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1997 Lacey Imperial
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Serial #: 0036, dated 12/28/96, signed by the maker
Nut Width: 1 11/16" Scale Length: 25 1/2" Body size: 18" Body depth: 3 1/4"
Finish: Amber blonde finish, nitrocellulose type
Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved quartersawn spruce top; solid tiger flame maple neck and body; solid ebony fingerboard; multiply binding; polished bone nut.
Hardware: All original dark ebony hardware includes contoured tailpiece, bound stairstep pickguard, compensated adjustable bridge. Gold Grover Imperial tuners; engraved pearl truss rod cover, gold Johnny Smith pickup with volume and tone controls, endpin jack.
Notes: Among the very most accomplished of modern American luthiers, Mark Lacey began his career in the mid-70's in London, building renaissance and baroque stringed instruments. After stints with Gruhn and Bill Lawrence, Lacey opened his own shop, first in LA and then in Nashville, where he currently resides. His artist roster has included notable jazzers like Herb Ellis, Howard Alden and Bruce Forman, and other clients including Jackson Browne, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Paul McCartney. Influenced by D'Angelico and D'Aquisto as well as the Gibson classics, Lacey has earned a reputation as one of the world's premier builders of the archtop guitar.
In an era when many so-called 'acoustic' archtops are essentially glorified electrics, few contemporary instruments can compete with the full-throated beauties of the big band era. We are pleased therefore to report that the Imperial is not only one of the very finest sounding modern archtops we've played to date, but that it can stand respectably alongside many of the finest super jumbos of the classic era.
The Lacey Imperial is Mark's tribute to the legendary D'Angelico New Yorker, one of the most impressive and highly coveted guitars of all time. Weighing in a mere 6lb. 3oz., this instrument is one of the lightest super jumbo size guitars we've seen to date. Open and deeply resonant, the finely graduated tap-tuned X-braced soundboard produces an exceptionally rich voice, with remarkable depth and resonance, and volume to burn. Those familiar with Lacey's instruments will be unsurprised at the fanatical attention to detail, from the multi-ply grained ivoroid binding to the engraved art deco mother of pearl truss rod cover. Even the pickguard is a faithful recreation of the D'Angelico original, with its signature stairstep profile. The body is crafted of outstanding AAA bookmatched tiger flame maple of highly symmetrical figure, and the neck profile is a marvel of playability, with a gentle "D" profile that is sleek and surpassingly comfortable in the hand.
You can spend many times the price and not find a finer archtop guitar. One only: call now.
Case: Original black deuxe arched plush lined hardshell case.
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