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Ned Steinberger's one-off prototype L-Series headless bass

April 21, 2015, 6:18 am
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I ought not have to write too much about Ned Steinberger's one-of-a-kind prototype L-Series bass as the pictures say it all really. Built in 1977 the bass is modelled from carbon fibre and although it is headless, Steinberger seems to have simply moved the headstock from the end of the neck and re-positioned it behind the bridge. It uses regular bass guitar tuners; obviously created before Steinberger went on to develop his own style of fine tuners. You can read more about this bass here.

And if you fancy actually buying this bass, it is currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $99,995.

G L Wilson

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"The Real Fender 60th Anniversary Telecaster" By Zachary Guitars

April 21, 2015, 3:33 pm
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Alex Csiky is a Canadian guitar builder and the man behind Zachary Guitars. Alex seems angry, has a lot of venom towards the big guitar companies, and he may even hate you.

Don't take it personally though, it's not you, it's clearly him.

His "philosophies" are fuelled by a rage that is rooted in a passion for guitars. He despises expensive guitars made on CNC equipment and thinks that we are being duped by buying into the hype.

Honourable? Perhaps. But he also thinks that you may not deserve to own one of his guitars. I'm not sure what the vetting process is or if there is one specific, but he may not deem you worthy.

This Telecaster is both beautiful and a great example of this attitude. Calling it the "Real Fender 60th Anniversary Telecaster" because he thinks that Fender missed the boat on an opportunity to do something new with their Telecaster design.

I do really like this guitar. The design is great in that it pays homage to the inspiration yet remains unique. The  one piece padauk body is great and I can forgive the thin headstock because i really like the rest of the neck and the fret marker design. Odd though, that it seems to have both string-through and top load options.

At $2800 he'll not be a worry to the "overpriced" big companies.

Also, if the name Zachary Guitars sounds familiar, he went semi-viral a few years back with his Ikea Guitar.

Check out his retro site for some great entertainment.

R.W. Haller

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Silvertone Semi-Hollow form the 1960s with Slider Controls

April 22, 2015, 1:35 pm
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Here is a great example of the "budget" guitars from the 1960s. This Silvertone Semi-hollow would have been purchased at Simpsons and used until you could afford a "real" guitar.

I love the look of this well maintained beauty. From the zero fret to the slider controls, and an intact tremolo, there is a lot to like.

Currently at $550 Canadian.

R.W. Haller


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DeArmond S67 Seven String Solid Body Guitar

April 23, 2015, 12:09 pm
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I'm not a seven string player. Years ago I briefly owned a 7 string Ibanez Acoustic and found that i never used the low B string. I eventually took it off, then sold the guitar.

If I were to decide to try again, i think I've found the guitar I would get. 
This DeArmond S67 is a nicely understated take on an SG style body and to me looks a lot less "metally"or aggressive as many 7 string offerings. 

On a related topic, has anyone here ever tried to string a 7 string with a high A instead of a low B? I suspect much potential for string breakage, but maybe there is something I don't know. What is the thinnest high string you've seen?

R.W. Haller


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Very odd and beautiful custom made guitar by H.M. Philips - Blue Moon Guitars

April 24, 2015, 8:02 am
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I feel this will be a polarizing post.

I think you will either love or hate this custom made guitar, according to the inside label it's called a Blue Moon, made by H.M Phillips. It is indeed very unique. A quick internet search only yielded the kijiji ad and a few other online seller ads for this particular guitar.

Based on the pictures, this seems to be an extremely well made guitar. It sports a nice spruce top, koa back and sides, and a mahogany neck. The offset soundhole and odd body shape take a bit to get used to but I really like it. It should also be noted that it has 26 frets. What notes lie beyond the 15th fret are usually a mystery to me, but for the more adventurous player this could be a big plus. It also comes with a custom built form fitting case, very classy.

I'd really like to see what other guitars this luthier has built. I'll have to do more online sleuthing later.

Selling for $2200 Canadian

R.W. Haller

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Strangely compelling Quest Atak 1 from the 1980s

April 25, 2015, 2:19 pm
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I have to start this post with a disclaimer. 

I do not really like the "metal" guitars of the 1980s. Even during the 80s when I did indeed have teenage predilections towards metal, I did not like the guitars. 

So, why would I post an obvious 1980s metal guitar? Why would I post a guitar with a spider web on the pick guard?

I like it. 
I like it, like, a lot. 

There are indeed things that I would change on this Quest Atak 1. It would not have a spider web, it would be a hardtail bridge, and I'd not have used red for the any of the colouring or, especially, the fret markers.

But the overall shape and design of this guitar is quite desirable to me.

I refuse to hide my shame.

Anyone with me on this?

R.W. Haller



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Fantastic 1980 Beneteau Grand Auditorium

April 25, 2015, 9:33 pm
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Marc Beneteau is a famed Canadian luthier. He came up in a time when we were producing such guitar builders as Jean Larrivee, Linda Manzer, Grit Laskin, and Sergie DeJonge, to name a few.

I've had the pleasure of playing 3 different Beneteaus over the years and they were all fantastic. The pictures of the 1989 Beneteau Grand Auditorium do not do it justice as it is likely to be a stunner in real life. Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides.

I think I'm in love.

It's also looks to have some wear on it as well, and that makes me so happy. There is something to be said for mint condition instruments I guess, but it usually makes me sad to think that a quality guitar is getting treated more like a painting than the awesome instrument it is.
That is not the case here.

Currently listed at what I would call a very reasonable $2400.

R.W. Haller

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Status custom one-off doubleneck 5-string bass and 6-string guitar

April 27, 2015, 4:51 am
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This particular guitar/bass satisfies both my current obsessions at the moment, namely (1) doublenecked guitar bass combos, and (2) headless guitars and basses. I was pretty sure I'd never seen a doubleneck from Status before, but reading the seller's description on this eBay auction it seems that this beast has been created by customising a Status Series 2000 bass with a graphite through neck and basically adding the whole guitar section. The work was carried out by AC Guitars, who also hand-carved the bolt-on guitar neck from maple and ebony.

The seller had this made for a Genesis tribute band (we'd best gloss over that quickly before I start one of my anti-tribute band rants) but which work obligations meant that he wasn't able to participate in. That's a very specialised instrument and a lot of financial outlay for a project that didn't come to fruition.

Yet again I have to get on my usual hobby horse and say that the necks are the wrong way around. OK, call it "opinion" if you will, but I truly believe that it makes much more sense to have the bass neck BELOW the guitar neck. It's simply a better layout, giving improved access to the strings on each neck ...unless you like a bass slung really high up on your chest. (I don't.) The balance of the instrument should also be improved, although maybe that isn't such an issue when the necks are headless.

Also, think about it, if you wanted a doubleneck guitar/mandolin combo, you wouldn't put the smaller mandolin neck beneath the guitar neck, would you? Illogical.

Despite all that, it's a really interesting piece and showcases some excellent custom work from AC Guitars. Currently listed on eBay UK with a starting price of £725.

G L Wilson

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Banjocaster. Custom made Telecaster conversion

April 27, 2015, 9:39 pm
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I recently purchased a 1970s era made in Japan banjo and I was doing some internet searching to figure out if it was sold under a specific brand as it has no name ( my best guess so far is that its an Iida.....but will keep looking ).

In my searching I came across this great little custom project.
This Banjocaster looks like it was built from a fairly entry level Telecaster, or from parts of that quality level.

The idea is great even if some of the work is not of the highest fit and finish. Plus I'd love to hear Foggy Mountain Breakdown through that humbucker.

R.W. Haller


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Neck-Through Vintage Yamaha SC1200

April 29, 2015, 5:33 am
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I love what Yamaha was doing in the 1970s. I doubt there is a guitar ( or motorcycle for that matter) that they built that decade that I wouldn't be happy to have.

This SC1200 is a more conventional offering but still a great looking neck through guitar. I, apparently,  love the hippy sandwich. I also love that they didn't top off the headstock with a veneer so you can see the "sammich" tip to tail.

Currently listed for $800 Canadian

R.W. Haller


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Vantage Avenger AV-75. Awesomely Green Korean Guitar

April 30, 2015, 6:18 am
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It's easy to draw lines in the sand. I do it all the time. Sure, I'm often wrong, but I do it anyways.

Here is a fine example of that.

I've long thought that the only Vantage guitars worth any thought or ounce of precious time were those built in Japan. No exceptions.

This Vantage Avenger AV-75 has proven me wrong.

I cannot speak to the sound or playability of these guitars as I've never played one, but I do love the look of this guitar. With the understated controls on a HSS design, and the slight similarity to a Tiesco Tulip, it shouldn't be to hard to defend my love. Yet for some reason I feel the need to. Why is that?

Also, what a great shade of green.

R.W. Haller





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Vintage Granada Hollow-Body Beauty from 1972 with Granada Amp

April 30, 2015, 8:10 pm
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What a great example of Japanese craftsmanship, from a name you maybe have never heard of, Granada.

I have memories of Granada from my very first band where the other guitar player had an amp that looked a lot like the one listed here. It's possibly even the same model, but it's hard to tell for sure with one picture.

I don't remember if it sounded very good, but it was loud enough and that's all that mattered at the time.

It's great to see that this Granada Hollow-Body is in as great a shape as it is since it's the same age as I am.

It gives me hope.

Currently listed with Amp and what is possibly and original case for $1000 Canadian.

R.W. Haller


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The Quest Atak. My internal struggle continues.

May 2, 2015, 6:56 am
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Remember a few days ago when I gushed, against all better judgement, about this other Quest Atak? 

Well, the internet gods heard my blasphemy and sent forth a dragon to defeat my love.

Humbuckers? Yay! Maple fretboard? Also Yay!

But that paint job, oh dear. 

I'm sure it's quality work and that the artist is very talented in his/her own right, but can we please get away from the heavy imagery on guitars. If you really "rock" you need not dragons, skulls, and crosses to prove it. Let your playing be the evil/heavy factor in the rock equation.

But, all is not lost..........




This Quest Atak 1 has redeemed my faith in my original convictions.

Thank you, black body and hardware. Thank you.

R.W. Haller


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Nechville Meteor 5 String Electric Banjo with Fleximount Neck design.

May 3, 2015, 12:12 pm
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I must have missed Bertram's post about the Nechville Meteor Electric Banjo from a few years ago because until today I didn't know that this incredible beast existed.

This Nechville Meteor is apparently the only electric banjo that they have made with the Fleximount neck design. It allows you to easily swap out necks.

The listing does not say, but since i see 2 volume pots I can assume that there is some kind of acoustic pickup under the bridge which with the EMG81 would make for a nice hybrid instrument. ( please note that the pictures with the single coil are from Nechville to further illustrate the design of the Fleximount )

I'd love to see how closely the smaller head sounds compared to typically larger banjo heads. I suspect with the right tension it would be pretty close.

R.W. Haller


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Cort Effector Guitar likely from the 1980s with onboard effects

May 4, 2015, 8:51 am
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I've never seen the Cort Effector guitar. This Effector looks like a nice Explorer in its own right. Given the look of the electronics I'd assume that this guitar is from circa early 1980s. That would likely mean that it was built in Japan, and probably a pretty good player.  I'm sure the quality of the on-board effects is pretty low, but they are push button on and off, and that is tres-cool.

Also the Speed knob would really improve my playing, unless of course that is only for the speed of the effects.

Currently listed at $180 Canadian.

The seller links to this Reverb sale as a comparison, so I grabbed a couple of pictures form there as well.






R.W. Haller

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Handmade Custom Esquire. When cutting corners isn't so bad.

May 5, 2015, 5:08 am
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I don't want to like this Custom Esquire. The crack in the wood on the upper bout has been cleverly fixed with walnut inlay and the squared off sides show that the source wood was clearly a bit too small for the template. These are both things that would bother me on any other guitar, but for some reason it's ok here.

I guess the simplicity sells it for me, though at $1000 I'm not quite that sold.

R.W. Haller



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What guitar is this? Vintage Electric Guitar

May 7, 2015, 5:21 am
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The seller of this guitar found it in the basement and said that it was his/her father's guitar when he was a kid.
It's hard to tell what the guitar is. I'm assuming 1960s Japanese but I cannot recall a guitar with a headstock nearly as big as the body.
I'm at a loss for figuring this one out.

Anyone?

R.W. Haller


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Beetle Quantar vintage MIDI guitar synth Yamaha G10 lawsuit like Roland Synthaxe

May 7, 2015, 11:00 pm
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The seller of this MIDI guitar says...
"An utterly unique opportunity, possibly the rarest instrument on Ebay this week."

A little research does indicate that it was a very short lived product and may not have even been officially launched. There are very few references to it in Google and only one video on youtube showing one in action. It apparently fell foul of the muscle of the mighty Yamaha Corporation, who had been developing a similar technology.

Here's more from the seller...
"Here is something that should probably be in a museum under lock and key, a prototype Beetle Quantar guitar synth. There is some info about these online, and even a 4-5 minute clip of a guy playing one on Youtube. The basics is that this synth used ultrasonic technology to create sounds, but sadly for Beetle the mighty Yamaha Corp. were working on the same technology and a court case ensued...... Beetle lost out and faded away, and this lawsuit package then came to me directly from Yamaha around 25 years ago.

There is an owner`s manual, and a covering letter from a leading Beetle employee which explains that this is a prototype and not the finished article. The neck is shimmed up so the strings touch it (2 photos) and the sensor / pickup. I gather the strings don`t need "tuning" like a normal guitar. There are a few dinks and marks, plus sticky tape etc in places, but this is a unique prototype.
There is no fret wear, it has a set of Grover tuners, the optional pedal box, spare strings, the correct power supply, and is in a top quality hard case which holds it snug (not a plastic "kind of fits a Strat or Tele" cheap item)
As can be seen in 2 photos, when plugged in (or fitted with batteries) the unit turns on, lights up, and all the switches and knobs work to change functions, velocity, calibration etc. Being an old fashioned guitarist I cannot get sound from it when plugged into my cheap keyboard, but flicking through the book it looks like it needs somebody better than me to set it up and work it. If you live nearby and wish to come and have a play with it, please do."

I am the owner of a Roland G707/GR-700 and a couple Roland GK guitar synths so this has got me interested. I'll have to keep an eye on it and see if I can't snag it. Then it'll just be down to getting it to work with my system. Hmmm.

David (temporarily) in chilly Dublin



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Hammertone OC-12 - Octave 12 string Electric Guitar

May 9, 2015, 9:13 am
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We've looked at 12 Sting Octave Electric guitars ( and the handsome people that play them ) in this post from a few years ago, but this is the first time that we've featured the Hammertone OC-12.

I've had the pleasure to play a Hammertone and was surprised that it was quite playable and comfortable for my big hands. I was expecting more of a mandolin feel, but it actually was fairly spacious.

I don't exactly love the finish on this Hammertone OC-12 but I'd be more likely to use in a studio scenario rather than live anyways.

Anyone out there have one of these little beauties?

R.W. Haller


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Gretsch Superaxe from 1978 with on-board effects

May 11, 2015, 6:14 am
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I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Gretsch had made a guitar with built in effects. They are a pretty unique company in that they often try new ideas and designs yet can still maintain a reputation built on their classic hollow body guitars.

This Gretsch Superaxe from 1978 comes in a very familiar orange and includes onboard phaseshifter, compressor, and sustain. It appears to be in stellar condition and should please any Gretsch fan.

Listed at $2995 Canadian

R.W. Haller






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