stromberg master 400 cutaway

**fws6** · 12-13-2011, 09:41 AM

Not that I am even vaguely interested in buying this (Santa ? Please ??) but maybe some of you would like to see:

1950 Stromberg Master 400 Cutaway > Guitars : Archtop Electric & Acoustic - Guitar Exchange | Gbase.com

**oldane** · 12-13-2011, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by fws6

Not that I am even vaguely interested in buying this (Santa ? Please ??) but maybe some of you would like to see:

1950 Stromberg Master 400 Cutaway > Guitars : Archtop Electric & Acoustic - Guitar Exchange | Gbase.com

Well, I am vaguely interested, but regrettably, I don't think I have any talent for robbing banks without getting caught, so I'd better stick with my Triggs Master 400 copy ......

**NSJ** · 12-13-2011, 11:39 AM

Hmmm..they didn't list the price. Maybe I missed it?

Probably one of those "if you gotta ask...." type of scenarios.

I thought it was cute that they referenced the audience as "for the discriminating player / collector / investor".

Most likely, the order in that list should probably be reversed. Although, anyone who goes into the "guitar as fine art" collection business most likely will be disappointed, unless there's a secret compartment containing a T206 Honus Wagner baseball card or Action Comics #1.

**oldane** · 12-13-2011, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by NSJ

Hmmm..they didn't list the price. Maybe I missed it?

Probably one of those "if you gotta ask...." type of scenarios.

Original Master 400s in original trim usually cost around $40-45.000. This one is refinished, so it may be less, but anything under $20.000 is unlikely, me thinks.

I thought it was cute that they referenced the audience as "for the discriminating player / collector / investor".

When I was young, I smoked pipe, and there was one of the big English tobacco brands which claimed that it was "For men of destinction! For the particular few!" That could go for this guitar too and maybe it's fitting this guitar better than the tobacco, as the Stromberg owners really are "particular few" whereas the mentioned tobacco was smoked by millions all over the world.

**backliner** · 12-13-2011, 12:11 PM

Needs a couple high powered EMG's cut into it. Then it will sell.

TH · 12-13-2011, 12:23 PM

I hope it does go to a collector. I hope he gets robbed. I hope I'm browsing at the time it goes on a 5 minute auction on Ebay. I hope I'm the only bidder and I pick it up for $100. I hope I like it and you can all come over and borrow it as long as you want, like a Stomberg library.
But please... No Stairway to Heaven.

David

**cjm** · 12-13-2011, 12:35 PM

Actually, I hope it goes to a collector myself. As an artifact of historic significance, it is more likely to be around for examination and study by our great great great grandchildren if it resides in a collection than if continued to be used as a tool.

If the inherent properties of this design are essential to anyone's music performance, there are custom builders who will build an accurate replica that wouldn't represent a tragedy if it got damaged.

**fws6** · 12-13-2011, 12:45 PM

all collectors that i know of do play their guitars

TH · 12-13-2011, 12:47 PM

Then maybe I'll offer it to a museum to be used as a template for study and replication. Good point cjm. I'll have the specs sent to China and I'll have 50 made, and all you guys on this thread can have me send you one.
Seriously, I do think having knowledgible museums dedicated to preservation and study of iconic instruments is a good idea. Collectors cover a wide range of personalities and motivations, not to mention storage conditions.
I will admit though, when I lived in NY during the 70's and 48th street was full of D'Angelicos and D'Aquistos in the windows of the stores there, and I could just go in and try them out... I miss those days. AND the mere 5 grand pricetags that seemed outrageous at the time. You know you can still go to stores around NY and play these old guitars. It truly is a joy.
David

**cjm** · 12-13-2011, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

I will admit though, when I lived in NY during the 70's and 48th street was full of D'Angelicos and D'Aquistos in the windows of the stores there, and I could just go in and try them out... I miss those days. AND the mere 5 grand pricetags that seemed outrageous at the time. You know you can still go to stores around NY and play these old guitars. It truly is a joy.
David

Back in the 1970s, in my day job, I sometimes had to buy service vehicles. I could buy a brand new full sized pickup truck for about the same money as that mere 5 grand for the guitars in the shops of NYC.

I retired from my day job/business in Q2 2010. The price in U.S.D. of new service vehicles and old D'Angelicos are both a lot higher than they were back in the 1970s, but relative to each other -- about the same.

Collectors have taken a lot of guitars out of circulation (where they aren't being worn out in regular use), but remarkably, collectors haven't really driven the price of these old guitars up very much when 35 years of inflation is factored in.

**Patrick2** · 12-13-2011, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by oldane

Well, I am vaguely interested, but regrettably, I don't think I have any talent for robbing banks without getting caught, so I'd better stick with my Triggs Master 400 copy ......

Well . . . I've gotta be truthful with ya oldane. Given a choice between your brand new Triggs Master 400, and that refin'd 1950 cutaway . . . I truly believe I'd take your guitar. After reading your post above, I looked back trying to find that picture . . . the one in your Avatar . . . that you posted a couple of months back. No luck. Couldn't find it. But, I do rember being really smitten by that guitar when you posted it. Maybe, if the 1950 was all original and dead mint . . . I'd prefer that one because I prefer a cut away to a non cut away. But, yours is one of the prettiest guitars I've seen . . . . ever! I just wish I could see it in person.

**fws6** · 12-13-2011, 05:35 PM

>anything under $20.000 is unlikely, me thinks.

They are asking $ 75,000 for it

**Patrick2** · 12-13-2011, 05:45 PM

I think that's "just a tad" ambitious . . . . like, by about $45,000!!!! Buzzy (Lark Street) has a 1946, all original non cut away for $39,000 . . . and it's been hanging on his wall forever witout too much interest.

**fws6** · 12-13-2011, 05:48 PM

yeah but only 6 or so cutaway strombergs were ever built ? they're kind of in a league all their own.

still I agree with you that a totally refinned example would not bring any way near this kind of $ in the current economy especially

**hot ford coupe** · 12-14-2011, 12:25 AM

I wonder if that guitar was owned by Ranger Doug Green. He's sold a bunch of them through Gruhn guitars. I got a chance to play one of them at Gruhns a couple of years ago and it was a beauty that sounded great. At $75 grand, that's a bit high for a fully restored instrument. You're definitely right about that Frank.

**fws6** · 12-14-2011, 05:01 AM

i dont suppose, as all off Ranger Doug's guitars are still at Gruhn ? Tough market to sell these guitars at such prices might take a considerable while

**hot ford coupe** · 12-14-2011, 09:16 PM

You're right Frank. I thought some of them did sell.

**MaxT** · 12-23-2011, 10:37 AM

Well,
There will always be a buyer somewhere. In the meantime, having one of those on display does lend some kind of a historic touch.

But, it's time for "True Confessions". If I ever win the lottery, one of my dearest wishes is to play one of those big Strombergs in a rhythm section in a big band. And it won't even need no cutaway.

**bohemian46** · 12-23-2011, 11:21 AM

Puzzling, how can it be "near mint" when it has been refinished ?
Am I missing something ?

**fws6** · 12-23-2011, 01:56 PM

Sure; mint is as left the factory so refin wouldnt really qualify to be described like that

personally i think it is rathger irrelevant though. Only 6 or 7 stromberg guitars were ever made with a cutaway so whoever is looking for one of these doesnt have the opportunity to be very picky. It is not like a mint Strat vs a refinned strat being 50% the value.

Then again I am very happy with my non-cut Stromberg - amazing loud and chunky guitar

**Wjguitar** · 01-05-2012, 04:46 PM

Thought some of you might enjoy seeing and hearing the guitars in this video.

I previously owned three Strombergs...s/n 556 which was formerly owned by Marty Grosz and which was a non cutaway Master 400. S/n 602 G-3 cutaway (1951) which was professionally refinished by Albanus and is now available at Gruhn's. and s/n 629 Master 400 Cutaway (1954) (The Holy Grail) which I had sold to Ranger Doug and it has since been sold by Gruhn....possibly the last Master 400 Cutaway built before Elmer Stromberg died. Jimmy Triggs used my blonde Master 400 to take measurements for his own reissue model, and I believe he made one for Ranger Doug Green.

In this attached video, you can see Thom Bresh playing the Holy Grail and Tom Doyle playing on the G-3 Cutaway. Other's in the video are the Benedetto Cremona, D'Angelico Excel, D'Angelico New Yorker and Koontz Oval F Personal model. Hope you enjoy the video...from the upcoming "Summertime in Santa Fe" project.