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1996 Lacey Imperial Cutaway

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Serial #: 0017, Los Angeles label

Nut Width: 1 11/16" Scale Length: 25.4" Body size: 18" Body depth: 3 1/4"

Finish: Amber blonde finish, nitrocellulose type

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved spruce top; solid tiger flame maple neck and body; solid ebony fingerboard; multiply binding; polished bone nut

Hardware: All original hardware includes contoured ebony tailpiece, bound stairstep pickguard, compensated adjustable ebony bridge. Gold Grover Super Rotomatic tuners; engraved pearl truss rod cover.

Notes: One of the most accomplished of modern American luthiers, Mark Lacey began his career in the mid-70's in London, building renaissance and baroque stringed instruments. After stints with Gruhn and Bill Lawrence, Lacey opened his own shop, first in LA and then in Nashville, where he currently resides. His artist roster includes notable jazzers like Herb Ellis, Howard Alden and Bruce Forman, and other clients including Jackson Browne, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Paul McCartney. Influenced by D'Angelico and D'Aquisto as well as the Gibson classics, Lacey has earned a reputation as one of the world's premier builders of the archtop guitar.

The Lacey Imperial is Mark's tribute to the legendary D'Angelico New Yorker, one of the most impressive and highly coveted guitars of all time. Those familiar with Lacey's instruments will be unsurprised at the fanatical attention to detail, from the multi-ply grained ivoroid binding to the engraved art deco mother of pearl truss rod cover (which dates from 1996). Even the pickguard is a faithful recreation of the D'Angelico original, with its signature stairstep profile. The body is crafted of outstanding AAAA bookmatched tiger flame maple of highly symmetrical figure, and the neck profile is a marvel of playability, with a gentle "D" profile that is invitingly slim from front to back.

In an era when many so-called 'acoustic' archtops are essentially glorified electrics, few contemporary instruments can compete with the full-throated beauties of the big band era. We are pleased therefore to report that the Imperial is not only one of the finest sounding modern archtops we've played, but that it can stand respectably alongside many of the finest super jumbos of the classic era. Weighing in a mere 5lb. 12 oz., this instrument is exceptionally lightweight, and stunningly so for an 18" body. Accordingly, the finely graduated tap-tuned X-braced soundboard produces an exceptionally rich acoustic voice, with the sort of depth, resonance, and volume one associates only with the liveliest non-cutaway guitars.

Apart from a bit of light scattered lacquer checking, the instrument is in immaculate condition, without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. You can pay far more for an instrument of this premium quality today, but we know of no finer builder today at any price.

Case: Original black hardshell case.

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