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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: 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→

Greco SE-800N, Putting the real thing to shame < Back Greco SE-800N A773467 Back in 1977, the really well-heeled could open the Project Series catalogue and order an SE-800, SE-1000 and SE-1200, but the SE-800 was the discerning choice. A real 50's style replica - very slim C neck, light as a feather, small headstock and bright airy tones from the 3-way. SE-800s were 2 piece bodies, the one piece bodies being reserved for 1200 models; but you have to look very hard to see the join - these were master-built. Just a couple of minor parking knocks and belt buckle marks to give its age away, this has obviously been cherished. It even has its original case, the little yellow tie straps intact. It has the SE-800 engraved into the neck plate. So, it looks fabulous, it feels fabulous - all the parts and components are original. The pick-ups are good old PU-100 units, so bright and airy and very keen to clip that AC30 or equivalent. The grade of steel used for the bridge and more importantly the block, is higher than that seen on lower models - the ringing sustain from this guitar needs to be experienced to be believed. This guitar has had a couple of wires reconfigured (still using the original wire) to enable the Bill Lawrence configuration that deploys the lower tone control as a middle pick-up blender. Therefore you sacrifice the middle on its own in exchange for the Hendrix tone palette. All the components are still original. These SE-800 models were tributes to the early 50's style - a shallow V neck, a 7.25" radius, 8 hole plate - this is one of the collection, or that special one you daren't take on the road. Or take it, that's what they were for after all. But finding a 1977 Project Series guitar in this condition that feels this delicious, for this kind of price is nothing short of miraculous. Price £1,495 Availability 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation Enjoy it as it is Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1977 Pick-ups Maxon PU-100 Selector 3-Way Bridge Vintage Tremolo Board Maple Weight 3.43kg; 7lbs 9oz Modifications Bill Lawrence Hendrix wiring ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

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. 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→

Fernandes GM-85, Maximum stage presence < Back Fernandes GM-85 Signature model This rather subtle shy and retiring guitar was a signature model for Kenichi Ito, lead guitarist for the Japanese electro-pop outfit Iceman. He had a proper rock sound and if only he'd come to me I could have given him extra crazy sounds for his solos. This may look ungainly, but actually is very comfortable to play, and has a mighty fine quality spec as did many signature model Fernandes guitars. This one arrived with a refusal to make any sound at all, but a malfunctioning mini-switch and a confused Japanese guitar technician who somehow managed to make a simple problem very complex allowed this to come to us having been given up on. Never give up on guitars. The original spec for these was a single volume, a 3 way pick-up selector, a kill switch enabler and a kill switch. As both of these Fernandes pick-ups are 2 conductor units, don't believe any claims of coil-splitting. This other switch was a standby / on / on with killswitch. But it was damaged anyway so in went a chicken head over a rotary to enable the craziness Kenichi needed a floor pedal for. Now we have a 3 way pick-up selector, a kill switch on that arcade button which is active at all times, and the crazy-chicken which when rotated, provides that thin (yet still powerful) cutting icey raspy tone that Kenichi wanted for his solos. Should have come to me! No batteries, just a little wizardry on how the pick-ups talk to each-other. The tremolo is divine - very slick and accurate - the guitar plays surprisingly comfortably and is genuinely more than just a gimmicky weird shape. You could take this one a little more seriously than you perhaps thought. If you need stage presence; if you do the occasional Prince cover, if you glam-rock seriously, if you just want to get noticed, then this is a great useful guitar that will deliver on those fronts too. Price £895 Availability 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation go crazy Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 2000 Pick-ups Fernandes VH-7 and VH-1 Selector 3-way Bridge Wilkinson Gotoh Board Rosewood Weight 3.6kg; 8lbs 1oz Modifications Chickenhead craziness ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

Another Matsumoku tribute to the famous Black Strat < Back Matsumoku 73 Black Strat Price £1,795 GBP | SOLD Add to Cart Chat with Us Missed out on this model? We are building another one now. This delightfully road-worn Greco graced our studio in late 2023 and like all other '73s, it felt perfect. Its Maxons and 1 meg pots were missing and a previous owner had failed to fit a locking tremolo to it - making a right mess of the nut. Every 73 is worth rescuing and this was no exception. Tony worked his magic on the headstock and a proper nut is now fitted. OK, it isn't an invisible fix, but that's not really the point here - the body has taken its fair share of knocks over the years, the fretboard has that "best friend" look and I don't want to change any of it. The frets are a little low, but level and have plenty of life left in them - its slick and comfortable. In place of the Maxons is a set of Clausen A5 - a SuperBlues wind that Tony produces for our old Grecos. They retain the brightness and airiness of the Maxons but deliver a more defined and powerful output - especially the neck and bridge units where most of the action usually is. These pick-ups run through 250k pots which makes future maintenance a little easier. The middle has a scooped tone that pairs up with its neighbours perfectly. It makes a lot of sense on its own too. We always give these a 5-way selector and a RWRP middle, as hunting around for the in-between settings on the 3-ways is never a great idea. Just in case you find yourself being Gilmour for a moment, I have converted the lower tone control into a neck-blender which operates in all but the middle position and fades in the neck or the bridge depending whether you are bridge or neck selected. That wide open parallel sound is very useful, and you decide how much of it you want - so much more versatile than an all-or-nothing mini-switch. You govern the guitar with a master volume and master tone - all controls are CTS or CRL, and we have a MOD PIO capacitor which tames the brightness wonderfully. To each end we have some more magic - the tuners are Gotoh SDS510. These have a well-deserved reputation for being the ultimate quality for a Kluson style - a set costs more than some budget guitars! At the other end is one of the ultimate vintage style tremolos - a Gotoh NS510TS. This has the right string spacing for these early models and the stainless steel block gives the guitar an incredible sustain. Final touches to this guitar are the new Gotoh string trees, new Gotoh strap-locks and soft-touch knobs Like all 73s, this upgraded SE-500 is 4.1kg (a whisker over 9lbs) so a fair bit heavier than the later Fujigen built models. Also, like all 73s, the 5-piece big-C neck is sublime - the 7.25 radius familiar and welcomes a brave bend. This is a faithful 25.5"scale unlike some of the 73s that can be 24.7". Forget the super-skinny JV necks - these are substantial. The prospect here is a proper vintage feeling guitar that has seen a lot of action, but has now been refurbished and re-specified to overtake modern more expensive traffic. As always, specs are never finalized until the new owner gets all the boxes ticked, so feel free to discuss any changes to this spec, but we urge people to try it as it is before requesting pick-ups from Thomann or Fender. There are reasons we choose the pick-ups and hardware we fit. We have lots of these in original restored specification too. Details The Look Roadworn but scrubs up well - the top end hardware is all new and shiny. Old and new where it matters most. Headstock Big headstock style retaining its original Gneco decal perfectly presented with new Gotoh trees and SDS510 tuners. Neck Big C 5-piece maple neck and board with new 43mm nut - more Harayama magic. Worn like you bought it in the 70s. New frets - ready for another 40 years of life. Pick-ups 3 x Clausen A5 custom wound for us, and based on a SuperBlues wind. Bright yet warm - the middle wound to get the best in-between tones possible. Bridge Luxurious quality and totally appropriate for these guitars - the Gotoh NS510TS with a Stainless block. You'll enjoy playing this acoustically as much as plugged in. Controls CRL 5-way selector and 3 x CTS 250k pots. Master volume and tone with blender on the lower tone knob. Soft touch knobs for accuracy and comfort. Paper-in-oil capacitor for good taming. Gallery ← Previous Next→

Fender Bonnie Raitt Signature 1996, < Back Fender Bonnie Raitt Signature 1996 N561996 Built in May 1996, this Bonnie Raitt signature edition Stratocaster is in 3-colour sunburst rather than the slightly more challenging blue. It has an alder body, maple narrow C profile neck and rosewood board, and the highly admired Texas Special single coils, which have an over-wound hi-presence character - great for those in-between sounds. The 4ply white Pearloid scratchplate completes the look. Like many of our finest playing instruments, this one has seen some life. There has been a minor repair to the body under the tremolo - it is completely invisible from the outside, and an unfathomable cause! Someone has been careless when removing the tremolo fixing screws perhaps. It's invisible, it doesn't affect the function in any way, but we must mention it. There are signs that the guitar has been used properly - the scratchplate screws had seen some heavy blues sweat. We have replaced them with new ones but the staining on the plate remains - signs of a good life. It is no case queen - it isn't a mint never been used collector's box ticked - this is a fine Strat that someone previously has enjoyed and used properly, (maybe not wiping it down enough but what are guitars actually for?). We have set it up on 10-46, and as a Strat that rings and rings; and an action height that can have a slide on it without fretting, but low enough to remain comfortable. The middle pick-up is set a little higher than the normal Stratocasters so those Bonnie Raitt covers will be accurate - neck and middle together is totally addictive. Price £1,895 Availability Sold Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1996 Pick-ups Texas Special Selector 5 way Bridge Vintage tremolo Board Rosewood Weight 3.64 kg; 8lbs 0 oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

Versatility to the max, classy and very special < Back Matsumoku Paisley Price £1,899 | SOLD Add to Cart Chat with Us Missed out on this model? Talk to us for a rebuild! This is another superb example of a pre-serial number Matsumoku built Strat clone - it features the slightly more substantial neck profile than the later Fujigen and Aria products. This is a 1973, so has that sublime Harayama laminate construction neck. This one arrived in decent condition but had worn its frets beyond the absolute limit. It has now been re-fretted with Jescar 55090 (similar to a vintage Gibson feel), and so favoured by guitarists in the 1970s who had worn their skinny vintage Fender frets down. The body has been sensitively modified to accept a modern pick-up, and now has a set of custom wound Clausens fitted with a new 5-way switch and potentiometers. The neck and bridge pick-ups are tapped units have 2 outputs selected by an S-1 switch on the master volume control. This offers everything from Gilmour to Trout and more beyond. Keeping the pick-ups in lower output mode calms the tone down if a super clean sound is desired, and switching to the higher output gets the very best out of a valve amp. It's all there, but most importantly we think, there is enough aggression and power in that bridge pick-up to get a nod of respect from the guy with the Les Paul. The in between settings are very wide and scooped - Knopfler to funk catered for. Engaging the higher output mode will give you more presence in the parallel settings. In the middle you can slip on a bottleneck and be Bonnie Raitt. A Master Tone control tames the higher frequencies with a SoZo PIO capacitor. The lower Tone control is a blender function to fade in the neck pick-up when the bridge pick-up, or middle and bridge pick-ups in parallel are in play; and which fades in the bridge pick-up when in the neck pick-up, or middle and neck pick-ups in parallel are in play. When in the higher output mode, the tone of the neck and bridge pick-ups together reminds us of the middle position on a Tele Deluxe. There are so many tones to get hold of with this configuration, and while the controls will require a little familiarization to seasoned Strat players, we wouldn’t change anything unless it offered an improvement. Once you are familiar with this control layout, this guitar adopts the character of a Swiss Army Knife. And all with the traditional look. A very classy scratchplate completes the look of this guitar. It tips the scales at 3.74kg (8lbs 4oz). Details The Look You'll need a shirt to match this one Headstock The infamous Gneco logo to mark you out as an early adopter. Brand new Gotoh SD-91 tuners Neck Oval C - slightly more substantial than a MIJ Fender. New 55090 frets on a Harayama neck. Best of all worlds Pick-ups 3 x Clausen Custom (neck and bridge tapped). Bridge A brand new Gotoh NS510T - our very favourite tremolo bridge for these old Grecos. Controls Master volume (S-1 for output selector), Master Tone and Blender. 5-way CRL selector Gallery ← Previous Next→

2017 Deimel Firestar, Enormous Specification. < Back 2017 Deimel Firestar 091 Frank Deimel has been a hero and inspiration for us since we first ever laid hands on one of his creations. Whilst a fair few "boutique" guitars really focus on how they look, Herr Deimel focusses on versatility, specification and also has some visual tricks up his sleeve too. As normal, prices for such guitars seem almost obtainable, but then you get an options list which tempts you into abject poverty while you wait years for the guitar to arrive and sell more vital organs when the taxman clears his throat and holds out a hand. This is a particularly high spec Firestar model from 2017 - a one-owner guitar here in UK that has formed part of a managed collection, and whose mileage is purely the journey to the MOT station every year - it is genuinely in 'As New' condition, complete with Certificate of Authenticity. A lot of option boxes were ticked: this Firestar has a one-piece Swamp Ash body and the "highly Figured" maple neck to the JM59 standard - a bit more to get hold of, but not too much. The saddle and tremolo are Mastery products - supremely engineered and constructed and the long arm encouraging warbles, but happy to go further if required. The Magenta aluminium scratchplate contains 2 Curtis Novak pick-ups - a JM-V at the neck and a JM-90 at the bridge. The JM-V is a classic take on the Fender sound; the JM-90 being a P-90 style construction and resulting beefier tone. This has a master volume and master tone both using 500k CTS pots, the tone being governed by a Sprague 1813 capacitor. That, in itself, provides a great sounding guitar - each of the 3 fundamental tones sounding expensive and there on purpose. But this is just the beginning. Between the saddle and bridge is another pick-up - a Mojo Jaguar bridge unit; Alnico 5 with 42awg wire just as they were in 1963. This pick-up, known as Behind-the-bridge, delivers the subtle vibrations that make it past the saddle. Plucking the strings over this pick-up will give the very strange effect you'd expect, but there is method behind this madness. A slider switch by the selector toggle allows you to decide which bridge pick-up is in play - either the JM-90 or the Mojo Jaguar. If the Mojo is selected, and the toggle in the bridge position, then all you will get is those post-saddle vibrations that do change with chord positions, but only as far as the scale is altered by the chord. The demo video will show you what this means to your ears. If the toggle is selecting neck and bridge, then the neck tone will dominate, but the parallel connected Mojo will enable some shimmering harmonic effects to add colour to the sound in fascinating and slightly discordant ways. If the neck pick-up is selected on its own, the Mojo has no effect on the tone regardless of the position of the slider. And there is more... The slider switch next to the pick-up selection toggle activates a piezo disc that is mounted in the control cavity. This piezo disc operates independently from the magnetic pick-ups and the presence of the effect is governed by reducing the magnetic pick-up volume. Once again, the demo video will describe this effect more than words can. This piezo effect applies to tones using the Mojo pick-up too - already a huge palette is available. But there is still more... There is a further slider switch and two roller wheels on the upper horn - these govern the LesLee controls where further magic happens. The slider switch activates the effect, and the roller wheels govern the rate and depth of the effect. Producing an effect similar to a rotary speaker and a tremolo (guitar effect, not bridge). Activating the Leslee overrides the pick-up selector toggle as the signal alternates between the neck and bridge pick-ups either slightly in terms of which pick-up dominates, or at its maximum effect the time it takes to sweep the whole signal between them. This is controlled by one rotary wheel, the other rotary wheel will determine how quickly this happens. When the controls are set to near maximum effect, the effect can almost resemble a slicer. If the Mojo pick-up is engaged as the bridge pick-up, the LesLee will provide an even more intense effect as the signal sweeps between the neck pick-up and the Mojo, which as explained above is only reporting the vibrations of the string between the saddle and the bridge to the signal path. If words aren't enough here, please check out the demo video. Engaging the piezo adds yet more character to the tone. Complexity accepted, and with sufficient time to familiarize yourself with the controls and functions, this is a creator's dream. Ideas and experimental work will flow easily from this instrument as the controls are well placed, the rotary wheels are weighted perfectly and the guitar feels like a very premium instrument indeed. The Pyramid 1508 frets are, as their name would suggest, a triangular style fret, similar to Jescar 51108, an unusual but interesting fret - another characteristic of the guitar that sets it aside from most others. This exciting and indulgent specification added over 40% to the basic spec Firestar price - the resulting guitar is breath-taking; a fastidiously well built instrument offering you a huge opportunity to experiment and get very creative. Price ON SALE! Click Buy button to reveal latest price. Availability 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 2017 Pick-ups Curtis Novak JM-V, JM-90+ Mojo Jaguar Selector 3-way Toggle Bridge Mastery Board Rosewood Weight 3.67kg; 8lbs 1oz Modifications Most options ticked ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

Short scale, powerful and dynamic with a twist < Back Matsumoku Ibi JKL No.1 Price £2,750 GBP Add to Cart Chat with Us The whole idea of DreamBuilds started here. I am fortunate enough to be very good friends with a fascinating professional musician who has an incredible imagination and passion for guitars. I recall the initial conversation: "I'm into short scale - like a Junior, but better. Like that Swinger I had ages ago, but not that short. Like a Mustang but not an offset. But different. And make it sound amazing. Do a couple because I'm putting thick strings on one of them. Let's go nuts on these." A fair few accomplished players spot one of the Concords that I keep here, they pick it up and reminisce. "Wish I still had mine" is often heard. OK, let's see how good they can be. After some careful routing, two 1953 Häussel P-90 pick-ups were fitted with a dummy coil hiding between them. A 5-way switch and a push-push tone pot engage the pick-ups to get traditional and more interesting tones. A set of light gauge acoustic guitar strings complete the unusual specification. Gotoh locking SGS510 machine heads are the perfect size and feel for this "shorty" and the sustain and intonation is enhanced by the remarkable FX6 bridge. This is a very purposeful build - it delivers a very specific set of tones, some ideal clean and some especially good and useful when amps are driven. It's a guitar that had a nuts brief, a nuts approach to specification, a nuts donor instrument and the result is perfectly nuts. This is a guitar built with fun in mind. It will likely take your playing and imagination in very different directions. The guitar in the pictures is still in regular studio use, but can be found here at the Hall between shifts. Any scratchplate wearing Westone / Vantage / other Matsumoku built guitar from the era can be recreated like this. Is this one for sale? Sure, as long as I build another one quickly! This one comes with decent provenance. Details The Look This guitar retains the original finish complete with 40 years of parking knocks. The same shape scratchplate is used, but cut to accommodate the new electronics. The output jack has made its way to the bottom edge. The headstock is now black Headstock The tuners are upgraded to Gotoh SGS510 in black - the highest quality locking tuners suiting the look and feel of the guitar, and allowing fast string changes. Neck This is the original neck with the original skinny frets - just tidied up. Pick-ups 2 x 1953 Häussel P-90 with Häussel dummy coil. The 1953 is slightly underwound and the lightness and brightness suits this application perfectly Bridge A Gotoh FX6 in Chrome gives this guitar stability, great intonation and more sustain than the original. Controls the 3 way toggle vol/tone arrangement has been entirely replaced with a 5 way blade, full size 250k volume and tone pots; the latter being a push push arrangement to put the dummy coil in series or parallel with the P-90 in positions 2 and 4. Gallery ← Previous Next→

Stealthy versatility, bit of a looker too < Back Matsumoku Rising Sun Price £995 Add to Cart Chat with Us Starting with a fine solid 1978 Matsumoku built Aria Stagecaster, and looking for an excuse to use a splendid looking scratchplate, I rather went to town on this one. Starting with the hardware, the already fine tremolo bridge was replaced with a Gotoh GE-101TS in Gold with the lovely stainless block, a set of aged gold SD-91 tuners replaced the original ones, and matching gold jack plate and strap buttons gave me the general look - we were pleased with it. Even though Maxon SP-II pick-ups are great sounding units, these models were still constrained with the 3 way switch. Rather than convert the middle to RWRP, I went several stages further to make this guitar sound even better than it looks, and add some stealthy versatility to make this into a proper studio and stage tool. The concept is to have a set of traditional vintage sounds - optimised to boutique mega-bucks standards; and add some really very powerful and rich sounds usually available to HSH super-strats. But not making life difficult with a plethora of mini-switches - just a simple push pull on the lower tone knob to toggle between vintage and modern. This is a set of Tony's finest Alnico V single coils, a perfect neck unit, a secret sauce middle and a perfectly hot bridge. With the tone knob pushed down, the 5-way gives you a standard array of tones - vintage output from the neck and middle, and a overwound bridge unit to get some proper power. The lower tone knob is available to tame that bridge unit if you need, the middle tone knob acting on the neck and middle units. Pulling up the lower tone knob - easy as it is a rubberized surface - and the real power kicks in. The neck unit converts to a series neck and bridge configuration. These are wound and are constructed from magnets that do not turn this power to compressed mud - the clarity remains, just a lot more in the mid range - from a chime to a howl. Neck and middle together converts from a traditional quack to a powerful cluck. A vintage output middle joins the series connected neck and bridge. The increase in midrange is precisely where you need it. Position 3 converts from a vintage output middle to a hot output middle - great for searing slide guitar. This middle pick-up is where the magic happens - there are 2 outputs that either serve in their own right, or have the desired effect when coupling with their neighbours. Middle and bridge converts from vintage quack to a less scooped growl as the full winding of the middle becomes available to match the hot bridge perfectly. The bridge is just the bridge - it needs nothing more than the tone control or a backed off volume control. Lots of words - language is very rarely sufficient to accurately describe the tones that this guitar will provide - please give the demo video a listen - ears need to hear what I am trying to describe. The new guitar feel is accentuated by a fresh set of frets - all you lucky folks with a 59 Les Paul will recognise the 44500 Jumbo frets - ideal for these Matsumoku necks. Luxury from start to finish here. Details The Look Cheers you up as soon as you clap eyes on it. Headstock It's a 1978 guitar, so the appropriate large headstock. Neck A new set of Jescar 45100 Jumbo give this a classy new guitar feel. Pick-ups Tony's finest single coils. Alnico 5, vintage neck, dual output middle and overwound bridge. Best of all worlds. Bridge New gold Gotoh GE-101TS with the stainless block Controls 5 way selector, Master Volume, Neck/Middle Tone, Bridge Tone - the latter is a push pull to activate some amazing versatility. Gallery ← Previous Next→

Greco EG-480B, Affordable vintage soul < Back Greco EG-480B Pre-serial number A timeless alternative to a new Epiphone - there is a lot of sense in affordable vintage guitars over brand new ones; and yes this is bolt on neck and therefore a much smaller appeal to a traditional set neck Les Paul. If this isn't a complete turn-off, this guitar is a wonderful example of how well Fujigen were producing guitars in the mid-1970s. This one has had a very cherished life, and comes with its original fitted hard case. The 480 was the top of the range for the bolt-ons, and has superior hardware to the lower order 360s and 420s. The tuners are the well regarded and reliable "star-tuners" - these have an action and feel missing from all but the most expensive tuners today. The body is a chambered sycamore topped pancake mahogany construction, the weight is a substantial 4.38kg (9lbs 10oz); and the acoustic resonance is very pleasing even before you plug it in. The maple neck is capped with an ebony fretboard - the scale is faithful and the neck has a substantial 50s-style C-shaped profile carve, measuring .890” deep at the 1st fret and .975” at the 12th. It has the feel of a far more prestigious brand. The Maxon pick-ups are never a disappointment, and have a soul, a warmth and can be as smooth or growly as you wish with the controls. This is the type of guitar you can lose hours and hours with, and it defies its price tag, and hopes you'll give it a chance despite the presence of a neck plate. A 1974 Gibson will set you back many thousands of pounds or dollars - this one will be a tiny fraction of that and is a very viable alternative to a brand new Epiphone. 50 year old guitars built by the big manufacturers in Japan are a bit of well kept secret - nothing new of a comparable price will play like these, and while the top end Super Real and Mint Series Grecos now approach the astronomical price levels that rival the Gibsons themselves, make the most of this well kept secret while it lasts and bring an EG480B into your life before the market pulls these prices up too. If you like a bit of heft to your Les Paul, prefer the company of an older guitar, give this one some serious thought. They are getting rarer in this condition - this one is in excellent condition. Price £845 Availability Sold Recommendation Play it forever Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1974 Pick-ups Maxon Selector 3-Way Toggle Bridge ToM Board Ebony Weight 4.38kg; 9lbs 1 oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13

1970 Fender Precision Bass, No chance of avoiding the term Mojo with this one < Back 1970 Fender Precision Bass 285152 The serial number 285152 and the 7270 stamp on the pick-up indicate that this is a July 1970 build - the neck stamp is a format occasionally seen between the late 60s and mid 70s, and deprive us of a simple date of construction. The pick-up leads have been repaired by us, and it reads 10.48k which is inline with contemporary instruments. The pots are original and work quietly and smoothly, but we have replaced the output jack. The hardware is also original and in great order - just some age related tarnishing on the tuners. The covers and rest are long gone unfortunately, but the case appears to be original, or at least period correct. The frets display signs of wear - this has been a busy instrument, but are still serviceable and have a few years left before any action needs taking. There is a tiny split in the input jack section of the scratchplate, which we believe to be a later replacement as I would expect a tortoiseshell guard in 1970. The thin sunburst nitro has various dings and buckle-rash, but has that wonderful crazing that no re-issue or relic exercise can achieve. This is no case queen, not part of a cherished collection, it is a 55 year old bass not getting enough stage-time since the retirement of the previous owner. It is way too good to put away and forget about; it begs for more use. Apologies for the well-worn cliche, but this bass has mojo. Not all late 60s and early 70s Fenders meet expectations, but this one will not disappoint. A really comfortable 3.66kg (8lbs 1oz). Price ON SALE! Click Buy button to reveal latest price. Availability 1 at Ketteringham Hall Recommendation Buy as Is Buy to Upgrade Specifications Year 1970 Pick-ups Original Selector N/A Bridge Original Board Rosewood Weight 3.66KG; 8lbs 1oz Modifications None ← Previous Next→ Latest Videos Play Video Play Video 04:37 Play Video Play Video 03:15 Play Video Play Video 05:58 Play Video Play Video 03:26 Play Video Play Video 02:27 Play Video Play Video 06:20 Play Video Play Video 02:28 Play Video Play Video 04:13