Fender Ultra FM Custom Shop, Robben Ford Model (1996, Crimson Red)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 20/12/2024
Posted in: Fender Esprit. Leave a comment

Here an odd Fender guitar model, a Fender Ultra FM Custom Shop Robben Ford model from 1996, one of the uncommon Fenders with a set neck instead of a bolt-on. This model is from the Fender Flame and Fender Elite series and unlike the flame and elite, the Robben model was made in the Custom Shop in the Fullerton Factory in the USA from 1994-2002. This chronology of these odd set-neck built Fender models comprises its initial production by Fender (Japan) initially in 1984 back to USA culminating in the Ultra FM series, like the Robben Ford which production lasted till 2004.

The original solid body Esprit models were made in the early 80’s by Fender Japan exclusively. The Fender Flame was based on the same design, but was offered in a slightly larger size and body shape (flame series has slightly offset cutaways), and also comprised a chambered body. The Flame was offered as the Standard, Elite, and Ultra model. It was made only in 1984. The Fender Robben Ford model was based on the Flame models, but used different pickups and a spruce top instead of maple, and mahogany body instead of alder. Fender Esprit models were typically built with an Alder Body, chambered or solid depending on your the information source. Fender Elite models were built with a maple top. 1984 till 1986, but with differences. Fender Flame built with Mahogany body, chambered, maple top. 1984. Fender Esprit Ultra (1st issue, 1984-1986 made with a Spruce top, chambered, Alder. Fender Robben Ford Model (1st issue, 1988-1993 comprised a chambered alder body, carved spruce top. Later in the 1990s, the production moves from Japan to the USA where meanwhile Robben Ford USA Custom Shop model aka Robben Ford Ultra FM were planned and made from1994-2002 with a Mahogany body, chambered, Spruce top, Duncan pickups. No more models were issued after 2002.

Gibson Midtown Custom (2011, Black)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 01/12/2024
Posted in: Gibson Midtown. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Here we a Gibson Midtown Custom, a smaller and flatter brother of the Gibson ES-335.  This is an amazing guitar, made in Gibson’s Memphis plant in 2011, as part of a Standard, and Custom line up. The custom versions were a limited issue with diamond style inlaid headstock motif, further featuring “Ebony” style phenolic resin based Richlite fret board with pearloid markings and binding around the fretboard and body. It’s a great sounding guitar too, with a set of Burst Buckers. It has a slim 60’s profile neck contour makes it very playable.   Guitar lives in the original hard case with furry lining.

Taylor 654 CE 12string Grand Auditorium, 2008 Sunburst

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 23/11/2024
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a comment

Here a Taylor 654ce 12-string Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric guitar kitted out with Taylor’s Expression System, electronics. Laced with abalone inlays and rosettes as well as having a handy Venetian cutaway it’s easy to play. As for the guitar build, the 654ce has a maple back and sides and a sitka spruce top. Due to its body type, the 654ce is a bit sleeker and a bit slimmer than a typical grand auditorium guitar, whilst retaining a classic dreadnought shape. Guitar lives in its case 

Gibson EDS-1275 (Cherry Red, 1992)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 26/10/2024
Posted in: Vintage Guitars. Tagged: . Leave a comment

The Gibson EDS-1275 is a double neck Gibson electric SG based guitar that was introduced by Gibson in 1963 and produced till 1968. This model was used by musicians such as John McLaughlin and Jimmy Page, and it was called “the coolest guitar in rock” at the time they played these models. This model guitar was initially available in jet black, cherry, sunburst, and white.

In 1974, Gibson started making the guitar again, and in more finishes with production lasting until 1998. Since then, alpine white and heritage cherry versions were made by Gibson USA. Since then, alpine white and heritage cherry versions were made by Gibson USA in Nashville, Tennessee, until 2003, in the Nashville Custom Shop from 2004 to 2005, and in the Memphis, Tennessee, Custom Shop since 2006.

So here we have a 1992 EDS-1275 in Cherry Red with the typical 12 string neck and a standard 6-string neck SG. The guitar handles surprisingly well and is easy to play. The strap button is fitted behind the upper body at the base of the neck allowing easy playing while standing up.

The toggle switch on the lower horn selects the “neck” either 6 or 12-string, the switch in the middle controls the pick up selection of either model. Further the 2-volume/2-tone arrangement control tone and volume.

Gibson ES Les Paul Standard Memphis (2015, Goldtop)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 26/10/2024
Posted in: Gibson Les Paul. Tagged: . Leave a comment

This 2015 Gibson ES Les Paul Standard Memphis is a semi-hollow bodied guitar with a typically standard sized body, and with double binding front and back. The pickups are standard P90 size pick ups. The guitar has been played and shows some minor wear on the neck, and faint marks to the body back. The hardware is chrome, with some tarnishing giving it that proper patina.  Serial dates the guitar to 2015. These Gibson’s were made for a short period in 2014-15 and have become collectible in recent years..
The Gibson Les Paul ES appears to be lighter than a standard weighing in at about 3.5 kgs. This one is easy to handle and a smooth neck profile. Sound wise, the P90 pickups produce a great and gritty sound.  The fret board is rose wood, which coupled with the slim tapered maple neck make for a nice playing machine. Guitar lives in its hard-case.

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Yamaha SG-1500 (1981, Jade Green)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 14/10/2024
Posted in: Yamaha SG-1500. Tagged: . Leave a comment

The Yamaha SG-1500 guitar is definitely a great example of a top quality guitar. It sports a mahogany body with thru neck, rosewood fret board, Split wing fret-board position markers. Gold plated Hardware, Twin hum-buckers, coil tapping option. The guitar is quite heavy with lots of sustain, No sustain plate fitted under bridge and no pick-guard as standard. The Yamaha SG-1500 is the in-betweenie for the renowned Yamaha SG-2000 and Yamaha SG-1000. Well set up with low action and powerful double humbuckers make for a killer guitar.

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Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (1977, Goldtop)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 13/10/2024
Posted in: Gibson Les Paul Deluxe. Tagged: . Leave a comment

This 1977 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe is fine solid body guitar with the standard sized body, and the mini humbucker pick ups. The guitar has been played and shows some genuine wear on the neck, body front, the back. The hardware is chrome, giving it that proper patina.  Serial dates the guitar to 1977. These Gibson’s were made during the 1960s, 1970s and have become more collectible in recent years. There have also been some reissues over recent years.
The Gibson Les Paul deluxe appears to be a bit lighter than a custom but on a par with a typical Standard. This one is easy to handle and a smooth neck profile. Sound wise, the Mini Humbuckers produce a great if not gritty sound.  The fret board is rose wood, which coupled with the slim tapered maple neck make for a nice playing machine. Guitar lives in a beaten up hard-case.

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Gibson ES-175D, 1970/72, Sunburst

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 13/10/2024
Posted in: Gibson ES-175. Tagged: . Leave a comment

The Gibson ES-175D is a single- or dual-pickup archtop electric guitar made by Gibson. Unlike Gibson’s L5 and Super 400 guitars, the ES-175 typically was made of an all-laminate construction, which was a cheaper alternative than the existing L-5. In additional to the lesser cost, the materials selection was useful in keeping feedback at higher volumes manageable. The ES-175 has a rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays, a 3″ deep body, a floating bridge, and the sound comes from a set of Gibson’s PAF style Pat. pickups. The fingerboard has 19 frets and tone is varied with independent volume and tone controls for each of the 2 pickups. Hardware is nickel plated. Guitar lives in its hard case.

Gibson Midtown Custom Deluxe (2015, Rootbeer Flametop)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 09/10/2024
Posted in: Gibson Midtown. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Many guitarists will be familiar with a Gibson ES-335 model, a staple semi-hollow body Gibson guitar, used by many a household name band or guitarist. Apart from the ES-335 model, many other semi hollow guitars (ES) were produced by Gibson. The ES range varied enormously in size, and functionality and also smaller and flatter versions were produced.
So here we have a Gibson Midtown Custom Deluxe, a smaller and flatter brother of the Gibson ES-335.  This is an amazing guitar, made in Gibson’s Memphis plant in 2015, as part of a Standard, and Custom line up. , The custom versions were a limited issue with cool looks and the fancy diamond style inlaid headstock, further featuring “Ebony” style resin based Richlite fret board with pearloid markings and binding around the fretboard and body. It’s a great sounding guitar too, with a set of powerful Burst Buckers. It plays beautifully with its slim 60’s profile neck contour Some players say the neck is a bit heavy however that is quite subjective. There are some very faint play marks just above the neck pickup from playing, but nothing serious in any way.  All in all a great guitar and electronically everything works perfectly. Guitar lives in the original hard case with furry lining.

Fender Stratocaster “Big Apple” (1997, Black)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 05/08/2024
Posted in: Fender Stratocaster. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Here a 1997 Fender Big Apple Stratocaster with twin humbucking Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickups all original and factory-installed. Definitely one of the top dual Humbucker Stratocasters available. It’s a highly responsive guitar and effortless to play. The finish is a glossy black. It’s in great condition with no marks or dents and resides in its Fender soft case.

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Gibson Les Paul Custom M2M, (Oceanburst with Green, 2023)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 28/07/2024
Posted in: Gibson Les Paul Custom. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Made to measure (M2M) Gibson Custom Shop Custom from 2023 in an attractive Oceanburst finish with  Ebony fingerboard.  The guitar is produced in Gibson’s Nashville Custom Shop  featuring  a solid Mahogany body with Maple top with a 22 fret ebony fingerboard with block Inlays. The guitar has a pair of Gibson Burst-bucker pickups wired to individual volume and tone controls with a three-way pickup selector. Grover Rotomatic tuners and Nickel ABR-1 tailpiece. Black speed knobs.  The guitar is in great condition with only light signs of use.  The blueish finish is bright and lustrous.  Guitar lives in its Gibson Custom Case.

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Gibson Les Paul Custom Ultima, ’68 Reissue (Sunburst, 2004)

Posted by Elite Vintage Guitars - Gearpage on 28/07/2024
Posted in: Gibson Les Paul Custom. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Rare Gibson Custom Les Paul ’68 Custom Ultima from 2004 in Sunburst finish with Abalone and Mother of Pearl Flame inlayed Ebony fingerboard.  The guitar is based upon the  ’68 Les Paul Custom model and has all the characteristics of that model and was offered with or without a factory fitted Bigsby. The guitar features a solid Mahogany body with carved Maple top with multi-ply white/black on top and back. The neck is constructed of 1-piece Mahogany w/long neck tenon, with a 22 fret ebony fingerboard with mixed Abalone/Mother of Pearl Flame Inlay. The guitar has a pair of Gibson Burst-bucker pickups wired in the traditional way to individual volume and tone controls with three-way pickup selector. Grover Rotomatic tuners and Nickel ABR-1 tailpiece. Control knobs are black top hat reflector style. The guitar lives in its Gibson Custom hard case.

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