REDUCED: 2011 Sadowsky SS-15 Hollow Body Guitar

[jazzmanstever]

2011 Sadowsky SS-15 Hollow Body Guitar This guitar has well maintained and is in excellent all original condition except for one thing - the strap button has been moved from the side of the body to the back of the heel for better balance when using a strap (as shown in the photographs). There is one small ding on the lower bout near the volume and tone controls. The instrument plays and functions 100% and the neck is as true as could be. The frets have minimal fret wear and the instrument is strung with Thomastik Jazz Swing JS112 flatwound strings.
The only reason I’m selling this guitar is that ever since I purchased my Moffa Larissa 5 years ago, I simply haven’t been playing this guitar and can’t really afford to keep both. Local sale preferred, otherwise shipping costs will depend on your preferred method of shipment and distance from New Paltz, NY (USA). REDUCED $4000

Description:
The little brother of the Jim Hall Guitar, the SS-15 features a smaller body 15” wide and 1-¾” deep. It is all hollow with traditional jazz guitar appointments and styling. The thin body provides a more immediate acoustic response than the Jim Hall and has no sonic peer when amplified. The 1-3/4? nut width and 14 frets to the body give the SS-15 a familiar comfort to any jazz guitarist. For the touring guitarist, the SS-15 is a perfect size for overhead airline bins and is more roadworthy than solid wood instruments.

Specifications:
15” body width at lower bout
1-¾” body depth
5-ply flame maple laminate construction
Mahogany neck, dovetail neck joint
Ebony fingerboard with 1-¾” nut width, 24.75” scale length
Traditional 14 frets to the body
Pearloid Cat’s Eye inlays
Ebony bridge pickguard and tailpiece
Sadowsky True-Tone compensated ebony bridge
Black hardware
Custom wound vintage PAF style pickup with black cover

[jazzmanstever]

No interest?
Offers?

[Mattgny]

Hi Steve,
I found your original listing, so I'm now sure which guitar I'm seeing. Your bridge is as low as it can go. I have hand issues and need super low action. Can you tell me the height of the two E strings are at the 12th fret?
Neither the strap button nor the ding are issues for me.

Best,
Matt

[Fusionshred]

Material can be shaved off the bridge to get it lower (by a professional, of course) or you can substitute a low-profile archtop bridge.

[Mattgny]

Hi Steve,

I know I can shave the saddle, etc. Can you tell me the height of the two E strings at the 12th fret as is?

Thanks,

Matt

[jazzmanstever]

I bought the guitar used from CR Guitars in Rhinebeck.

Sadowsky SS-15, 2011 - CR Guitars

Here are a few closeup photos of the bridge and string height at the 12th fret.

[jazzmanstever]

No takers?
What do you think would be a fair price?

[jazzmanstever]

Still Available

[Cunamara]

No takers?
What do you think would be a fair price?

I am not a good judge of price for used gear, but your price is in line with and a little better than those on Reverb.com. I guess the question is how long those have been sitting there unsold at those prices. Like most everyone else, I want to buy low and sell high.

[Mick-7]

This one sold last August (judging by the webpage date) for $3,999.00:

Sadowsky SS-15 Hollowbody Transparent Black | The Music Zoo

There were others that sold for less but their date of sale could not be verified.

There is a Sadowsky Semi-Hollow in mint condition with a price tag of $3,250 (just lowered again) that's been sitting in a music store near me for several months now. However, it is the most widely available Sadowsky archtop.

[jazzmanstever]

The semi-hollow is quite a different instrument than the SS-15. I owned a semi-hollow at one point but I was really not very impressed compared to other boutique semi-hollow guitars with a block through the middle. Also the Sadowsky semi-hollow has two pickups but no way to individually (or independently) control the volume or tone of them. Just one volume and tone for everything. I really thought that was either an oversight or an unfortunate compromising cost reduction effort. The SS-15 in my opinion is much more like a Jim Hall model with a smaller body. Just my own personal observations though.

[Mick-7]

The semi-hollow is quite a different instrument than the SS-15. I owned a semi-hollow at one point but I was really not very impressed compared to other boutique semi-hollow guitars with a block through the middle. Also the Sadowsky semi-hollow has two pickups but no way to individually (or independently) control the volume or tone of them. Just one volume and tone for everything. I really thought that was either an oversight or an unfortunate compromising cost reduction effort. The SS-15 in my opinion is much more like a Jim Hall model with a smaller body. Just my own personal observations though.

Ah, o.k., that would explain why one sees the Semi-Hollows being sold far more often, I was not comparing the two, I have never played either one so am not qualified to do so.

By the way, the Japanese Yen crashed this month, which has compelled Japanese archtop dealers who sell internationally to lower their prices substantially, don't know how much that makes up for current tariff and export fees though.

[jazzmanstever]

Ah, o.k., that would explain why one sees the Semi-Hollows being sold far more often, I was not comparing the two, I have never played either one so am not qualified to do so.

By the way, the Japanese Yen crashed this month, which has compelled Japanese archtop dealers who sell internationally to lower their prices substantially, don't know how much that makes up for current tariff and export fees though.

Don't get me started on the US tariffs and what I think of what's happening to the US - I might vomit right onto the keyboard of my computer

[Mick-7]

Don't get me started on the US tariffs and what I think of what's happening to the US - I might vomit right onto the keyboard of my computer

A case re: the legality of Trump's tariffs is on the U.S. Supreme Courts docket for November, so it's possible they could rule they are illegal, but considering how they've ruled on his other legally dubious executive orders, I certainly would not count on it.

Recent news: "The United Nations postal agency reported last Friday that postal traffic to the U.S. has been down about 70% since the “de minimis” exemption was ended."

[jazzmanstever]

I barely have words for what's going on in so many parts of the world, let alone the US...

[Cunamara]

And while indeed those are issues and I am usually happy to dig in, perhaps not in a for sale discussion about a very fine and beautiful guitar. It detracts from the purpose of the thread.

[Mick-7]

And while indeed those are issues and I am usually happy to dig in, perhaps not in a for sale discussion about a very fine and beautiful guitar. It detracts from the purpose of the thread.

Well, t'was triggered by my comment about the Yen, however, I find that so far the drop in it has not affected the price of used Japanese made guitars as it has the price of new ones.

[Cunamara]

I understand. I am routinely triggered myself by the state of affairs, but I am trying to direct that in a less scattergun approach in order to be more effective.

[jazzmanstever]

Reduced to $4100

[jazzmanstever]

Reduced to $4000. I just bought a Borys B129 so I need to sell this guitar

[jazzmanstever]

Still Available: reduced to $4000. I just bought a Borys B129 so I need to sell this guitar

[jazzmanstever]

bump

[Mick-7]

Still for sale? I'm surprised, the prices of Sadowsky hollow-bodies have gone way up in the last few months, don't see any for sale online now for under $5k or thereabouts.

[jazzmanstever]

Actually I think it just sold. I'm just waiting for payment to clear from Reverb.com.
I'm really surprised nobody from this forum snatched it up.
"One never knows, do one?"
Thanks for the inquiry though.

[jazzmanstever]

*** sold ***