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2000 Moll Express 17

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SN# 102011

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

Finish: Amber blonde finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain spruce top; full-depth handcarved solid AAA maple back and sides with Venetian cutaway; 3 piece tiger flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; pearl headstock logo; 5-ply body neck and headstock binding; triple-bound f-holes; solid bone nut.

Hardware: Hardware includes pearl inlaid ebony tailpiece and finger rest, gold Schaller 16X1 tuners with ebony keys; compensated adjustable ebony bridge; stereo wiring with floating Kent Armstrong humbucker and built in piezo pickups, endpin jack.

Notes: Bill Moll's guitars are popular among a number of top performers including John and Bucky Pizzarelli. The tops are supported with extremely narrow and deeply scalloped braces of very low mass, designed to minimize interference with the vibration of the soundboard. The backs are zone-graduated to optimize acoustic response. The truss rod in the 5-ply neck is reinforced with bars of nickel plated, cold rolled steel, both to strengthen the neck, and to resist the dissipation of tone and volume away from the soundbox. Finally, the D'Aquisto style catseye soundholes are designed to allow the X-braced top to perform at maximum efficiency, as well as providing a distinctive neo-traditional appearance. The result is a instrument of notable projection and clarity, a true acoustic archtop for the 21st century.

This example is constructed with a hand graduated bookmatched solid spruce soundboard showing some dramatic bearclaw figure near the bridge area, and extravagantly deep tiger flame maple back, sides, and neck. The 17" body produces a rich, clear and even voice, and the neck profile is gently flattened across the back, making it ideal for either finger or pick style playing. A floating Kent Armstrong humbucker is combined with a pair of soundboard mounted piezo pickups for maximum acoustic fidelity. The instrument has been maintained in immaculate condition, without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and shows only a few faint lacquer checks near the bass soundhole. Bill's guitars are built to order and rarely seen on the vintage market. This remarkable instrument offers the opportunity to jump the long wait list, and bag a bargain in the process.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel 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.

Case: Moll Custom made Calton style heavy duty contoured black fiberglass flight case.

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