Two Vintage Acoustics in Hermosa Beach for $500 (or less)

I am reposting this ad because the seller is offering two rather unusual instruments - a Herbert Schaffner classical (circa 1970) and a Rivera Acoustic. I am not familiar with either of these guitar makers. There is very limited info on the Schaffner - it looks like the seller lifted his description off an earlier listing this month on eBay (though it may in fact be the same guitar). There are more photos on that listing so here is a link:

Herbert Schaffner Classical Guitar on ebay

And the Rivera looks like a nice Spruce and Rosewood copy (or version) of a Martin OM style guitar. It may be a Japanese built guitar and it may be a laminate back and sides but tehre is no way to tell from the listing (except for the price).

They both appear to be very nice instruments.

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Selling my Guitar Collection 2 acoustics Classical Steel String - $200 (Hermosa Beach)

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Date: 2012-02-24, 5:46PM PST
Reply to: rctxm-2855333652@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
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2 great guitars for sale.....Selling them for very cheep !

1st is a very Rare...one of a kind..Beautiful Handcrafted circa 1970 Herbert Schaffner Classical Guitar. Label reads: Musikstadt (Music State) Meister (Master Craftsman) Herbert Schaffner Datum: The following information is quoted from the markneukirchen museum, Herbert Schaffner lived from 1935 to 1995 in Markneukirchen, Germany. He was one of the Excellent Master Craftsman in VEB MUSIMA (Factory of Guitar and Violin Making) who made guitars by handcraft in this factory. I think he worked in his own workshop, but was not allowed to sell instruments himself. C.F. Martin was also born in Markneukirchen. This Guitar has some very interesting features s one of them being a solid one piece Mahogany back. The spruce top is very straight grained with lots of medullary rays. The Finish has a lot of checking however I cannot find a crack anywhere on the guitar very nice overall patina. The Rosette is so beautifully hand inlaid along with the headstock and on the back of the neck is a combination of maple and mahogany. Worth 2X what im asking !! selling for $300

the 2nd is a very fine Vintage 1960's circa rivera acoustic in great condition ! selling for $250.

both for $500 cash.....amazing deal...

Sean K. Preston rocks out on a Harmony H1215

I discovered this performer while I was on the Harmony Database and he is pretty darn terrific. His name is Sean K. Preston and he plays a style of rockabilly that reminds me alot of post-punk bands like THE GUN CLUB. If you listen to the studio version of this song "Money" you'll see that he even has a very similar voice to the great Jeffrey Lee Pierce.

I love guys like this - they are the heart and soul of rock n roll. - JC

Kay vanguard 3 pickup guitar in Scranton PA for $315

Here is a nice well-informed seller offering a late 1960's kay vanguard for $315. I haven't played this particular model and year but there are some videos on youtube. Check it out:

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Kay USA Guitar electric solid body Vanguard vintage 1960s 3 pups full - $315 (Scranton)

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Date: 2012-02-20, 1:48PM EST
Reply to: pv3rx-2851011973@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
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Kay Vanguard vintage 1960s 3 pick-up made in USA electric solid body guitar.3 DeArmond vintage surface mount single coils.Neck pup has the gold foil in near perfect shape.The mid & bridge pups have had the gold foil removed w/a couple specks of gold residue on each.Solid mahogany body,neck & headstock w/well preserved K circle logo plate & KAY plate.6 on a strip NN Kluson open gear tuners.Gorgeous cherry burst finish front,back & neck.This one has 60s muchu mojo.As soon as you touch,you feel the quality.Top of the line USA 1960s cool.6 knobs.3 vol & 3 tone. 2 position duck/penguin/toocan? bill select switch(turns on bridge pup only or all).Torch headstock.Fully functional truss rod w/well preserved cover.MOP Fan/guitar pic inlays.White bound 3 bolt neck.Verticle adjustable fixed wooden bridge w/trem style tail.Unique tailpiece is well preserved but has some plate surface oxidation.Missing the bar & cover.19 frets are nicely preserved.25.5" full scale neck.39" total length.A featherweight at 5+lbs.Vintage style "V" neck is 1 5/8" at top nut.Very clean operation.Super playability & low action.Nicely preserved w/some lite nicks,dings & scratches,mostly on the body edges.7 on 10 scale cosmetically.$315.
Will trade for other guitars,amps or basses of similiar value.

Please mention by name what you are trying to contact me about(Kay guitar,Peavey amp etc).Generic questions ie:(Hello do you still have it if so where and when can it be picked up?)are considered spam.This might be a real buyer but I won't respond.Tired of Wilford Brimly hawking diabetes remedies.

Controversy Ended - Elvis was a good guitar player.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard guitarists refer to Elvis as a "non-player" and "his guitar was just a prop." This annoys the hell out of me since he basically ignited the guitar based Rock n' Roll revolution along with Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.

This 100% live TV performance on CBS on January 28, 1956 should squelch the naysayers. Check out the perfect rhythm chops exhibited by a young Elvis on this leather wrapped Martin D-28 (just months before he would receive his first signature Gibson J-200N).

Alamo Fiesta on eBay - just because I wanted to list it here.

I don't think any serious guitarist has ever played an Alamo guitar on stage - but I I could be wrong. But I couldn't resist highlighting this current eBay sale because the Alamo Fiesta guitar is such a rare find these days.

I can't think of any other guitar that is a copy of so many different models at the same time. The body on this has a mind all its own but the pickups are clearly inspired by the Kay Speedbumps and the tailpiece is so close to a Danelectro you could make a case for patent infringement (and they probably did). Flip it over and the 3 bolt neck is a perfect mimic of a Harmony. And the headstock seems to be be taking the lead from one of the Japanese imports of the 1960's like Teisco.

I can't imagine what it sounds or plays like - but she's certainly something else.

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Here is a link to the ebay auction:

Link to ALAMO FIESTA GUITAR ON eBAY

UPDATE: I found this video on Youtube of a guitar collector playing one of these Alamo Fiestas. Sounds surprisingly good. Almost like a Gretsch with the slapback and reverb he adds to the amp sound. Much beefier pickup tone than I would expect. Check it out:

Stella by Harmony H940 acoustic selling on eBay for $110 + $30 shipping

This guitar expires in less than two hours but if you are looking for a Grand Ccncert sized all Birch USA made acoustic this is not a bad deal.

Based on the pics it looks like the "adjustable bridge" is missing the two adjustment screws so you may want to replace that or just carve your own bone or tusq saddle for the guitar.

here is the link to eBay:

LINK TO Harmony H940 on eBay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-HARMONY-STELLA-GUITAR-USA-MADE-/390389814236?pt=Guitar&hash=item5ae50bd3dc

Note: The Pic I posted above is NOT the guitar for sale - it is a file photo of an H940. ebay no longer allows me to clip and repost photos. Also - This is not my item and I am not recommending the seller - just noting the sale. - JC

Annie Clark aka St. Vincent is an Avante Garde Vintage Guitar Goddess

Not since Adrian Belew strapped on his heavily modified Fender Mustang and made it shriek like an elephant has an alternative-art-rocker coaxed such a range of tones from a vintage hunk of wood and wire. I am talking, of course, about about Annie Clark who plays under the name St. Vincent. Her musical style is sort of Kate Bush meets Bill Nelson meets Sonic Youth. And she looks pretty darn sexy doing it.

Annie plays some great old guitars including Harmony/Silvertone H-15/H17's\, a Gibson SG Deluxe, a Vintage Kay archtop electric and a sweet-looking tiger-maple Fender Jaguar. Of course, she uses a bevy of effects pedals. Take a look and a listen.

Univox U255R Tube combo amp in Rutland VT for $200

This seller is offering a rare and cool tube amp form the early 70's - the Univox U255R. Univox amps are interesting and usually sound pretty darn good, just ask Jeff beck who used them onstage for several years. The seller is correct in saying this "40 watt" amp "sounds more like 20." Univox was known for over-rating the output of their tube amps (they had a dual 6L6 amp that was advertised as being 100 watts?).

The best thing about this amp is that is looks like it is in nice shape. 6973 power tubes used to be quite expensive but you can now buy a matched pair of Electro-Harmonix 6973 tubes for about $30. That's about the same price as a decent 6L6GT.

Univox amps sometimes came equipped with less than stellar speakers but this one has a pair of Jensen Special Designs - probably about similar to a Jensen C12R.

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Univox U255R tube guitar amp - $200 (Rutland)

Date: 2012-02-13, 7:14AM EST
Reply to: mx4xp-2822486385@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Early 70's Univox U255R guitar amplifier in excellent working order. Rated @ 40 watts (sounds more like 20) into two original 12" Special Design Jensen speakers. Two 6973 power tubes, two 12AX7s, and one AT7. Spring reverb and tremelo both work and are foot switchable. Very good cosmetic condition.

Location: Rutland

Fender Mustang '65 RI in Athens GA for $450

A seller in Athens, GA is offering a '65 RI Mustang for a good price. I would expect this is a CIJ model (Crafted in Japan) but it could be an older MIJ as well. I don't think there is much difference between MIJ and CIJ (though some may disagree).

Some people don't realize that there are two distinct versions of this guitar - a '65 RI and a '69 RI. The '65 RI is a "slab" type body with no contour on the rear - the '69 RI (which I own and prefer) has the contour cutaway on the rear similar to a Strat. It is a bit heavier than the '65 as well. The '65 RI closely resembles the coveted (and highly collectible) original 1965 model and like the original is only available in the three "student" colors i.e. White, Red and Blue. Fender did not offer "Custom paint" on Mustangs, Duo-Sonics or MusicMasters so anybody who tries to tell you that their original USA Mustang is a "Factory Custom Color" is full of you-know-what.

Anyway there is no photo on this listing so I don't know what i am going on about - I guess i just felt like talking about Mustangs. They really are great guitars - I will regret to my dying day that I ever sold my original 1969 Competition Mustang in Lake Placid Blue with the matching headstock. It has proven to be irreplaceable. If you ever see one out there with a heavily gouged rear and replacement locking tuners (it was the punk rock 80's and I treated that guitar like a bastard step-child) please let me know. I want it back!

And finally, no discussion of Made in Japan Fender Mustangs would be complete without mentioning CHAR, the Japanese guitarist who caused the Mustang craze in Japan back in the late 1970's (several years before Curt Cobain would cause the same frenzy for Mustangs here in the USA). CHAR played both Blue and White Mustangs on stage and he outfitted them with humbuckers just like Cobain did. However his playing style is much more "Weather Report" than grunge. Check him out playing his signature song "Smoky" in this youtube clip from back in the day. And check out his keyboard player who is the spitting image of a young Jerry Seinfeld. LOL. - JC



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Fender Mustang - $450 (Athens)

Date: 2012-02-08, 3:47PM EST
Reply to: xjs5c-2841486991@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Fender Mustang, '65 Reissue, Olympic White w/ Red Tortoise shell pickguard. Hard case included.

Good condition. $450

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Fender USA Jazz Bass in Los Angeles for $650

This seller is offering a 2000 Fender Jazz bass in Candy apple red for only $650. That is a nice price for one of the classic desirable basses.

I personally love the Fender Jazz - I think it is prettier than the P-Bass and it is certainly easier to hold and play if you don't have hands the size of George Clinton.

I am pretty sure this would be an American Standard Jazz Bass not the Highway 1 because I seriously doubt they offered a Highway 1 version in Candy Apple red.

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FENDER JAZZ BASS - USA ! - $650 (Los Angeles)

Date: 2012-02-14, 1:13PM PST
Reply to: see below [Errors when replying to ads?]

FENDER JAZZ BASS. 2000. Candy apple red burst . Everything works . Priced to sell
$650 obo. Call 323-***-****

1958 Danelectro Silvertone U-1 in Memphis TN for $425

This seller is offering a nice looking Dano U-1 all original Silvertone branded from 1958. Love that baby blue color and the nice looking coke bottle headstock.

Check it out:

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1958 Danelectro U-1 with Original Tweed Case - $425 (Shelby County)

Date: 2012-02-07, 1:00PM CST
Reply to: tsvsp-2839478865@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

1958 Danelectro (Silvertone Brand) U-1 with Original Tweed Case. One knob missing.
Possible trades for 50's or 60's vintage guitar or bass.
Must include phone number for quick reply.
ONLY EMAILS WITH PHONE NUMBERS WILL BE ANSWERED
No Shipping!! Selling only in the Memphis area!!

Teisco Checkmate 18 tube amp in Springfield Il for $175

I've never played through one of these old Teisco Checkmate tube amps but I'd imagine if you are a Teisco complete-ist you would have some interest in one of these. This one looks like Teisco's version of a Vibrolux.

Japanese guitar amps tend to have unique tube lineups - definitely not the same as your average Fender or Marshall. Expect something like 7189 power tubes. I believe that the Teisco 18 is actually a 30 watt amp (according to Larry John McNally the resident expert on these things). I would imagine this would not be super loud though, Japanese amps rarely are, mostly due to smaller output transformers.

These are much harder to find than their American counterparts. They often got trashed. That said, this one is in nice looking shape - at least in the photo.

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Vintage "Checkmate 18" Guitar Amp Tube Type Amp - $175 (Taylorville, IL)

Date: 2012-01-30, 3:26PM CST

Reply to: zepc4-2826241424@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

For sale is this Vintage "Checkmate 18" all tube guitar amp. Made by Teisco, Japan. This is a great little 18 watt tube amp. It screams! Has two speakers. Asking $175 firm, cash.

If you would like to check this out, then call me, Bob @ 217-825-9830. Due to all the spam these days, I will not respond to any e-mails. Just call. Thanks.

Standel 100 watt 2x15 bass amp in Coalinga CA for $200

This seller is offering what he told me is a Standel S15g for $200. This is not one of the more famous Standel models so it probably comes from the 1970's era and the Santa Ana CA factory owned by CMI (aka Gibson).

Standel is an old and prestigious brand of amps associated with Bob Crooks who built one of the first guitar amp shops here in SoCal as a result of knowing Paul Bigsby. He built a Standel Amp for Merle Travis as early as 1954 - around the same time that Bigsby made Merle one of the first solid body electric guitars.

I like to highlight amps like this because they are rare and they shed some light on the history of electric guitar development here in California. This model is Solid State and probably about 100 watts. The metal faceplate looks pretty rusty but if it is like most Standel products it was built to last for another 50 years.

I think Coalinga is about an hour south of Fresno CA.

Note: There was no photo on the original CL listing but i called the seller and he texted me this photo of the amp. - JC

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Vintage Standel Guitar amp - $200 (Coalinga)

Date: 2012-01-29, 9:09AM PST
Reply to: zhz8r-2824074753@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

I have agreat amp...form late 60s or early 70s....Standel amp with two 15" speakers...all original except new power cord. Tall stand up amp...great for s showpiece...has real vintage tone...also other gear availabe..amps, guitars, effects, sound gear...alot more

Call me today will not be online....760-***-*****

Location: Coalinga

Beautiful 1960's Hofner Nylon String acoustic in Fresno CA for $195

This is certainly a beautiful guitar. I used to ignore nylon string acoustics but I recently picked up a 30 year old Brazillian DiGiorgio at a yard sale and I now love playing it (and yes it has real Brazillian rosewood back and sides).

The wood on this guitar appears to be really well-selected. That soundboard could be European Spruce but it may also be Pine since quite a few European nylon string guitars can be found with pine tops. If so it is an exceptional piece of pine.

I don't know what is going on with those marks on the fretboard. you'd have to look more closely.

Hofner has been known to make some very nice guitars over the years.

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1960s HOFNER Guitar - $195 (Fresno)

Date: 2012-02-06, 5:08PM PST
Reply to: vwyys-2838362353@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Beautiful vintage Hofner guitar made in Germany in the late-1950s or early 1960s. Highly figured wood with neat butterscotch-colored binding.

Straight neck, plays well. Original faux-leather case is included. $195 firm. Call ***-**** (home # -- no texts!)

Kay Acoustic in Portland for $50

Here is a seller offering a vintage Kay acoustic for $50. This guitar looks like it is at least 50 years old. These old Kays are great to have lying around to bang out some gritty swamp blues when your girlfriend walks out on you or you lose your job.

When I buy a guitar like this I never do much to it except maybe change the strings. I don't shave the bridge or polish the frets or even replace the nut (unless it trashed). If you don't try to make them play like a Martin or Gibson you'll enjoy them for what they are - just wrassle wit' em until they squawk like a drunk hussy.

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Vintage Kay accoustic - $50 (39th and Holgate)

Date: 2012-02-04, 10:35AM PST
Reply to: wdpfk-2834586288@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Great parlor or camping guitar with hardshell case. Holds a tune, good action. Lots of personality. Price is $50 firm. Mike: 541-***-****. Thanks.

Harptone acoustic guitar in Detroit area for $650

Harptones are beautiful instruments. They are also quite rare but they are one of those strange anomalies in the guitar world where since there are so few out there nobody really collects them so there is not really a "market value" for them.

I posted this guitar because you won't find many photos or info about Harptones. They were an old brand from the 1920's or so from the East Coast but they became better known in the 1960's and 1970's when Sam Koontz began making guitar for them in his Brooklyn guitar workshop. Sam was a brilliant luthier and came up with some unique techniques such as the "violin arched back" that required no bracing - as displayed on this model (which appears to be either a Harptone Eagle or Lark). Sam also made guitars for Standel for a time and I believe he also made a semi-hollow electric guitar model for Mosrite.

Harptones are known for their deep resonant woody tones and quality construction. you can always identify a Harptone (or any Sam Koontz guitar) by its uniquely shaped headstock.

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Vintage Harptone acoustic dreadnought guitar - $650 (troy)

Date: 2012-02-05, 6:35AM EST
Reply to: 6ytyw-2828882911@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Very nice original Harptone acoustic.Beautiful patina. Missing pick guard. I am not a guitar expert but research on the internet tells me this is a rare guitar. I priced it way lower than the only one I could find for sale. Mark 248-***-****

Location: Troy MI