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2013 S.Tsuji GEM-B
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Serial #: 17280
Body size at lower bout: 16 1/2" Body depth: 3" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 23/32" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .84/.92
Materials: Solid hand-graduated spruce top; solid maple body and neck; solid ebony fingerboard; solid multi-ply maple binding.
Hardware: Original gold hardware includes Guild DeArmond 1000 Adjustable Rhythm Chief pickup, with value and tone controls and 1/4" endpin jack; Gotoh sealed tuners with ebony keys; solid ebony tailpiece, compensated adjustable bridge, control knobs, and truss rod cover. Additional bound tortoise pickguard installed, original ebony guard included.
Notes: Master luthier Shiro Tsuji began his apprenticeship carving the soundboards of viol family instruments in a small instrument factory in the historic city of Kyoto. Later repairing Gibson and Martin guitars, he became the favored restoration luthier for the Tsumura Collection, at that time one of the largest private fretted instrument collections in the world.
Now located in the rustic Unesco World Heritage village of Gokoyama, Tsuji has developed innovative techniques for optimizing the design of his widely acclaimed series of archtop guitars. With solid top and back plates first pressed onto shape, they are graduated by hand to produce a more acoustically responsive instrument than most conventional factory built archtops.
His GEM-B model is designed for the gigging player, with a comfortable 16 1/2" body, solid ebony fingerboard, and a Guild DeArmond 1000 Adjustable Rhythm Chief pickup, the gold standard of bop era amplification. Finished in a lustrous violin toned finish, the instrument features classic D'Aquisto style f-holes and solid multi-ply maple binding.
With a simple, elegant design, and meticulous fit and finish, the result is an instrument of handsome visual quality, and strong clean lines. At barely over 6lb, the instrument is nicely lightweight, and well balanced on the lap or the strap, with a warm acoustic voice, from the meticulously graduated X-braced soundboard. The neck has a gentle D profile, comfy in the palm, with smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup.
Lovingly maintained in showroom condition, the guitar remains free of playwear, and is fitted with an L-5 style multi-bound tortoise pickguard. A rare bird indeed on the vintage market, Tsuji's guitars are a very scarce sighting on this side of the pond. A winning combination of professional quality and exceptional value. One only, call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flat wound 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 for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Deluxe original black plush Cordura rigid foam case.
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