The Guild and Gibson Johnny Smith Models
The name “Johnny Smith” is synonymous with class, elegance, and style. Most guitar players are familiar, if not with the man or his music,...
Electra MPC
One of the more successful Japanese-made guitar brands of the 1970s was Electra, the brand name used for electric guitars sold by St. Louis...
Gretsch Rancher
“A spectacular model in real he-man outdoor Western finish with powerful appeal for Hill-billy and Cowboy bands.” This is how Gretsch first introduced the...
1942 Martin D-45
The Martin D-45, offered from 1933 through 1942, is well-known as the Holy Grail of acoustic guitars. While players and collectors debate whether it’s...
Hank’s Protos
There are guitars, there are great guitars, there are great historic guitars and there are great historic guitars bearing deep provenance. And then there...
EKO 995
The Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in February of 1964 is often referred to as the most important event in the history...
The Fender Princeton
1962 6G2 Fender Princeton
Preamp tubes: One 7025, one 12AX7
Output tubes: two 6V6GT in fixed bias
Rectifier: 5Y3
Controls: Volume, Tone, Speed, Intensity
Speaker: one 10” Oxford 10J4
Output:...
G&L SC/SB Series
Early-'80s G&L SC-3. Bill Ingalls, Jr.
Early-'80s G&L SB-1.
During the "guitar boom" of the 1960s, one method of getting a band noticed was to equip...
Masco MAP-15
1946 Masco MAP-15
Before Leo Fender's rise to prominence, which is to say, before anyone knew what the Platonic form of the electric guitar amplifier...
Hallmark Swept Wing Semi-Hollow
1967 Hallmark Swept Wing semi-hollow bass, serial #003127. Photo: Michael G. Stewart. Instrument and image courtesy of Bob Shade.
The murky history of guitar brands...