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2004 Moll Express Custom

Price and Status: Pricing and hold status for all instruments currently available is shown on our Instruments page here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments may be found here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments in the future, please contact [email protected],. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.

SN# 25304

Body size at lower bout: 18", Body Depth: 3" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut: 1 3/4"

Finish: Amber blonde finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain spruce top; full-depth handcarved solid AAA maple back and sides with Venetian cutaway; 3 piece tiger flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; pearl headstock logo; deluxe 9-ply body neck and headstock binding; triple-bound f-holes; solid bone nut.

Hardware: Hardware includes birdseye tailpiece and finger rest, gold Schaller 16X1 tuners with ebony keys; compensated adjustable ebony bridge; stereo wiring with floating Kent Armstrong humbucker and built in piezo pickup, endpin jack.

Notes: This custom built masterpiece from Bill Moll is crafted in the style of the legendary D'Aquisto Solo, one of the most innovative designs of the 20th century. Moll guitars are popular among a number of top performers including John and Bucky Pizzarelli, and after playing this one, it's not hard to see why.

The tops are supported with extremely narrow and deeply scalloped braces of very low mass, designed to minimize interference with the vibration of the soundboard. The backs are zone-graduated to optimize acoustic response. The truss rod in the 5-ply neck is reinforced with bars of nickel plated, cold rolled steel, both to strengthen the neck, and to resist the dissipation of tone and volume away from the soundbox. Finally, the D'Aquisto style catseye soundholes are designed to allow the X-braced top to perform at maximum efficiency, as well as providing a distinctive neo-traditional appearance. The result is a instrument of notable projection and clarity, a true acoustic archtop for the 21st century.

This stunning instrument is the very one featured on Moll's own custom archtop page here. The body and neck are carved of absolutely stupefying deep tiger flame maple throughout. The birdseye accents on the tailpiece, pickguard, fingerboard and peghead are of a very rare hardwood described by Moll as hairwood, and closely resembles Carpathian elm burl. The 18" body produces a deep, clear and even voice, with particularly resonant bass and lower mids, accentuated by the elliptical sound port placed in the upper bass side.

The instrument has been maintained without playwear of any kind, and shows only a few faint lacquer checks in the all-original amber blonde finish. The neck profile is gently flattened across the back, making it ideal for either finger or pick style playing, and the deep cutaway makes for exceptional access to the upper fingerboard. A floating Kent Armstrong humbucker is combined with a soundboard mounted piezo pickup for maximum acoustic fidelity, and the tailpiece is Moll's signature "organ-pipe" design.

As a special plus, the guitar is supplied with its custom fitted, super duty ATA certified flight grade fiberglass case, a $1000 value in and of itself. Earlier this year, Bill discontinued his production guitars altogether, to focus exclusively on his ultra-premium hand built instruments, like the one shown here, whose current pricing should be well in excess of $10K. Bill's guitars are rarely seen on the vintage market. Jump the wait list, and bag a bargain in the process. Call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel 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: Custom black Moll Calton style ATA certified flight grade fitted fiberglass case.

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