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c.2005 Cardona Elegante
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Hand signed by the builder, under soundboard.
Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 25" Nut Width: 1 3/4" Body depth: 3" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .75/.86
Materials: Bookmatched handcarved tap tuned solid spruce top; solid highly figured bookmatched tiger flame maple back and sides; solid one-piece tiger maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; 5 ply bound fingerboard and peghead; seven ply grained ivoroid body binding; triple bound f-holes; bone nut.
Hardware: Solid compensated adjustable ebony bridge; bound tortoise pickguard, gold trapeze tailpiece; gold sealed Schaller 16X1 tuners, gold PAF style humbucking pickup.
Notes: Indiana Luthier Robert Littrell has brought the ultra-meticulous craftsmanship of his classical and flamenco guitars to the jazz world with his Cardona Elegante. Built in the style of the legendary Wes Montgomery L-5CES, the Elegante has a comfy 17" Venetian cutaway body that sits easily on the lap or the strap. Constructed of extravagant AAA tonewoods throughout, the instrumnt has exceptionally dramatic curly maple in its back, sides and neck.
At just 5lb. 11oz. the instrument is notably light in weight, and its deeply resonant voice carries volume exceeding many purely acoustic models. The neck profile is particularly noteworthy: an elegant wide shallow "D" that simply glides through the hand. The finish is distinctive as well, with body and neck lacquered in a traditional amber blonde, and the top finished in a handsome opaque limed ivory, reminiscent of Gibson's "TV" finishes of the mid 50's.
This example is in all original condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from a few scattered lacquer nicks on the top, the instrument shows few signs of play altogether, and sports smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup. Best of all, the Elegante is an extraordinary value in a true US hand carved luthier built archtop.
Let the big names beg for big prices, and bag this bargain while you can. One only: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound strings, and will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference.
Case: Deluxe plush lined hardshell case.
