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2005 Foster Basin Street Seven String

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Serial #: 317

Body size at lower bout: 15" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 15/16" Body depth: 2 1/8"

Finish: Violin sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type

Materials: Solid handcarved hand split Alaska Cedar top; handcarved solid bookmatched figured mahogany back with matching sides and neck; solid ebony fingerboard, headstock veneer, truss rod cover, Paua abalone peghead and tailpiece inlay; bound body, side dot fingerboard position markers.

Hardware: Kent Armstrong built-in PAF pickup with double adjustable polepieces; gold mini-Gotoh tuners ebony, tailpiece, volume and tone knobs and compensated adjustable bridge. Correct replacement contoured bakelite pickguard.

Notes: In a world where most luthiers might build a seven string guitar as an afterthought, if at all, the late Jimmy Foster stood tall. An accomplished performer in his own right, the Louisiana native had the seven string in his wheelhouse from the start, and became a legend among devotees of the low A. Gone too soon, Jimmy left a legacy of superbly crafted instruments, now highly prized among the cognoscenti.

Brilliantly designed and meticulously constructed, the Foster Basin Street combines effortless playability, true hand carved tone, and superior feedback resistance in one elegant package. The compact 15" hand carved body features a bookmatched quartersawn solid Alaskan Cedar top and a slimline body with a dramatic solid figured Honduras mahogany body.

The Basin Street is constructed with a built-in Kent Armstrong PAF with 14 poles for maximum adjustability, a pickup renowned for its warmth and accuracy. The slimline body resists feedback, and the built-in pickup design increases sustain over conventional archtops. Professionally played, this fine example has been well cared for, showing a few scattered lacquer nicks and a bit of finish touchup on the cutaway horn, with a correct contour replacement pickguard in gleaming black bakelite.

The guitar has smooth low action over a gently flattened D profile neck, with a solid ebony fingerboard and a fresh high-precision setup. Tone is surpassingly warm and rich, with excellent definition all the way to the very bottom of the range. Rarely seen on the vintage market, Foster guitars are highly sought after, and players are keepers. A lasting tribute to a true seven string specialist: one only, call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.013-.080). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" 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 worn arched black plush lined hardshell case.

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