In every issue, we feature some of the most beautiful fretted instruments known to humanity. Sadly, most of the time they belong to someone else and they aren’t for sale. With our weekly Catch of the Week column, we scour the web in search of world-class instruments that you can actually buy for yourself. This week, we have picked five extremely rare instruments. These aren’t one-of-kind rare, but they were made in such tiny numbers they might just as well be.
Circa 1960 Kay Jazz Special Model K 5970B Electric Bass Guitar
Kay was known for making well-made, modestly priced instruments. While some of their guitars took their visual cues from Martin and Gibson, some of their models had a distinctive look and sound all their own. In 1956, they debuted the Gold “K” Line, a series of instruments that were adorned with a rather striking plastic headstock overlay. This Jazz Special Bass is one of their rarer offerings. Its small, single coil pickups gives the bass a bright, snappy tone that is quite different from the smooth sound of the Fender P and J basses that were made at the same time. This circa 1960 version weighs in at $3750 at Retrofret.
1930 C.F. Martin 2-44 “Soloist” Olcott-Bickford Artist Model
Martin made 32 Olcott-Bickford style guitars. The bulk of them were the Grand Concert 0 size and four were the smaller 2 size, as this one is. Vadah Olcott-Bickford was a well-known guitar teacher in the1920s and 1930s and her husband Zahr Bickford was a famous mandolinist. (His Bickford Mandolin Method is still in print and is still widely regarded.) Along with being famous musicians, Vadah and Zahr were well-known astrologers in their day and the took their unusual names after consulting the zodiac. (Their given names were Ethel and Myron.) Although the style 44 has a high number–Martin’s 45 style has full abalone trim–it is actually a very austerely appointed model. If you’d like to buy this model and commune with the spirit of Vadah, it will set you back $23,000 at Elderly Instruments.
Circa 1900 Regal Harp Guitar
Although this guitar bears the Regal name–you can see the logo tucked in under the harp string section–it was probably made by the Larson Brothers. (You can read all about that history here.) This guitar is one of four that have turned up over the years and the only one to have come up for sale in ages. The guitar was refinished sunburst at some time in the past, but it is in otherwise good condition. The guitar is huge, it’s 19 inches across the lower bout, and the sides and back are Brazilian rosewood. If you have the space for such a monster, you can get for $5600 from Intermountain Guitar and Banjo.
Circa 1900 Anonymous Parlor Guitar
Usually fancy guitars are fancy on the front. Take this parlor guitar looks for example. It looks nice enough head-on, with it’s tasteful inlays and elegant pearl trim.
But turn it over and it boasts one of the most ornately inlaid backs I’ve ever seen. I’m surprised that guitar doesn’t have a builder’s name, but it’s likely it had a paper label that fell out some time in the past. Still, the butterfly, birds and flowers are very well done. The Chicago Musical Exchange would be happy to exchange it for $9500.
