Fairbanks FPJ-40C 2015, Maple & Spruce

This unusual guitar from Dale Fairbanks is essentially a gypsy jazz flat-top - an uncommon combo, but beautifully executed by the wonderful New England builder! The original owner commissioned it in 2015, saying, "I've long admired the cool aesthetics of the Gypsy Jazz guitar originally built by Selmer in Paris and popularized by Django Reinhardt. The slotted, tapered headstock and the straight cutaway on the body and the unique sound holes make for a distinct and sexy look. But I've grown up with the sound of American X-braced flat tops, and prefer their warm and woody tone. So this collaboration with Dale is an effort to meld the looks of the Selmer with the internal architecture of a flat top."

Dale's stellar sunburst accents the Adirondack spruce and flamed maple, while tortoise-style tuner buttons and binding are in keeping with the vintage-inspired aesthetic. The 17" wide body ensures a huge yet focused sound. As you'd expect, it's perfect for chunking out your closed jazz chord voicings, but with a notable warmth compared to an archtop or more standard gypsy jazz guitar. The body has some pickwear around the strings, and scattered light nicks and scratches that don't break the finish. Reach out for an in-hand description if concerned!