Cushman 17" carved Archtop...PRICE DROP: $4,000 to $3,300

[DMgolf66]

Hey Folks,

I think many of you remember Matt Cushman who was on the forum and passed away a couple of years ago.
I know he helped some of you with building bridges as well as building some great guitars in the style of Benedettos. I believe someone in
another group called them "Clonedettos".

I'm hoping someone from the forum will give it a new home and do it more justice than I can.

A few details:

* 17" Body
* X-braced
* Carved front and back
* Benedetto pickup
* 1.70" nut width (see attached pic)
* 3" depth
* Endpin Jack
* TKL case in excellent shape (not pictured)
* no significant dings, scratches or marks....very good shape.
* 2010 build according to previous owner

A beautiful guitar (great flame), great build quality and playability with excellent sound, IMHO.

****Sorry about the pics, not sure why quality degraded on download****

Price: $4,000 + split actual shipping cost

[DMgolf66]

[vinnyv1k]

I was unaware that Matt passed. He was a great guy.

[Sleeko]

Beautiful, looks as thick and deep as a cello!

[Cunamara]

I bought one of Matt's guitars from him in 2006 via eBay. It's a very nice instrument to play and has a very nice acoustic sound. The neck and fretwork are excellent and it is very easy to play. Mine is one of his earlier ones and finish was not all it could be, as well as this one was his first effort with some kind of finish from Luther's Mercantile. He wasn't satisfied with the outcome of that experiment and sold it to me for a very nice price rather than go through the hassles of refinishing. I've got thousands of hours on that guitar now in the past 19 years and think of him often. Mine is the same tinted natural finish and fingerboard inlay, but I don't have the headstock inlay of the loving cup. [Edit] It's #602, stamped into the inside back, which meant the 2nd guitar Matt made in 2006. Does this serial # start with 10?

Matt was a great guy to do business with and a couple times I had to talk him into taking money for stuff that he should've taken money for. When I decided my GB10 pickguard was in the early stages of deteriorating, I sent it to him and he did a beautiful reproduction in Cocobolo wood which matched the color palette beautifully. Subtle enough that no one has ever spotted the replacement.

All of this is to vouch for the guitar. I think whoever buys it will have a very nice instrument.

[Edit] Did I mention very nice? I seem to have overused that phrase in this post.

[DMgolf66]

The more I've been playing it, the more I like it and I liked it when I got it, but alas I still need to pass this on to someone else so I can make room for an L-5

[58flame]

Beautiful.

25" scale?

[deacon Mark]

I think many of you remember Matt Cushman who was on the forum and passed away a couple of years ago.
I know he helped some of you with building bridges as well as building some great guitars in the style of Benedettos. I believe someone in
another group called them "Clonedettos". [QUOTE=DMgolf66;1425065]


I find the word Clonedetto to be rude and completely off base. I have seen this used before in some descriptions of carved top guitars. Since I worked with 2 makers who made exclusively archtop guitars this is what they would tell someone. Nothing in staying your guitar was based on a guitar like Benedetto made, but that it somehow clone is horrible. Guitar makers want to make their own guitar and put their own touch on the design. They don't have to even try and reinvent the guitar just that they are making their guitars with their own signature voice.

I did not know Matt, but he seemed like quite a nice fellow and humble, but my guess is he want to make Cushman guitars. Granted it looks like a Benedetto but is also does not exactly either. I say this because my late friend Bill Hollenbeck who was building guitars along with Benedetto, would always point out, Bob made a great guitar. However, Hollenbeck was also adamant that he did not seek to build anyone's particular guitar he wanted to carve his own sound. He was also give Bill Barker credit for helping him but he did not build Barker guitars either. He personally was not at all influenced by Benedetto and neither was influenced by John D'angelico at least directly in case of D'angelico.

So, I would say this is a Cushman guitar and frankly a carved top guitar from all I hear a wonderful fellow. The seller is a top-notch fellow so you know what you are dealing with.

[DMgolf66]

[QUOTE=deacon Mark;1431653]I think many of you remember Matt Cushman who was on the forum and passed away a couple of years ago.
I know he helped some of you with building bridges as well as building some great guitars in the style of Benedettos. I believe someone in
another group called them "Clonedettos".

I find the word Clonedetto to be rude and completely off base. I have seen this used before in some descriptions of carved top guitars. Since I worked with 2 makers who made exclusively archtop guitars this is what they would tell someone. Nothing in staying your guitar was based on a guitar like Benedetto made, but that it somehow clone is horrible. Guitar makers want to make their own guitar and put their own touch on the design. They don't have to even try and reinvent the guitar just that they are making their guitars with their own signature voice..

You're right, Mark. I never thought of that and I should've. I meant no offense to Matt and may my apologies be heard by him.

[deacon Mark]

[QUOTE=DMgolf66;1431656]

I think many of you remember Matt Cushman who was on the forum and passed away a couple of years ago.
I know he helped some of you with building bridges as well as building some great guitars in the style of Benedettos. I believe someone in
another group called them "Clonedettos".

You're right, Mark. I never thought of that and I should've. I meant no offense to Mark and may my apologies be heard by him.

It was not directed at you at all just a note for the future for those making comparisons.

[DMgolf66]

[QUOTE=deacon Mark;1431658]

It was not directed at you at all just a note for the future for those making comparisons.

Roger that. I knew you weren't but I appreciate ya saying that.

[DMgolf66]

Beautiful.

25" scale?

25.25" actually.

[skykomishone]

GLWTS! I had a number of interactions with him and always enjoyed them, and I miss his presence on the forum. He built an ebony bridge for my Gibson L5P. It's perfect. As I expect this guitar will be for whoever gets it.

[2bornot2bop]

GLWTS! I had a number of interactions with him and always enjoyed them, and I miss his presence on the forum. He built an ebony bridge for my Gibson L5P. It's perfect. As I expect this guitar will be for whoever gets it.

You’re not going anywhere!

[DMgolf66]

This really should go to a member of this forum.
I'm dropping the price:

New Price: $3,300

Thanks!

[Topper Roth]

I am sorely tempted, especially after your price reduction, despite having recently taken delivery on a guitar Stephen Holst made for me. Do you have the ability to measure the neck depth at frets one and 9 or 10? (Thanks to the aging process, I have an arthritic left thumb that starts to hurt when I play guitars with thicker necks.) Thanks! (Also, where are you located? I'm in SE Massachusetts.)

[DMgolf66]

I am sorely tempted, especially after your price reduction, despite having recently taken delivery on a guitar Stephen Holst made for me. Do you have the ability to measure the neck depth at frets one and 9 or 10? (Thanks to the aging process, I have an arthritic left thumb that starts to hurt when I play guitars with thicker necks.) Thanks! (Also, where are you located? I'm in SE Massachusetts.)

Hi Topper,
Thanks for inquiring. I will be able tonget you a measurement in the next hour or so, not a problem. Also, I'm in central New Jersey (Tinton Falls) and work in the northern part of the State (Paramus)

[DMgolf66]

Topper,
At the 1st fret the numbers are:
23.15mm or .0909"

At the 8th fret the numbers are:
25.49mm or 1.0035"

I hope this helps and happy to answer any other questions, Topper

[pawlowski6132]

It was not directed at you at all just a note for the future for those making comparisons.

Why is horrible? I don't understand? Maybe it is a complete clone. What's wrong with that?

[Topper Roth]

Sent you a PM - thanks!

[DMgolf66]

Hey Topper,

I know you aren't interested for the time being, but I appreciate the note and help with measuring.
I will attempt it again, but am pretty darn sure I did it correctly.

Thanks!

[DMgolf66]

*****Guitar is still AVAILABLE******

[pawlowski6132]

*****Guitar is still AVAILABLE******

This could take many months to sell, which, is normal.

[DMgolf66]

This could take many months to sell, which, is normal.

Yeah, I know. I just didn't want anyone to think that Topper and I had made a deal. Just an FYI

[DMgolf66]

It's a Thanksgiving bump to the top. I'll be too tired to type it tomorrow