Here’s a gallery of instruments that have previously graced our walls. For your enjoyment only, as these have all definitely been sold. You’re welcome to ask if we’re getting anything similar in future but there’s no guarantee given the rarity of some of these instruments.
Second hand. C.1900s. Something a little out there even by our standards, this distinguished old lady is the nicest sounding Romantic guitar we can remember coming across. The elevated fingerboard was devised by JG Staufer in the 1820s, and is found on many Austrian guitars of the 19th Century, but our example has a fairly large body and Germanic styling that puts us in the mind of early instruments by Hauser. Sadly there’s no label, but this is a handmade instrument rather than a factory example, with exemplary woodworking and a very fine, sophisticated tone. True enough it’s not as loud or boomy as a modern classical, but the sound is very articulate with lovely treble response and a cleanly defined bass. The condition is fair, with a couple of long cracks in the Birds-eye Maple back which we’ve cleated, and the shellac varnish has been touched up. On the plus side there are no cracks in the top, and that ingenious neck mechanism works smoothly. An excellent period piece that plays and sounds as good as it looks.
in Sunburst
All solid Walnut and Cedar cutaway electro-classical with Fishman Prefix Pro Blend preamp and double top.
in Madagascar rosewood and spruce
all solid cedar and walnut double top with second cedar top above the back.
Limited Edition number 439 of 500 with case and certificate signed by Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch.
Second hand. 2001 model in excellent condition, a few, tiny dings but nothing to write home about, or even Twitter. Sound is open and rich. Excellent value for a handmade classical. Includes POD hardfoam case.
Second hand. Designed by luthier and jazz aficionado Maurice Summerfield and manufactured by the Kiso Suzuki factory in Japan, this is one of the most highly regarded Maccaferri style guitars on the vintage market. A solid Spruce top and, we’re pretty sure, a solid back with laminated sides in the style of the originals. Currently set up with silk and steel strings and a lowish action, it plays beautifully with a warm, throaty and mature sound – in fact, we’d go so far as to say, the nicest Gypsy guitar we’ve come across. The original good quality hard case is included.
Limited edition in psychadelic finish
Limited edition in black finish
Limited edition in white finish
Blue
Second hand. Excellent condition Noel Gallagher signature model. Original hard case included.
Classic Series. Made in Japan. Candy Apple Red.
All original, immaculate condition with OHSC.
second hand. Japanes made in superb condition.
Ex guitar show demo stock with reduced 3 month warranty hence special price but in perfect condition.
Natural Mahogany
It’s all original except a rewound bridge pickup, done for us by Bare Knuckle and just refretted by our fair hands. Overall it's in very good cosmetic condition.
All original, immaculate condition with OHSC.
Sunburst
When it comes to rock’n’roll vibe, there’s little that can beat a well gigged Fender, and this grunge era Japanese Jazzmaster is a classic example. There are a fair few nicks and scratches and the gold hardware has tarnished slightly, but the playability is excellent, it sounds great and it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than a modern day relic. A rectangular Freestyle case is included.
Full description to follow. In excellent condition with OHSC
A 2006 vintage Gibson SJ-200 Historic Collection in really excellent condition with lovely flamed maple back and sides and straight-grained spruce top with all the bling cosmetics we've come to know and love from these giants of the acoustic guitar world (in every sense). The tone is bright and brash and the playability is superb. No pickup. OHSC included.
One for the rock'n'rollers, a sexy blue finish on probably Gibson’s best recent design. This is the humbucker equipped version with a stop bar and tun-o-matic bridge mounted into a Mahogany block, giving it a different personality to either the earlier P-90 and trapeze equipped 135s, and the Maple blocked ES-335. The condition is good, although it carries a few dings and scratches to demonstrate a life of regular use, and it plays beautifully. A hard case is included.
A charming budget model from the venerable Gibson company. Although the majority of LG-0s have a Mahogany top, the last few years of production - of which this is an example - saw an upgrade to Spruce. Otherwise it's a plain looking fellow, but the ladder bracing gives it a quick and lively response, and we've seen many a 70s Gibson selling for far more money that don't pack nearly as good a punch. The tuners on this one have been changed, and the adjustable bridge disabled which helps out considerably in the tone department. The bridge is lifting slightly but, as it's firmly bolted from the underside and we don't want to push the price up by removing and regluing it, we've chosen to leave it as it is. A Hiscox case is included.
A weird and wonderful curiosity from Gibson’s darkest days of the early 70s, this is basically an EB-3 with the same electronics as the equally peculiar ES-320. The plastic covered single coil pickups bear a ‘30s style Gibson logo and can be selected by small on-off switches. This one has been refinished in an opaque black, but it’s a professional job and it now has better rock credentials than the dung-brown livery it would have left the factory with. However, against all odds it sounds good, and it’s a bone fide Gibson for Epiphone money, so what are we complaining about? A non-original case is included.
Second hand. Immaculate condition. A great guitar, ideal for you singer-songwriters out there; with the warmth and depth you would expect from a mahogany and spruce Gibson dreadnought and playability to match. A real beauty to look at too. Has a factory fitted under saddle pickup. With original hardcase.
in Inca silver
in green
in Dakota red
in Competition Orange
in Shell pink
in sonic blue
in TV Yellow
Second hand in Regal Blue. Excellent condition with hard case.
Professional series Chet Atkins Hollow Body w/ DynaSonic Pickups. Made in Japan
Synchromatic series. In Black
Second hand. The 450 is a European model that comprises the cosmetics of the UK Congress model with the body style of the UK Senator. Our example also benefits from a cutaway, so the jazzers amongst you will have no trouble reaching those pesky upper frets. The condition is good, with the original tailpiece and machine heads (one changed button). The bridge is a Gretsch style tuno-matic affair, not original but it helps keep everything nicely intonated. There’s been some repair work carried out around the heel, but the neck angle is good and it plays smoothly. A nice vintage example. No case I’m afraid.
Second hand. A wide bodied, Selmer imported version of the venerable Congress. The bridge is a new one but the tuners and tailpiece are original, and it’s in pretty good shape. The neck has been repaired at some point but is good and stable now, and there is a slight bow in the neck – nothing major but it’s worth knowing about if you’re hoping it can be set up to play like a Strat. It sounds great, really full and meaty with a great period feel to it.
Everyone who has played this agrees, it sounds absolutely stunning. If you're in the market for a fine classical instrument, you'd do well to come and try this one.
Second hand. Another lovely instrument from The Lowden Guitar Company's Newtownards factory from its 10000ish serial number it's from the mid to late 1990s. This one is in pretty much immaculate condition and displays the usual and much admired quality of timber and woodwork. Marked as a custom instrument the only deviation we can see from a standard F10 is the slotted headstock although it still has a full 14 frets to the body. The tone is bright, warm and clear like a summer morning and you feel the tone has really opened up since it left the factory. The slightly lighter headstock means it balances beautifully on the knee. A great guitar.
Second hand. Mid-90s, made in the Newtownards facility. In excellent condition save a superficial but long scratch to the front, we've had the frets dressed and it's been set up by our in house Luthiery team called Joe so it plays like a dream, it sounds like a dream too and one you don't ever have to wake up from. Original Lowden-embossed Hiscox case is included.
Second hand. A lovely guitar from the later days of the Bangor workshop in the late 1980s. In the workshop for a setup, full description will follow on its return. Original Hiscox hard case included.
in Koa and Sitka Spruce with K&K trinity pickup and low-profile neck. Left-handed.
with Honduras rosewood and Redwood
Tasmanian Blackwood & Cedar. Another gorgeous ringing and singing masterpiece from Downpatrick.
All solid adirondack and East Indian rosewood.
Standard series
UK Custom artist series
second hand. Immaculate condition with hard case.
UK Custom artist series
Cedar top
in jetglo
Second hand. 2004 model, left handed 360 in mapleglo. Immaculate condition with silver, vintage style hard case.
2002 model in fireglo. Excellent condition. Some light gig wear but nothing major. Original case included.
in natural maple satin. An exact replica of Paul McCartney's bass (only right-handed) as it was after he'd substantially modified it - changed the pickups, stripped off the original fireglo finish and reshaped the body. Now a discontinued model this is your last chance to get your hands on this iconic bass.
second hand 2004 model left handed 360 in fireglo
in jetglo
an exact replica of the 1958 model 325, just as John Lennon first purchased in Hamburg in natural
in mapleglo
An extraordinarily rare model from Rickenbacker. Indeed it's the first one we've ever seen in the flesh. Made in 2004 this example is in excellent condition with just a few minor scratches. The body is a sandwich of beautifully flamed maple and nice dark walnut all finished to a gorgeous high gloss. The single Rickenbacker high-output 'toaster top' pickup brings out all the brightness and jangle you would expect from a Rickenbacker and makes it the perfect complement to the mandolin form. No case.
In mapleglo
in jetglo
in fireglo
in natural maple satin. An exact replica of Paul McCartney's bass (only right-handed) as it was after he'd substantially modified it - changed the pickups, stripped off the original fireglo finish and reshaped the body. Now a discontinued model.
limited edition koa and spruce
Masterworks series.
with hard case
Second hand. In excellent condition with hard case.
Gibson A mandolin from about 1921. Full description to follow. Modern hard case included.
An attractive early example of this popular model, these oval hole Gibsons lack the volume and chop of their F-holed descendants but make up for it with a sweet, chimey tone that for solo playing is extremely rewarding. There seems to be a resurgence in interest in oval hole mandolins, and we sell numerous examples of the excellent Eastman reissues, but whenever we come across an original example there’s still something special about them that new makers just can’t seem to recreate. This one has a slight kink in the fingerboard at the 10th fret that we’ve decided to leave alone as it doesn’t seem to compromise the playability, and the back, sides and neck have been over-sprayed. Beyond that it’s a nice, crack free example. The case appears home made but extremely sturdy.
Kalamazoo’s are fairly thin on the ground over here, so we’re pleased to have found this one. Made in the Gibson factory using an A-1 mandolin mould but with a flat top and back, it’s basically an update on the Gibson Army & Navy model. We always rave about the sound of Gibsons of this era and, yes, we’ll say the same about this one. Beautiful condition, with a classic looking fire stripe pick guard and a deep, V profile neck.
Originally designed as a weapon of torture rather than a musical instrument, banjo mandolins thankfully disappeared from our shores many years since, and what we’re doing trying to reintroduce the things here I’ve no idea, but bear with us a minute… As a traditional mandolin they’re very loud and abrasive, but try a tremolo rhythm and they give incredible projection, cutting though the loudest of rhythm section. This one’s loud, chunkily made and full of character, and they’re a useful addition for the musician looking for unusual textures – or simply want to torture their neighbours.
Handmade in Hawaii from solid Koa.
Handmade in Hawaii from solid Koa.
Handmade in Hawaii from solid Koa.
Second hand. Another nicely made Kumalae copy, this one based on the Style 2, which we think was originally sold under the Oliver Ditson trade name. Solid Koa throughout with an arched back, although the glued neck betrays its Mainland roots. It’s in immaculate condition for such an old instrument, and comes with a nice period case.
Similar to Kumalae Style 3 with rope binding to the top, but a glued in neck rather than the Spanish heel favoured by the Hawaiian makers. No cracks or repairs except for one replaced machine head. Comes with a good condition end opening period case.
A nice later example of an instrument by the venerable Hawaiian maker. Plain Koa for the top, back, sides and neck of this one. There’s a repaired top crack running along the bass edge of the bridge and the tuners are new, but otherwise it’s in very nice condition with a healthy arch to the back and it sounds great. Comes in a new and rather big hard case.
Koa 8-string cutaway electro-Tenor
Koa electro-Concert
in Blue Marble
in redburst
Our latest addition to our selection of vintage tenors is super sparkly little thing hailing from Chicago in the 1930s. Solid Spruce top, solid Birch back and sides with dyed wood binding and, in case you hadn’t spotted it, a gold sparkle plastic veneer over the dyed pear-wood fingerboard. These little Regals have a mandola sized 21” scale length rather than the more common 23”s used by Martin and Gibson, so it’s a very pleasurable thing to play, and the usual open, chimey sound that we’re looking for in a nice vintage tenor. It’s essentially all original: it’s had a recent re-fret and the bridge has been shaved slightly, although not enough that you’d notice beyond the finish touch up. We can’t claim to be hugely impressed with the original machine heads, but they kind of work, and we can usually source modern reproductions that fit into the original holes if you’d rather.
One of Gretsch’s first forays into guitar making, the Model 30 was the cheapest of the carved top instruments offered by the company, and our example is all the rarer for being in a tenor format. Solid Spruce top and solid Maple back and sides, with plenty of wear to the peculiar red sunburst finish, and there’s a repaired crack from the treble F-hole, but it plays well with a good action. Arch-top tenors can be a bit on the harsh side – we’re pleased to report that this one is warm and lively with a fantastic bass response. Non-original case included.
0161 834 3281