Rutters Thinline Tele with spruce top and T.K. Smith Charlie Christian

**Encinitastubes** · 12-31-2024, 07:00 PM

I'm selling my beloved Marc Rutters thinline Tele. You might know Marc from the stellar hardware that he machines himself. This one has his modified Tele bridge, without the ridges on either side, as well as his compensated brass saddles. However, Marc also makes excellent guitars -- he is a maven for good wood and this is a fine example. The guitar weighs 6 lbs., 4 oz. and has a swamp ash body with a rare, most visually stunning spruce top that I've seen. The neck is 1" up and down and has a Pau Ferro fingerboard, which the binding on the body matches.

The guitar came with the T.K. Smith Charlie Christian pickup in the neck, which is pretty much all that I've used. However, I spent a lot of time finding a bridge pickup to match it and settled on Lindy Fralin Steele Pole 43, which is like a hybrid of a Tele pickup and a P-90. I also switched the pots to Bourns 500K, which I generally prefer for how easy they are to turn.

The sound is warm, but with the detail available if you want it. It's comfortable to play and to travel. I just haven't had the opportunity to use it much with my emphasis on nylon string guitars these days so it is in excellent, if not mint condition. The case is also in excellent condition. I will sell for $1,800 + actual shipping to the lower 48.

**kris** · 12-31-2024, 07:12 PM

great!

**marcwhy** · 01-01-2025, 12:03 PM

Augh - my eyes are bleeding!!

That is a beautiful instrument, Marc does fantastic work, and this is a killer price! [New models like this are in the $4k range from him!] I've owned a similar Rutters, and if I had the cash right now, I'd be all over this!

GLWTS!

(another) Marc