Nothing on this bass hasn't been refurbished, rebuilt or sensitively replaced. < Back Hofner 5148 Verithin Bass Free Consultation Book Now Full repair & restoration to original specification Carrying the serial number 682, this is the last known 5148 Verithin Bass produced . Despite leading a busy life, and slightly less than optimal storage conditions for such an instrument, it is adored by its owner. The initial brief was fairly simple - reset the neck and try and make it playable at the lower end of the fretboard. That brief soon expanded... Disassembling the guitar for checking and cleaning soon produced a seemingly never-ending list of "do while we're there" , and as a result, nothing on this wonderful bass hasn't been refurbished, rebuilt or sensitively replaced. The pick-ups were intermittent in their behaviour. The windings had all but perished . The new replacements for these pick-ups are significantly hotter than the originals and so these originals were re-wound to exact specification . Now we have the original tones, and they are so characterful. The selector switch had thrown a leaf and so was replaced by a modern equivalent albeit identical on the outside. The potentiometers were in poor shape, but we rescued them (they don't build them like this anymore). Via this exercise, I can reliably assure a skeptical world that there is a noticeable change in tone when running these pick-ups through CTS pots, although renewing capacitors made no difference at all with the original pots. I think we'd need to find a Tupolev TU-104 cockpit on Ebay to find a suitable replacement for these. The obvious issue with this at the outset was of course the neck . Half in half out of its pocket, major surgery was required to release it fully, and get it back where it should be in order to compensate for the bowed neck (way beyond truss-rod correction). A second round of work may take place in the future that removes the fretboard and deals with the ski-slope at the upper frets, but for now, the guitar plays perfectly well between the 1st and 13th fret . Until this work takes place, a Viola style bridge saddle replaces the original item due to having more adjustment potential therefore allowing an appropriate action working together with the revised neck angle, and getting over the ski-jump. This Verithin is now back in service, looking and sounding glorious, playing comfortably and most of all reliably. (Photo credit to Andrew V., owner of the Verithin Bass) Gallery ← Previous Next→

That perfect combination of 1973 Harayama neck, and sensational look. < Back Matsumoku DB-500 Tropical Price £1,595 | SOLD Add to Cart Chat with Us Missed out on this model? Talk to us for a rebuild! I write about Harayama elsewhere (most places!) on this site - his influence on MIJ output is rarely appreciated, but without him companies we know today such as ESP and Fender Japan wouldn't be what they are today; and Prince probably wouldn't have had his MadCat Tele. You can have a bit of Harayama magic with a lot of our DreamBuild guitars - this is another fine example. Based around a 1973 Matsumoku built Greco (the original Gneco decal stays) SE-500, this already fine guitar has traded its electronics for a modern and vastly improved specification. The glorious neck now has fresh Jescar Tall Narrow frets - close your eyes and you could be playing a astronomically expensive Masterbuilt Fender '62 Jazzmaster - that's the nearest equivalent we have experienced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re37OJoTFkM We have focussed our modifications to the aesthetics for this guitar - the condition of the hardware determined this guitar should live on with it for another 51 years - we can make further upgrades if required, but we love this guitar as it is, and the price can be kept as friendly as possible. The Burgundy Mist nitro refinish is paired with a fabulous scratchplate. Sonny Crockett could have had this as a bit of practical art on St Vitus' Dance - did an episode of Miami Vice influence this I wonder? I lived in Miami for a while - I guess this episode of life influenced me a little here. The Excel pick-ups are held in high regard for a reason - very little benefits are required from upgrading them. These pick-ups are from a 1979 SE800 that received a very special upgrade. This guitar plays deliciously, sounds fantastic, and looks good enough to eat. Details The Look A continuation of the Floral theme, this guitar is one of 2 guitars we have refinished in the early 60s Custom colour Burgundy Mist, this one is combined with a striking and perfectly matched scratchplate. Headstock A highly regarded 1973 large headstock style with its original Gotoh tuners and new Gotoh barrel trees. Neck The infamous Harayama 5 piece full C neck with new Jescar 55090 Tall Medium frets on a gracefully aged maple fretboard Pick-ups 3 Maxon Excel single coils - probably the most favoured iteration of the Maxon single coil with their characteristic airy brightness and clarity. The neck pick-up will likely worry your blues bandmates as they just know you'll make them go around again. And again. It's that addictive. Bridge The original Gotoh vintage tremolo unit remains and its steel block gives amazing sustain and it sounds so delightful acoustically, you'll play it for ages before even plugging it in. Controls Upgraded to a 5-way switch, and tone control for the bridge pick-up. Glorious soft-touch knobs feel very premium. Gallery ← Previous Next→

That perfect combination of old vintage feel, and modern everything else < Back Matsumoku DB-500 Price £1,695 | SOLD Add to Cart Chat with Us Missed out on this model? Talk to us for a rebuild! My love of early 1970s Matsumoku Strats is well known around here - I just can't get enough of them. After 50 years many have developed their own character from the styles and treatment they have received by previous owners. As much as the Maxon single coils have their own soul and character, occasionally it seems sensible to have the modern options such as being quieter and louder when you need them to be, and having more than just 3 sounds at your disposal. This SE-500 may have a few knocks on the body and age-related cracks on the lacquer, but has obviously been cherished. Pre Serial Number 1974/5 Grecos are special - Greco guitars were always good both from Matsumoku and the pre-Fender Fujigen days, but these ones are, we think, special. Whilst Maxon pick-ups are soulful and characterful, they are of their time, and the idea for this guitar is to combine the vintage feel with up-to-date sounds and playability. These guitars were faithful to contemporary Fenders and featured 3-way switching. We have unlocked the potential of this guitar and fitted a set of Clausen Alnico 5 single coils governed by a 5-way CRL switch, and a neck/bridge blend function. These pick-ups are modelled on a David Gilmour specification - the neck and middle coils are 5.5k DCR, and the bridge pick-up is wound to a phenomenal 13.5k DCR. This hotter winding does not boost the volume and unbalance the units; instead it thickens up the tone and adds a huge helping of mid-range growl that behaves in a civilized manner when clean, but drives an amplifier to perfection. It handles gain just as you need for that Numb solo, and the neck pick-up will provide that glassy chime for the cleaner tones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f8yXB8J4Ds It will handle most styles you ask from it and any signal path you feed. Blending the neck pick-up with the powerful bridge provides a very airy scooped tone, but never loses presence, the power of the bridge unit keeps you in the mix. You may go full Communiqué Knopfler in positions 2 and 4 with the full blend function. Extremely versatile. Further tone trimming is offered with the master tone which uses a SoZo PIO capacitor to govern the high frequencies. The bridge is now a Gotoh 510TS - a very high quality unit that features a large stainless steel block which adds a lot of sustain to the guitar, and gives the guitar an unplugged acoustic ring that will probably encourage you to play for half an hour before you even plug it into an amp. It also has incredible tuning stability. Tuners are new Gotoh SDS510 units - we love the SD91 range, but only the very best for this guitar.. A few folk find pleasure in having a guitar from their birth-year - we are still in 2024 as I write this, so what an amazing 50th birthday present for you and the guitar! The price of this guitar is determined entirely by the specification it is now built to - there is no premium due to the brand as there may be for a Fender of this vintage. Matsumoku and later in the decade, Fujigen, were truly scaring the hell out of Fender - if you can't beat them, join them gave us the MIJ Fenders. Strat copies from Japan in these years were comparable quality to CBS era Fenders - some go further and braver in their opinions... Details The Look Looking old where it appeals and new where it matters. The lacquer has 50 years worth of dinks and cracks, but relic is a dirty word here. Original is best, and with this one there is no headstock tax. Headstock Brand new Gotoh SDS510 Chrome tuners. SDS510 are the premium range from Gotoh. Neck A beautiful looking maple fretboard - the finest looking woods were reserved for this model in early1974. This one was always put down gently. Pick-ups 3 x Clausen single coils to David Gilmour specification. 5.5, 5.5 and 13.5k from neck to bridge. That bridge pick-up provides more mid-range growl but there are plenty of interesting ways to tame it. Bridge Gotoh 510NST in Chrome - this is the best non locking tremolo unit we can find - extremely sensitive and precise - and no threads to wear loose. From Marvin to Gilmour - even folk who say they never use the tremolo change their minds with this one. Controls 5 way selector, master volume, master tone and neck blender control. This blender gradually brings in its opposite pick-up to expand the range of amazing tones from this guitar. Blending a tiny bit of neck with the powerful bridge pick-up lowers the mid-range without removing you from the mix. Gallery ← Previous Next→

1970's Kimbara, Upgraded 1970's MIJ Nivana. < Back 1970's Kimbara 703617 Kimbara are probably better known for their acoustic guitars produced in various Japanese factories in the 1970's, then onto Korea in the 1980's. Matsumoku produced a few Strat-style guitars with this brand for FCN music , and a few found their way to London music shops. Always surprisingly good compared to the real things, and was a massive value for money back then. From the construction and feel of these Kimbaras, I suggest they were equivalent to contemporary Greco SE-380s and Aria Pro II ST-400s . Always a lightweight Sen body and well made and proportioned gentle C maple neck . This one came to us for curiosity - it is always interesting to compare the various brands from Matsumoku during the glory years. This particular guitar has been a busy work-horse all of its life and has undergone a series of minor upgrades. The bridge is a Wilkinson unit (OK, but Gotoh suits these better), and the pick-ups are from Alegree (Frigid Haze is our best guess), and they are very well suited to this guitar. The guitar has been refinished in black Nitro a fair few years ago, and some vintage crazing is already present. It suits the guitar and stays as it is. I intend to restore the bridge to the same type of Gotoh bridge (a previous DreamBuild donated a very good condition example) as the Wilkinson answers questions no-one has asked. And it doesn't look right on a Matsumoku guitar. Its role here is clear - an example of the brand to sample and compare. But, should someone fall for it, it can go with them. I would value this at £475 which obviously includes a full set-up to whatever state is required. A local sale means it would be looked after here - if you can get it to us, we will keep it serviced for free for as long as you have it. We look after our own! I would genuinely recommend this as a guitar to learn on - it is a perfect gigging instrument that will reward the aspirational player with quality, comfort and an authenticity that isn't available at the entry level. This will hold its own against any MIM Fender , and comes with a run-in feel and character you just won't get from a new instrument at this price point. If having a 45 year old vintage MIJ quality instrument is as 'cool' as having a brand new cheaply and quickly produced one, let this one bring the best out of you. It's this or a new drop shipped Indonesian Squier and the expense of having it regularly set up properly to keep you persevering. Price Availability £475 Sold Recommendation Try a Squier 40th Anniversary, then try this one. This is where the smart money goes. Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1975 Pick-ups Alegree Selector 3-way Bridge Wilkinson Vintage Board Maple 3.25kg; 7lbs 3oz Modifications Older nitro refinish, Graphtech nut and string trees, Schaller tuners Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:33 Play Video Play Video 06:07 Play Video Play Video 07:01 Play Video Play Video 02:33 Play Video Play Video 03:30 Play Video Play Video 07:44 Play Video Play Video 02:41 Play Video Play Video 03:08

An amazing combination of old and new where it really matters. < Back Matsumoku Monaco C78 Price ££££ Add to Cart Chat with Us Back in the mid to late 1970s, factories such as Matsumoku, Fujigen, and many others were working hard to produce viable guitars to be sold with the Fender name on the headstocks. A chap called Norikatsu Harayama had mastered not only the Fender style neck, but also designed and produced his own take on it - these guitars have a quiet but solid following and respect. Harayama worked at Matsumoku throughout this period before going out on his own - one of his prodigies was the very same H Noble whose name graces the headstocks of many collectible guitars from this era. H Noble (Nobuaki Hayashi) was in charge of Matsumoku when the Stagecasters and Strikin' Sounds models were in production. Ol' Lumpy started life in March 1978 as a tobaccoburst Aria Stagecaster ST-600 with the SP-1B Fat Strat pick-ups. It had been gigged relentlessly by a guitarist under the influence of Pete Townshend - this poor old ST-600 had battle scars that defied belief, but had a fretboard that indicated proper constant use. No relic'ing here - this is all real. Passing the guitar around a team of professionals and luthiers for their comment, the absolute consensus was that the guitar played brilliantly - absolutely worth saving. A plan was drawn up, a willing new owner found, the project began. We decided to produce a tribute to the Fender International range - the gorgeous Monaco model in particular. Yellow guitars are always great. We specifically tried to blend the new and old - the only perfection required was the hardware and electronics - the perfect sound and playability with the 'old friend' look. The look of the fretboard was retained beneath its new Dunlop 6000 frets, the lumps in the bodywork also retained under its new nitrocellulose yellow finish. A set of custom wound Häussel AlNiCo5 pick-ups configured in a Gilmour fashion - the bottom tone control acting as a blender for the neck pickup - are now fitted. The bridge is now a Gotoh 510TS in Cosmo Black with matching Gotoh SGS510 locking tuners at the other end on a black headstock. A new nut and matching Cosmo hardware elsewhere complete this fascinating instrument. We played the guitar for a few months to check the decisions made, and then gave it a master-luthier set-up. The brief achieved, we now move on to produce more of these. We have a stock of donor instruments, a mature list of options that work well, and have 2 more in production currently. There remains the option of using your Aria Pro II guitar as the donor - some basic fundamental checks on the instrument will declare it fit to proceed or not. Doesn't have to be yellow, but to wear the Monaco name on the headstock, it ought to be! The choice of pick-ups and configuration will depend largely on how you'll use the guitar - the mega-bucks Häussels are only one of the options. We have plenty of other recommended pick-ups to suit different budgets. Ol' Lumpy was commissioned for a close "friend of the show" and the guitar is often here at the Hall and available to be sampled. Attention left-handers! We have one remaining ST-500L in stock here - one of the very few left handed guitars produced in 1980. The perfect donor for an upgrade project. Details The Look Refinished over those scars and lumps with cheerful yellow nitrocellulose paint. Cosmo Black Gotoh hardware with black plastic parts. A nod to the Fender International range produced by Fuji in the early 1980s Headstock Matsumoku logo with Monaco model name in Japanese. Cosmo Black Gotoh SGS510 locking tuners for stability and fast string changes Neck New Dunlop 6000 frets on original neck. Gibson frets on a Strat was a thing back in the 1980s according to the members of the team here who are old enough to remember. There is no relic'ing here - this is natural and real board wear. Pick-ups 3 x Häussel AlNiCo5 custom wound (Desperado spec) with black covers. A great output - not too hot, yet the perfect amount of mids for clean and crunchy tones. A neck blender tames the aggression from the bridge if you need to dial it back. Bridge The Gotoh 510TS in Cosmo Black has smooth solid saddles - comfortable and ultra high quality. Controls Traditional 5 way selector blade working in conjunction with the lower knob to blend the neck pick-up into the mix. Master Volume and Master Tone controls - highest quality 250k. Gallery ← Previous Next→

Greco SE-600J (Upgraded), The Swiss-army knife of guitars? < Back Greco SE-600J (Upgraded) L790805 These Jeff Beck models were built by all the main factories around the time of his Japanese tour - there are a couple of photos of a similar (presumably a Fender) guitar on the Nagoya publicity shots - there are certainly a few reverse-phase sounds present if you listen to the recordings. Matsumoku, Fujigen, Chushin, Tokai, they all produced a replica of this guitar and offered different degrees of complexity between the 500, 600 and 800 models. The 500 and most 600 models were offered with simple on/off/on switches to control the pick-ups and select the phasing; some 600 and all 800 models had a very complex arrangement where series/parallel functionality replaced a couple of the normal pick-up selections - so complex that even the brochure writers gave up trying to explain it. The series options are worthwhile with these magnificent Excel pick-ups - they work together without the muddiness, but it seems annoying to have to forego some of the parallel combinations. So, here is an alternative that gives you a traditional Strat, a decent go at a Tele, and some immense series tones that come into their own with the phase reversal facility. It's genuinely impossible to give a comparison with other guitars as this configuration is only really available via Brian May, but we can't have 6 switches on a Strat - I don't want to mess with the looks. The 3 mini switches control the pick-ups for on/off and which phase you wish, and a stealthy S-1 switch in the volume control will bring you all the series options. A master tone completes the arrangement. In the aim of keeping things simple and not having more switches to contend with, the series options require all 3 pick-ups to be engaged - then you decide what phase relationship they have with each other, and this unlocks a surprisingly versatile palette - this is beyond "offering a Gibson sound", and into powerful alternative tones that you'd usually require a square metre of foot pedals for. The demo video attempts to let you hear these tones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9bZQk44bnk Once familiar with the controls, this becomes quite a beast, and you can either recreate the Stanley Clarke stuff, or go your own way and find some really interesting tones to get you noticed. Those familiar with JV Fenders will recognize the neck profile - not super skinny, but decidely slim and slick. This has been a busy guitar (a good sign) and you'll have to forgive the sticker rash behind the bridge. We have put brand new Gotoh SD-91 tuners on this one along with a brand new Gotoh GE-101 vintage style bridge. The pick-ups are original, as are the switches, but the pots and knobs are brand new Fender/CTS units. The appeal of this guitar ought to extend beyond Jeff Beck fans - it is a good useful tool in its own right - we decided to wait a while after his sad passing before offering this one. This could easily serve as your only guitar, but will happily sit alongside more traditional instruments ready to be called upon when you need those special tones. It's a cracker. Price Availability £1,195 Sold Recommendation Enjoy, create, explore Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1979 Pick-ups Maxon PU-119 (Excel) Selector 3 mini-switch Bridge Gotoh GE-101 Board Rosewood 3.47kg; 7lbs 10oz Modifications Series Parallel on S-1, new Gotoh Tremolo and Tuners Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:33 Play Video Play Video 06:07 Play Video Play Video 07:01 Play Video Play Video 02:33 Play Video Play Video 03:30 Play Video Play Video 07:44 Play Video Play Video 02:41 Play Video Play Video 03:08

Greco SE-600B Order Made, Perfect example of a Fujigen Custom Shop < Back Greco SE-600B Order Made H763702 This immaculate SE-600 is an example of what guitars were built by Fujigen as a result of the "Order Made Guitar Manual" - basically a Custom Shop for Grecos where precise specs could be opted for and a perfect guitar for someone delivered. Complete with the build certificate, H763702 was ordered with the SE-600 as a basis, but upgraded with the earliest iteration of the PU-119 Excel pick-ups. These pick-ups were very expensive options - they were fitted to the SE-1000 Project Series and became standard fitment for the premium SE-700 2 years later, these being F-spaced and standard Fender sized. This 1976 guitar has a PU-119 Excel in the classic Maxon size. Complete with the tremolo arm and cover, original strap and case, this SE-600 is in incredible condition and plays like a dream. Even before plugging in, you'll likely spend 20 minutes playing it acoustically and enjoy that ring we usually only experience in mega-bucks high end guitars costing many times more than this one will. When you eventually switch the amp on, the Excel pick-ups will deliver the clarity and power they are so well known for. The traditional Maxon brightness is now accompanied by a fuller low end and easing up the gain will provide a proper snarl if you want it. The 3 way switch and judicious use of the tone controls provide plenty of tonal variety - the lack of parallel options doesn't seem to matter although as with all DM-30 switches, the in-between settings can be fished for and found. Guitars of this vintage and specification are extremely rare - this is a fantastic example and ready for another 50 years of service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9n63MTK9GM Price Availability £895 Sold Recommendation Collector grade, but definitely play it Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1976 Pick-ups Maxon PU-119 Excel (early) Selector 3-way Bridge Vintage Tremolo Board Rosewood 4.47kg 9lbs 14oz Modifications None Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:33 Play Video Play Video 06:07 Play Video Play Video 07:01 Play Video Play Video 02:33 Play Video Play Video 03:30 Play Video Play Video 07:44 Play Video Play Video 02:41 Play Video Play Video 03:08

Fernandes FR-65S, Sustainer equipped! < Back Fernandes FR-65S No Number Sustainer circuits are extremely sought after nowadays - with modern units being almost as hard to find as original versions. In the late 1990s, Fernandes issued the Sustainer Lite module - a simplified form of the function that performed as a simple sustainer and did without the mode options. As this is the mode that most folk used, it makes a great deal of sense. In a striking metallic olive green, this 90's guitar looks amazing - just a couple of dings on the body to note. The slim neck is pure Japanese super-strat - still comfortable to chord, but enabling the speed-kings to go nuts. The pick-ups sound very premium and deliver equally as well with saturated distortion as they do with super-compressed modulation. The 5-way switch is exactly as you'd expect, the master volume and master tone is joined by a sustainer volume - activated by the mini-switch. The rear LED works to remind you to unplug the guitar when you're finished so you don't run the battery down. The premium spec continues at each end - the tuners and tremolo bridge are Gotoh items. It still has the arm, and you'll be using it a lot as the Wilkinson/Gotoh 2 point tremolo is sublime - like all premium Gotoh bridges. A great addition to a collection, or good and versatile enough to be your only guitar. Everyone needs a sustainer in their lives at least once. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-9unWnXRDM Price Availability £795 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1999 Pick-ups SPD-200, DS-70, FVW-1001 Selector 5 Way Bridge Gotoh VS-100 Board Rosewood 3.77kg; 8lbs 5oz Modifications None Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:33 Play Video Play Video 06:07 Play Video Play Video 07:01 Play Video Play Video 02:33 Play Video Play Video 03:30 Play Video Play Video 07:44 Play Video Play Video 02:41 Play Video Play Video 03:08

The iconic Thinline, built on the same line as the Fenders, but with added luxury < Back Greco TE500N Price £1,600 GBP | SOLD Add to Cart Chat with Us Missed out on this model? Talk to us for a rebuild! By the time this 1979 Greco TE500N was being produced, the Fuji factory was producing MIJ Fenders. Lawsuit shenanigans were avoided by restricting Fuji to marketing Greco versions in the home market only - these are legitimate and non-contested models; built to the exact same standard as export models. So this is a Fender without the decal. This one is better though. The wide-range pick-ups produced by Maxon were, in their time, good sounding units. Current Fender wide-ranges sound pretty good too, but Monty has taken them to new levels with these - launched to an eager audience and long waiting list in 2021. I managed to get a set for this TE500N. As expected, they take the guitar to a whole new level. No re-issue, or even original issue Thinline is going to sound as full, as warm or be a versatile as this one. Anyone familiar with MIJ Fenders of this era will recognize the neck profile, and the balance of the guitar - they are delicious and dangerously addictive. Now this one is at a supreme level - watching blues virtuoso Ron Sayer Jr bonding with it a few weeks ago was unforgettable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouk6yJaWZ9Y Replacing the saddles with solid billet brass units adds a new dimension to the way the sound emanates and decays - the original bent steel saddles are here and can be restored to their positions if need be, but the combination of saddles and pick-ups here is a sweet spot I feel deserves to be a fundamental characteristic of the guitar. This is a rare sight outside Japan - this one was a loyal servant to a busy musician from new, and is in perfect condition to continue on for another 40 years. The patina is real, not confected; the original tuners are rebuilt and in rude health. It has recently received a very in depth luthier and master builder set-up. It's glorious. Details The Look All original Headstock All original Neck Perfectly dressed and prepared frets on original board Pick-ups 2 x Monty's Guitars Wide Range humbuckers Bridge Gotoh Solid brass saddles Controls 3 way original selector, master volume and tone controls Gallery ← Previous Next→

Ultimate spec of Greco with added modern twist < Back Matsumoku DB-600 Price £1,195 | SOLD Add to Cart Chat with Us Missed out on this model? Talk to us for a rebuild! 2 things really stand out about this 1979 Greco - obviously it is a glorious looker - a proper stunner of a guitar with that deep lustrous finish, and the glorious wear on the fretboard. Many 45 year old guitars don't take a polishing particularly well, they wear their hazy lacquer with pride. Not so with this one, you would be forgiven for thinking this was an SE-800. The second stand-out quality is the versatility - we'll come to that in a minute. In 1979, the SE-600 had the small headstock, the slim C neck profile, and PU-119 Excel pick-ups. Catalogue geeks will spot an 8-hole guard where a 1979 model would have an 11 hole guard. Are we sure it isn't an 800? The neck profile and lack of brass cavity liner tells us otherwise - the spec really resembles the 1980 catalogue SE-600 model, the date stamp on the guard is 23rd December 1978, but is prefixed with a 1, so quite possibly a specification being developed. When the guitar arrived into UK from Japan, it was looking tired - exhausted would be a better description. The board wear and parking knocks are never an issue, but the cracked and broken pick-guard, the sweat-eroded and seized saddles and tuners had obviously spelled out 'final retirement'. But removing the worn out hardware and a gentle clean revealed that this guitar should and will go on for many years to come. Guitars in that condition give us the opportunity to transform them into range-topping specifications, and add some modern versatility missing when new. The guitar looks so damn good, plays so comfortably, and has 3 Excel Maxons in rude health. So, here is what we have done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7ielb0pmhY New 'close as possible' colour pick-guard with spring cover, and a selector slot to accommodate a DM-50 5-way selector to get the full Strat tone palette; new CTS premium pots and a redesign of the controls to provide Master Volume, Master Tone and a Power Dial. A what? A power dial. This works on the neck setting and bridge setting. With the knob set to zero, you will hear the PU-119 with all its high definition chime and clarity, as originally intended. Roll to 5 and you will reduce a section of the mid-range frequencies to remind you of an earlier low-output Maxon; and roll up to 10 for a mid boosted tone, knocking on the door of a humbucker. No batteries, no preamps complexity, just some imaginative wiring. An evolution of the Matsumoku PEQ controls perhaps. The bridge is a new Gotoh 510 unit - these are fabulous units and fitted to mega-bucks boutique guitars from Japan. The arm is a screw-in type, and the free-swing can be set with a grub screw. Tuners are new Gotoh SDS510 units to match the bridge. Only the best for this. Everything else is restored and original; once again we declare the best of new and old in perfect harmony. Details The Look Don't think we have ever seen a better looking sunburst. Headstock Small headstock with new Gotoh SDS510 tuners Neck Slightly slim C and wear all natural - keep adding to it Pick-ups Original PU-119 Excels Bridge A brand new Gotoh NS510T - our very favourite tremolo bridge for these old Grecos. Controls DM-50 5-way selector; CTS premium pots; lower Tone control is a passive power boost Gallery ← Previous Next→

John Le Voi, He doesn't just do Gypsy Jazz < Back John Le Voi No Number John Le Voi is a UK luthier most well known for his amazing Selmer Maccaferri style acoustics - most Django Reinhardt festivals will feature Mr Le Voi and several of his guitars. No grande or Selmer style petite bouche on this model - he will produce a more traditional style of acoustic guitar when asked. This guitar was part of a larger Le Voi collection - gypsy jazz was not the only style playing style the owner enjoyed, and this guitar was commissioned out of loyalty to a great luthier. The Maccaferri hints are still there with this model - the wide hips and substantial neck feel very familiar. With 14 frets to the body and a substantial and unusually styled cutaway, all styles of playing are accommodated nicely - a proper high quality all-rounder. Acoustically, this guitar has a big but well balanced sound - a set of Manouche-Tone or Savarez Argentine strings may set your inner Django free, but this is a supposed to be a standard flat-top with no way to fit a resonator. This guitar has a very nice rounded bass response but retains that trebly tone as you venture up the neck. The nut measures just short of 47mm, so a lot of fretboard, and the familiar Le Voi neck profile - more D then C, but manageable and easy to familiarize with. The guitar features the normal Big-Tone pick-up under the saddle, and this does an adequate job of transmitting the character of the guitar into the PA, and any tone adjustments or colouring needs to be done externally as we have a simple plug and play, no need for batteries, system which suits the guitar perfectly. Le Voi guitars are already rare and hard to separate from their owners, but a standard flat top is even rarer and this is an opportunity to have some Le Voi quality without nailing your colours to the Gyspy Jazz mast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rtPVK5tOnk It is in very good condition - it has seen a lot of playing, but the wear and tear is limited to lower frets which you can see, but not feel or hear; some strum marks where you expect to see a scratch-guard, and the occasional parking knock. No splits, no wear to the wood, binding and hardware all perfect and functional. It comes with its hard case, and following a thorough service. It is part of a deceased estate, the only circumstance apparently that the owner would have parted with it. Price Availability ££££ Sold Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1996 Pick-ups Big-Tone Selector n/a Bridge Standard Board Ebony Modifications None Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:33 Play Video Play Video 06:07 Play Video Play Video 07:01 Play Video Play Video 02:33 Play Video Play Video 03:30 Play Video Play Video 07:44 Play Video Play Video 02:41 Play Video Play Video 03:08

Red Rooster Rodster 52, Incredible Tele with sounds to match its looks. < Back Red Rooster Rodster 52 No. 42 A very very rare sight outside USA, this Red Rooster was brought to UK by the original owner. Like every guitar in the owner's collection it is immaculate - I have put more hours on this fretboard in recent days than it has had in its entire life. This is the Rodster '52 and number 42 off the line, this Hugger Orange/Racing White Rooster was one of 4 made (the others blue, green and yellow) in 2015 and sold through Rebel Guitars in Alabama. The body is single piece solid pine and the 0.88 to .095 neck is maple with Dunlop 6150 medium jumbo frets. Can it sound as good as it looks? It has Lollar pick-ups, so yes. The El Rayo at the neck is perfect for this - very little compression and through the 250k pots, it hits the mark perfectly. Mixed with the Alnico 3 bridge pick-up, we get an in-between tone that starts bright and sustains warm - it's pretty addictive - and the A3 bridge on its own begs for chicken-pickin' (I wish I could do it!). Clean, crunchy or driven, these pick-ups are very versatile and should get you through a full set without compromise. None of Margolis' creations were made in great numbers, and this is a very rare opportunity to get hold of one. It comes with a Gator TSA hard case and its sale tag with the spec sheet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap1uHS0tW_c Price Availability £1,615.50 Sold Recommendation Turn up to the Red Rooster Festival with this… Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 2015 Pick-ups Lollar El Rayo (neck) and Lollar A3 (bridge) Selector 3-way Bridge Joe Barden Board Maple 3.34kg, 7lbs 6oz Modifications None Weight ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 03:33 Play Video Play Video 06:07 Play Video Play Video 07:01 Play Video Play Video 02:33 Play Video Play Video 03:30 Play Video Play Video 07:44 Play Video Play Video 02:41 Play Video Play Video 03:08