A beautifully preserved piece of history sits in your lap, and what else could you want? It’s one of the only of its kind, bedecked with pearl and brass and rosewood, Figured Maple back and sides, Spruce top—the 1945 Stromberg Ultra Deluxe. Grover sta-tite tuners, original pickguard, and wrapped up in the original velvet-lined hardshell case, this is an all-original example of one of the early-to-mid 1900s archtop builders work at the peak of their powers.
Elmer Stromberg worked to keep his instruments in the hands of players during the Great Depression fo the 1930s, and during this time evolved his archtops to better compete with a full orchestra by widening the lower bout to a full 17 3/8”, enhancing the volume of this Ultra Deluxe and lending an extra cutting ‘oomph’ to the trebles. The slim neck and narrow nut (1 11/16”) make for a deft left-hand work, and the setup is in a tasty sweet spot for both solos and rhythm.
It is an inspiration just to see an all-original vintage instrument of such rare provenance in person, but this Stromberg follows up that with the seasoned voice of a well-preserved and eminently playable piece of history.
Other keywords: jazz, arch top, flatpick, jazz guitar, birdseye maple, mop, f holes, f-holes
This is one of the most impressive vintage archtops I’ve ever held. It’s just incredible to look at from head to toe, so much detail and craftsmanship. Then your strum a chord and you get that warm and woody voice that make these so coveted. With only 600 or so in the entire world, this is something rare and beautiful, and this is one of the most unique you’ll ever see. Collectible, playable, beautiful. | Scale Length | 25 in |
|---|---|
| Nut Width | 1.72 in |
| String Spacing | 2 in |
| Woods | Spruce, Maple - Figured |
A beautifully preserved piece of history sits in your lap, and what else could you want. It’s one of the only of its kind, bedecked with pearl and brass and rosewood, Figured Maple back and sides, Spruce top—the 1945 Stromberg Ultra Deluxe
This is one of the most impressive vintage archtops I’ve ever held. It’s just incredible to look at from head to toe, so much detail and craftsmanship 