2000 Knight 445 Deluxe

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Body size at lower bout: 17", Body Depth: 3 1/4" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 11/16"

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain Sitka spruce top; handcarved solid tiger flame European maple back, sides, and neck; solid ebony fingerboard; pearl headstock logo and fret inlays; 5-ply body and neck binding, bound soundholes.

Hardware: All gold hardware includes deco-design tailpiece and compensated adjustable Macassar ebony bridge; bound tortoise pickguard with volume control; Kluson Deluxe 16X1 tuners with keystone pegs; gold Kent Armstrong floating single coil pickup with endpin jack.

Notes: Dick Knight was a renowned British luthier who produced a line of hand carved archtops under the name Straten Guitars after the war, and later worked at the prestigious Selmer UK works in London. Returning to his native Surrey in the 50's, Knight established the brand that bears his name, and later performed expert repair work for such luminaries as Pete Townshend and Jimmy Page. The family business continues with his son Robbie at the helm, producing a full line of elegant handcrafted instruments.

The Knight 445 is a classic hand-built jazz guitar in the style of the Gibson L-5C, with a full depth parallel braced 17" Venetian cutaway body, and full-length 25 1/2" scale. Carved of select tonewoods, the 445 features a solid tap-tuned Sitka soundboard and extravagantly flamed solid European maple body and neck. The parallel braced soundboard produces a crisp, clear voice with excellent definition and projection.

The neck profile is gently rounded in the Gibson style, with smooth low action over medium jumbo frets and a fingerboard of solid black ebony. The guitar is amplified with a Kent Armstrong single coil pickup, floating from the hand-bound tortoise pickguard. A final touch is the handsome original gold art-deco styled tailpiece. This instrument has been lovingly maintained, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, with the deeply ambered original natural blonde finish showing fine light checking throughout.

Knight guitars are rarely seen on this side of the pond, and this handsome example is an outstanding buy in a top flight, all carved, pro-quality jazz guitar. One only: call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze roundwound strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Dick Knight (back row, center, holding blonde guitar) demonstrating his instruments in jam with British guitar legend Ivor Mairiants (right, front), in London, late 1940's.