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1959 Merle Travis Custom NAMM Show Super 400: 'The Super Bee'

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Serial #: A-29036

Body size at lower bout: 18" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Handcarved bookmatched fine grained solid carved spruce top; figured solid carved fiddleback maple back and sides; solid tiger flame maple neck; ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl block fingerboard and peghead inlay; 5-ply body, neck, head and pickguard binding, triple bound f-holes, polished bone nut.

Hardware: Original hardware includes gold Kluson Sealfast tuners, 5-ply bound marbleized pickguard, armrest, and truss rod cover; gold bonnet knobs and three way switch, compensated adjustable gold Tuneomatic bridge with Brazilian rosewood base, factory long-arm Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. Twin gold Gibson Patent # humbucking pickups installed.

Notes: Fingerstyle pioneer Merle Travis brought a whole new syncopation to the electric guitar, inspiring a young Chet Atkins and a whole host of followers in his prodigious wake. The author of "Sixteen Tons", and many other hits, Travis blended country, blues and jazz stylings into a unique thumbpicking style that has captivated generations of performers to this day.

This ornate one-of-a-kind presentation instrument was reportedly built for Travis especially for his performance at the 1959 NAMM Show, the giant annual US music industry convention. Once owned by Scotty Moore associate Don Dean, this fabled guitar is documented in detail in an extensive interview posted here.

One of just 8 Super 400CES models built that year in the coveted blonde finish, the guitar was a special custom creation, factory equipped with a marbled armrest and truss rod cover (which match the pickguard), a long-arm Travis style Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, and a whimsical peghead inlay depicting a honeybee with several roses, masterfully executed in lustrous abalone and mother of pearl.

With a bookmatched, quartersawn soundboard of solid carved spruce, this guitar shows gorgeous fiddleback figure in the solid carved maple back and sides, and a dramatic 3 piece tiger flame neck with walnut centerstripe. The handsome older blonde finish is notably free of pick, buckle, or thumbwear, and shows some typical light age checking on the sides and back. Deeply ambered, the finish is clearly of considerable vintage, and may have been factory replaced many decades ago. The hardware is original as well, including electronics in factory shielding cans, with a pair of vintage Gibson Pat.# humbuckers being the only exception. A small hairline crack in the pickguard has been soundly resealed, and the rare marbleized material remains in gleaming condition, without crystallization.

The neck has a fine solid feel, with a gentle C profile, generous 1 11/16" nut, and a solid ebony fretboard that glides smoothly under the fingers, with a fresh high-precision setup over immaculate pro fretwork. Bridge height is excellent, with a recent neck set allowing a solid string angle over the saddles.The voice is rich and deep, with a commanding warmth and elegance that only the super jumbo body can deliver. Sweeter than honey itself, here's a rare opportunity to own an instrument of surpassing historical and musical significance, as played by a true giant of 20th century American music.

Feel the buzz: call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel 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: Premium Cedar Creek arched black hardshell case with crushed velour lining.

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