This guitar is a commission sale. If you have a high-end or vintage guitar you are interested
in selling please contact us.
Mainland UK buyers ONLY. Delivery by specialist courier only. Prices start from £55 depending on location - please inquire.
Here for sale we have a Spalt Instruments Vienna Custom C1901 electric guitar in a Violin Stain finish. Spalt Instruments is the work of Michael Spalt, a lifelong artist, photographer and musician who after spending the formative years of his life studying the many different mediums of Fine Art in universities from San Francisco to Vienna and working in the film industry in L.A, married his love of woodworking & engineering with artistry to produce instruments which can truly be called masterpieces. Beginning in the late '90s, Totemguitars (as they were called at the time) became Michael's creative outlet and the vehicle with which he navigated the bumpy road of luthiery & fine art.
This particular piece was made in the Vienna workshop in 2019, and features a set-neck construction comprising a Chambered Sapele body, Norwegian Spruce top, Honduran Mahogany neck and 22 fret Ebony fingerboard with matching head plate. Nickel hardware is fitted, including a full adjustable wrap tailpiece & vintage-style tuners with 'Tulip' style buttons. A pair of Spalt BoneTop single-coil pickups are installed, and are wired to a 3-way toggle switch, master volume & master tone controls.
The Honduran Mahogany plays beautifully. The profile is rather wide at 1.722" by the nut, but is simultaneously rather slim thanks to a shallow carve. The shape itself might be described as an 'Even C' shape - nicely smooth & predictable along the register. This profile delivers a playing experience which is quite unique amongst the more traditional manufacturers offerings, and certainly produces a feeling of exclusivity which is very inspiring in the hands. The Ebony of the fingerboard is supremely luxurious under the fingers, and with the unique concentric circle inlays, the fretboard of the Vienna Custom is a joy to navigate.
The pair of Spalt BoneTop single coil pickups are- as the name suggests- topped with Bone. Visually stunning, the neck pickup in particular has an eye catching purple 'marbling' effect to it, which pops beautifully against the 'Violin Stain' finish of the top. Similar in appearance and tone to P90s, the pickups deliver a full-bodied & surprisingly powerful output with a nicely even response across the frequency range. The neck is of course the rounder of the two, producing a tone which works beautifully for lead tones and melodic lines. The bridge is brighter, and will cut through a mix with ease to put your playing front and centre. A visually stunning piece with the tones & playability to match.
This guitar is a commission sale. If you have a high-end or vintage guitar you are interested in selling please contact us.
Mainland UK buyers ONLY. Delivery by specialist courier only. Prices start from £55 depending on location - please inquire.
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.
Michael Spalt Instruments Vienna Custom C1901 Violin Stain 2019 Hand-Made
Brand- Spalt Instruments
Model- Vienna Custom C1901
Finish- Violin Stain
Year- 2019
Made In- Austria
Body- Chambered Sapele
Top- Norwegian Spruce
Neck- Honduran Mahogany
Fingerboard- Ebony
Fingerboard Radius- 14" (Measured)
Frets- 22
Scale Length- 25.5"
Nut Width- 1.722"
Pickups- 2x Spalt BoneTop Single Coils
Controls- 3-Way Toggle Switch, Master Volume, Master Tone
Our ID: 1021225159024
Weight: 7.15lbs
Serial: TTR0020619
Aesthetic Condition:
Headstock: Overall excellent condition. A light indentation is present to the rear top edge, lightly piercing through the finish but not exposing the wood. All other aspects of the headstock display light signs of past use. A lighter patch of wood is apparent near the A tuner, however this is part of the natural grain of the wood.
Neck: Overall excellent condition. The centermost piece of the 7th & 15th fret inlays appear to be missing. This can only be seen under close scrutiny and does not impact the visibility or stability of the inlays. Any other markings to the neck and fingerboard are difficult to discern.
Body: Overall very good condition. The back and sides of the body display light indentation which can be seen under close scrutiny. The most apparent of these is present to the treble side rear edge of the lower bout. Light scratching to all aspects of the body is visible under direct light, as is common with high gloss finishes. This is most apparent to the bass side shoulder of the rear face consistent with light buckle rash.
Condition of Frets:
The frets demonstrate light signs of use, not affecting playability. There is considerable material remaining for any fret work the new owner may wish to perform.
Current Set Up:
Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (4mm hex) not included.
Hardware: Very good condition with light tarnishing of the bridge and light scratching of the rear cavity covers, consistent with playwear.
Structural: No concerns or issues to note.
Height of the string from the 12th Fret-1.5mm - Bass 2mm
Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.
Strings on Guitar - 10-46
Electrics:
Fully functional. The original push/pull tone control has been replaced with a standard one which has been spaced to accommodate the existing wiring harness. The original part is not included.
Case & Accessories:
RBX Reunion Blues soft shell case.
Excellent condition. Straplocks, COA and original paperwork included.