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2018 Sonntag J17X Standard

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Serial #: 2780718, label hand signed by the builder

Nut Width: 1 3/4" Scale Length: 25 3/8" Body size: 17" Body depth: 3 1/8" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .83/.92

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

Hardware: All original dark ebony hardware includes contoured tailpiece, bound pickguard, compensated adjustable bridge. Gold Grover Super Rotomatic tuners; adjustable truss rod; Armstrong Handwound PAF floating pickup, with volume and tone controls.

Notes: A native of Augsburg, Germany, Stefan Sonntag is a classically trained luthier who has won accolades for his hand crafted archtop guitars for over a quarter of a century. Having graduated from the renowed Mittenwald violin makers school, Sonntag earned a special Master’s degree in guitar construction as well. Treasured by celebrity artists such as Bruce Forman, Robin Nolan, and Mundell Lowe, Stefan's guitars have earned a reputation for outstanding performance and uncompromising craft.

The J17 Standard is his top-line 17" archtop, and is hand carved of European curly maple of stunning AAAA fiddleback figure. This striking guitar is topped with a tap-tuned, X-braced soundboard, air dried by the builder for a minimum of five years, and showing some symmetrical grain coloration in the bookmatched Alpine spruce top.

At just 5lb. 15oz, this instrument is notably light in weight for a full size archtop, and evenly balanced on the lap or the strap. The bound pickguard and tailpiece are both crafted of solid dark ebony, and the guitar is faithfully amplified with a Kent Armstrong Handwound Adjustable PAF floating pickup, with volume control and endpin jack. The acoustic voice is clear and focused, with the X-braced soundboard adding characteristic warmth and sustain.

In showroom condition, the guitar has 100% original hardware and finish, without playwear of any kind, and the neck has a slim, gentle "D" profile, with smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup.

New World design meets Old World craftsmanship, in a rare combination indeed. Sonntag's guitars are hard to find on this side of the pond, as owners tend to be keepers. One only, call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" 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: Original deluxe arched black plush lined hardshell case.

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