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You may have seen photos of this guitar in Vinny’s “The New Campellone Fall Batch” thread. It was delivered about a week and a half ago and I have to say I’m absolutely thrilled with it. It’s vaguely based on Mark’s Standard model, but with many custom features to emulate the rare Gibson ES-250 from 1939-40. I call it the CS-250 (CS for Custom Standard perhaps?)
I think Mark was a little apprehensive about the idea at first (I certainly understand that anything custom takes much longer), but he was generous enough to say “yes” and throughout the build process he came to love it.
Here are some of the specs: All carved, 17" non-cutaway body, 25.5" scale neck with a "'59 neck profile". Brazilian rosewood fretboard and bridge, Adirondack spruce top, and blister maple back and sides. Mark did a fabulous job designing the inlays from photos and cutting them all by hand.
The tailpiece is a genuine NOS Gibson Super 400 tailpiece from the Maudie Moore estate. I tried to find an un-engraved S400 tailpiece, but was unsuccessful. The pickup and the vintage radio style knobs were both made by TK Smith. The pickup was clearly designed for solid body guitars, so it’s sitting too far away from the strings with no ability to bring it up higher. I’m going to try a Lollar pickup in its place, but the TK does sound really good, so I may think about how I can modify the mount if I’m not in love with the Lollar.
The thing that surprised Mark and me the most is how good the acoustic sound is. I’m not sure if it’s because of the Adirondack top or the non-cutaway body, but it sounds full, rich, and loud unplugged (even with flatwounds). After hearing it, there’s a little part of me that feels bad for not going with a floating pickup (but then it wouldn’t be a CS-250 anymore). My Wes Mo-spec’d Campellone Deluxe doesn’t have the same acoustic prowess (still sounds great plugged in, though).
Ok, enough talk. Here are some pictures and a sound sample:
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02-18-2025 02:44 PM
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That’s one superb archtop. But better yet, it’s the Masterful playing that truly brings it to life!
Probably my all time favorite Strayhorn tune…
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Beautiful guitar, and that tone is the perfect ‘50’s sound so many of us are striving for. I love CC pickups and I have one in my Campellone. Very nice playing also!
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A beautiful guitar that makes beautiful sounds. Very nice and congratulations!
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That is one hell of a guitar! And one of the all time greatest ballads played beautifully. Love the creativity and the vision here. Man that pickup sounds good. Very very cool. One of my top 10 NGD posts I’ve read!
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Thanks everyone! Just to be clear, that is my good friend/mentor playing in the video. I brought it over for him to check out and he didn't know I was filming.
I knew you'd like it! We need to lobby TK to make an archtop mount version of that pickup. It wouldn't take much modification.
Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
I've got another NGD post in the works that I think will also crack your top 10 (the guitar has arrived, but is currently in the shop).
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Tell your friend that we said he can play his ass off! Originally Posted by andrew
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Beautiful! Congrats, HNGD
and play her in good health!
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Looks great and sounds it too!
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Mark knocked another one out of the park. The Babe Ruth of Archtop makers. Sweet buddy…..Congrats !
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I thought that was Mark Strickland.
I've watched the clips of him on "Guitars N Jazz" YouTube page a million times. He awesome....
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Congrats on the new Campellone. May she inspire your playing for many years to come.
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Yes, that’s him! Originally Posted by DMgolf66
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Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
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