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2011 Triggs 16 Custom
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Signed: Jim and Ryan Triggs, 3/25/11
Body size at lower bout: 16 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Materials: Bookmatched handcarved tap tuned solid Adirondack spruce top; solid highly figured bookmatched quilted flame maple back and sides; solid tiger flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; 7-ply tortoise bound body, fingerboard and peghead; triple bound f-holes; bone nut.
Hardware: All gold hardware includes Stromberg style trapeze tailpiece; gold Grover Imperial tuners; compensated adjustable ebony bridge; tortoise bound ebony pickguard; coil tapped Kent Armstrong PAF pickup with volume control, tap switch and endpin jack.
Notes: Where does Jim Triggs get that wood? He claims it's harvested on this planet, but we're not so sure.
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.
A rare 16" cutaway from this maker, the Triggs 16 Custom has the Venetian cutaway body and parallel bracing of the legendary Gibson archtops of the 40's and 50's. Carved from all solid, AAA grade woods throughout, the guitar shows dramatic quilted maple of the most exceptional depth and intensity, with a solid one-piece barber-pole maple neck, and sides to match. Most notably, the soundboard is carved of solid Adirondack spruce, regarded by many as the lightest and most resonant variety, and renowned for its performance in prewar Martins, Gibsons and DeAngelicos. (The wide, red grainlines in the top are characteristic of this highly prized tonewood, now quite hard to find in soundboard dimensions.) The solid ebony fingerboard has elegant Epiphone Deluxe cloud inlays, and the tailpiece is a faithful recreation of those found on the legendary Stromberg guitars. And finally, the guitar is fitted with coil tapped Kent Armstrong PAF pickup with tap switch, volume control and endpin jack.
The guitar is in as-new 100% original condition, and is bound in elegant red tortoise throughout. The 16" body slings handily under the arm, and is a model of comfort to play. Long scale 16" guitars are hard to find, and the acoustic voice is clear and even, with excellent snap and fine forward projection; through the amp, the coil tapped PAF is a model of clarity and versatility. The neck profile is a slim gentle "D", sublime in the hand with its nicely radiused fingerboard, and slim low action over finely dressed medium jumbo frets. An artful blend of traditional design and modern craftsmanship, Triggs handcrafted guitars are rarely found on the vintage market, and offer exceptional value to the serious player.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings (.013-.056), and will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference.
Case: Original deluxe arched plush lined fitted hardshell case.
