   $3750.00

GF - 00027 Gibson HG-20 ca.1931     VG-   These HG series instruments are among the oddest that Gibson ever made. The standard round hole flat top with four added f-holes in the spruce face. But that's not the half of it. There is an inner baffel that extends down from the inside of the f-holes almost to the bottom to form an inner wall creating a resonating chamber inside the guitar. The sound of this one is LOUD and punchy and has tons of character. Closer to a flat top sound than an archtop f-hole sound but with some of that archtop slice to it. This one has certainly had the heck played out of it as evidenced by the wear on the top. And the top has a bit of warping to it as well especially where the main area of wear is. I think this is partially due to the bracing design which of course does not extend all the way to the sides. But I've had this guitar in my collection for a number of years now and played it regularly and it is solid, stable, and strong not only structurally but tonally as well. And, guess what? No cracks. The back and sides are dark stained mahogany and the neck is mahogany with a nice comfortable "C" contour with elevated fingerboard and a lovely almost French cut style heel. Original tuning pegs and "Gibson" script on the headstock. Lower Bout = 14 5/8"     Body Depth = 3 7/8 to 4 3/8"     Nut Width = 1 11/16".   There are a couple of ancient screws in the bridge which probably are not original and again the bridge along with the rest of the guitar appears original and solid and stable. Although these guitars carry the HG Hawaiian designation, all the ones I've seen are set up for normal Spanish style and seem to have been shipped that way. Newer chip board case.
Price:   $2895.00

MC - 00016 1935 Kalamazoo Mandocello     EXC   This is a remarkable example of a rare instrument and it is a fine player as well. Crack free spruce top and mahogany back and sides also crack free. Nicely contoured slight V shape neck with rosewood fingerboard and good original frets and it has just been reset and frets done and the setup is superb. It plays easily and has a strong smooth sound, not tubby like so many round hole mandocellos but more like the 'real deal' K-5. Kalamazoo script on the headstock and completely original from the tuning pegs to the end pin including the tailpiece, adjustable bridge, and firestripe pickguard. There is FON # 351A stamped inside the back. No case but we'll pack securely.
Price: $3850.00

MF 00075 1955 Martin 5-18     EXC   These are the ultimate travel guitar in my not so humble opinion. They are Terz guitars designed to be tuned up a third to G and this one sounds fantastic. Amazing volume for such a little guy. Someone must have had a piece of tape for some reason on the top for awhile and then someone else took it off and it left a little mark there. The top and back and sides are all crack free and the guitar is all original from headstock to end pin and back up again to the tuning pegs. The chipboard case may be original as well. The action is medium high and while it plays just fine as it is one, would want to reset the neck to get a silky low action on it and the price reflects this.   serial number is #141688 making it a very early 1955 model.
Price:   $2350.00

TG - 00103 1933 National Triolian Tenor Guitar     EXC +   This has got to be just about the nicest National Tenor guitar ever! But you've gotta like green ! Take the original hard shell case for instance ... pretty nice .... pretty green. And the action is low and it notes true and clear, sounds great, and plays easy. There is just a bit of wear on the top edges and the top and the back are in amazing condition with that classic Hawaiian scene on the back. The green / orange sunburst is more of a 'swirlburst' especially on the back of the neck. The headstock bears no label and no evidence of there ever having been one which while not common on these old Nationals is not unusual either. Original tuning pegs work fine. Serial number 1682 P is stamped into the top of the peghead. Original bridge, tailpiece, cone, etc. all are in fine shape. No rattling or buzzing. So sweet.
Price:   $3750.00

PB - 00404 1924 Paramount Style C Plectrum Banjo     EXC   This is a fine example with good strong sound and great playability. Good neck, frets, etc. and wonderful condition. Nice old skin head. The dove pattern fingerboard inlay is Paramounts most beautiful in my opinion. The Cupid or Ludwig Van Beethoven on the first fret is a pleasureable puzzlement. And the high grade mahogany used in the neck and the maple capped rim and the resonator are beautifully accented by the colorful marquetry used throughout. Original Page tuning pegs in fine condition. Fancy headstock inlay. Carved heel. Lovely volute. (Don't ya just love volutes?) Original tailpiece and .... it's wired for .... light. (Perhaps you noticed) The serial number on the rim matches that on the dowel. The label proudly states "Piano Volume - Harp Quality Tone". No lie. Original Paramount double pocket blue lined hard shell case in pretty nice shape.
Price:   $1795.00

VMB - 00017 1922 Vega Tubaphone Style X Mandolin Banjo     EXC-   This may have been a custom order because it contains some of the features of the Style 9 series like the fancy marquetry on the bottom of the rim and engraved fingerboard inlays. Yet it clearly states Style X on the dowel stick. Nice engraved inlays on the headstock and original enclosed tuning pegs. Flamey maple neck and lovely carving on the heel cap. There is a solid expertly repaired crack on the heel. Bell Brand tailpiece. Seems to be a skin head that has been 'rubbed down'. Original hard shell case has seen better days. Good setup with nice comfy action and a fairly mellow (for a mandolin banjo) sound.
Price:   $1695.00

AG - 000101 1957 Gibson ES 140-T Thin Body Archtop 3/4 Size Electric Guitar     EXC ++   A Drop Dead Gorgeous Blonde. So shiny it looks like it might be a refin but I think it is all original with nearly umblemished natural top and back. The original Kluson tuners have been re- installed and the neck has been refinished in nitro to cover the two extra holes left by the tuner restoration and a hole left in the heel from a now removed strap button. Gold Gibson script on the headstock. Great setup with recent refret with original type fretwire and the volume pot was also replace at that time and everything works as it should. Original tailpiece, knobs, bridge, pickguard, and p-90 pickup. And ... really nice original hard shell case with the plush pink interior.
Price:   $2500.00

VF - 00011 ca. 1937 Vega Flat Top Guitar     EXC +   It is unusual to find a Vega flat top in this large size ... a shade under 14 3/4" at the lower bout and a maximum body depth of 4 1/2 inches. Combined with the 25" scale length this yields a big strong sound. It is ladder braced and was built for steel strings with a long bridge plate and two tone bars below the plate. The nut width is 1 21/32" (just shy of 1 11/16") typical of the Vegas of the thirties and forties. The serial number is 38969. Someday someone will figure out how Vega serial numbers relate to the date of manufacture and we will thank them profusely. This instrument is in amazing original un-circulated condition with a recent neck set, straight neck, good frets and low action. Adirondack spruce top shows some long checking lines in the original finish as does the mahogany back and sides. Mahogany neck and ebony bridge and fingerboard. This is a simple relatively unadorned model but the quality of woods and craftsmanship in these old Vegas is right up there with the Martins of the same era. Everything is original here from the end pin to the 'jazz era' raised pickguard to the tuning pegs to the stenciled star logo on the headstock. And the original Geib semi- hard case is quite nice indeed.
Price:   $3350.00