Folkway Music -- Acoustic Guitar SpecialistsProfessional Instrument Repair, Fine Fretted Instruments, Custom Flat-Top Acoustics
 
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Last updated: May 8, 2008   Questions? Please email info@folkwaymusic.com.


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1975 Fender Music Master
Serial # 631025. With its short 24" scale, single pickup, slab body, and plastic-button tuners, the Music Master was a budget Fender from the get go; and, today the model offers a lot of vintage-appeal at a budget price. This one is completely original and nicely set up. The finish is well worn, but the guitar looks great anyhow. The back looks like it was water-damaged; it has mottled color and has assumed the texture of whatever the guitar was laying against as a result. The finish on back of the neck and headstock is water-damaged as well. The guitar's front side isn't water-damaged, but does have pronounced finish crazing. There are a few buzzes up past the 17th fret, but otherwise the instrument plays well. Standard width 1-5/8" nut, lightweight (6.25 lbs), pickup DC resistance of 5.86k.
With original hard shell case
On consignment
$799 (US $829)
$849 (US $879) with credit card

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1965 Gibson Melody Maker
Serial #274847. Weighing in at less than 5-1/2 pounds, this guitar is a dream to play. It's got a fast 60's profiled neck - not a "pencil neck" but a modern-feeling roundish shallow C with a 1-11/16' nut width. Once-piece mahogany slab body with a set-in neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, single Melody Maker single-coil pickup in the bridge position (7 kOhm), and original pots and wiring. Original finish is in excellent condition and not badly faded. Changed wrap-around tailpiece; replacement Kluson tuners with aged buttons are a nice upgrade from the horrible originals these guitars originally came with. No neck issues to report, and the guitar has just been very nicely set up in our shop. Great tone.
With newer deluxe hard shell case
On consignment
$1395 (US $1439)
$1439 (US $1479) with credit card

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2000 Gibson SG
A work-horse guitar, this SG has played a few gigs and is ready for a bunch more. It has various dings and scratches and shows some pick wear to the bridge pickup's top bobbin, but is well set up and plays nicely. Completely original, but for three look-alike replacement tuning machines. Strong Gibson humbuckers do the dirty work, and the guitar screams when you want it to.
With non-original gigbag.
$799 (US $799)

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1957 Gibson ES-140T
FON U938-31. The ES-140 was Gibson's first 3/4 sized electric upon its introduction in 1950. For the first six years of production the model featured a full-depth body, but by 1956, its depth was thinned to 1-3/4", and the model renamed the ES-140T. With its 22-3/4" scale length, 1-9/16" nut width, and small 12-3/4" wide cut-away body, the 140T was designed to be a kid's guitar; but today the model has found favor with those players looking for the tone that the combination of P-90 and short scale offers. This one is in excellent condition, very well set up, and completely original. There is really no playwear on it, and the finish looks fantastic. Its P-90 reads 7.6kOhms, and sounds big. Play it yourself, or take it home for your son or daughter - they'll surely be the coolest kid on the block!
With chipboard case
On Consignment
$1899 (US $1999)
$1959 (US $2059) with credit card

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1961-2 Gibson SG Special
Serial # 50302. We're calling this one a '61-'62 Special because the serial number dates to 1962, but all the components and design elements are 1961 specific; and it makes a big difference. The pot codes date to the 40th week of '61. The wrap around bridge is nickel-plated lightweight aluminum - without compensation ridges, and the neck joint transition is smoothly feathered - these are all features that differentiate the '61 models from those a year younger. Why this guitar has a 1962 serial number is a mystery, as it is clearly a 1961 model. The instrument is a one-owner guitar, and in completely original condition. All solder joints are intact, as are the original tuning machines, truss-rod cover, nut, frets, pickguard, P-90 pickups, knobs, and finish. There is a spot of wear by the output jack and a small chip in the headstock that was glued back on in 1962. The neck is in great shape - no cracks at the body or headstock, good angle, and original frets with not too much wear. The set up is excellent, and the guitar plays fast and smooth. The '61 neck carve was wide and thin (1-11/16" at the nut), and built for fast lead work. The P-90's are strong, and measure 8.1 kOhms (neck), and 7.8 kOhms (bridge). The cherry finish has strong color, and is in great condition throughout; a few dings as scratches here and there, but nothing excessive, save for the aforementioned wear by the jack. It's a dream to play, and sounds incredible. Weighing in at a svelte 5.9 pounds total, you'd be hard pressed to find a lighter and more resonant SG.
With non-original case (he threw out the chipboard case years ago!)
On consignment
$8999

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1974 Fender Telecaster LEFTY
Serial # 587764. Everyone knows how rare vintage Left Handed guitars are, so imagine our excitement when we first laid our eyes on this super-clean '74 lefty Tele! It's 100% original and untouched - minus the missing ashtray bridge cover and a new bone nut that we made (the original was cracked and too low). No modifications, original pickups, pots, switch, and solder joints. Original tuners, pickguard, bridge, saddles. And it weighs in at a light 7.3 pounds! Resonant ash body, nice original finish, perfect original frets, and well set-up in our shop.
With new Fender Custom Shop black/red HSC
$5495 (US $5659)

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1966 Fender Coronado I Custom Color
Serial # 178917. Fender introduced the Coronado in '66 to gain some market share in the thin-line hollowbody market that Gibson and Gretsch had had cornered. But their efforts failed and the Coronado line was discontinued in 1970. These instruments featured a fully hollow body, bolt-on neck, and De Armond pickups; and were the first guitars for which Fender out-sourced pickups. The model offered here is a first-year Coronado I, in a Metallic Orange (or very faded Candy Apple Red) Custom Color finish. It's in excellent and all-original condition and plays wonderfully thanks to an in-shop set up. It sounds as cool as it looks, too!
With hard shell case
$1495 (US $1590)

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1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass Lefty
Serial # S818568. Fender introduced the Musicmaster Bass in 1970 as an entry-level student model instrument directly below the Mustang in its lineup. The Musicmaster featured a short 30" scale length, single pickup, curved rosewood fingerboard, and a no-frills look. By the time this one was built the model was only offered in white or black, and by 1983 the Musicmaster line was abandoned. The instrument pictured here is in excellent condition and well set up. It has a few finish dings here and there, but is otherwise without issues and completely original. Best off, it's a factory lefty! Pictured here with matching amplifier (available separately)
With hard shell case
$1279 (US $1349)

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1952 Kay K-150
Introduced in 1952, the K-150 took direct aim at Gibson's ES-125. It was priced at $60, and featured a Thin-Twin pickup in the middle position, and volume and tone controls mounted on the top's upper bass bout. 16" arch-top fully hollow body with laminate maple back and sides and a laminate spruce top. The guitar is completely original, save for a new acoustic style 1/4" endpin jack we installed, and new buttons on it's patent-pend. Original Kluson tuners. The instrument was originally fitted with an inconveniently hard-wired 10 foot cable which passed through a hole in the guitar's bottom end. When the guitar wasn't being used plugged in, the player still had to deal with a long wire hanging out of the instrument! We'll supply the original with the guitar as a keepsake. On one hand it's an attractive and cool piece of electric guitar history - with bakelite knobs, and early basement paneling era esthetics. On the other, it's a great sounding vintage axe, with a meaty growl and tone-a-plenty. Bluesers will dig this guitar's character, and Jazzer's will dig its warmth. All of us will dig it's big fat neck, great playability, fine condition, and great looks.
With original chipboard case
On consignment
$999 (US $999) ON HOLD
$1030 (US $1030) with credit card

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2000 Tacoma AJF28CESB
Tacoma built its reputation on innovation, and their archtop AJF28 models feature many design elements that set them apart from most any other archtop. To begin, the spruce top and maple back are entirely CNC routed into shape. The graduation of the plates is computer designed and mathematically perfect; and carving it that way took a lot less costly time than hand-carving. The offset soundhole allows for a consistent recurve around the body's edge, too. Graphite tailpiece and pickguard keep the weight down, and a bolt-on neck makes angle adjustments quick and easy. Fitted with a high-z EMG floating pickup and pickguard-mounted volume and tone controls, the instrument's plugged in tone is exactly what you'd look for in a modern archtop guitar. This example is in excellent condition in just about every way. Its only flaw is that the headstock finish has delaminated a bit around the logo. The guitar is nicely set up and plays very well. Solid carved spruce top, solid carved maple back, and highly figured solid maple sides. 25.5" scale, 1-11/16" nut.
With original hard shell case
On Consignment
$1799 (US $1849)
$1849 (US $1909) with credit card

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1966 Regal H272
An incredibly rare find, and one surely to excite the Harmony aficionados amongst us, is this near-mint condition 1966 Harmony built, Regal branded H-272 Meteor. Harmony acquired the rights to the Regal brand in the mid 1950's, and built regal branded instruments that were otherwise almost identical to their Harmony brethren. The Regal H-272 is pretty much the same guitar as a Harmony H-70 Meteor, but with a three-ply engraved headstock overlay, two-ply pickguard, different Bakelite knobs and a differently shaped truss-rod cover. This particular instrument is stamped "SPECIAL" on the rear of the headstock, but I can't tell you why. Sunburst body and neck with multi-ply binding on the top and fingerboard, single-ply bound back. Two DeArmond moustache single-coils with typical 335 controls. Ebony fingerboard with pearloid squares and 24" scale length. The guitar is completely original, unmodified and plays very well. The pickups sound great, and the neck and fretwork are spot on. No strikes against this one, it's about as nice a Meteor as you're likely to encounter.
On Consignment
$1199 (US $1239) ON HOLD
$1239 (US $1279) with credit card

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1960's Teisco
Here's a mint condition (and I mean MINT) late 1960's Japanese Teisco solidbody. This one is totally awesome! We see lots of these guitars both in the shop and around town at garage sales, antique stores, and pawn shops - but we've never found one that's this clean. Usually they've been so badly treated over the years that they only resemble hacked up leftovers of guitars; they're never usable, and the fretwork is generally laughable. In fact, this might be the only no-name Teisco you'll ever see on the pages of this website. It's new like it was the day it sailed the Pacific, and completely useable. Frets are fine, electronics work, tremolo system is complete and operative... it's all there, folks. Get it while the getting's good!
$349 (US $349)

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1937 (circa) Vega Electric Archtop
Serial #56197. With the introduction of Rickenbacker's first pick-up equipped guitars in 1932 the guitarist's world was forever changed - the electric guitar had arrived. 1935 saw the premiering of Gibson's ES-150, Epiphone's Electar models, National's Electric Spanish, and the first versions of this instrument - the Vega Electrovox. We're guessing this instrument dates from about 1937, but as we've not found any reliable serial number lists for Vega's guitars we can't offer a specific date of manufacture. Figured maple laminate body, very curvy and 16" wide, single-ply white binding, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard, ebonized bridge. Single coil pickup with "Dual-Tone" multi-capacitor tone circuit with bass, normal, and treble settings; volume control, white plastic radio knobs and plates. Original Black Bakelite pickguard, original tuning machines. Professionally replaced jumbo frets and a very nice in-shop set up. This is a great Jazz, Blues, or Rockabilly machine - and it's stage ready, too. Very comfortable C neck profile is similar to a 50's Gibson, but with a slightly narrower nut width of 1-5/8" and a 24.75" scale length. Vintage-chic and super cool.
With original hard shell case
$1895 (US $1895)

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1966 Kalamazoo Bass
No serial #. The Kalamazoo brand was resurrected by CMI (Gibson) in 1965, and like those instruments branded Kalamazoo from the 1930's and early 40's, the 1960's 'Zoo's were budget brand Gibson-built instruments. Kalamazoo's revival lasted until Norlin's acquisition of everything Gibson in late 1969. The KB features an EB-style pickup in the neck position, a metal hand-rest (no pickup under it though), and an MDF body painted Flame Red (in this case). A good budget bass, and American made too.
With original soft shell case
$450 (US $465)
$465 (US $480) with credit card

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1966 Gretsch Double Anniversary
Serial # 81055. The Anniversary models were unveiled in 1958 in recognition of Gretsch's 75th anniversary. The company celebrated this benchmark for the next 17 years, finally retiring the model in 1975, just 8 years before their 100th birthday. Obviously a popular model, the full-hollow 16" archtop electric was an affordable model for those who wanted that Gretsch sound on a tighter budget. This Model 6117 Double Anniversary is in excellent condition - near mint, actually - with the exception of a changed set of 60's era Grover Imperials. Finish and binding are in excellent condition, as are the pickguard and pickup rings. Bone nut, rosewood fingerboard with thumbprint inlays and original frets, HiLo'Tron pickups, Space Control bridge, aluminum knobs, G-brand chrome-plated tailpiece. Original wire harness, pots dating to early 1966. Good neck angle, very little fretwear, and great playability thanks to a recent set up in our shop. There are pretty much no scratches on the guitar, and the original finish looks great.
With original hard shell case
$2195 (US $2259)
$2259 (US $2329) with credit card

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1958 Gretsch 6128 Duo-Jet LEFTY
Serial # 35203. With an estimated 40 to 50 left-handed instruments built up to the late 1970's, south-paw Gretschs are about as rare as - well - vintage lefty Gretschs! We're lucky to have found this one, locally no less, in the hands of a right-handed gentleman who has owned and played it upside down since 1971! Not only is it a lefty, but making this guitar all the more uncommon is its factory custom color paintjob. Duo-Jets come in black. Period. A few Cadillac green examples are known to exist and the 6129 Silver-jet was offered in various drum-skin sparkly colors - but orange, well they just don't seem to exist. Except for this one, that also happens to be left-handed. On top of it all, this particular Duo-Jet also has matching orange headstock paint and white-turned-cream logo. Very strange indeed, but completely 100% factory original. Obviously a custom-ordered one off instrument, this guitar has luckily not been modified over the years, and its pedigree checks out.
Original orange top finish and brown back and neck finish. Original tuners, bone nut (which has never been off), ebony fingerboard and original frets, lefty thumbprint inlays. Original Pat. Applied For Filter'Trons and original wire harness including switches and capacitors. All solder joints are original. Original bar bridge, and possibly original lefty Bigsby tailpiece (we're uncertain about the tailpiece as there are screw-holes from another tail-piece on the instrument. The most recent owner acquired the guitar with its current tailpiece in 1971, the only change he made to the part was in removing the black paint). Sadly, he removed and discarded the original lefty pickguard many years ago. Areas of the top's lacquer finish have been peeled away from the long-ago removal of a few stickers and black electrical tape (he admitted to decorating the guitar with the black stripes in a tiger-theme). The guitar plays well, with a good neck angle, decent original frets, and a fresh set up. Pickups read 4.12 (neck) and 4.20 (bridge), and pots and switches work well. Chances are that you've never played a vintage Duo-jet, and unfortunately we only have the one to offer!
With original hard shell case
$12500

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2006 Godin Flat Five
Sometimes you pick up a guitar that feels alive, almost as if every molecule in the instrument is working together to make that sweet sound. This describes the Godin Flat Five. Before you even plug in the Flat Five, the first chord tells you that you're in for something special. The body consists of two chambers on each side of a multi-channel center block. All of the body components are made from solid wood, and completed with a solid flame maple top. The shorter scale allows for a light touch and adds a little extra warmth to the sound. The Godin humbuckers offer exceptional dynamics and 5-way switching that taps every bit of their considerable potential. Godin locking tuners and deluxe gig-bag. Blues, Jazz and rock players will feel right at home with the Flat Five. This one is in like-new condition with Robert Godin's real live autograph on the back of the headstock.
$949 (US $999)

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Recently Sold


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1960-1 Gibson Les Paul / SG Special
Serial # 2246. In my mind, electric guitars don't come much better than a slab-bodied double-cut Les Paul or SG Special. Produced for only 3 years between '59 and '61, the model was named the Les Paul Special for most of '59, but by November of that year it was re-designated the SG Special - although with the exception of the headstock markings and the position of the neck pickup the guitar was unchanged. In early '61 the Special took on the new skinny SG body, but production of Les Paul bodied Specials trickled on throughout the year until supplies were used up. This instrument has an early 1961 four digit serial number, and pot codes dated the 27th week of 1960. Its neck is typical of the '60-'61 transition, having a fast carve and a standard width 1-11/16" nut. It has maintained a good neck angle, and its playability is flawless. There are no neck joint issues, and the original frets have good life left in them. The electronics are original and untouched, with P-90 DC values of 8.3K and 7.9K, and a vintage replica switch tip. The guitar sounds fantastic. The cherry finish has strong color, and there are no areas of extensive rash on the body and neck. There are the usual number of dings and some minor belt wear on the back; on the headstock there is a bit of lacquer-melt caused by an old sticker. The tuners are original, but there are nicely filled screw-holes from a set of Schallers; the original headstock bushings fit tightly in their original holes. Overall, this Les Paul Special scores highly - it's gorgeous to look at, weighs in at a feathery 6.75 pounds, and sounds spectacular. And it comes with its original hard shell case, too.
SOLD

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1957 Fender Stratocaster
This is one of those Mojo guitars... we didn't clean it up at all as we normally do - any Strat that has this kind of one-owner wear to it has got the vibe, mojo, charm, and sex appeal that we are all looking for - and we can't mess with that! 1957 Stratocasters are known for the strong V neck profile that pretty much everyone favors over earlier and later neck shapes, and the first use of ABS plastic parts. 1957 was also the last year of the gorgeous 2 tone sunburst nitro finish. The guitar plays great, and sounds breath takingly good. We've played it through the '57 Super in the photo and through our various house amps ('64 Deluxe Reverb,'65 Supro Thunderbolt, and '62 Harmony H-305) and were nearly brought to tears each time. This is a killer guitar, and there are no two ways about it.
Serial # 023428 (neckplate has second stamp on the inside surface of -25603). Body date of 12-57, neck date of 11-57, pot codes are 304723 (23rd week of '57). Original pickups, pots, capacitor, CRL switch, cloth wires, and output jack. Completely original set of plastic parts, except for a new pickguard. Original bridge, trem arm, bridge saddles, and trem hardware. Original frets, nut, and early '58 Patent number Kluson tuners. Original well-worn finish throughout, with some old and hard to detect black touch-up paint applied around the body edges. Original headstock decals; original hard shell case. Strong V maple neck with B nut width. Pickup out DC resistances are 6.3k, 6.2k, and 5.8k neck through bridge. 7.24 pounds total weight. The body, neck, and fingerboard are evenly worn, but there is a significant area of case-wear on the lower corner of the body. Until recently there was a case latch screw which protruded through the case, causing the wear that is shown in the photos, below. This problem was remedied, but the guitar's body was left with the scar from the years of abrasion in the area. Under the pickguard there are no routes or modifications to the body, with the exception of two 3/8" wide holes drilled adjacent to the main control cavity. We have been told that the original owner installed a toggle switch, and in doing so drilled through the original pickguard, and inadvertently, into the body... twice. The guitar has since been rewired correctly, with all its original components, on a repro white single ply guard. There are, as you would expect, some non-virgin solder joints.
The guitar is overall a nicely original and largely unmodified example of the most desirable Sunburst Stratocaster on the vintage market. It is a fabulous sounding guitar, with looks to kill, and has its original tweed side-pocket hard case. A solid investment, and one that you can not be too scared to actually use.
On Consignment
SOLD

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   Finish detail   Finish touch-up detail   Strat & 57 Super Amp

 


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