1981 Les Paul Deluxe

It was my "holy cow"....the only solidbody Gibson to make it longer than a year! Not a standard or custom so there were also less of them for sale. Even her beautiful natural finish couldn't save her in the end.

1954 Martin
00-28 G

Not known for their classical models, this was one of less than 1600 manufactured. I purchased as an investment since I typically don't play a nylon string guitar very often. Stunning Brazilian Rosewood that I wish was on my D-28!

1949 Gibson L-7C

The workingman's L-5, this was 1 of 97 shipped in its 2nd year of production. Solid guitar with great volume and projection. I already regret the loss!

1960s Airline (Kay)
Barney Kessel

A Monthly G.A.S. Attack, I replaced with a Kay K-42 and Silvertone 1348 archtop models. I've always favorite a full depth body style. Beautiful guitar that probably spent to little time in the collection to be properly appreciated.

1937 Rickenbacher Electro Mandolin

Stunning example of an early "electrified" mandolin. A Harmony Patrician body was used with the big 1.5" prewar horseshoe pickup. Went to a very good home 
 www.rickenbacker.me.uk

1981 Gibson ES-175 CC

Part of my Charlie Christian collection, a difficult sacrifice but the only post war piece. A rare bird both as a model and 1981 serial #, it went to a good home.

1960 Gibson GA-18T Ranger

Had to be one of the cleanest amps I've owned. Original canvas cover she suffered from a lack of use requiring a cap job and resistors replaced that had fallen out of spec. Great little amp that would give its Fender counterpart a run for its money! 

1967 Gibson Barney Kessel

My Barney! Wonderful guitar for the jazz guy which is why I finally parted with her. High end appointments and a neck similar to the Super 400 next door. A sleeper in the vintage market, I know I will regret selling her one day! She went to the right owner.

'30s Rickenbacher Electro Set

The Fry Pan is considered to be one of the first commercial electric instruments so why would I sell such a treausre? With 2200+ manufactured it just isn't rare enough to make the final cut. I've owned the set for years so it was also time for someone else to enjoy her.

1948-55 Gibson BR-1

Great sounding amp that weighed a ton. Gibson's first post WWII model it had a perforated aluminum grill. Massive 12" field coil speaker and great art deco control knobs. She went to a Gibson collector on the west coast who also purchased my Cromwell EG-5. He obviously has good taste!

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1930s Ball Lap Steel Amp-in-Case

The last of my lap steel amp-in-case collection, this one was special being covered completely in MOT (pearloid) not to mention the connection to Ernie Ball's father.  

1961 Gibson GA-79RVT

Did I really part with what is considered by many as Gibson's most notable amp? Didn't I previously sell an original GA79 too? What the heck is wrong with me? Awesome amp but it just wasn't getting the use it deserved. Even had its own custom made road case and spent most of its like in Nashville studios. The new owner just happens to be Stuart Smith who replaced Don Felder in The Eagles. 

1952 Gibson ES-350N

Now we're talking a PAINFUL purge here! Unbelievable guitar with 2 sweet P-90s that was built with stunning woods. A classic Gibson cutaway archtop, it went to the perfect home. Fab, a Canadian, sold his sunburst ES-350 to buy my natural which he first came across on the G.A.S. site. Small world is right!

'50s Silvertone Lap Steel
Amp-in-Case

The last of my collection of these little gems, lap steel guitars were being sold with a matching amp-in-case since the late '30s or about 30 years before Danelectro started guitar amp-in-case models to Sears. This one was built by Valco for the Silvertone label. Covered in traditional MOT (aka pearloid) and with a 23" scale, it had the signature string through the pickup tone. The amp actually was loud enough to jam with acoustic instruments LOL

1956-57 Gibson GA-30

Another 12" & 8" combo, I owned 3 version of the GA-30 at one point. You'll find the others elsewhere on this page. Very nice amps with their own "brown sound" and highly under rated. This one went to a fella whose parents had purchased a Gibson ES-295 along with this amp when he was a child. He decided to turn the GA-30 into an early "stereo amp" and the cabinet was history. He's all good now!

1964 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

A very nice guitar and my first Gretsch electric (hard to belive!) but just not me. A Monthly G.A.S. Attack that just didn't fit in. The Hi Lo Tron pickups had some nice twang but in the end she wasn't one I could continue to wrap my hand around.

'50s Danelectro Special

Right down the street in Neptune, NJ Danelectro was cranking out amps and guitars for the Sears Silvertone label as well as their own brand name. With a loyal following and bargain prices as compared to the Big 3, this was a great example of their 12" combo. Nice tube tremolo circuit and bluesy tones.

1936 Gibson HG/Century

With incredible looks provided by white pearloid and a curly maple body, this was a vintage treasure. When it came down to tone though, my Weissenborn Style 1 and Martin 0-15H have been the go to for recording so the HG now resides with its sibling Century mandolin and happy new owner on the west coast.

1941 Gibson ES-300

Another blonde beauty, Gibson's top dog prewar "electrified" archtop with their original adjustable pole pickup design. One of 147, she was purchased by Folkway Music in Canada along with several other pieces of my collection. Besides some finish darkening from pickguard deterioration gas emission, she was a fine example.

1960 Gibson L-4 C

The acoustic version of the ES-175. Short scaled beauty that was a fine player. Used a "monkey stick" Dearmond as a pickup for a sweet jazz tone. Beautiful guitar in exceptional condition.

 Marc Silbert Weissenborn

One of the better weiss copies being produced by talented luthiers in Mexico. Marc also is the man behind Superior labeled instruments.

1955 Martin 000-18

It's always hard to part with a Martin especially an under the bed classic like this one. I've consoled myself with my 1951 D-28! Doesn't mean another O, OO or OOO could appear at some point though.

1920s Kona Style 1

Sorry Mr. Weissenborn but I had to make a choice and your Kona labeled lost out. However your namesake Style 1 will be with me for a long time to come! 

1940 Gibson EH-275

I took great pride owning 3 of the 25 shipped but sensibility won out. Do I really need more than two? Did I mean one? Well they are consecutive serial numbers! Noted author A.R. Duchossoir now owns his first one. Could she have found a better home? No way!

1960 Gibson GA-79T

Another pick from my Monthly G.A.S. Attack, the only reason we parted ways is the long term relationship that I've had with a 1961 tweed GA-79 RVT. That sweet reverb circuit was the one to keep! Considered one of the Top 10 amps and for good reason. 

1936 Gibson HG-00

Truly an under the bed classic, it now calls home Folkway Music in Ontario, Canada. It came down between this one and the HG/Century of the same year. Guess who won the toss?

1961 Gibson GA-30RV

Rare model with the 12" and 8" Jensen combo with a great reverb. Purchased from a preacher who played through it for Sunday services. His wife even made a cover for it! Another tweed monster that will be missed.

1939 Cromwell EG-5

Manufactured by Gibson for sale by several mail order companies, it was essentially an ES-150 with a version of the "Charlie Christian" blade pickup. Very nice guitar that went to a west coast collector who also purchased my BR-1 amp.

1948-55 Gibson GA-30

First version of the series with 1-12" & 1-8" speaker. Massive magnets made this a very heavy amp. Did I really need the whole series of GA-30 amps? Nope!

1929 Gibson TG-1

A sweet little tenor that had wonderful curlicue headstock inlays. One of only 2 tenors that I've maintained until this point. It was the oldest Gibson in the collection but my focus is on hawaiian and electrics. Plus the Martin 0-17T is hard to beat tone wise!

1935 Dobro Amplifier

 Huge coke bottle tubes and field coil speaker gave you a warm fat tone! A suitcase design - the speaker detaches and sits on top of the amp. Was part of a set with their metal body lap steel guitar. Just to cool!

1971 Super 400 CESN

I don't want to talk about it! Beautiful 18" blonde with Gibson embossed pickups. The only 400 I've owned.

1957 National Town & Country

The Monthly G.A.S. Attack for October 2008, the only reason she ended up in the archive was the purchase of a 1959  three (3) pickup version. Great guitars, very underrated and fine alternate to a Les Paul. She found a home with a guitar dealer looking to make a few bucks on her.

1948-55 Gibson GA-50T

Truly one of the most impressive post war Gibson amps that I've owned. 12" & 8" Jensen speaker combination and a great tremolo produced some creamy tones that Fender was still working on. She found a good home with a Gibson amp collector.

1941 Gibson ES-100/125

The year the ES-100 was renamed the ES-125 however production ceased shortly thereafter for the war. Metal covered pickup with adjustable pole pieces was the forerunner of the post war P-90. Entry level model, it was an intereresting piece of Gibson's pickup history.

 

Gourley Leilani Hawaiian Guitar Set

Wild purple MOT (mother-of-toliet aka pearloid) from the height of the hawaiian craze in the U.S. Student sets covered in MOT were plentiful and I can't even tell you how many have passed through my hands over the years. This was the only survivor....until now!

1958 National Town & Country

Great alternative to a '50s Les Paul! Purchased from the grandson of the original owner she was not only a looker but a great player. Went to the same home as the 1957 Town & Country.

1931 Martin 5-17T

Sweet little tenor that made a great porch player. It had original Grover friction (banjo) tuners and a pencil thin neck. Easy player with the Martin projection. She'll be missed!

1948 Gibson L-12 w/Finger Rest Pickup

Argh! The last of my post war Gibson archtops. Sweet guitar and outlasted numerous other L-series guitars. Gold hardware, 17" body and a single McCarty Finger Rest pickup. Beautiful tone, craftsmanship and a memorable piece. 

1951 Martin D28

I thought she'd be in for the long haul but with a new direction afoot her $10K is being redirected into something very special. It would have to be to part with such an incredible guitar. The new Canadian owner purchased as a "birth year" present to himself.