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Airline/Harmony Patrician Archtop, 1950's-1960's
RESTORED By Pianoforte Guitars & LaFrance Luthiers
The Restoration
This Airline acoustic model is getting a second life as a first-class Jazzbox at Keith Holland Guitars. This restoration represents the first-ever in-house neck reset and also a re-imagining of its spirit by Robert Witmeyer, TJ Flores, Ron LaFrance, and Jaxson Cottrell. Originally, this guitar was donated to the store as a basket case in desperate need of a major overhaul. The result is a customized vintage instrument with serious street cred and a spec sheet to rival brand new jazzboxes.
This is a curious example, as our research has not discovered a comparable model on the secondary market. With its solid maple top and tortoiseshell binding, we have concluded that this may be what is known as a "floor sweeper" model from the Harmony/Kay/Airline/Silvertone family of guitars built in Chicago. We suspect that the body belongs to a higher-end Harmony model -most likely a Harmony Patrician- and was mated to an already-finished-&-less expensive Airline neck in order to produce something ready for sale right away.
Our modifications and upgrades will take this one to an entirely different level from its original configuration. Ron LaFrance has corrected the neck geometry with a dicey-but-successful neck reset. The fretwork was completed by our human PLEK machine, Jaxson Cottrell. A custom tailpiece and period-correct tuning machines were mined from the KHG Secret-Stash of parts. A custom red tortoiseshell pickguard was shaped from the original provided in an effort to heighten the effect of the original tortoise binding. And our friendly contact at Guild, Mike Torres, was able to provide the engine of this electrified Jazzbox with a classic-styled DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 floating pickup, complete with retro "Monkeybar" mounting system.
Solid Pressed Spruce Top
Natural Top, Bursted Back & Sides
Laminated Pressed Maple Back & Sides
Maple Neck, RESET at KHG
Rosewood Fingerboard w/ Pearloid Dot Inlays
"50's Fat C" Neck Profile
Totroise Body Binding, Front & Back
REFRETTED with 6100 Frets by Jaxson Cottrell
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 Floating Pickup
Pickup Mounted with Vintage-Style "Monkeybar"
Custom Tortoise Pickguard w/Volume Control
Floating Adjustable Rosewood Bridge
Gibson/Epiphone-Inspired Trapeze Tailpiece
Period-Correct Open-Gear Tuning Machines
25 1/4" Scale
7.25" Radius
1 3/4" Nut Width
This guitar is in Good "Player Grade" condition, a restored and reimagined instrument comprised of new and recycled parts with evidence of modification and moderate playwear. This instrument bears wear and tear typical of an instrument of its age. Should you require more photos of this customized instrument, please reach out to us via Reverb or directly at the shop.
RESTORED & SOLD
This is a curious example, as our research has not discovered a comparable model on the secondary market. With its solid maple top and tortoiseshell binding, we have concluded that this may be what is known as a "floor sweeper" model from the Harmony/Kay/Airline/Silvertone family of guitars built in Chicago. We suspect that the body belongs to a higher-end Harmony model -most likely a Harmony Patrician- and was mated to an already-finished-&-less expensive Airline neck in order to produce something ready for sale right away.
Our modifications and upgrades will take this one to an entirely different level from its original configuration. Ron LaFrance has corrected the neck geometry with a dicey-but-successful neck reset. The fretwork was completed by our human PLEK machine, Jaxson Cottrell. A custom tailpiece and period-correct tuning machines were mined from the KHG Secret-Stash of parts. A custom red tortoiseshell pickguard was shaped from the original provided in an effort to heighten the effect of the original tortoise binding. And our friendly contact at Guild, Mike Torres, was able to provide the engine of this electrified Jazzbox with a classic-styled DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 floating pickup, complete with retro "Monkeybar" mounting system.
Solid Pressed Spruce Top
Natural Top, Bursted Back & Sides
Laminated Pressed Maple Back & Sides
Maple Neck, RESET at KHG
Rosewood Fingerboard w/ Pearloid Dot Inlays
"50's Fat C" Neck Profile
Totroise Body Binding, Front & Back
REFRETTED with 6100 Frets by Jaxson Cottrell
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 Floating Pickup
Pickup Mounted with Vintage-Style "Monkeybar"
Custom Tortoise Pickguard w/Volume Control
Floating Adjustable Rosewood Bridge
Gibson/Epiphone-Inspired Trapeze Tailpiece
Period-Correct Open-Gear Tuning Machines
25 1/4" Scale
7.25" Radius
1 3/4" Nut Width
This guitar is in Good "Player Grade" condition, a restored and reimagined instrument comprised of new and recycled parts with evidence of modification and moderate playwear. This instrument bears wear and tear typical of an instrument of its age. Should you require more photos of this customized instrument, please reach out to us via Reverb or directly at the shop.
RESTORED & SOLD