Custom Shop Guild Acoustic

[awagner]

While I was at TR Crandall’s today, I saw a Custom Shop Guild acoustic. I was told it was a prototype built by Greg Fessler that never went into production,

Not sure it is a prototype, and Hans confirmed it was actually a Chris Fleming build, as evidenced by the CF prefix to the serial #.

Mahogany top, back and sides. Looks like a high end D25. Sounded and played really well, in case anyone is interested, Except for some finish flaws, it is in excellent condition.

 

[Bonneville88]

Cool guitar, at first glance the body wood looks similar to a Corona-era D25.
D-50 fretboard / headstock on a D25 body?

 

[merlin6666]

Congrats. That mahogany looks quite striped. I wonder if they already used some African grown mahogany types like Khaya or Sapele in these days?

 

[GardMan]

Very pretty, and I'd love to have it... but too rich for my blood @ $5999!

 

[adorshki]

Cool guitar, at first glance the body wood looks similar to a Corona-era D25.
D-50 fretboard / headstock on a D25 body?

Oooh good catch, that got by me on first pass. Think Awagner called it about being D25 based, as in a possible prototype for the later Corona all-hog D25's?

And the Fleming Guilds were only built in Corona that I can ever recall seeing. (Maybe a couple of early Tacomas?)

 

[adorshki]

Congrats. That mahogany looks quite striped. I wonder if they already used some African grown mahogany types like Khaya or Sapele in these days?

I'm pretty sure too early for that, '02-'04, or at least would be kind of surprised if Fleming used it.

It's pretty identical to my own D40's back/sides. The lighter stain helps along with a good finish.

I've suspected for a while they got a bunch of nice, no, great wood from Westerly and still didn't use it all. So I think Fleming had access to some choice stuff already. His Guild flat-top builds were all one-offs that I've seen, very high-end stuff, and suspect he'd go for at least a traditional variety.

 

[SFIV1967]

That's a nice find. Chris' guitars were always nice builds. That one was never seen/discussed before on LTG.
And it puzzles me how a guitar store can say it is a Greg Fessler built if besides the CF serial number even the name C.W. Fleming is on the back of the headstock!

Here's the shops page with it: Asking $6k !

C. 2001 Chris Fleming Masterbuilt Prototype

C.2001 Guild Chris Fleming Masterbuilt Prototype in excellent condition. Mahogany top, back and sides. This was built at the Fender Custom Shop in Corona, California. This is all original from when it left the factory. A one of a kind guitar, and the only one made. There are some cosmetic...

trcrandall.com

And by the way, Chris' prototypes looked like this:



He also did some 1 of 1 builds:



Or his own custom shop master builder serial numbers used in Corona at that time:



Ralf

 

[Bonneville88]

Curious, so just took a peek - internal back braces seen through the CF guitar soundhole look pretty much
like those on my last remaining Corona D25.
Cool guitar - can't say I'm seeing 6K cool, as it looks to be mostly D25 and D50-ish components,
with a sweet, understated custom bridge - but someone might. I sure do like the high-gloss finish
on the one-off vs the satin finish on the Corona D25s.

 

[chazmo]

That actually looks more like sapele than mahogany (mostly because of the striping) to my eyes. But, very beautiful, indeed!!! I really like figured mahogany when it isn't stained very dark. Congrats, Andrew.

Who is Greg Fessler? Yeah, that's very clearly a Chris Fleming build with his name all over it and the serial number.

 

[awagner]

I didn’t get the guitar. Just reported on it.

Greg Fessler was one of the luthiers in the Custom shop, which Chris ran. If Greg built the guitar the serial number would start with GF and not CF, like this one

 

[dreadnut]

I don't get why it's so expensive...

 

[D30Man]

I love the ingredients for sure. All hog with ebony board. I bet it sounds and feels really nice. For like $1500.. not $6k..

 

[GardMan]

I love the ingredients for sure. All hog with ebony board. I bet it sounds and feels really nice. For like $1500.. not $6k..

Yeah, I'd even be willing to go as high as $2000-2500. But not $6000. That's OK... saves me from having to explain to the wife why I need another guitar!

 

[awagner]

It will never sell for anything close to the asking price. The seller paid $5,000 for it, mostly to help out his friend, the prior owner.

Make an offer. You never know.

 

[adorshki]

I don't get why it's so expensive...

It's a genuine Custom Shop build, but probably asking more than market in general's willing to pay.

 

[awagner]

I provided them with the correct information, which has already been reflected in the description, although they still describe it as a prototype.

C. 2001 Chris Fleming Masterbuilt Prototype

C.2001 Guild Chris Fleming Masterbuilt Prototype in excellent condition. Mahogany top, back and sides. This was built at the Fender Custom Shop in Corona, California. This is all original from when it left the factory. A one of a kind guitar, and the only one made. There are some cosmetic...

trcrandall.com