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c.1985 Roger Borys B-120 Deluxe
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Serial #: B68-119, signed by the maker
Body size at lower bout: 16" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 3/4" Body depth: 2 3/4" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .82/.84
Materials: Arched tiger flame maple laminate-plate body; one-piece solid maple neck with adjustable truss rod; 5-ply body binding; bound f-holes; polished bone nut; solid pearl fingerboard and peghead inlay.
Hardware: Solid ebony hardware includes fingerboard, pickguard, compensated adjustable bridge, volume and tone knobs; cast bronze tailpiece; gold Schaller M-6 tuners.
Notes: New Jersey based luthier Roger Borys is a legend among contemporary archtop builders, with celebrity players including Jim Hall, Joe Pass, Emily Remler, Jimmy Wyble and many more. Borys worked closely with D'Aquisto for a number of years, and when Jimmy needed soundboard plates for his Jim Hall guitar, he turned to Roger. The soundboards Borys delivered were cold molded from sheets of feather light veneer. Stiff, lightweight, and tonally sensitive, they possessed a notably bright tap tone and high feedback resistance.
These original D'Aquisto electrics became highly prized by working players for their versatility and durability, and have become one of the most popular of modern guitar designs, as produced by makers as diverse as Sadowsky, Buscarino, Moll, Unger and other top builders.
The body of the Borys B-120 is constructed of these highly figured tiger maple plates, mated with a solid curly maple neck with solid ebony fingerboard and hardware. An Armstrong Adjustable PAF provides seamless depth and tonal range, and the slim, gentle D neck profile is elegantly tapered to the hand. The overall fit and finish of the instrument is superb, with a lustrous golden sunburst.
At just 6lb 5oz, the guitar is nicely balanced, and is in superb condition, with all original hardware and finish, and free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. A single lacquer line follows the back centerseam, which is solid, with no separation. The guitar has smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup, and a fine warm voice with excellent detail. Of special note are the ornate bound soundholes, in a unique design.
Roger builds his creations one at a time, and it can take years to take delivery of one of his instruments. For the serious player seeking an elegant, hard-working jazz box, our advice is: take a page from Jimmy himself, and go right to the source. One only: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge roundwound nickel strings. 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 deluxe black arched plush lined hardshell case.
