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1960 Albanus Cutaway

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Body size at lower bout: 17", Body Depth: 3 3/8" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut: 1 11/16"

Finish: Sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain spruce top; full-depth handcarved solid maple back and sides with Venetian cutaway; tiger flame maple neck with walnut centerstripes; solid ebony fingerboard with block mother of pearl inlays; pearl star and headstock logo; 7-ply body binding, 3-ply neck and headstock binding; triple-bound f-holes; solid bone nut.

Hardware: Hardware includes hand machined Albanus logo brass tuners; hand carved ebony tailpiece with pearl inlay, compensated adjustable ebony bridge with inlaid feet; Kent Armstrong floating humbucking pickup; handmade ebony pickguard with volume control.

Notes: They say like begets like. No sooner had we posted our very first Albanus guitar, one of the rarest American archtops ever, when yet another one showed up on our doorstep. For a recap of the remarkable history of Albanus guitars, visit our listing here.

Had there been any doubt that Carl Albanus Johnson learned his craft at the Stromberg factory, this guitar settles the question definitively. Imagine our surprise on inspecting the interior to find that this top is supported neither with lateral nor X-braces, but with a single diagonal brace running from the lower treble bout to the upper bass. This bracing system is a Stromberg trademark, and this is the first guitar by any other builder we've seen to employ this innovative technique. The arch is perfect, and the guitar possesses a remarkably lively acoustic voice.

The body is handcarved tiger flame maple, bookmatched in a dramatic chevron pattern on the back. The handcarved spruce top is quartersawn and bookmatched, with crossgrain silk from rim to rim. The body binding is extensive, with a seven plies on the body and triple bound f-holes and neck. The solid ebony fingerboard is squared off at the extension, and both front and back of the headstock are inlaid. The guitar is fitted with a handcarved ebony pickguard with a floating Kent Armstrong pickup. Most remarkably, the tuners are like no others we've ever seen. The covers are engraved with the Albanus monogram, and the owner of this guitar insists that Johnson machined them himself by hand, an astounding feat virtually without equal in modern luthiery.

Though Johnson apparently disdained serial numbers, we have documentation that the guitar was built to order for a Chicago guitarist in 1960, which would make it one of the earliest examples of Johnson's output. Perhaps this would explain the reversed letter "N" in the headstock logo, a design feature unseen on the few other examples we've encountered. The sunburst finish is in excellent condition, and we understand it was restored to original specs some years ago.

The guitar is notably light in weight, with a bright acoustic tone reminiscent of the power and projection of the classic Stromberg big band guitars, most likely due to the innovative bracing technique. The neck is laminated with a three piece centerstripe, and boasts a solid ebony fingerboard with excellent medium jumbo frets. The neck profile is expertly contoured for a comfortable feel in the hand, neither clubby nor skinny. A superb working guitar, and collectible as they come, the Albanus is a continuing testament to the Stromberg of the Windy City.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze roundwound strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" 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: Black plush hardshell case.

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