Southern California deliveries February 9-11
I'll be making deliveries of several instruments to the southern California area Tuesday through Thursday, February 9 - 11. I have room for another couple of guitars, so let me know by February 8th if you want one brought down for you.
DOUBLEBASS NEWS
Rudoulph Doetsch
Returning to inventory is a magnificent Rudoulph Doetsch VB701
4/4, a huge sounding German-made 7/8 gamba shape instrument
with nicely figured dense maple and a
stiff, beautiful hazel-figured spruce top. A commanding presence on the jazz
bandstand or in the orchestra. This one must be played to be believed! See the Doetsch
and Klier page for a full set of photos and a complete description.
The Return of Michael Olivola!
I wish that he was returning to the San Francisco Bay Area to do his great setup
work fulltime, but I'm arranging for Michael to come to work in my shop for
about a week every few months setting up doublebasses and performing repairs.
We've been talking about setting up the first session in late January or
early February. Please call or email me if you would like to have Michael
perform some magic luthiery on your instrument.
Basses by Other Builders
Recent additions to the inventory have included a 1930s Czech Or Bohemian 3/4
Flatback. Please see the "Basses by Other Builders" page
for photos and complete descriptions.
New Hybrid Xuechang Sun model
I've taken delivery on the first new Hybridge 3/4 model from
Xuechang Sun, the 101 model. It features violin corners and
the same amazingly high quality tops
enjoyed by the models in the rest of the line. For a full set of photos and
complete description, please see the "Xuechang Sun" page.
In The Repair Shop
1930s German or Czech 5/8 Flatback
1930s German or Czech 3/4 Flatback
1940 American Standard
1978 Aerts (Belgium) carved back violin corner 5-string
Handmade Doublebasses
I have a few nice professional grade handmade doublebasses in stock. The Kolstein
Lorenzo Carcassi model was exhibited at the 2003 ISB Convention and has been
played enough to develope as a very strong orchestral instrument. It is currently
the strongest arco bass in the shop. The 1999 Dominic Zuchowicz Montagnana
copy was my own bass for a few years before I sold it during the dotcom bust
of 2002. It has developed a very free, rich voice and functions beautifully
as either an orchestral or jazz instrument. The Andrew Pitts solo bass, a large
5/8 pattern desinged from a specific old italian bass, is a very responsive
bass designed for advanced solo arco technique. Noted San Francisco Bay Area
bassist Jim Kerwin used this instrument as a jumping off point to design a
slightly larger 5 string model with a high C string that Andrew Pitts completed
for him recently. Full descriptions and photos are found on the "Handmade
doublebasses" page.
Vintage American Plywood Basses
Returning to inventory is a great sounding very responsive 1939 American Standard.
With proper setup and a new ebony fingerboard by Matt Bohn, this great old bass
is ready to go for professional performance. For a complete set of photos and
a complete description, please see the "Vintage American
Plywood Basses" page.
GUITAR NEWS
Preston Thompson Guitars
Having recently retired from a two decades long marketing position for an upscale resort, legendary guitar builder Preston Thompson has returned to guitar making full time. Specializing in classic era Martin style dreadnoughts and OOOs, serious players may know the 12 Fret OOO built for Peter Rowan and two 14 fret dreadnoughts made for flatpicking legend Charles Sawtelle. I will be concentrating on having Preston build a 1930 style OOO-28 model, two 1937 style D-28 models (with standard 1 3/4" neck or Sawtelle-inspired 1 13/16" neck), and 12 fret D-28 models. I am supplying only my very best Adirondack Spruce tops and Brazilian Rosewood sets for these guitars. The first guitar to arrive will be a standard 1937 style D-28 due for April completion.
Rockbridge Guitars
The new Mahogany and Adirondack Spruce Smeck style 12 fret jumbo has arrived. It
has the characteristic strong, clear voice afforded by the wood choices that
I
supplied and Rockbridge's careful voicing of the top and braces. For a full
set of photos and a complete description, please see the "Rockbridge" page.
In the Repair Shop
1934 Gibson Roy Smeck Stage De Luxe, 1951 Gibson J-50, 1954 Martin OO-18, 1955 Martin D-18
Vintage Gibson Flat Top Guitars
Just arrived this week are an extremely light and responsive 1930 L-OO, a very robust sounding 1932-33 L-OO, and a returning Ca. 1934 Roy Smeck Stage De Luxe with a HUGE voice. For more information and a complete set of photos, please see the "Gibson" page.
Vintage Martin Dreadnought
Just arrived are a bright and powerful 1948 D-18 and a very strong 1953 D-28 made with the desireable Engelmann Spruce top. For a complete description and a full sets of photos, please see the "Vintage Martin Dreadnought" page.
Vintage Martin Other Size
Just added are avery clean and great sounding 1937 OOO-18, a well-played responsive 1930 2-17, and a fantastic sounding 1940 O-17. For a complete description and a full set of photos, please see the "Vintage Martin Other Size" page.
Archtop Guitars
***Just added to the archtop guitar inventory are a 1935 Gibson Super 400, a 1947 Epiphone Zephyr De Luxe, a 1963 Gibson L-7C with added pickup, a 1974 Gibson Johnny Smith, a 1966 sunburst Gibson Trini Lopez, a red Gibson 1967 Trini Lopez, a 1968 Gibson Barney Kessel Custom, a 1972 or 1974 Gibson Byrdland, and a 2000 black Gibson L-5 CES.
Martin after 1970
I have just received in trade form a Martin dealer a new unsold D-18V without warranty papers. It is a very complete sounding example with much better treble response than usual. For a full set of photos and a complete description, please see the "Martin After 1970" page.
*** Just added are a mint condition 1995 D-45 custom with "beyond-45" pearl appointments, and a mint 1996 D-12-28 at a very attractive price. For a complete description and a full set of photographs, please see the "Martin After 1970" page.
Guitars by Other Builders
A new Merrill sunburst C-18 is on the sales floor. An
excellent example of Jim Merrill's current work, this guitar
is functionally as close to a mid-1930s Martin D-18 as you
are likely to find. For a full set of photos and a complete
description, please see the "Guitars
by Other Builders" page.
*** Just added to inventory are a very clean 2000 John Greven 12 Fret OO in bearclaw Sitka Spruce and Madagascar Rosewood and 3 recent mint condition Collings guitars, and OM-1, and OM-1A cutaway, and a mint OM-2 cutaway.
APPOINTMENT HOURS
I am in the shop six or seven days per week
when I'm not out on an occasional purchasing
trip or picking up doublebasses set up by
my luthiers in Sacramento or Felton. Please
set an appointment date and time with me
so that I will not be out on an errand when
you come by. It will also help me to restring
a doublebass or guitar in advance with your
preferred set of strings. I can often plan
to be here evenings or even on Sunday with
enough notice. |
