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2013 Bernie Lehmann Session 16

Serial #: 455

Body size at lower bout: 16 " Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 3/4" Body depth: 2 3/4"

Materials: Solid fine grained hand carved spruce top; solid AAA flame maple back and sides; one-piece maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard, dark tortoise binding.

Hardware: Solid ebony pickguard, tailpiece and compensated adjustable bridge; black Grover Rotomatic tuners; Kent Armstrong Adjustable Floating PAF pickup, with volume control and 1/4" endpin jack, adjustable truss rod.

Notes: Rochester, NY based luthier Bernie Lehmann has produced a wide variety of top-flight handbuilt guitars since 1971, with an output now exceeding some 500 instruments to date. Built for the gigging player, his Session 16 features a highly ergonomic design, with a compact 16" body, slimmed 2 3/4" depth, and a player-friendly beveled lower bass rim, angled for maximum comfort across the forearm. Wonderfully light in weight, this handsome guitar tips the scales at a mere 5lb. 8oz., with its low-mass headstock design providing excellent balance, on the lap or the strap.

The tap-tuned soundboard is hand-carved of solid bookmatched quartersawn spruce of exceptionally fine grain, with back and sides crafted from simply staggering AAA tiger flame maple. The solid ebony fingerboard features a generous 1 3/4" nut, with a gently tapered D profile neck, with smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup. The soundboard arching is enlarged to optimize acoustic response, and the Armstrong floating PAF pickup is smooth and faithful through the amp. And finally, the distinctive beveled rim offers unparalleled comfort over the longest gigs.

This example is in superb 100% original condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from a bit of tint on the lower treble back and rim, picked up from the case lining, the guitar shows few signs of play altogether. A rarely seen model from a veteran builder. One only: call now.

Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished. Action is set to 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, and may be adjusted at the bridge to suit. This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings (.012-.052). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference.

Case: Original deluxe arched black plush lined hardshell case.

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