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2004 D'Aquisto Avant Garde
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SN#0407002
Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11 1/6"
Materials: Solid bookmatched X-braced Sitka spruce top; solid maple neck; highly flamed tiger maple back and sides; solid ebony fingerboard; curly maple body binding; Macassar ebony headstock facing on front and back
Hardware: "Accutone" wedge-adjusting solid ebony bridge; contoured Macassar ebony tailpiece; dark ebony finger rest; gold sealed back tuners with ebony keys. Earvana compensated nut installed, additional ebony pickguard with Benedetto S-6 floating humbucking pickup included.
Notes: Jimmy D'Aquisto was the last and most celebrated apprentice to the legendary John D'Angelico. In an abbreviated career of just three decades, D'Aquisto created a peerless body of work, instruments that are now the most costly and sought after archtops ever made.
The Avant Garde is a faithful recreation of one of D'Aquisto's most innovative designs. Prototyped in 1988, the Avant Garde is one of Jimmy's rarest designs, one of which was built for Jim Hall the following year. Only a handful of these models had been produced at Jimmy's untimely death in 1995. Today's Avant Garde retains Jimmy's signature open soundholes, open headstock, and contoured ebony tailpiece and finger rest. In addition, the AG utilizes 21st century technology to produce an instrument of exacting fit, finish and performance. The medium jumbo frets are tall and smoothly crowned for easy fingering, and the double acting truss rod allows for feeler gauge adjustment for effortless low string action and accurate neck relief. The solid spruce top is X- braced for warmth and sustain, the back and sides crafted of vividly figured flame maple, and the neck profile is finely balanced for ease of play.
This example is in superb 100% original condition, without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apat from a few tiny lacquer nicks, the instrument appears virtually unplayed. Of special note is D'Aquisto's original "Accutone" bridge, which transmits string vibration to the soundboard through solid wood alone, using an ebony wedge for height adjustment without metal wheels or posts. In addition, an Earvana compensated nut has been installed for optimum accuracy in intonation. A special bonus is an additional ebony pickguard with a genuine Benedetto S-6 floating humbucking pickup, included in the case. These guitars are few and far between on the vintage market, and here's an opportunity to bag a wonderful example for a fraction of the price.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge flatwound nickel strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 1/16" to 3/32" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Black D'Aquisto logo arched plush hardshell case. 
