I'll tell you what -- the more I play this guitar, the less I care about any of this stuff!
One thing though (since y'al have been so incredibly helpful), this top responds like red spruce. I'm assuming that's what it is (?)
Since I agree with Ralf's deductions about origin, I'd say that's better than a 98% probability because it was standard on New Hartford F47R's:
https://web.archive.org/web/2013061...rs.com/instruments/details/?partno=3853007837
Based on your feedback as a knowledgable player I think it was a "real" build but perhaps one of those guitars that simply wound up getting liquidated either at an LMG event or even at closure of New Hartford as previously mentioned.
Some of those were acknowledged "B" stock but at least a couple of guys reported being unable to find any flaws on 'em.
While the Westerly label is puzzling,
I wonder now if "ALB" has nothing to do with somebody's name but might actually be "Axxx Lxxx Burst", and it was actually test piece (1 of 3) for the finish.
Like maybe "Antique Light Burst"?
Something to replace the "Iced Tea Burst" offered in Tacoma?
That also would tie in with normal practice of making a few different versions for management approval to go to production.
3 test pieces would make sense: 1 "dark", 1 "light", and one "in the middle".
I don't know what they did in NH but it's common to make
at least 3 "test chips" in custom auto paint shops, for example.
Wonder if that "ALB #2"appeared somewhere on the guitar or with an accompanying piece of paper that was then transcribed to the Westerly label (which I'm sure like everybody else was mounted some time after the guitar left New Hartford.)
I'd just be surprised if there were actually leftover Westerly labels
available in New Hartford, but it just occurred to me that one of our members actually had his late Westerly F65ce's neck (warranty) re-set and even got a courtesy re-finish there, when they were "celebrating" the long- awaited opening of repair capacity.
Maybe the labels were there for potential "restoration" use, as oddball as it sounds?
In counterpoint, we saw what I believe were reproductions for sale on the internet several years ago, too. (Suspect that's a more likely source)
Also, have seen at least a couple of very early New Hartfords that apparently were built with out 'guards, whether by special order or simply as an option I don't know.
But that could also explain the unusual 'guard, perhaps added later just like the label?
