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1998 McCurdy Kenmare

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Serial #: 49825, stamped on endblock, signed by the maker

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 3/4" Body depth: 2 7/8" Neck Depth, 1st/10th frets: .78/.86

Materials: Solid hand-graduated bookmatched spruce soundboard; solid carved bubble maple back and sides; one piece curly maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; multi-ply binding.

Hardware: Solid ebony hardware includes bound stairstep pickguard, tailpiece, and adjustable compensated bridge. Gold Grover Imperial tuning keys, floating Kent Armstrong Handwound PAF pickup, thumbwheel volume and tone controls, 1/4" endpin jack.

Notes: New York luthier Ric McCurdy is a true holdout, with his workshop tucked into a Tribeca neighborhood, not far from where C.F. Martin, Epi Stathopulo, and John D'Angelico all set up their workbenches. An acolyte of the great Bob Benedetto, McCurdy's extensive repair work gave him the priceless opportunity to study the legendary archtops of D'Aquisto and D'Angelico from the inside out. With a celebrity roster including Joe Beck, Jimmy Vivino and Kenny Loggins, Ric has become a go-to builder for working pros in the Big Apple.

His Kenmare model is named for the street in Little Italy where D'Angelico had his workshop, and is a tribute to his classic Excel model, with a 17" Venetian cutaway body, slightly slimmed to 2 7/8" in depth for enhanced comfort under the arm. The tap tuned soundboard is finely graduated, and X braced to optimize lower mids and sustain as well.

Crafted of rare bubble (or blister) maple, the back and sides are positively aboil with figuration in this handsome guitar. The Kenmare also pays homage to the Maestro with its stairstep pickguard, one piece flame maple neck, and art deco peghead inlay. At just over 6lb, the guitar is a pleasure to hold, and easily balanced on the lap or the strap.

With exceptionally vivid tiger flame maple throughout, this guitar has been maintained in all original condition without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Upscale touches include solid ebony hardware, and a warmly ambered blonde lacquer finish. Some streaks of older weather checking are visible on top from certain angles, but otherwise the instrument shows few signs of age altogether.

The voice is clear and open, with excellent acoustic projection, and amplified faithfully with the Kent Armstrong Handwound PAF pickup with its Alnico V magnets, 12 adjustable polepieces, and vintage volume and tone thumbwheels mounted underneath the pickguard, and the easy D profile neck offers smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup, playing effortlessly. All enclosed in its premium black faux alligator plush lined hardshell case, complete with custom truss rod wrench.

A video of guitarist Chris Bergson playing a similar model may be enjoyed here. The return of an art-deco classic, from the last archtop master of lower Manhattan. One only, call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound 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.

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