Show Off Your Main Squeeze! Post a pic of the guitar you consider “the One.”

[ThatRhythmMan]

My '46 ES-300. Maybe one day I'll play well enough to do it justice. I do take it on gigs as long as I can keep an eye on it, sounds great!

Attachment 111866

Mahogany top and no pole p90! Is the entire body mahogany laminate? What about the neck? I’ve had one come through that looked like yours. It had a three piece maple neck, making it the exact opposite woods of the standard ES-300. Interestingly, it also had no bracing at all. Despite that the top showed absolutely no signs of sinking.


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[Sam Sherry]

I never planned to have a "main squeeze." And I'm not an Eastman fanboi at all.

But the bell curve means that one percent of the time a top-one-percent result occurs!
Six years in, this El Rey 4 never, ever disappoints.

[Little Jay]

This is the one for me! 1950. Only the pickguard and knobs are still original but most parts are vintage: old tailpiece (looks like old Gibson or Epiphone), 1947 P90 and harness (thanks to forum member Sam Sherry).

She can do everything from jazz to blues, funk to pop. Thanks to a soundpost under the bridge she can even roar!

[frabarmus]

Made in the small country-town where I was born by luthier Luciano Buscarini according to my specs: 23,5" (Byrdland) scale lenght, slim neck and GB10 inspired body shape and size.

[supersoul]

Don't worry, the heat was off when the guitar was up on the radiator, I just wanted to take it with a neutral backdrop. This is probably the guitar I'd grab if I could only take one. It has a special something. It just sounds good!

[Gilpy]

This is my best sounding guitar, and the one I’ll never sell. A 1936 Martin 000-18 that I’ve had for 52 years.



My mom was dating this guy who said he had an old guitar that I might want to use. He bought it in 1938 for $25 when he was working on the WLS Barn Dance radio show in Chicago.
They ended up getting married and living happily ever after, so I never had to give it back!

[Mark M.]

That 00018 is beautiful!

[Gilpy]

Sounds like you made out pretty good on that deal. Everybody is happy.
Now let’s discuss that gorgeous spruce top. Is that Adirondack or Sitka? The grain in the top is the bee’s knees. That looks like a blues shouter extraordinare. Beautiful.

They used Adirondack spruce back then. It’s a wonderful sounding guitar that makes me happy!

[supersoul]

That is a sweet vintage German archtop? It radiates some mojo. The patina on the finish looks great.

It is!

[wintermoon]

This is my best sounding guitar, and the one I’ll never sell. A 1936 Martin 000-18 that I’ve had for 52 years.



My mom was dating this guy who said he had an old guitar that I might want to use. He bought it in 1938 for $25 when he was working on the WLS Barn Dance radio show in Chicago.
They ended up getting married and living happily ever after, so I never had to give it back!

Oofa, '36 and '37 are considered magical years by Martin fans and that puppy looks swell! It's worth a tad more than 25 bucks today on top of it

[Ukena]

This is the guitar that I play the most since I bought it a little over a year ago – a 2014 Triggs New Yorker. It tends to sit out on a stand, while my others are cased. I haven't gigged with it yet, but I haven't gigged since I bought it.

[Sleeko]

My 2002 Gibson L4CES of course. Followed by 4 other close seconds!

[VesaW]

I have only one guitar - 2016 Gibson Memphis Figured Natural ES-175.

[stevo58]

This one has deeply satisfied me.

[Enlightened Rogue]

Thanks to everyone who have shared pics of their favorite instruments. They are all fine examples of the art of luthiery. From the ultra modern to vintage, solid body to hollow body, soundports to cones. It’s all here. Very nice.

[supersoul]

I love vintage German archtop guitars. That is my 1959 Rodebald Hoyer in post #27.

old German archtops are great! A good way to get a hand carved solid wood instrument made by a master instrument builder for not a lot of money.
Best I can figure (from my admittedly novice knowledge), is that mine is also from the 50s (no truss rod). It has a Stauffer bolt to connect the neck to the body and has no identifying marks or writing anywhere. Which is fine with me, it's a great guitar even if it's origins are a mystery.
Your '59 Rodebald Hoyer is bad-ass looking, I think.

[Paulie2]

Current #1 grab for all gigs - Buscarino Starlight

[pingu]

my Af120


Bare Knuckles Mule alnico3 neck PU
does everything I need

[Oscar67]

Hands down.

[lawson-stone]

There are several I love, in fact, I don't have a guitar I don't love. But most of the time I reach, entirely predictably, for my 2015 VOS1959 ES175.


Other times, and about as often, it's the 2015 Gibson L5ces.

These two instruments are way more guitar than I deserve.

[olejason]

Mahogany top and no pole p90! Is the entire body mahogany laminate? What about the neck? I’ve had one come through that looked like yours. It had a three piece maple neck, making it the exact opposite woods of the standard ES-300. Interestingly, it also had no bracing at all. Despite that the top showed absolutely no signs of sinking.


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Yep no pole P90. Interestingly the cover of those pickups are painted from the inside so they have a sort of 3d look to them in person, it's really unique and cool. The entire body is mahogany laminate and I'm pretty sure the neck is as well. Were the laminates on the three piece neck visible like L5's and whatnot? My neck is dark brown so I'm assuming it's a one piece mahogany. I've never thought to check for braces, I will definitely take a look at that. I wasn't aware any of them were built without them, thanks for the tip! The top is in great shape on mine as well.

Another odd tidbit about mine, the tuners have been replaced with open gear tuners more commonly found on 30's Gibsons. There's probably a neat story there!

[lawson-stone]

You can’t lose with that pair. The VOS ‘59 ES-175 gets my vote though. Classics become classic for a reason.

The L5 is a classic too, actually produced for a much longer period than the ES175.

[lawson-stone]

Oh, I meant no disrespect to the L5. ‘Tis a classic also. The 175 stands out more to me. It’s an apple to apple comparison though. Both are winners.

Absolutely. The ES175 feels like a can-do-anything instrument. It inspires confidence. The L5ces makes me want to play better to somehow be worthy of the instrument. It plays and sounds so great, it actually does inspire me to reach a little higher.

[lawson-stone]

Oh, I meant no disrespect to the L5. ‘Tis a classic also. The 175 stands out more to me. It’s an apple to apple comparison though. Both are winners.

I should also say that the ES175 and the Fender Princeton Reverb are seriously made for each other.

[pauln]