FRESH FISH #3
Model 17 Special
Serial No. 263
SOLD

For the third entry in the Fresh Fish series, I've brought together the sound of a traditional archtop with a modern, minimalist appearance.

The guitar is constructed with an Adirondack (or "red") spruce top. This species, once favored by guitarmakers for producing a loud punchy tone, is today expensive and difficult to obtain. Having experimented with it for several years now, I've found that it does indeed live up to its reputation. This guitar is very loud, quite bright, and cuts like a knife. At the same time, it has more warmth and sustain than the typical "rhythm cannons" of the swing era. In short, it is an instrument that would be at home in a number of musical settings, particularly one in which loudness was desired.

The big sound of the guitar is in contrast to its understated appearance. The body is bound in Bolivian rosewood, and the neck and peghead are unbound. The instrument has a lush "violin" colored finish over beautiful curly maple back, sides and neck. The tuners are black mini-Schallers.