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Serial #: 412

Body size at lower bout: 14" Body depth: 2 3/4" Scale length: 25" Nut width: 1 7/8"

Finish: Violin finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type

Materials: Solid handcarved bookmatched quartersawn Sitka spruce top; handcarved solid flame maple back with matching sides and neck; ebony fingerboard and headstock veneer; Macassar ebony headstock back veneer; black body binding.

Hardware: Nickel Waverly 16X1 mini-tuners with ebony keys; solid ebony pickguard and compensated bridge; Gibson '57 Classic PAF humbucking pickup with volume and tone controls and endpin jack; machined brass trapeze tailpiece.

Notes: Followers are many; innovators are few. The Andersen Archie series is a product of a collaboration of two of the most creative spirits on the contemporary jazz guitar scene: master luthier Steve Andersen, and recording star Bill Frisell. Accepting the challenge to create a compact gigging guitar with a 'big box' sound and feel, the pair brainstormed the original Little Archie, an ingenious synthesis of traditional and cutting edge design.

The Electric Archie is the f-hole version of this groundbreaking guitar, with built in pickup for greater sustain and feedback resistance. Tipping the scales at barely over 5lb. the fully hollow, all carved slimline body is just 14" wide, and 2 3/4" deep. Nonetheless, Andersen's innovative X-bracing soundboard produce a voice that is remarkable in it's clarity and warmth, with bass response utterly unexpected in a soundbox this size. Perched in the lap like a tomcat, Little Archie roars like a lion through the Gibson '57 Classic PAF as well.

This example has all original ebony hardware and lacquer finish, with exceptional AAA flame maple body and neck and a perfectly bookmatched handcarved Sitka spruce soundboard. Fitted with a generous 1 7/8" fingerboard, the instrument is ideal for finger or pick style playing, with smooth low action over a gentle D profile neck. Some pick marks are visible on the cutaway horn, and a few incidental buckle scuffs on back, but the guitar shows no cracks or repairs, with excellent bridge height and neck angle, for optimum playability.

At this writing Steve is selling off his last tonewood after a long and distinguished career: sadly, there will be no more new Andersen guitars. A delight equally to hold and behold, the Andersen Electric Archie is surely the most tuneful traveling companion you'll ever need. One only: call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel 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: Original custom padded Cordura gigbag.

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