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The 1949 ES-175 was a 19-fret guitar. The P-90 pickup on that guitar (it only had one pickup) was at the double-octave nodal point--i.e., the presumed 24th fret point. I have never heard anyone complain about a lack of warmth associated with the ES-175 guitars made in the period 1949 through the point at which they acquired humbucking pickups. Certainly, the examples I have played have sounded the way a putative jazz guitar should.
The pickup on Unity 100th Anniversary #2 (the one that says #1 on the tailpiece) is positioned so that the coil on its Shadow AZ-48 floating humbucker that is closer to the bridge is under this double-octave point. Electrically, this guitar is very warm sounding--played either with fingers or with a pick. The pickup on #3 looks as though the coil closer to the fretboard is under the double-octave nodal point. The guitar should be very warm.
Acoustically, of course, none of this matters. #2 sounds outstanding as a purely acoustic guitar. It gets played that way about 60-percent of the time.
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MG,
I hate to be presumptuous, but congratulations! I know you fancy these guitars for many reasons and rightfully so. This one is unique. Is it 18"? Also, are you taking it in for the Pete Moreno treatment?
This one has "keeper" written all over it. I hope it at least curtails your search for the #1 most incredible guitar ever.
I cant wait to see the blue spruce (and how big its gotten) in the pictures of your NGD. These Citation level guitars are "guitars of a lifetime" and I hope this one all you ever dreamed it would be.
Joe D.
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I anticipate a Saturday delivery.
I found out about this guy and his guitar quite a while ago from Patrick and Aaron. There were only two 18" archtops in the 100th Anniversary model. The other one is a sunburst. Patrick did not like Aaron's bursts at all.
I contacted the owner after Aaron and Patrick died. Since he was in the music business and had a Unity, I had hoped that he could help sell Patrick's Unitys to help Patrick's family. He didn't know anyone interested at that time.
He emailed me out of the blue a few days ago and wondered if I wanted to buy his Unity. I was surprised he was willing to let it go, but he needed the money for his father. I thought about it a few days and decided to go for it.
I haven't seen the guitar in person, but I have a good idea how it looks, feels and sounds based on Aaron's other archtop guitars.
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MG,
Welcome back to the club. It was gracious of you to alert me to Kuz's guitar. I am glad, therefore, that someone has approached you with a...dare I suggest...even more interesting 100th Anniversary model.
I know that you will enjoy the guitar, both for what it is and for what it represents. Some of us really appreciate Aaron Cowles' work. Patrick did. You do. I do. Unwittingly, plenty of people who have played or owned Gibson F-5L mandolins, or Citations, Kalamazoo Awards, etc., have admired Cowles' work without realizing it was Aaron who was responsible for the craftsmanship. "Hutch" is better known because he made the move to Tennessee and worked with Gibson in the Custom Shop era when craftsmen's names went on labels. I suspect that Aaron never would have made this move. Had he, he would be better known.
Still, his work speaks for itself. As you say, his guitars are as good as _any_.
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mattyjames sent me some pics of #6 in the 100th Anni series. It's an 18" non-cutaway.
Aaron's sunbursts generally had sharp distinctions between shades. These pics exaggerate this. In person, they look much better but don't have the gradual overlap of colors that Gibsons and Heritages have in tri-bursts.
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Marty~ I didn't realize you scored this amazing work of guitar art!! Congratulations, sir. Looking forward to your follow up posts.
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Closed the deal on that overnight. As many who have handled any Unity know, these are the best bang for the buck guitars made. Sorry no offense to any G brand lovers or Heritage lovers or anyone else. I know it's too much bling for many guys. To me it is Art and Function all in one. Honey tones and dead easy necks to play. Poetry in motion as the old song used to go. Sorry but these are the best photos I have for now. Misaki-san is a real gent to work with.
Big
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Oops on me doubling up a couple of the photos first pass. It's a wonder I don't hurt someone just walking. LOL !!
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Ive been dreaming about that one for quite a while!! Enjoy it in good health my friend. Bob
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Been playing "Patrick's 17" which is a slightly deeper body. That was the deciding factor, there's just so many of them around and it just seemed like the smart move. When I think of some of the other gear I got since I got Patrick's guitars it really was a no brainer getting #4...
Big
and thank you, she is a beauty.
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nice Mike, not too much bling for me.
it looks like a some of these were made w/maple from the same tree.
I think Greentone's might be iirc, he'll probably chime in...
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That is really gorgeous! I haven't heard of them and can't find any price info - I see one for sale at a shop but it says call for price. How much did this run you if you don't mind me asking?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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Rio,
You should call for price. There were only so many made, this is not like a GB10 or L-5, Aaron Cowles only had so much time and only made so many of these.
It was a lot money, let's leave it at that.. But I am glad I did it. Be hanging up my buying spurs pretty soon though.
Big
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BigMike,
Oh, yeah! You were already in the club, but now you have one of "The Seven." You are certainly going to enjoy that guitar.
It is almost superfluous to add, that guitar is absolutely gorgeous!
GT
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Amazing to see 2 of 6 change hands in just over a week. Anyone on this board have the other 4 or know where there are? Looks like this would be a good club to be a part of. inquiring minds want to know.
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These instruments truly take the breath away. Who was it said last year "you just don't go and open the case, you turn down the lights, put on some Bolero and then slowly approach the guitar" or something to that effect. For me it'd be turn down the lights put on some George Benson and approach the guitar...
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I am pulling a quote that Helios posted just a bit ago on Marty's #3 thread:
If you google: "Aaron Cowles", Images like the one below appear (A Citation is one the few Gibson archtops that can truly begin to compare to a Unity in probability), which means Mr. Cowles was held in the very highest regard while at Gibson!
Congratulations to MG for a stellar & beautiful find!
Side Note: I notice the Unity has a perfect: 1-23/32" nut--perfectly placed between a too narrow 1-11/16", & too wide 1-3/4").
Educate yourself on the value of work done by Aaron Cowles prior to forming Unity - he was THE GUY in Big-speak at Gibson that got a lot of the hard carve jobs, the Citations and Kalamazoo Awards, their very best. He is THE GUY that carved my Heritage D'Angelico Excel replica (made in 1994-5), also THE GUY that did the carve on my Heritage American Eagle. And also did some other carves for Heritage that I own. I'll tack in some photos below.
So bang for buck in reference to excellence in workmanship. Look up on eBay what Citations and Kalamazoo Awards sell for you'll get my drift.
Actually asking what someone paid is bad form. Period.
Big
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 05-14-2017 at 05:48 PM.
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Heritage D'Angelico Excel - the D'A family lent Heritage a 1951 Excel to use as a template for this one, but the body is Longer, shall I say slimmer (but 17 inch) - Heritage used the rim mold for a Golden Eagle, it's a lovely beast, all carved woods. A really sweet sounding guitar, also carved by Aaron (Mark I get that correct ??). You can search HDA here and find threads about it and the 18 inch New Yorker they made a few of. Good golly...
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Originally Posted by
BigMikeinNJ
Heritage D'Angelico Excel - the D'A family lent Heritage a 1951 Excel to use as a template for this one, but the body is Longer, shall I say slimmer (but 17 inch) - Heritage used the rim mold for a Golden Eagle, it's a lovely beast, all carved woods. A really sweet sounding guitar, also carved by Aaron (Mark I get that correct ??). You can search HDA here and find threads about it and the 18 inch New Yorker they made a few of. Good golly...
still can't believe that picture of the HDA's was taken in Patrick's Bathroom..
Mikey, you got some real beauties from Patrick. Let us not forget how you got them. You paid more than the asking price. Just so Fran and Chris could have it easier. You are the real angel around here.
We are all lucky to know you big bro.
Joe D
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You can tell Joe is my biggest fan... Thanks Brother.
Here's a thread that breaks down delivery day on a bunch of amazing guitars, including the Unity I got from Fran Amato and the HDA, Patrick's Golden Eagle, an H150 and Patricks Super Patrick and a whole lotta other distractions.
Life is good, take the trips, buy the guitars, love your honey !!
Big
BigMike's Mega Heritage NGD...
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Originally Posted by
BigMikeinNJ
Heritage D'Angelico Excel - the D'A family lent Heritage a 1951 Excel to use as a template for this one, but the body is Longer, shall I say slimmer (but 17 inch) - Heritage used the rim mold for a Golden Eagle, it's a lovely beast, all carved woods. A really sweet sounding guitar, also carved by Aaron (Mark I get that correct ??). You can search HDA here and find threads about it and the 18 inch New Yorker they made a few of. Good golly...
Mike, I think Aaron tap tuned the DA replicas, JP Moats did the actual carving and IIRC, Marv did the paint. You and I are very lucky to have two of the 90's replicas. They are amazing guitars. I have bonded with mine (The sunburst New Yorker in the above picture) and plan on playing it for the rest of my days. The fact that Joe D. and Pat Amato were former owners adds to my pride in the guitar.
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Well doggone !!! I was following the "progress" of #4 and it seemed to be in some tracking limbo. At Tokyo Intl. for days on end. Then all of a sudden some Container 4 Tokyo... Then about 1pm it was in Chicago Customs Incoming. I figured ok now to hunker down for 3 weeks and wait for the letter from Customs.
Well golly, the doggone thing blew right through Customs. I love it when is says Outbound Out Of Customs - and got handed over for delivery. IT COULD arrive today, but will likely arrive tomorrow. Dang !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's a hefty little bonus to the walking around money fund...
Big
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BigMike,
Getting excited for you, buddy. So, you are going to have, what, three or four Unity guitars now? (Including #3 and #4)
At some point, soon, you are going to be the reigning authority on Unity archtop guitars, I should think. Awesome!
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It'll be four:
Patrick's 17 x almost 4 inch Unity, and Patrick's 18 by 3 or so Unity.
And 100th Anniversary #3 (an 18 incher) and #4, a 17 incher with a more L-5 depth.
Authority, hardly. Fan, totally !!
Big
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Well a dreary and wet day. Cleaning lady was here at 07:30 so the place sparkles. The guitar arrived about 12:45 and aside from a busted case lock/latch it's perfect. It's also a little cold so I will wait until tonight to perhaps tune her up. Here's the living room shots. It's very light and gorgeous does not do her justice. It's L-5 in dimensions. And the customs paperwork was very brief but did post the correct selling price, maybe after the bowl back episode I'm in the Customs Mile High Club...
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 05-20-2017 at 02:11 PM.
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