Est. 1857

126 Deansgate Manchester

M3 2GR, UK

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Forsyth is the UK's single largest specialist music shop

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Semis & Jazz Guitars

Over recent months we've been improving our range and numbers of Jazz and semi-acoustic guitars and we've now got such a lot they deserve a page of their own.

 

Pre-eminent amongst them are our D'Aquisto jazz guitars - Japanese, hand built tributes to the master of the archtop jazz guitar - James D'Aquisto. We also carry Hofner, Gordon Smith, Gibson, Epiphone, Aria and Crafter. Whatever style of music you want to use it for, be it jazz, blues, rock or anything else we'll have something suitable in our large showroom. 

 

See our stock of D'Aquisto guitars here:
D'Aquisto            


We keep (almost) the entire range of these fine, incredibly tough, English made hard cases in stock.

ProII-GS - designed for most slim bodied semi acoustics without Bigsby tremolos. £99.50
ProII-GJ - will fit larger bodied semis (Super 400 etc.) and those with Bigsbys fitted). £108
Instruments currently in stock:


Hofner Jazzica Custom £1975  OFFER  PRICE £1499
Well, this is a marvellous strange guitar and no mistake. A 24 fret jazzer with contoured body to bring the player 'closer to the guitar' apparently. It also comes with ebony bungs to fill the soundholes and reduce problems with feedback. Hofner currently have no production schedule for more of these instruments so come and get yourself a rare old thing from us.
View the specifications here.


G6136 White Falcon. Japanese made £2245
OFFER  PRICE PRICE £1899

G6120TM Chet Atkins Tiger Maple. Japanese made £1999.99 OFFER PRICE £1699

ES 335 Diamond in Pelham Blue
OFFER PRICE £Call

Verythin John Stowell model £1950
OFFER PRICE
£1657
View the specifications here.


Stonebridge A17 D40 Solid cedar and mahogany archtop with Kent Armstrong pickup. £799 OFFER PRICE £719


Epiphone Broadway £685
OFFER PRICE
£585
1958 Hofner Senator

Many years ago, when ownership of a Gibson or Fender was as unlikely as putting a man on the moon for aspiring British Buddy Hollies of the day, Hofner were the instruments which came closest to the unobtainable US brands. This fellow is an early example of the venerable Senator, resplendent in a nicely aged honey blonde and still baring its original funky pickup.

Most Hofners develop neck angle problems as the result of the simplistic mortise and tenon neck join: we’re happy to report that this particular guitar is set nicely with a lowish action. Early Hofners lack an adjustable truss-rod but the chunky C profile neck is nice and straight. It’s on its third set of machine-heads and the bridge, although Hofner made, is unlikely to be the one it left the factory with. The maple top, although plywood, is lightly constructed and consequently the guitar sounds excellent, very loud with more bass than many we’ve played.

£499


Epiphone Sheraton with case
£599
OFFER PRICE £499

Hofner J5 Red £450
OFFER PRICE
£399

Epiphone Wildkat
OFFER PRICE
£479


Verythin  £425
OFFER PRICE
£375



Zenith Super Cutaway Deluxe c1957

Zenith guitars were German made instruments manufactured by Framus and marketed by Ivor Mairants. The most famous Zenith owner was a youthful Paul McCartney, so this is the instrument to blame for inflicting the Frog Chorus and Heather Mills on an unsuspecting public. Its only previous owner purchased this particular instrument new in Manchester in 1957, and now it’s back here waiting for a new home.

The body is huge - 17 1/2 “ across the lower bout – and made of laminated plain maple. The neck set is perfect, and it’s currently set up with flat wound strings and a slinky low action. No issues to speak of, just the usual laquor crazing, a missing pick guard and screw holes where a floating pickup had once been installed.

£325

Aria FA70 £449
OFFER PRICE
£359

Instruments, now sold,  that have previously graced our walls:


Verythin Standard £1200
SOLD
View the specifications here.

ES 335 Lightburst. Yum. SOLD
c. 1953 Gibson ES125

 Gibson's entry level jazz box throughout the 40s to the 50s and, if you're after the full, mellow tone of a 50s Gibson jazz guitar, can live without a cutaway and don't have the requisite £5000 plus for an early 50s ES-175, this is going to be the one to look for. The acoustic tone is sweet and lively, if a little quiet in comparison to a carved top guitar.

The guitar has suffered a (long since reglued) loose treble side brace, resulting in a small amount of table sinkage. It's not particularly noticeable, and there's no risk of it getting any worse. It also looks as though a previous owner has learned the hard way that it's a good idea to loop the end of your lead through your strap to avoid any disasters when you step on the lead mid solo - the jack input is mounted into an oversized plate that hides a missing piece of mahogany where the jack was originally mounted. Other than that, the usual Gibson laquor checking and a set of decent replacement tuners, condition is good and it's set to go many more years into the future. SOLD

Gibson ES 175 SOLD

Epiphone Dot natural SOLD

Aria FA50 £299
SOLD

G6120 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman. Japanese made £2149.99 SOLD

Epiphone Casino £520
SOLD

Verythin Classic £1570
SOLD
View the specifications here.

Hofner Verythin £425
SOLD

Hofner Verythin £425
SOLD

G5120 in orange with Bigsby
£599

SOLD

G5125 in black with Bigsby
£599
SOLD

Eastman 910 handmade jazz guitar. Second hand, immaculate condition with hard case SOLD

Epiphone Dot cherry SOLD

Hofner J5 Natural £450
SOLD

G6120DSW Chet Atkins
Japanese made £2099.99
SOLD

Hofner Verythin  £425 SOLD

Hofner Verythin  £425 SOLD

Gretsch G6120 Chet Atkins Nashville
Japanese made £2099
SOLD

G5120 in orange with Bigsby £599
SOLD

Gretsch G6119 Chet Atkins Tennessee Rose
Japanese made £1899
SOLD

Gretsch Synchromatic G100 £549
SOLD

G5120 in Sunburst with Bigsby £599 SOLD

Gibson ES 335 SOLD

NEW IN! Hofner J5 Cinnamon SOLD



Hofner Verythin
SOLD

Gretsch G5120 in orange with Bigsby SOLD

Gretsch G5120 in sunburst with Bigsby £599 SOLD


Stonebridge A17 D40
Solid cedar and mahogany archtop with Kent Armstrong pickup. £799
SOLD

Epiphone Emporer Joe Pass

SOLD

Hofner Thinline Archtop - Made for the German market c. 1963. Similar to UK President. SOLD


Epiphone Casino with Bigsby

SOLD

Hofner Verythin Classic £1570 SOLD

We stock a wide range of guitar accessories including strings, cases, cloths, cleaners, stands etc. & etc.

 

If your instrument needs a service, overhaul or any sort of fix from the major to the minor then our repair service can help.

 

We are also pleased to offer a 10% discount to music students, teachers and professional musicians or musicians union members on all our accesories and otherwise undiscounted instruments.

 

Please phone or email the instrument department for further details on any of our instruments, accessories or with any other queries you may or may not have.

 

Telephone 0161 834 3281 extension 606
Fax 0161 834 0630
instruments@forsyths.co.uk