Product Description
Bill Comins’s masterfully made archtops and this is a pretty unique one. The Chester Avenue is the Comins top of the line model and is most often seen with a 17-inch lower bout. This one was obviously custom made as a small body version, measuring just 14 3/8 inches at the lower bout. It also has a thinner body, measuring 2.2 inches at the side. That makes this an ideal archtop for those of smaller stature or shoulder issues that make a larger guitar harder to play. This guitar was a life saver for 2 years , before I was diagnosed with PMR which causes decreased strength, energy, and pain. The shoulder strap was too heavy for my shoulder and I lacked the hand strength to hold or play a guitar well. This was the only guitar that I could play until my problem was treated. Action is super low, very light weight (under 5 pounds) with a short 24 3/4” scale. The tone is that of a Bill Comins Chester Ave which is amazing for a guitar of this size and weight. The pics are the actual ones from the website that I purchased it from. The guitar has not left my home and is virtually in the exact same condition, the same price and strung with Thomastik swing 11’s.
The fit and finish are of the usual high level expected from Bill Comins. The woods are all of the highest quality with highly flamed back and sides and flamed maple binding. The top is of the highest grade spruce with X-bracing, and the fingerboard is a dark slab of ebony. The neck is perfectly straight, allowing for remarkably low action. It is fairly thin, but the width of the neck and the C-shape gives it a feel that is surprisingly fuller than the dimensions making it quite comfortable. The frets are in excellent condition, showing only very light wear. The finish shows some minimal wear that is only noticeable on very close inspection, and there is small dent on the treble side of the lower bout between the tailpiece and output jack (Pictured). The lacquer is in excellent condition with no checking. Be sure to check out the details of the fretboard inlays. The work is all just stunning.
The pickup is a full size humbucker. The sound is full and clear in a very PAF kind of way. This pickup is routed to a side place jack. The acoustic sound is very nice. It won’t give the volume as a full-size archtop, but the tone amazing!
Weight – 4.6 pounds
Nut width – 1.75 inches
1st fret depth – 0.78 inches
10th fret depth – 0.88 inches
Scale length – 24.75 inches
The guitar comes with the original custom fitted Cedar Creek hardshell case.
BRIDGE Adjustable ebony
FINISH
Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
CASE Deluxe hardshell Original
It’s a beautiful, well made rare custom guitar, and sounds amazing with Thomastik 11 flat wound strings, in as new condition. Actual color is more brown like the first picture.
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