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2005 Triggs 18 CES
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Dated: 4/19/05, hand signed by Jim and Ryan Triggs.
Body size at lower bout: 18" Scale length: 25" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Body depth: 3" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .82/.90
Materials: Bookmatched handcarved tap tuned solid spruce top; solid highly figured bookmatched tiger flame maple back and sides; solid maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; triple bound fingerboard and peghead; seven ply grained ivoroid body binding; bound f-holes; bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes engraved Triggs signature trapeze tailpiece; Grover Imperial 16X1 tuners; adjustable compensated ebony bridge; bound tortoise pickguard, Kent Armstrong P-90 single coil pickups with volume, tone, and blend controls, with gold barrel knobs and endpin jack.
Notes: In the mid-80's, Gibson's new management inherited a proud company with it's reputation in tatters. Wasting no time, company brass hired master luthier Jim Triggs to head up the newly revitalized Gibson Custom Shop. Drawing on his extensive experience in high-end luthiery, Triggs almost single-handedly revived the firm's reputation as the industry leader in archtop guitars, carved mandolins, and extravagant custom creations for Gibson's celebrity clientele. Working on his own since 1992, Triggs quickly made a name with his superlative recreations of the classic Stromberg and D'Angelico archtops, as well as custom guitars for discriminating players worldwide.
Built in the style of the early 50's Super 400 CES, this magnificent guitar has the 18" Venetian cutaway body, parallel bracing, and P-90 single coil pickups of Gibson's top-line archtop guitar. The Triggs 18 CES is carved with all solid tonewoods throughout, with spectacular bookmatched curly maple back, sides, and neck.
Apart from a few pick marks on the pickup covers, the instrument is otherwise free of playwear, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, with all original gold hardware. The solid ebony fingerboard has elegant Super 400 split block inlays, with smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup over a gentle D profile neck, notably comfy in the hand.
The three knob control design echoes the postwar Gibson ES-5, with master volume and tone controls, and a blend control on the cutaway horn, allowing for a virtually infinite gradation of mix between the two pickups. The voice of the super jumbo body is rich and warm, with the superior detail and extended frequency response of the handwound Armstrong P-90 pickups.
An artful blend of traditional design and modern craftsmanship, Triggs handcrafted guitars are always a welcome sight on the vintage market, and offer exceptional value to the serious player. One only: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings (.012-.054). 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. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original premium arched black Cedar Creek plush lined hardshell case.
