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VINTAGE CATCH #12
Custom Model 18
2004
Serial No. 392
$8000

This is a a very nice sounding 18" guitar. The top is European spruce, back and sides are European maple, it has a one-piece Eastern hard maple neck. The binding on the body is European maple, as is the peghead face. The neck has the appearance of being unbound, but is actually bound with black celluloid, which gives a very clean look and nicer feel than a true unbound fretboard. The guitar is in excellent condition, despite the fact that it is almost six years old.

The guitar is exceptionally responsive, with great projection and a strong, rich tone. Very even and balanced up and down, as well as across, the fretboard. The shorter scale makes it punchy and very easy to play. It responds well to finger-style playing or a more aggressive approach.

Features

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VINTAGE CATCH #11
Gold Standard Archtop
Oct 18, 2001
Serial No. 307
$Inquire

In 2001 I started working on a design that would attempt to re-think some of the basic design ideas associated with the archtop guitar. As my ideas took shape, I made a series of drawings and prototype parts to work out the details. When I felt confident in the direction I was heading, I began work on the first Gold Standard. This guitar is the result of those efforts, the first Andersen Gold Standard.

The basis of my idea involves a line of 14k gold wire that runs intermittenly from peghead to fretboard to pickguard and the tailpiece, passing in and out of the "frame" of those parts. This guitar is made of highest quality German maple and German spruce. Finished in a warm violin colored lacquer. The guitar is in very good condition, with a few finish blemishes that I've touched up, so it looks nearly new.

This photo doesn't show it, but the guitar currently has an Armstrong humbucker pickup installed.

Features:

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VINTAGE CATCH #10
Mahogany Concert Guitar
Jan 1, 2001
Serial No. 313
SOLD

 This is one of the few Mahogany body guitars I've made. It has a fairly dry sound associated with mahogany, and the warmth and overtones that an engelmann spruce top contribute. The guitar is in very good condition, with little fret wear and just a few minor finish scratches. An excellent example of how modest materials and understated design can result in an outstanding instrument!

Features:

 If you'd like to know more about this guitar please send me an email at Steve@andersenguitars.com, or call Andersen Stringed Instruments at (206) 782-8630.

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VINTAGE CATCH #9
16-inch Oval Hole Archtop
Dated: 10/18/01
Serial: #306
SOLD

This guitar is in very good condition, with very little fret wear and just a few minor scuffs on the lacquer finish. The engelmann spruce top gives it a nice balance, with very rich bottom end, solid mid-range and high end. This guitar responds well to a light touch, which makes it great for fingerstyle playing.

If you'd like to know more about this guitar please send me an email at Steve@andersenguitars.com, or call Andersen Stringed Instruments at (206) 782-8630. 

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VINTAGE CATCH #8
Brazilian rosewood D-Model
Serial #116
SOLD

This dreadnought was built in 1989, and is one of the last I built of this model. The top is a beautiful set of engelmann spruce of medium grain width. It has repaired cracks on each side of the fretboard, and an area in the lower bout shows some scratches. The back is colorful Brazilian rosewood in good condition except for a repaired crack in the bass side. The guitar is very playable and sounds great.

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VINTAGE CATCH #7
Custom 17-inch Archtop
Serial #368
SOLD

This is a very striking guitar built with first-rate materials. The top is wide grain red spruce, under a violin finish. Back and sides are German maple; the neck is eastern maple. Back, sides and neck are finished in gloss black lacquer. The tuners are satin gold Gotohs with ebony knobs. Body binding and heel cap are highly figured koa. The soundholes are borrowed from my Gold Standard. This is a very loud, punchy guitar.

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VINTAGE CATCH #6
Oval Hole 17 Guitar
Serial #328
SOLD

This 17" Oval Hole archtop was completed last year. The red spruce top produces a brighter sound with more punch than is usual for my Oval Hole model archtops. The combination results in a very loud guitar with lots of overtones and sustain. It's quite responsive when played fingerstyle, or it can be played hard without being overdriven. If ordered new, this guitar would be $7,700.

Andersen Concert Model Guitar

VINTAGE CATCH #5
Concert Model Guitar
Dated: March 18, 1984
Serial #68
SOLD

This guitar was built early in my career when I built primarily mandolins and flattop guitars. The design is loosely based on the Martin OM, and features a 25.4 inch scale, as did the OM. It shows a fair amount of playing wear, but the structural condition is quite good The lacquer has no checking, but has scratches on the back and top, the worst is between the pickguard and the bridge. The neck set is fine, and the replaced frets still have plenty of life left in them. There are no cracks or loose seems. It has a well balance voice, and would be suitable for many playing styles.

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VINTAGE CATCH #4
Metropolitan Model guitar
Dated: 1999
Serial #255
SOLD

This is a striking guitar both visually, and tonally. It is a standard Metropolitan with German wood upgrades and ebony (instead of the stock pearl) tuner buttons. This guitar has an un-tinted finish which shows off the subtle character of the tightly figured wood. It is fitted with an Armstrong floating pickup, a volume control mounted on the pickguard, and an end pin jack. It is in mint condition and comes with a Calton case. This instrument would cost $10,500 if you ordered it today.

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VINTAGE CATCH #3
Metropolitan Model guitar
Dated: 6/25/1993
Serial #159
SOLD

This is a very open sounding and responsive guitar both acoustically and through an amplifier. It is fitted with an Armstrong floating pickup, a volume control mounted on the pickguard, and an end pin jack. It has a gorgeous highly flamed two piece back with nice flame on the neck and sides. Except for one or two minor dings it is in mint condition and comes with its original hard shell case. This instrument would cost $8350 if you ordered it today.

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VINTAGE CATCH #2
F-5 Mandolin
Dated: 1982
Serial #52
SOLD

This instrument is typical of my work from the 1980s. Then, I was building many more mandolins than I do now. It has a sweet tone that is reminiscent of the one I made for Sam Bush. It is extraordinarily even in response, yet presents a strong chop. The tone extends from a rich bottom and midrange, to a solid high-end.

The top is of engelmann spruce. The back, sides, and neck are nicely figured tight grain maple. The finish is a light brown sunburst with a hint of red.

It is in excellent condition with only a handful of small dings on the face and headstock, a few belt buckle marks, and some finish wear on the neck. The frets on the flat fretboard show some wear, but it plays cleanly in all positions.

It is an instrument that has been well cared for and played a fair amount. It has, no doubt, spent the last few years unplayed and in it's case.

I discontinued production of F-style mandolins in 1994, but still enjoy building other styles. See the mandolin family page under "Models" for my current offerings.

VINTAGE CATCH #1
F-5 Mandolin
Dated Aug. 2, 1982
Serial #50
SOLD

The F-style mandolin has long been the prize of many a bluegrass musician's quest. This example is typical of my work from the 1980s when I was focused on the craft of building mandolins, then the core of my business. I'm happy to be able to offer this one now as I discontinued production of F-5 mandolins in 1994. While archtop guitars now make up most of my production, I continue to make a variety of A-style instruments from the mandolin family.

Andersen F5
Mandolin Back

The top is of engelmann spruce. The back, sides, and neck are nicely figured maple. It has a Pricetailpiece, and three different ebony bridges. They include: the one originally made for it, an alternate I made for it some years later with a bone saddle-top, and a recently fitted Lloyd Loar style bridge. The finish is a light sunburst, lush reddish brown in color, and very transparent. The neck has an arched fretboard with a 1-1/8" wide pearl-nut.

It's in excellent condition, with only a few small finish-scratches mostly on the face around the scroll. This is a quintessential bluegrass mandolin: very loud, rather bright, and possessing that elusive cutting quality sought by so many players. This instrument sold for $5500 and included the original hard-shell case as well as a Climate Case reflective case-cover.