Westone Genesis
1987 Westone XA6520TBU Genesis. Photo: Bill Ingalls Jr. Instrument courtesy of Rudy Abbott.
The relationship between Japanese instrument builders and domestic distributors was critical in...
Robin Ranger
1993 Robin Ranger, serial number 931353. Photo: Bill Ingalls, Jr. Instrument courtesy of Charles Farley.
The saga of Alamo Music Products is one of both...
1967 EKO Condor
1967 EKO Condor
The Summer of Love. Hippies, flower power, psychedelic drugs. Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and feelin' groovy. 1967 was a heady...
The Gibson EB-3
When it came to electric basses, Michigan-based Gibson spent the '50s playing follow the leader to California's Fender. So it's a touch ironic that...
Zemaitis Acoustic Bass
1972 Zemaitis fretless acoustic.
To say Tony Zemaitis made eye-catching instruments would mean uttering one of the great understatements in modern luthiery.
A cabinetmaker of Lithuanian...
James Ashborn
Circa 1850 James Ashborn guitar. All photos: M. E. Brune.
James Ashborn was born in England circa 1816 and came to New England in the...
Fender Mustang Bass
Ca. 1967 Fender Mustang Bass, serial number 219057. VG archive. Instrument courtesy of Rockahaulix.
Fender's short-scale Mustang Bass, introduced in 1966, was a transitional instrument...
Gibson Mark 53
1978 Gibson Mark 53. Photo: Michael Wright.
Part of the fallout from the guitar boom of the 1960s was an increased academic interest in guitars...
Mosrite Stereo 350
Remember that line from the old song, "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all..."? In some ways, it's a...
Antonio de Torres 1863
1863 Antonio de Torres
Antonio de Torres was the most important guitar maker of the 19th century, exerting an influence worldwide on the design and...