You don’t mess with an icon. This 2-Color Sunburst, maple beauty comes complete with a Vintage Tweed case and a beautifully etched neck plate for this once in a lifetime event. There doesn’t seem to be any let up on this increase in values. The worrying thing is not the running demand but the dwindling supply. We’ve always had many young, new bands come through our doors, and, traditionally, they have cut their teeth on seventies Fenders and Gibsons, or sixties Gibson SGs, Fender Jaguars or Jazzmasters. The Master Built Strats that we’ve had have been very popular and always sell well. I think these have a better chance of being future collectibles. As a range of guitars, they are not so limited in numbers and more people are aware of their build quality and pedigree. They are readily available to those prepared to wait for an order, and when used ones come onto the market they sell quickly - always a good sign. It was half a century ago that the curvaceous instrument, recently named by What Guitar? magazine as the world's greatest electric guitar, debuted in a career that would change the sound of music forever. Introduced in 1922, the Gibson L5 is the precursor of the modern archtop guitar. It was the first archtop to feature f-holes, which allowed it to project through the horn-dominated bands of the day. Its strong, full, warm sound was an immediate and overwhelming success that turned the heads of makers, players and listeners alike. The instrument has hardly changed in the 50 years that it has produced Buddy Holly hits, the blues riffs of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the soulful sounds of Eric Clapton, the shimmering tone of Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, the sound of Joe Walsh of the Eagles, and the melodies of Jeff Beck. "It's an American rock 'n' roll icon. There is no more recognizable guitar in contemporary music than the Strat". No one changed the sound of guitar music more than Leo Fender. Guitar Northampton Shop.
