Guitar
Maker
James D'Aquisto
Date1988, October-November
Place MadeGreenport, New York, United States, North America
ModelPrototype Avant Garde Cutaway
Serial No.1212
SignedSigned in black ink on inside of back, the serial number branded: James L D’Aquisto / 10/14/88 / 1212 / Prototype #1Signed in black ink on inside of soundboard, lower bout: James L. D’Aquisto / 11/5/88 / Prototype #1 / #1212
MarkingsStamped on Schaller tuner gear covers: S / Made in W. Germany
DescriptionThis is the prototype for the revolutionary Avant Garde model, a sharp departure from the Gibson-derived archtops previously made by D'Aquisto and D'Angelico.
Soundboard: arched, two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: broad grain with slight curl
Back: two-piece, semi-slab-cut maple: narrow curl ascending from center joint; irregular grain
Sides: two-piece, maple cut off-the-quarter: narrow, irregular curl
Head: three-piece maple with medium-curl maple veneer over ebony on front and ebony veneer on back; ebony and three-ply ebony and maple strip trim on front; ebony stair-step truss rod cover with maple strip trim and additional ebony pieces forming stair-step design on outer side, secured to front with two domed slot-headed brass screws
Neck: maple with medium curl; integral with head
Heel cap: maple with ebony trim
Binding: maple inlaid with purfling; ebony strip trim on ribs
Fingerboard: ebony bound in maple with single ebony and maple purfling strips on top, single ebony strip trim on sides; separate maple support under fingerboard beyond 16th fret; 22 nickel-silver frets; black side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 15th, and 17th frets; double black side dots behind 12th fret
Nut: bone
Bridge: two-piece ebony (compensated) with gold-plated brass screws for height adjustment
Tailpiece: ebony with bone edging at string recess; maple strip trim and additional ebony pieces forming stair-step design; blackened aluminum hardware, secured to lower rib with three brass domed, slotted screws
Tuners: six Schaller gold-plated worm-gear machine tuners with ebony heads
Endpin: missing
Soundholes: oval
Pick guard: ebony; maple strip trim and additional ebony pieces forming stair-step design on outer side
Lacquer: golden
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany; chamfered corners
End block: mahogany; chamfered corners
Soundboard bracing: spruce X-brace
Grafts: vertical spruce grafts on inside of sides with tapered edges
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 1105 mm (43-1/2″)
Back length: 551 mm (21-11/16″)
Upper bout width: 360 mm (14-5/32″)
Waist width: 294 mm (11-9/16″)
Lower bout width: 463 mm (18-7/32″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 76 mm (3″)
Rib height, at waist: 76 mm (3″)
Rib height, at end block: 78 mm (3-1/16″)
Head length: 211 mm (8-5/16″)
Head width, top: 83 mm (3-9/32″)
Head width, bottom: 80 mm (3-5/32″)
Neck length (nut to sides): 355 mm (13-31/32″)
Neck width, nut: 46 mm (1-13/16″)
Neck width, heel: 55 mm (2-5/32″)
Soundhole length: 177 mm (6-31/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): high E: 643 mm (25-5/16″); low E: 647 mm (25-15/32″)
Credit LinePurchase funds gift of Cindy Lillibridge and Boyd Hopkins, 2022
Object number15661
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