1989 Aaron Cowles "The Standard"

[BigMikeinNJ]

Hadn't searched Reverb in a while for Citations, when I did today this beast popped up. 1989 Aaron "Cowleds" Citation as the ad called it. The price was right. I'm always in the market for another Aaron Cowles archtop. If I can say this, looks like a transition period where Aaron hadn't quite "found himself" and called it a Unity yet, or perhaps the person who commissioned it asked for this dead wringer for a Citation. Note the Citation parts on her, even the tuners are engraved with the Fleur De Lis like the Citations have... 4k delivered. Not shabby. We'll get her to Pete Moreno for a thorough cleanup and setup... Quite the day.

Looking more carefully at the label inside it says:

The Standard
Hand Tuned Top and Back by Aaron Cowles
August 1989




Oh boy !!!

[BigMikeinNJ]

This is a new Citation clip recently posted on YouTube... Not too off topic I hope

[entresz]

I saw this on Reverb- what a beautiful guitar. It's a shame I live on the wrong side of the planet! So many great guitars in the US - there's not much in the way of archtops here in Australia.

[Greentone]

Another Aaron Cowles guitar. I have seen another Citation he signed.

[Marty Grass]

It's hard to know what to make of this.

Aaron left Gibson in about 1982 or 1983, before Gibson moved to Nashville. He was building guitars then. But I don't know when he formed the Unity and the Jubal brands.

His partner was the son of JP Moats, if I can remember right.

Some guitars Aaron just did the tuning on.

If I had to guess, I'd say either Aaron built the guitar or its a "partscaster" from the old Gibson plant in which Aaron finished it off. It looks like it has a Gibson bridge, pickguard, pickup, fretboard and tailpiece. The f holes look like this is a Heritage top but I could be wrong.

Aaron has put together guitars like this himself and they were great.

[vinnyv1k]

Sweet axe !

[jads57]

Must be fun collecting so many high end archtops like this Citatio. On the other hand I'd have trouble deciding which one to play,LOL!


******Forum Member Entresz: Isn't there Hancock Archtop guitars as well as Bailey Archtops in Australia?

[skykomishone]

BigMike, I'm glad you grabbed it! Looks like a nice guitar, and great price. Can't wait to hear more about it. Congrats!

[BigMikeinNJ]

I'm very Blessed to be able to gather up some of the gems I've found in the last two years. It was two years ago I moved here and fell in love with Patrick's two Unity guitars. I'd just lost my Mom and seeing that Angel on the headstock playing a lyre made me totally think of her (her maiden name was Angell). That started me on my quest. I've tried to do a lot of good with some of the instruments I found too, not just hoarding them for myself. And I feel no burden. I see one I haven't played in a while, take it out and play it. And I have great plans for my entire collection when I pass. Some very deserving kids will be getting some of my best guitars through my Uncle's foundation. Pay it back by paying it forward...

As for my collection, well I'll let Nigel Tufnel do the talking...

Must be fun collecting so many high end archtops like this Citatio. On the other hand I'd have trouble deciding which one to play,LOL!

[vinnyv1k]

and Mike when you get to Heaven to be reunited with your wonderful Mom the axes waiting for you will be even better.

[BigMikeinNJ]

She’s here

[BigMikeinNJ]

I don't much care for bursts (except Cherry Les Pauls) but whoo whee this thing is FINE...
It's definitely Citation quality woods too... It's so bright out that it was hard for me aiming my lowly iPhone 8 at it clearly. A lot of glare off my glasses. But after shooting these I tuned it up and played it. She's loud but not boomy loud... Real sweet... I was gonna rush off to Pete Moreno with her, based on the appearance of the ad photos. BUT I pulled the trigger on her because: a) It's an Aaron Cowles built guitar and he didn't make turkeys, b) the photos reminded me of the ads on Heritage Auctions - the background and shot quality really hid the beauty of the woods... Really happy she's here. Already ripped in to a pathetic version of Tennessee Waltz on it (my trying to sing)...

My ex's cat Amalia had her dental surgery yesterday, they took three teeth. But already she's happier with those suckers gone. So I guess this is what the Tooth Fairy left me for being such a nice "Dad"... lol...

[BigMikeinNJ]

I think this one would tickle the fancy of those guys that want the high end sound but are a little too put off by the volute and binding everywhere (some dude called it "TOO FAY..." I shit you not). The ad photos made the back of the headstock look all nasty, just glare on fingerprints in hand here... (phew)... At some point I will have Pete Moreno disassemble her, buff it out, reassemble and then install the pick guard and wire her up... But for now I'm gonna porch her... she's way nicer than the photos show... Where's 2B or Marty Grass when I need them...

Big

[citizenk74]

That sunburst positively sizzles, Big! Congratulations on a one-of-a-kind Cowles masterpiece, and play it in good health!

[Greentone]

Big Mike, NICE! Cowles, you will recall, was the guy who built all of the Gibson F-5L mandolins--both before and after he left Gibson. They wouldn't let anyone else do the carving on those but him.

He also did a lot of the high end Gibsons, so he knew his way around a guitar like the one you have acquired. Looks like he was searching for what would become the "Unity" hallmarks, no?

Enjoy that beauty.

[BigMikeinNJ]

I spent a long time playing her last night, remember the pickup/pickguard assembly isn't on her - and she's got a new set of TI GB12 flats on her so acoustically I'm missing the tone of round wounds or the electrified tone of flats plugged in. But she's an inspirer for sure. Playing and singing old songs that just kept coming up in my head.

One thing that always puzzled me was the fractured appearance of the top of the headstock overlay. Under one of the floodlights in the office I was looking the entire guitar over when I noticed that fractured area hid the original logo at the top. In the same script Gibson used to say The Gibson on the Citations was The Standard, laid out the same way as The Gibson (with THE as the top left line and STANDARD underneath and slightly offset to the right... WhenI go see Pete I'm gonna ask him if he's privy to the scoop on this and have him repair that faceplate so it DOES say The Standard like Aaron originally made it. Only fitting... It's got so many Citation parts on her (tuners have the fleur de li engraved on them, tailpiece with CITATION removed and other Gibson parts). Transition period where Aaron was "finding himself" maybe using up parts from the old Gibson factory left behind or him making the whole thing from scratch as he was used to... Who knows... Enjoy

Big

[Stringswinger]

Very Cool Mike. I like your restoration idea as well. You are preserving a piece of archtop history.

IMO, jazz music and archtop guitars are America's gift to the world. Those of us who are caretakers of rare archtops have a duty to preserve them for the future.

Job well done Mike!

[BigMikeinNJ]

Just had a nice chat with Aaron's son Steve, told him the story of getting the 17 inch 100th Anniversary and having Pete do a reshape of the neck. He sent me this photo of his Dad and the recipient of the guitar when it was delivered. How cool is that ??

[2bornot2bop]

2b is right here bro, taking joy in your joyful new addition! I'm so happy for you! And remember, Sunbursts need love too! Congratulations on that AC find!

[BigMikeinNJ]

At one point Marty Grass told me he thought it might be a "partscaster" - Gibson body and a Heritage top... Stuff Gibson left behind when they moved. Stuff guys in KZ have access to.

Well last night after playing her more I am fairly convinced it is a Citation body and a Heritage top (probably Golden Eagle), the observation about the top, based on the shape of the f-holes... Looking more closely in the office last night and comparing it to my Citation I discovered two holes in the back of the headstock, located right where the little screwed on plate go on Citations denoting the year made and the number made that year...

And I can't get over how much I like the doggone sunburst. This is a rare confession for me, a total blonde nut...
After a month or so I am definitely sending it up to Pete Moreno and have him do a restore on her. Replace that headstock overlay so it looks like is should. Get a heftier bridge base (Matt Cushman, HOWDY SIR !!) and really have her tarted up. Nobody better for the job than Pete...

Big

[Greentone]

Just thought I'd mention that the 'burst on your "Standard" really looks like an "Aaron burst." Mr Cowles, from what I understand, was not a big fan of spraying sunbursts. He much preferred spraying natural finishes--it's why he used such nice woods, in part. (Getting a sunburst that blends from a deep, dark border to a light-golden center is not an easy proposition. )

The dark brown to less dark brown sunburst strikes me as evidence that Aaron Cowles sprayed the guitar. FWIW, I find it quite a tasteful sunburst...something of a throwback to the Gibsons of the 20s and 30s.

[Marty Grass]

In Aaron's hands, partscasters can be the best. Aaron had the choice of virtually any first rate woods and would turn down anything below his standards. He definitely had access to Citation and L-5 parts since some were left at the old Parsons St. facility.

I'm pretty damned sure Aaron did the finish on that guitar. I didn't want to say anything so as not to offend, but Patrick hated Aaron's bursts. They tended to be darker with long, indistinct transitional areas from rim to center. The last guitar I saw Aaron refinish was a 1939 Super 400, and it was like that, as yours is.

Patrick thought Aaron wasn't very good at bursts. I didn't agree. I believed Aaron liked dark bursts with very gradual color transitions. I know he could do sharp transitions if the customer wanted that. I've seen them.

[whiskey02]

I could live happily without those inlays but if anyone says they’ve seen a prettier tailpiece than that, they’re lying.

[BigMikeinNJ]

In Aaron's hands, partscasters can be the best. Aaron had the choice of virtually any first rate woods and would turn down anything below his standards. He definitely had access to Citation and L-5 parts since some were left at the old Parsons St. facility.

I'm pretty damned sure Aaron did the finish on that guitar. I didn't want to say anything so as not to offend, but Patrick hated Aaron's bursts. They tended to be darker with long, indistinct transitional areas from rim to center. The last guitar I saw Aaron refinish was a 1939 Super 400, and it was like that, as yours is.

Patrick thought Aaron wasn't very good at bursts. I didn't agree. I believed Aaron liked dark bursts with very gradual color transitions. I know he could do sharp transitions if the customer wanted that. I've seen them.

LOL Marty, I'm not that impressed with this style of bursts. I much prefer a more subtle one with less dark areas. I KNOW that the doggone wood lurking under that dark stain is likely very pretty. Which is one of the things that bothers me about bursts... And I have moments of buyers remorse late and night... I think " Damn Big, why did you buy a freakin' burst"... I get up and trundle down the hallway to the office and catch a look at that coloring and fall right back in love with her.

And yeah, I think the Citation tailpiece is about the prettiest one I've ever seen, that and the Byrdland tp...

Big

[rhoadsscholar]

As stringswinger stated Mike, you have a great piece of history and it is awesome that you are keeping the dream alive restoring these great archtops and selecting the best folks around to help you do so. Hats off to you BigMike.